Page 54 of Broken
“I need your help catching a killer,” Z murmured.
A smile lifted Prescott’s lips. “I’m all in, and when I find him, I’m gonna rip his fucking heart out.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Z replied.
* * *
Jaqueline
Jacqueline headedinside her government office building, set her computer bag and handbag on the conveyer belt, flashed her badge at a guard, then stepped through the metal detector. She paused while a second guard waved a wand over her.
Cleared to enter, she collected her bags. As she squeezed into the packed elevator, her phone buzzed in her handbag.
Once at her desk, she pulled out her laptop and fired it up. She grabbed her mug and yesterday’s coffee splashed against her bright pink shirt. She flinched from the chill, then glanced down.
That’s just great.
Her phone, still tucked inside her handbag, rang.You’re just gonna have to wait.
She hurried into the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and laughed at the huge splotch. With a wad of paper towels, she soaked up the liquid as best she could, buttoned the suit jacket—which only hid part of the ugly stain—and hightailed it back to her desk.
Her phone buzzed with another incoming text. She’d missed a call and two texts from Z.
“Call me,” he texted.
Then, the missed call.
His second text said, “It’s important.”
Experience had taught her thateverythingwith Philip Skye was urgent. Every single time he’d contacted her, she done whatever he’d needed. She’d worked late or given up a weekend to put together an “emergency” profile. She burned the midnight oil because he always needed it, like, ten minutes ago.
But she had deadlines of her own. Plus, when she’d been exiled so that the Winchester mission could fade into the background, where was he then?
It was probably Z who exiled me.
The head of the task force popped her head into Jacqueline’s cubicle. “You’ve got a call in my office.”
No way.
Jacqueline left her cubicle, her boss by her side. “Who is it?”
“The call came from The Director’s office, but the caller only identified himself as—”
“Z,” Jacqueline said.
“How did you know?”
The women entered the office and her boss lifted the phone cradle. “Here she is, sir.” She handed Jaqueline the phone.
“Hello, Z.”
“I’m not in the mood to be kept waiting,” Z snapped.
“Yes, sir.”
“Call me back.” The line went dead.
Jacqueline hung up. “I need to call him back.”
