The car stopped, and Randall got out.
His right eye twitching, Ashford tossed the man his wife would be flying off with a hard glare before facing Devlin. “I’d sure like to know more about this guy you’ve been spending so much time with.”
She scooped up her bag, planted a longer smooch on his lips, and backed away. “You will...when this is all over.”
“In the last week,” Ashford gestured toward Randall, “he’s seen more of you than I have,” before dropping hands onto hips.
“After I find Faith, I promise I’ll introduce you to him.”
“Wait up a second.”
She stopped.
He drew close and embraced her. “You take care of yourself, Jess.”
“I will.”
He pecked the side of her neck before pulling away, taking hold of her shoulders, and regarding her. “Call me if there’s anything I can do from this end. Faith’s my family, too.”
Devlin’s heart skipped a beat at his words. Faith’s my family, too. “I will.”
∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞
.
Chapter 4
Crime Scene
3:51 P.M. (LOCAL TIME)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
BELLTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
Back in Alexandria, Devlin had broken the news about her sister’s disappearance to her boss, Marissa Thorn, Deputy Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. Thorn then made a few calls and managed to get Devlin and Randall on an FBI Gulfstream V taking off from Ronald Reagan Airport.
Upon landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Devlin and Randall had climbed into the car Detective Harker had sent for them, his own dark blue Dodge Charger. A mid-twenties officer in uniform had instructed them to ‘buckle up’ before she had sped out of the airport.
Twenty minutes later, riding in the backseat of the Charger, still in his dress clothes from the funeral, Devlin on his right, Randall spied her before glancing out his window. “So it appears your husband doesn’t really care all that much for me, does he?”
Now wearing blue jeans, a white blouse, a lightweight navy-blue blazer, and brown Merrell Moab 2 Mid hiking boots—she had retrieved the change of clothing from her duffle bag during the flight—Devlin faced the fellow passenger. “What makes you say that?”
“In contrast to women, guys aren’t as,” he paused, “worried...about hurting another guy’s feelings. And, back at the cemetery, I definitely caught the message your husband was sending my way.” Randall smiled. “Trust me. He doesn’t like me.”
“He doesn’t know you...the way I do.” She looked out her window at the hustle and bustle of the trendy neighborhood around her. “He’s a good man. He’s a smart man. I’m confident that once he gets to know you, he’ll come around.”
Randall eyed the back of her head and chuckled inwardly. Oh, if it were only that simple between alpha males.
Its wipers clearing away water from the windshield, the Dodge slowed before stopping at the curb outside a high-rise apartment building.
Recognizing the facade from previous visits, Devlin pulled on her door handle, “We’re here,” and stepped out into a light rain coming down under gloomy skies. The hint of humidity in the air made her skin feel clammy and forced her lungs to work harder. She hurried toward the structure’s front door.
The trio entered the lobby and headed for the elevator, Devlin in the lead. Once inside, the cop pressed the ‘3’ button, and everyone’s knees wobbled a bit as the car lifted its commuters.
Facing the control panel, her short blonde hair tucked neatly under her hat, the five-six law enforcement official cranked her head toward the marshal on her left. “I’m sorry to hear about your sister.”
Devlin nodded. “Thank you.”
“After I graduated from the academy, Faith—” the LEO shook her head, “Detective Mahoney really helped me out during that first year of service. I was having a tough time making the transition into police work. She was a patrol officer at the time, and she took me under her wing...showed me how to handle certain situations.”
Devlin let a simple smile come and go. That sounds like Faith...always taking in strays.
“My training officer was,” the female cop faltered, “well let’s just say I don’t think he liked the idea of women on the force.”
Randall huffed. After all these years, the prejudice still exists.
“He was old-school and near retirement, so I think he—” she waved a hand, “anyway, your sister and me spent many a night talking and crying. Well,” her cheeks flushing a bit, the officer looked away, “okay, I did the crying.”
Devlin glanced behind her and exchanged a silent look of amusement with Randall.
“We’ve remained good friends ever since. And I owe,” a moment passed while the woman stared at the steel doors, “I owe her a lot.” Another second ticked by. “I guess what I’m trying to say is if it weren’t for her,” the LEO came back to Devlin, “I doubt I’d be standing here today...wearing this uniform.”
Randall poked his chin at the reminiscing woman. “And the people of Seattle are better off because you are wearing that uniform.”
“Thank you, sir.” She flipped a wrist and spied her watch. “My shift ends in a little while, but,” she plucked a business card from a chest pocket and extended the offering to the other woman, “if I can help with anything while you’re in town...”
Devlin accepted the card.
“...please feel free to call me—day or night.”
Devlin read the name. “Thank you, Officer Duncan. I—”
“Patricia.”
Devlin smiled. “I appreciate the gesture, Patricia.”
“While I’m not sure how much help I can be—I understand Detective Harker has allocated quite a few resources to this case—know that I’ll...”
A bell chimed and the doors parted.
“...do whatever I can to assist you in finding your sister.”
Devlin stowed the business card in a blazer pocket. “Thank you again, Patricia. I’m glad Faith was there for you.”
Officer Duncan exited the elevator. “And now I want to be there for her.”
*******
The first thing Devlin noticed upon entering her sister’s apartment was the large patch of discolored carpeting at her feet. The shape of the dried blood could have passed for a gruesome welcome mat.
“Thank you for coming, Marshal Devlin.” Forty-five,
