The Killing Ground

“Oh, and Agent Gray?” Rebecca’s tone held a warning note. “Don’t go in without us.”

Jordan rolled her eyes and walked away. Damn infuriating woman. She stalked off to her car and called Matt. “You busy?”

“Nah.” His voice was low. Their friendship had been somewhat strained since he found out that Jordan and Rebecca were dating. His interest in Rebecca had been very real, and his pride and maybe his heart had been wounded a little in the process. “What do you have?”

“I guess you heard the news already.”

“I saw it briefly this morning. I called you.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry I didn’t hear it ring.”

“It’s no big deal.” Matt paused. “I know you’re busy.” Before Rebecca, that had been a joke that they shared. Jordan loved women, and it hadn’t escaped her partner’s notice that she was with a different one all the time. Now, it was almost as though he was censuring her for her choice in women.

It wasn’t her fault that both of them had fallen for Rebecca’s charms. Nor was it her fault that Rebecca had chosen her. It just happened that way, and right now, Matt was sorting through that. Eventually, he would get over it, and they would get back to normal, but for now, she let him rake her over the coals.

“Detective Foxx wants us both in on this. We are going back to the sperm bank. She thinks it all ties back to that somehow.”

“And why do you need me?” The question was asked innocently enough, but Jordan could hear the second part of the inquiry loud and clear. You seem to be handling it just fine on your own.

“Guess she wants your expertise. Besides, I think she could use a buffer.” Jordan admitted quietly.

“Oh yeah, piss her off already?” Matt’s tone hinted at a smile, and Jordan could almost recognize her old partner.

“Something like that.” Jordan started her car and listened as the engine revved loudly. “You in or not?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m at the office.”

“Be there in ten.” Jordan ended the call and looked up briefly, catching Rebecca’s emerald-green eyes. She could see regret in them and something else. She wasn’t sure what Rebecca was thinking, but she winced inwardly. Nothing like being someone’s morning-after remorse.

She shifted into first and shot Rebecca an apologetic smile as she started to drive away. If she had any hope of rectifying the problem, behaving like an asshole wasn’t going to be the route she took.

The ride from the office to the Helping Hands Fertilization Clinic was made in relative silence. Matt still wasn’t up to idle chitchat and rather than push the envelope of awkward silence any further, Jordan cranked up the radio and let the soulful voice of Serena Ryder fill the void.

When Rebecca pulled up, Jordan slid out of the car and stretched herself out. The unconventional choices for sex had her body totally out of whack. A person couldn’t make love in a 370Z without some pain and stiffness the next morning, and she was feeling it.

Matt studied the two of them and chuckled softly. “Well, this should be a fun morning.”

Jordan glared in his direction. “Just pay attention to the case.”

“Like you did?” Matt asked sarcastically.

Jordan swore under her breath. It was going to be a long day.

“Agents.” Rebecca’s tone was the same as she had used the first day they met, and much to their disliking, she still dropped the Special. Jordan rolled her eyes for the sake of rolling them. Their relationship aside, the least Rebecca could do was acknowledge their accomplishment in the FBI’s rank.

“Detective Jones. Detective Foxx. A pleasure to see you again, although I wish it was under different circumstances.” Matt, always the gentleman. Nice to a fault, but not missing the opportunity to throw it in Jordan’s face that he did not win the girl. Rebecca didn’t catch the underlying meaning. She shot Matt a forced smile.

“So do I. When I woke up this morning, I pictured the day going somewhat differently.”

Jordan didn’t miss the pained look that flashed across her features. The selfish side of her was glad this wasn’t any easier for Rebecca than it was for her. The rational side hoped that they both could put this behind them and concentrate on the case.

“Agent Riley, given your background in psychology, I’d like you to talk to as many of the employees here. See what you can find out. Maybe you can pick up on something we missed.” She met Rick’s questioning eyes. “Jonesy, see if you can’t get someone to open up. See if there is something that we missed the first time.

They nodded, and Rick saluted her with mock humility. “Sure thing, boss.”

“Agent Gray. You’ll be with me. I think it’s time to interview the director again.”

Jordan followed Rebecca into the building, a safe distance between them. She watched Rebecca flash her badge to a mousy looking receptionist and, for a moment, she thought she saw genuine fear in her eyes. But she masked it just as quickly.

“I’m Detective Foxx with the CDD, and these are Agents Riley and Gray with the FBI. We would like to talk to Dr. Stein, if he’s in.”

Ruth Dawson, according to the nametag on her desk, paled visibly. “Dr. Stein is no longer employed here. Our new Director is Dr. Mercer. However, the schedule is quite full today.”

If Rebecca was surprised by the news, she didn’t show it. Jordan, however, wondered what had happened to the former director and what was making Ruth Dawson so agitated.

“Let Dr. Mercer know we would like a moment of his time.” Rebecca’s tone suggested that whatever the Director had going on at this particular moment, it was going to take a back seat to their investigation.

Ruth nodded and picked up the phone. Her hand shook slightly as she dialed, and she pulled it into her lap the second she pressed the last number. Her voice, which matched her face in its sallowness, trembled somewhat. “Dr. Mercer. There’s a Detective here to see you.”

She paused then answered an unheard question. “No. The FBI is here also.” Ruth’s voice trembled again.

A loud gulp preceded Ruth’s next statement. “I tried to tell them you were busy.”

“Yes. Right away.”

Ruth hung up the phone. Her cheeks were tinged pink. Whoever the Director was, it was obvious that Ruth wasn’t a particularly big fan of him. “You can go in now.”

Rebecca and Jordan followed her finger to a set of double doors to their right. The plaque beside the door read Director-in-Charge, Dr. M. Mercer.

As they walked away, Matt slid into a chair and smiled at Ruth. Jordan saw her relax visibly. Maybe Rebecca’s idea to pull him in wasn’t such a bad one after all.

Rebecca pushed the door open and walked into a large, well-appointed office overlooking the Chicago River. Situated opposite the door was a huge mahogany desk that was at least eight feet wide. A large wingback chair sat empty behind it. She looked around the room, searching for its occupant.

To their left was a small unmarked door and beside it, a large leather sofa. In addition to the sofa was a small coffee table with copies of the latest baby magazines displayed tastefully. To the right was a wall of built-ins filled with medical journals. The walls were covered with evenly spaced pictures, each marking a different phase of pregnancy.

Jordan stole glances of Rebecca’s face as she scanned the empty room, and at the sound of running water from behind the door, jumped slightly. When the door opened, Jordan’s jaw dropped.

Mistaking the look of shock for their obvious assumption that Dr. Mercer was a man, Rebecca flashed her badge again. “Dr. Mercer. Detective Foxx. CDD.”

“Yes, Detective, I remember you.” Dr. Mercer smiled. “You’ve been on this investigation a long time.” Her eyes met Jordan’s, and a look of recognition flashed in her eyes before she carefully schooled her features to nonchalance. “You are?”

Jordan fumbled for her badge. “Special Agent Gray. FBI.”

Dr. Mercer smirked slightly. Her eyes raked over Jordan’s body lasciviously, and for a moment, her mind flashed back to their brief encounter. “Dr. Meghan Mercer. A pleasure to see you again, Agent.”

Jordan swallowed nervously. She was looking into the bemused eyes of the woman she had met at the gym and traded blows and much more than that with. She reddened slightly as she remembered what had happened between them. Suddenly, things had gotten complicated. “Ahh, you too.”