Just Right, page 3
She had to know. She needed to be put out of her misery. But the line was dead. Connor had already cut the call.
Feeling the worry now flare inside her, Cami hustled for her wardrobe. She grabbed the FBI jacket and baseball cap that she’d been given on her first assignment and told to keep for the future, then called a cab.
The FBI office was a ten-minute ride away, which meant she had less than ten minutes to get ready within his timeframe, so she needed to hustle. She didn't want to be late for Connor. He'd sounded serious. Either she was in big trouble, or else this was a new case that she'd now be launched straight into. Neither was what she felt prepared for after a sleepless night.
Whichever it was, she told herself with a dark humor, at least it wouldn't be too much longer before she knew her fate.
CHAPTER THREE
Eighteen minutes later, Cami rushed up to the main entrance of the Boston FBI offices. She felt anxiety surging inside her. Most probably, she acknowledged, her sleep-deprived state wasn't helping.
She didn't know if she was about to be arrested or be given a challenging new case that would require brain power that her exhausted mind didn’t have at that moment. Either way, things were far from ideal.
She rushed through security. Was it good or bad that Connor wasn't downstairs waiting? She didn't know. Early as it was, the offices were busy. Security was on duty, and a few agents were hurrying along the polished floors. There was an air of intensity, seriousness, and focus in the building.
Someone's laugh rang out from around the corner, reminding Cami that the FBI was not an establishment populated by machines or robots, but by actual humans. That made her feel a little better, although she then found dark thoughts of Agent Treverton looming in her mind again.
She hustled over to the elevator and headed upstairs, rushing along the corridor to Connor's office, checking the time as she reached the door.
Nineteen minutes since his call. She'd made it within his deadline.
The door was ajar, so Cami tapped on it just as a formality before stepping inside. Now, it was time. Now, she'd know.
And then, her eyes widened. Connor wasn't in the office. But turning around, with a surprised expression on his clean-cut face, was Ethan Myers.
He looked as pleased to see her as she did to see him. A grin spread across his features, his white teeth flashed, his brown eyes warmed.
"Hey, Cami!"
"Ethan!"
She liked Ethan, she really did. She felt there was a spark between them. In fact, Cami had to admit that as she'd gotten to know Ethan a little better, he'd done more than anyone else to change her opinion of the FBI. He was so sharp and driven, and he’d chosen to make a career move and become an agent. Cami had previously perceived the FBI as a bumbling, faceless, bureaucratic organization filled with incompetent and unmotivated people—thanks to her experience after Jenna had vanished.
But now, she understood Ethan's passion for his work and that he was highly motivated, as a bright, young guy bursting with talent, to fight crime and to be part of an organization that he thought restored order to society.
"I didn't know you were going to be here,” she said.
"Me either, until half an hour ago. Connor called and asked me to come in. I guess it’s a new case. But I don’t know the details.”
"Do you think it’s a murder?" Seeing Ethan was sitting at the small, round table in the corner of the office, Cami headed over and took a seat opposite.
"I assume it is. Connor's in a meeting with Fraser."
Fraser was Connor's boss. So, it definitely sounded like a serious case had landed. For now, Cami felt as if she’d dodged a bullet.
"It's great to see you," Ethan said. "I've missed you on the team. You know, I have to say, I was kind of hoping an IT-related case would come up, seeing as you're on call for them."
"For a year," Cami said thoughtfully, remembering the terms of her agreement with the FBI, which had been contractually signed and sealed. But that didn't mean that they couldn't change it. She'd seen that they were capricious when it involved people being at their beck and call whose expertise they needed.
But with Ethan on the team, Cami had to admit that a year didn't seem like so long. In fact, it seemed doable. Reasonable.
"If Fraser’s already here I guess it must be serious."
"Yes. I agree, but there’s nothing we can do now but wait," Ethan said with a wry smile.
Cami scooted closer, leaning her elbows on the table. "You know what I was thinking?" she said, feeling nervous that she was going out on a limb here with this line of conversation. She hoped that it wasn’t inappropriate, but since they had some time together, why not?
"No, I don't know. What were you thinking?" Ethan replied.
"I was wondering if you like metal music."
"Metal? Sure."
"There's one of my favorite bands in town—Hardcore Hearts. They're doing gigs. They don't do big concerts. They do smaller venues. Pubs, clubs, and the like. They've got a few venues lined up next week, and I wanted to go. Would you come with me?"
"I'd love to!" Cami felt excited that Ethan sounded totally genuine. He really sounded as if this concert would be the best idea in the world. "I love that kind of music and that kind of gig. It's a date."
Cami felt her heart quicken. It had taken a lot of courage to ask Ethan out, after their drinks date last week that he'd asked her on. She thought this relationship was getting somewhere, but it was still surprisingly scary for her to get close to anyone. She didn't trust easily. But she'd done it now. Going to see Hardcore Hearts was a date, and she was excited about it.
At that moment, footsteps approached, and they both scooted their chairs further away from each other, turning toward the door.
