SO LONG, page 15
"What did you want to talk about?" she asked.
Jake sighed, drawing out the moment, before finally speaking. "Look, Fiona, you've been a great help on this case. And I'm really grateful for all you've done."
Fiona's heart sank. Oh, no... this was starting to sound more like a rejection than anything else. If there was one thing Fiona was well-versed in, it was being rejected. She’d had to fight tooth and nail through school to prove herself, especially during first year, before her professors had any confidence in her, back when they thought she was nothing but a meager girl.
Of course, she’d had romantic rejections too. The few times she’d dared to like a boy had usually ended poorly for her.
Why did this feel more like one of those situations than anything else?
"But?" she pressed.
"But you're not an agent," Jake said. "I shouldn't have you hanging around so close to the case. Your place is in the lab, and that's where you're the most helpful."
A lump grew in her throat. Here Fiona was, thinking she was making great progress outside of the lab, but Jake was telling her to go back in it. It didn’t make any sense. "But--the chief said it was okay if I spectate. To learn more..."
"He said that?" Jake lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes.” Her voice shook at the familiar sting of rejection. She wanted to be more hands-on, but if Jake didn’t think she should stick around, she certainly wouldn’t force it. “But if I'm a bother, I really don't have to hang around,” she added.
Jake sighed. "You're not a bother. It's just--" He cut himself off, never finishing his sentence. But Fiona got the sense he just didn't want her around.
Hurt washed over her. She had thought they were doing good work together, but he didn't want her here—he wanted her back in the lab, analyzing samples, decoding data, looking through microscopes. And the truth was, she couldn’t blame him for that; she did belong in the lab, as per her job title. But still, getting out in the field had been strangely exhilarating for her. She felt like she was part of this as much as Jake and Lauren were.
Fiona tried to hide the disappointment in her voice, but the pain still shone through. "It's okay," she said quietly. "I understand."
One thing still bothered her, though. And that was the case itself. Josie hadn’t seemed confident that the suspect was the man who had assaulted her. Fiona wanted to theorize more, to be more involved, but if she had to accept Jake’s decision, then so be it. Even if it did remind her of getting kicked off the football field for being too clumsy.
But she also had to speak her mind.
"Aw, come on," Jake muttered. "Don't look sad--"
Fiona cut him off: "Can I just say one thing?"
"The victim doesn't seem confident that was the man," Fiona said.
"I know that," Jake said. "But she also isn't confident it wasn't him. It seems like this is our guy."
Fiona bit her lip. She had a bad feeling about this one, but if she spoke up again and was wrong, then she'd look foolish. No, she had to follow this hunch on her own first, and if she could come up with solid evidence, then she could bring it to Jake.
"You're right," she said, finally. "I should stay in the lab and keep working on it."
Jake smiled at her reassuringly. "You'll do great work. Just don't forget that I'm here if you need anything. You didn’t do anything wrong, Red, we just want to keep everyone in the right place.”
Fiona nodded and forced a smile, grateful for his encouragement. She stepped back into the hallway, determined to prove herself as an asset--or at least to solve this case on her own. She thanked Jake again before heading off to the lab, her heart full of determination and excitement for what might lie ahead.
***
Fiona sat in her corner of the lab in front of her computer, at her desk, chewing on a pen. She knew there was something off about this case, something she could have potentially missed or overlooked.
She had the file open of her examination on the previous body, where she had found the booklice. It had seemed like the most crucial clue, along with the frost on the body, but maybe there was something else, something Fiona had overlooked.
She wasn't sure. She just knew that the victim not being able to fully ID the kidnapper meant he might not be’ the killer. But if Fiona was to be taken seriously, she had to prove her hunch, not just talk about it. Clearly, Jake and Lauren were having doubts about her abilities—even if Jake had assured her that wasn’t the case, Fiona didn’t buy it.
She opened the file of her examination on the previous body and looked over every detail, from the frost to the booklice, but nothing stood out. She had taken meticulous notes, measurements, and photos but still, her hunch seemed to be unfounded.
Fiona sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead in frustration. There had to be something she was missing here. Something that could help them find this killer and bring him to justice. But for now, Fiona just felt defeated, all this work for nothing.
Just as she was feeling like this was senseless, she looked at the photos again. And that was when she noticed it: the red marks on the woman’s leg. And all at once, it came flooding back to her—the midge bites!
Fiona had been so focused on the other aspects that she’d overlooked this small, but potentially significant detail. Midges were highly common, and typically found in moist environments, which didn’t tell them anything new about the killer’s potential house. But, it did give Fiona one more lead.
Maybe they were looking for a property that was known to flood and contain high levels of moisture. Maybe the owner had hired exterminators before to help clear the area, keeping his "freezers" hidden. It was entirely possible... but still... Fiona had to prove it.
She wasn't sure what felt so different about this case. Normally, she was quite happy to stay in the lab, but especially after getting in the field and helping catch a suspect, she felt so... alive. She wondered if people like Jake and Lauren felt this way every day.
