“That’s right,” Meredith said.
“Then how did she get into the academy in the first place?” Rileyasked.
Meredith steepled his fingers, swiveled slightly in his chair,and smiled.
“The same way you did, Agent Paige. She solved a case as acivilian, fresh out of college. The FBI took notice, and the requirement forprior law enforcement work was waived for her. Like you, she did well in thesummer intern program, and then at the academy. So we’re giving her a chance inthe BAU. I’m told she has a lot of promise.”
Bill felt a tingle of curiosity. He knew that Riley had beenrecruited by her mentor, Jake Crivaro, after solving a spate of serial killingsat the college where she’d been a student. Like the new agent, Riley hadexcelled in the intern program and at the academy.
Is this kid going to be a young version of Riley? hewondered.
He wasn’t sure he liked the idea. He was somewhat dismayed at theidea of Riley working with another partner at all, but especially with such agreen one.
Meredith leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve got my reasons for sending the kid out on this case,” hesaid. “For one thing, it shouldn’t be too challenging for her. A womandisappeared in Winneway, Maryland, about a year ago. Her body was finally foundlast night. The sheriff thinks the killer is going to strike again, so he wantsour help.”
Bill squinted skeptically and asked, “Has the sheriff gotanything more than a hunch about this?”
Riley added, “Why does he think the killer is going to go serial?”
Meredith said, “It’s got something to do with a couple ofanonymous messages the police received. I’m hazy on the details, but it soundsto me like the cops there are the victims of some sort of prank, nothing theBAU is needed for, certainly not a serial. You’ll probably go there and turnright around and come back again. But at least it will give the kid a chance toput her toe in the water.”
Bill found himself bristling with resentment in spite of himself.
Keep it to yourself, he thought. He knew it was never agood idea to contradict Meredith’s orders. Even so, he blurted, “Sir, I can’tsay I’m happy to be sidelined on this case. “
Meredith leaned across the desk and peered at him sternly.
“Agent Jeffreys, what part of what I just said didn’t youunderstand?”
Bill cringed at what was surely coming next.
Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut?
Meredith growled, “I don’t think this is a real case, AgentJeffreys. I sure as hell don’t think it’s a serial killer, just some dumbprank. Sending you would be overkill. Besides, I think it would be best forthis kid to work with another woman one on one. That’s final.”
“I understand, sir,” Bill said.
“Do you?” Meredith said. He glanced back and forth between Rileyand Bill and knitted his brow and drummed his fingers on his desk.
He said, “I’ve got an odd feeling something’s going on here.”
Bill felt his face flush. He glanced and saw that Riley, too, wasblushing.
Once again, Meredith’s instincts were proving to be uncanny. Heclearly sensed that something had changed between Bill and Riley—althoughsurely he hadn’t figured out exactly what that something was.
“Is there something the two of you aren’t telling me?” Meredithsaid.
“No, sir,” Riley murmured.
“Everything’s fine, sir,” Bill added meekly.
As soon as the words were out, Bill thought, Did Riley and Ijust lie to Brent Meredith?
In fact, they had, and Bill knew it. Not only had they lied, butthey’d lied badly, with faces glowing like traffic lights.
Meredith’s suspicions must be rising by the second.
Bill glanced at Riley and could tell they were both thinking thesame thing.
Should we just tell him?
Riley shook her head slightly. Bill silently agreed.
At last, Meredith leaned back in his chair.
He said, “Jeffreys, if you’re all that anxious to be involved,just hang around the building today. If there turns out to be anything to thiscase, you’ll be able to do some research.”
Bill felt stung.
Research?
Meredith surely knew how he was making Bill feel by offering hima lowly support task.
He’s sure not happy with Riley and me, Bill thought.
Meredith glanced at his watch and said, “Well, young Agent Esmerought to be here any minute. I hear she’s prompt, I guess we’ll find out. AgentPaige, I want you to take our new agent and drive a company car over toWinneway as soon as she gets here. It’s just about an hour away. My guess isyou’ll get to the bottom of this prank and get back here tomorrow morning.Leave the murder itself to the local cops. It’s not our job.”
Just then the office door opened, and a young woman steppedinside.
“I hope I’m not late,” she said.
From his first glimpse of Agent Ann Marie Esmer, Bill had thefeeling that Riley and the girl probably weren’t going to be a good mix—evenfor just a day’s work debunking some sort of prank. He couldn’t help feel justa bit relieved.
At least I don’t have to worry about a competing partner,he thought.
CHAPTER FOUR
Riley kept glancing at her new partner as she pulled onto the interstateto drive away from Quantico. Somehow, she couldn’t quite believe that Ann MarieEsmer was really an FBI recruit.
At the moment, the young woman was on her cell phone talking tothe county sheriff over in Maryland, telling him that she and Riley were ontheir way, and she was making arrangements for them to meet him. Ann Marie wasjotting down notes as she talked.
Her voice, ultra-polite and ultra-cheerful, sounded to Riley likesome kind of high-end receptionist, or maybe a voiceover artist on a TVcommercial. She was good-looking—actually remarkably pretty, with sparklingblue eyes and blond hair pulled back and arranged so perfectly that it musthave been styled at a beauty shop.
Ann Marie had shown up at Meredith’s office properly preparedwith a go-bag, as had both Riley and Bill. She’d obviously understood the needto be ready to pick up and go at the slightest notice. She was also dressedsensibly enough, in a simple slack suit with practical shoes. Even so, theclothes looked new and expensive, and she was wearing a patterned scarf withcolors that seemed to be