Special Agent Connor strode inside. His strong face looked serious. His dark, graying hair was neatly cut. He looked focused and determined, despite the early hour. He gave a nod of approval to see Cami and Ethan waiting.
"Morning," he said. "Thanks for getting here so fast."
"Morning," they chorused. Cami looked at him expectantly as he sat down and set a folder on the desk.
Connor didn't ask them how they were or indulge in any social pleasantries. That wasn't his style. He was all about facts, plans, and results. But he wasn't a cold man. Cami had realized that deep inside his seemingly rigid and uncaring persona, there was a streak of kindness.
Well-hidden sometimes, but there, nonetheless.
"We've got a new case," he said, and Cami felt a knot of tension inside her loosen just a little because his words had confirmed this wasn't trouble for her. But it didn't loosen too much. A new case meant she'd need to bring all her skills to the situation. She was under no illusions that this would be hard, challenging, and potentially dangerous.
"There have been two women killed in two days, both with the same MO, which is why the FBI has been called in," Connor said.
Cami glanced at Ethan, then looked at Connor again, waiting for more information. She hadn’t heard of anything locally, although apart from last night’s antics in the archives, she’d been buried in her studies, with final exams just around the corner. Although perhaps the crimes had been hushed up.
"Both of the victims were hit over the head and knocked unconscious before being drowned. One was drowned in Lake Michigan, the other in the dolphin pool at the Milwaukee aquarium.”
Milwaukee. That explained it. It was in another state, not in Massachusetts at all, which is why it hadn’t gotten onto her radar, Cami thought. The location reminded her that the FBI was not limited by state borders. Any crime, any emergency, demanded that the best agents for the job were deployed.
Ethan frowned. “In the dolphin pool? How’s that possible? Was nobody else around, or what?”
“It seems that she got there after closing time and found her way in.”
“Oh, okay.” He nodded.
“Any link between the victims?” Cami asked, knowing from experience that this would be important.
“Nothing obvious in common. They lived in different areas and have no mutual colleagues or friends. However, both women were active online, and in fact, the first victim was an online celebrity, a content creator. The second was a make-up artist. So, there may be a link there, which is why you've been called in."
"Do we know it's a serial? Were there signatures left at the scenes?" Cami asked.
"Good question," Connor said. "And yes. There were signatures left at the scenes. At both scenes, a blue wristband was left. You know, those silicone wristbands you wear for charity, fundraisers, events, and so on?"
"Yes," Ethan said, nodding.
"One was left at each scene, with an earring pierced through it, the kind used in an ear piercing. Both of them had the same red bead. The FBI agent who looked at the scene wondered if it was somehow depicting a location pin, and again, this points to online expertise being needed."
"I guess it does," Cami said.
"One wristband was found near the body in the lake, and one was found in the dolphin pool. It seems that the killer might have thrown the bands down after killing the victims."
“But not on the bodies? They weren’t wearing the bands?”
“No.”
"A wristband with a pin? Something to do with a location, but the wristband itself? Why that? Why blue? Could there be more to it?" Cami wondered.
Connor stood up. "We're about to find out if there is more to it. We're going to the airport now, leaving for Milwaukee, to view the murder scenes and start investigating."
"We are? Now?" Startled, Cami jumped to her feet.
"Yes. We're being brought in to assist the local field office, and they want us to start immediately."
Cami swallowed. She'd better come up with something valuable if she was now flying to Milwaukee.
"Ethan, you hold down the fort here," Connor directed him. "I know you’re heading out with Fraser’s other team later on the trafficking case, but in the meantime, I want you to start looking into the victims’ backgrounds and see if you can pick up any common factors the police might have missed, since the second murder was yesterday evening, so it’s still very recent. As for us, we need to get going. It's a two-hour flight, and the sooner we get there, the sooner we can start to figure out what's going on."
He strode out with Cami rushing behind, barely having time to turn and wave at Ethan, who waved back before hustling to his office.
Location pins, blue armbands, water. There were only vague connections so far.
But Cami was already thinking ahead, wondering how this killer had known the victims were going to be where they were.
After closing time in a dolphin pool? That wasn’t exactly an obvious place to find a murder victim. She thought she knew where that was pointing and felt eager to see if her theory was correct.
CHAPTER FOUR
Cami's eyes flew open as the plane touched down in Milwaukee. She'd been out like a light for the entire flight, so exhausted from her online activities last night that she couldn't even remember takeoff. She cast a guilty glance at Connor, wondering if he'd noticed. Hopefully he thought she was just a good sleeper on flights.
But he cast a knowing glance at her. "Busy time last night?"
She looked down.
"You'd better not be in the habit of burning the midnight oil too often," he warned. "You can't predict when cases will come along, and there won't always be a flight to catch up with sleep. We have a lot to do today. This case is urgent. When we fly into a different state, there's always more expected from us, and faster."
I should have known he'd have seen how exhausted I was, Cami thought wryly. It seemed nothing got past her part-time boss and investigation partner. Though not the sharpest when it came to IT, he didn't miss a trick when it came to human behavior and nuances.