A sudden pang of excitement hit her chest, and she allowed herself to indulge in a thought: Could she ever be an FBI agent? Could she one day feel as satisfied and fulfilled as they did when they solved each case that came their way?
Fiona smiled to herself, a newfound determination pushing her forward. She knew it was unlikely, but even if it took years of hard work and dedication, Fiona wanted to prove that she could do this. Maybe she'd never be an agent, but she still was a part of the FBI; she still wanted to help.
Fiona went into the database so she could look into properties near where Josie had woken up that had ever been prone to flooding. There might be a record somewhere of any potential work that was needed.
She searched through the database, her fingers flying over the keyboard. The results came up slowly but surely, and Fiona cross-checked each of them against other records such as exterminators that had been hired in the area, or any complaints or reports of flooding or mold.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of searching, she found a match. It looked like a property owned by an individual who had hired exterminators to help clear their property on multiple occasions, after reports of flooding. This could be it.
Fiona felt something stir inside her. She sat back in her chair and thought on it. If she was right, then this could be huge. But if she was wrong, she would look very foolish for wasting Jake and Lauren's time. She had to prove it first.
She had to go out there herself and find evidence.
All at once, Fiona realized how much she enjoyed this feeling: the thrill of being on the cusp of discovering something new. It made her feel alive and excited. Maybe there was more to this job than just staying in the lab all day—maybe the prospect of becoming an actual agent someday wasn’t so farfetched. After all, Fiona had always followed her dreams, and she’d achieved most of the things she’d ever wanted in life by sheer determination.
Maybe this time, it wouldn’t be any different.
Fiona shook these thoughts off and focused on the task at hand: finding out if this was indeed their suspect's property and then getting to work on building a case against him. His name was William Harrell; he worked as a clerk in the records department of Portland, but lived on the outskirts. And Fiona knew exactly where he lived.
She was ready for this.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
He paced through his basement, his stomach tied in knots. He had failed. His final girl had slipped away, escaped, and he knew it was now only a matter of time before he'd get caught. They'd force him to spend the rest of his days in a jail cell... never to have his precious freezers near him again...
His days were numbered. He couldn't spend them in jail. No, all he'd wanted was to kill again, one more time. To feel the life of a woman slip away beneath his hands... how he longed to feel it again.
But she had gotten away. Now who could he kill? He had to do it again before the police arrested him. He knew she would squeal, she would reveal who he was, but he had to hold onto his freedom for a little longer. He had to try to get someone else, and he had to do it now.
In his basement, he flipped through the boxes of records that he’d taken from work on citizens in town. All of these names, with their birth dates and addresses, all of these people to choose from.
He sifted through the documents, his eyes scanning quickly over each name. He wanted someone young, someone innocent and unsuspecting. Someone who wouldn't fight back. He wanted to feel the thrill of the hunt again.
He thought of his next victim as he continued to search through the names until his gaze stopped abruptly on one in particular: a young girl, only twenty-two years old, living alone in an apartment several miles away from his own home.
The perfect target.
He knew this girl was it — she was just what he needed for his final kill before he had to turn himself in and accept whatever punishment awaited him. He smiled as he looked at her photograph, imagining how it would feel when her life slipped away beneath his hands...
His stomach filled with excitement and dread as he gathered up the papers with her information and tucked them into his pocket before heading upstairs to begin planning out how he would make her final moments unforgettable. For him, that is.
If he was going to end up in jail anyway, then he had to act fast. He had to take someone else, so at least then, he might be able to live with the memories until the cancer took him completely.
Once he was upstairs, he hurried to get ready. There wasn't a moment to waste. He put his shoes on and grabbed his keys, then went to run out the door--but the moment he opened it, there was someone standing on the other side, looking at him with wide eyes beneath glasses. A red-haired woman, no older than her mid-twenties. What the...?
"Oh--hello," she said. "Are you William Harrell?"
Taken aback, he scowled, completely caught off-guard. Who was this woman, and why was she here? She was thin--surely, she couldn't be the police. She seemed far too meager for that.
"Who are you?" he said, glancing over to see if she had anyone else with her. All he saw was her empty car.
Was this a gift? It couldn't be...
"My name is Fiona. I just wanted to ask you a question," the woman replied.
He felt his heart start to race as he realized what was happening here. He slowly stepped out of the doorway and gestured for her to come in, but she politely shook her head.
"Oh, no, I don't need to come in," she said. "I am doing a survey on insect infestations in the area, and I wanted to ask if you've ever had any issues with midges. Midges are usually found near water sources like rivers, lakes, and ponds, but they can infest homes too. They’re real nuisances and can leave nasty little bites on both you and your pets. In some cases, these bites may cause an allergic reaction or spread diseases like malaria and dengue fever. So, as you can see, they can be quite problematic.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her rant. This woman was strange. Strange... and oddly delicious.
"Sure, I've seen them," he said. "Would you like to come in and take a look?"
