Page 25 of Sinister Secrets

“I did raise that point with him, sir.”

“Hmm.” He gives me a look of disapproval. “What did you say when you called it in?”

“I didn’t.” He straightens in his chair as I tell him about the missing boy. About the tracks that led from his yard through the woods into mine.

“The child saw the perp?”

“Yes and no.”

“Explain.”

“I’m afraid that, given the boy’s age, I haven’t made as much progress in questioning him as I’d like. I don’t want to cause him any additional trauma, so I’m trying to proceed carefully.”

For the first time since my arrival, his face softens.

“The only facts that I’ve been able to establish so far are that he was woken up by a noise, and he left his house to follow what he believed was a ghost. Apparently, some older kids in the neighborhood had told him there was one around, so when he saw the assailant, that’s what he believed him to be.”

“How are you getting on with his parents? Do you believe they’ll continue giving you access to the child to try and get more out of him?”

I decide not to mention my former friendship with Lucy, afraid he’ll expect me to leverage our past to take a more aggressive approach with Jeffery.

“It’s just his mother, but yes. I think that as long as I continue to not push too hard and back off when the boy gets upset, she’ll be willing to let me question him as needed.”

“Is there anything else you think I should know?”

Anxiety kicks my pulse into overdrive. My skin grows itchy as sweat rises to the surface. As much as I want to keep the next part to myself, I know that I can’t. If he were ever to find out that I kept it from him…

Forcing myself to meet his eyes, I say, “Yes. I knew the victim, sir. Though measures were taken to conceal his identity, I recognized a tattoo on his arm during the autopsy. I was the one to make the initial identification.”

A dark cloud drifts over his face. His expression shutters, becomes unreadable. “This is highly unusual.”

“I agree, sir.”

I hold my breath, searching his face as he searches mine. Hoping desperately that I didn’t go through all this trouble only to complicate matters by getting myself barred from the case.

“But I’ll allow it.”

I exhale with relief.

“For now. I want you to know that I’ll be keeping a close eye on you. You’ll report to me directly. I’ll expect regular, in-person updates. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Now, do you have any questions for me?”

“I do.”

He nods for me to proceed.

“First, I’ll either need you to approve one of my personal firearms for use, or I’ll need an agency-issued firearm.”

“What happened to yours?”

“As far as I know, it’s still in an evidence box somewhere in Quantico.”

A muscle in his jaw tics. His already dark eyes turn almost black. By appearances, he’s angry, but his voice is soft, gentle as he asks, “When was the last time you qualified?”

“Not since before my initial medical leave. I’m overdue.”