They'd occupied seats in the front row, and as soon as the door was opened, Connor hustled out, with Cami following close behind. He got on his phone as he strode toward the exit, and cutting the call, made straight for a police officer waiting beyond. This man was in his thirties, Cami guessed. He had closely cropped brown hair and a worried expression.
"I'm Detective Welsh. Morning, Agent Connor.”
“Morning, Detective,” Connor greeted him politely. “This is the IT expert, Cami Lark,” he introduced her.
“If it's okay with you, Agent Connor, we can go straight to the aquarium," he said.
"Sure, let's do that."
“It’s good to have you on board. This case looks like it’s going to blow up in our faces. Politically, I mean. With one body discovered at a city aquarium and the other belonging to one of our major social media influencers, this killer is causing panic already.”
“When was the second body discovered?” Connor asked.
"It was discovered very early this morning when the cleaners opened up to clean the pool. The aquarium is now shut down, and people are very unhappy about it," Welsh told them.
Connor shook his head. “It’s a worrying situation,” he agreed.
They walked out of the airport to a police car that was parked in the pick-up zone. Welsh got in and opened it for them. Cami headed straight for the back seat, and Connor got in the front. He passed her the files.
"You'd better have a look at these en route," he said. "Familiarize yourself with the case."
He'd obviously done that earlier, on the plane, while she'd been snoozing. Feeling thoroughly guilty about her overnight activities, Cami took the folders and read up on her newest case, wanting to take in all the details now. Connor was speaking to Welsh, who was updating him about general crime in the area as they drove. Tuning that conversation out, Cami did as she'd been tasked and focused on the pages in front of her.
Victim number one, Leanne Hind, had been found on the shores of Lake Michigan on a hiking trail a few miles out of suburban Milwaukee. Reading further, Cami saw that Leanne was tall, blonde, and pretty. She was twenty-five years old and was a social media influencer who had seemed to lead a high profile and well-sponsored life. She represented a few major companies and brands, and also did work for the Milwaukee tourism board, promoting sites and highlights within her home city.
Patti Browne, the second victim, was older. Blonde, round-faced, and assertive looking, she was in her late thirties, Cami saw. She was a make-up artist who did special effects and movie work, and she had a very big online following. She'd been found dead at the aquarium early this morning, but her car had been in the outside parking lot overnight, according to the parking attendant.
"Both of these victims lived their lives very much online," Cami said aloud.
Connor's head turned instantly, and he glanced back at her. "Is that so?"
"Yes. Leanne was an influencer, so her activities were all shared online. And Patti shared wherever possible. I guess that's how she boosted her clientele. She was very clever about marketing herself and her make-up effects."
Cami paged further, scrolling through the online world where both these victims had been so active. Were there any other clues to be found?
"It looks as if Leanne used to pin her location regularly," Cami said. "Like, every time she went anywhere."
"So, if people had been following her online, they'd know where she was?" Connor's voice was sharp. It was clear that he was making the connection, just as she'd done.
"Correct," Cami agreed. "I think she did it for her fans and for her clients."
"So, now we know there's a potential link between the killer and the victim. If the killer followed her online, he would have known she's going to be in that area, and he could have waited for her there.”
"It would seem so," Cami said.
“I’m saying ‘he’ until we know more. We can’t rule out a strong female killer."
“Absolutely,” Welsh agreed.
She'd been so absorbed in the files that she'd barely noticed the drive from the airport to the aquarium’s entrance. Already, they were driving in. It was nearly nine in the morning, and she saw that this crime had created a minor commotion in the area.
Crime scene tape barricaded the entrance, seemingly drawing crowds of onlookers who were standing outside, looking shocked and curious.
Connor parked as close as he could, and they got out. Detective Welsh led the way. He passed the throng of people quickly, turning when he heard a shouted question.
“Any leads so far? The Milwaukee News wants to know!”
“We’re following up on all leads. The FBI is here on site. We’ll be holding a conference for the media as soon as there’s any updates,” Welsh replied calmly, but Cami could see the stress in his face as he turned and headed on.
"Morning. FBI has arrived," he greeted the police officer who was guarding the entrance.
"Go through, please. Everyone is still by the dolphin pool. Including the aquarium manager and the mayor," the police officer said, sounding less than enthusiastic about the political interference that was already descending.
The aquarium entrance looked bright and cheery, with vivid signage and paintings of fish and dolphins on the outer walls. It didn't seem the location for a crime scene, Cami thought, sensing how out of place this murder felt. Why here? she wondered. She could understand why a killer might have lain in wait on a hiking trail, but at an aquarium after hours?
Shoulder to shoulder with Officer Welsh, Connor strode through. Cami followed behind, along a paved path lined with plants, passing more walls with fishy murals. She hadn't expected a large crowd at the aquarium poolside, but as they entered the pool area, she saw that there was a lot of people at the scene.
There were first responders and a pathologist on site, she saw, guessing that retrieving the body from the deep pool must have been a difficult and specialized process. In fact, the body was still there. A stretcher, with water dripping below it, was near the edge of the pool. A pathologist was bending over it, clearly conducting an initial on-site examination.
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