The woman backed away. "Oh, no, that's okay! You've been a great help. I was simply doing a ‘yes or no’ survey in the area, and since you’ve answered ‘yes,’ that means we’re all finished up. Thanks so much!”
She went to leave, but he couldn't have that. No--not when such a special prize had been delivered right to him.
He had to have her.
He dove at her and went to grab her, but to his surprise, she squealed and stuck a taser out. It nearly hit his stomach, but he was able to shuffle back enough to avoid getting electrocuted. This one had some fight in her--but that would make her satisfying to catch.
She went to run, but he jumped at her and tackled her, wrestling the taser out of her hand and tossing it aside.
"Stop! Let me go!" she screamed.
He grabbed her wrists and dragged her inside. She was screaming and struggling the entire way, but he finally managed to get her into his living room and dragged her toward the basement door. She kicked and screamed, but she was frail, even under his aging hands.
He opened the door and pulled her down the stairs, into his musty basement. The walls were lined with dusty tools and old furniture pieces. He pushed her against one of the walls, then grabbed a length of rope from a pile in the corner. She tried to fight back, but he was too strong--he easily managed to tie her up with her hands behind her back, immobilizing her completely.
Fiona was shaking and crying as she looked up at him. Tears streamed down her face.
"Please, let me go!"
But William had already made up his mind--this woman would be his trophy tonight. It was then he noticed a lanyard around her neck, hidden beneath her sweater. He grabbed it and tugged it out to see a distinct FBI logo.
His stomach dropped. "You're with the FBI," he said.
"I am," Fiona said, "and if you don't let me go, it will be the last mistake you ever make!"
"Oh, dear girl," he said, smiling. "You don't know what a gift you've given me. You see, I'm dead anyway. Sooner, rather than later. If I have to rot in a jail cell... I at least want to take one last memory with me. And you will be that memory."
He stepped closer and looked her in the eye, his face inches from hers.
"I have no plans to let you go," he said. "You will be mine."
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Jake made his way toward the forensics ward of the FBI headquarters, feeling like a massive jerk for shutting Fiona down the way he had. Lauren had asked him to, of course, but Chief Whittaker had apparently been fine with Fiona sticking around. And Jake had been, too. The sad look on her face when he told her she belonged in the lab wouldn't leave his mind, and he wanted to find her and apologize.
He couldn't help but feel like Fiona had been right--Josie wasn't convinced that Harry was the one who'd taken her. Plus, the forensic data came back in and confirmed the blood in Harry's house was actually his.
The case against him was crumbling, and if Fiona had any other idea as to where they should go from there, he needed to pry her brain.
Jake made his way quickly down the hallway, following the signs that led him toward Fiona's lab. He pushed open the heavy metal door, stepping inside and immediately spotting her desk in the corner. However, Fiona wasn't there. He scanned the room for any sign of her but found nothing.
The lab was spotless and well-organized, shelves lined with folders and drawers filled with evidence kits. The last time Jake was in here, he'd had an actual conversation with Fiona, and she'd reminded him that his tumultuous relationship with Lauren could be a distraction at work sometimes. Fiona was only twenty-six, but there was something wise about her, something he couldn't help but be drawn to.
Suddenly, something on Fiona's desk caught his eye--her computer was still on and running. Jake stepped closer and saw the screen filled with... a file? On a man named William Harrell.
Frowning, Jake got onto her computer and clicked away from William's file, only to see Fiona had been researching information about "midge" infestations and information on houses that commonly flooded near the area Josie was found in.
Jake's heart pounded as he realized what was going on here.
Fiona--she had researched her own lead. The midge bugs must have been associated with the flooding. He opened the other window she was looking at to see photos from Tilda's examination, showing specific red marks on her legs--that Fiona left a note on, describing them as "midge bites."
All at once, it clicked in Jake's head.
Fiona had tracked down a suspect and was trying to link him to Josie's kidnapping and the murders. She must have been planning on going after him herself because Jake shut her out.
Guilt struck his chest. He couldn't believe she had managed to uncover this lead on her own—he had to find her and apologize for doubting her. He had to make it right.
He took out his phone and dialed her number, but it rang and rang, and Fiona didn't pick up.
He called again and again, but still no answer. A feeling of dread began to rise as he wondered where Fiona could be. He didn’t know her well enough to know if she’d be crazy enough to chase a lead down on her own, with her lack of experience. Then again, this was Fiona Red he was talking about, the same girl who had an extreme fascination with disgusting insects. She was a weird girl with a fiery heart.
Chances were, she was crazy enough to chase this down on her own.
His stomach churned with dread at the thought of what might have happened to her. Lauren was right about one thing: Fiona was not an FBI agent. She wasn't trained to deal with the physical demands of the job, and as far as he knew, she had no experience or training with fighting. If she went after a potential suspect on her own, it could mean serious danger for her.
Jake had to find her before it was too late.
Without a second thought, he grabbed his keys and headed out of the lab.
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