Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Later that night…
Emmett kept a hand resting low against Janie’s back and his head on a constant swivel. The hand thing was automatic. His way of keeping her close for the woman’s own safety.
Is that it, or are you using this as an excuse to touch her?
He dropped that hand as soon as the soles of their shoes touched the sidewalk’s rounded curb.
“Okay, even you have to admit coming here late at night is pretty dang creepy.”
His lips twitched as they continued straight, rather than taking the front door. The place was closed for the day and would be locked up tight. Which meant they’d have to get inside through different means.
“I just hope Talia’s friend is already here.”
“Dr. O’Neill?” Janie glanced over at him. “Didn’t she say she was only a few minutes away when she texted you?”
“She did, but that was twenty minutes ago.” A lot can happen in that time. “But you’re right about the other.”
They continued down the dimly lit sidewalk.
“The other?”
Emmett spared a quick glance Janie’s way. “The thought of going into a place like this after dark is creepy. And we haven’t even gotten inside.” He gave her a wink.
Janie’s soft chuckle cut through the cool evening air. “Guess it’s a good thing I have you to protect me,” she teased with a friendly nudge.
His smile grew a fraction, but he didn’t chuckle or laugh because keeping this woman safe was his number one priority.
Amy Weaver may not be a missing person any longer, but Janie’s life was still very much in danger. And until her attacker was found and the threats to her ceased to exist, Emmett wasn’t about to leave her side.
“This way.” His hand returned to her back as they made a left down the alley running along the rear of the massive building.
“What about cameras?” Janie began a visual search around them. “I didn’t even think about that until now, but what if someone sees us? Surely this place has twenty-four-hour security.”
“It does, which is why Dr. O’Neill said to meet her around back. As for the cameras, we’ve already got that covered.”
Janie was quiet before asking, “Blake?”
Her correct guess made Emmett grin. “I sent him a text as soon as we parked.” Emmett continued to scan the shadows around them. “I’ll send him another one as soon as we know for sure our friend is going to show, and he’ll take care of the rest.”
“There.” Janie pointed to a car parked near the loading garage door. “That car looks expensive, and she is the country’s leading forensics expert. It has to be hers, right?”
A low whistle blew from Emmett’s pursed lips when he caught sight of the luxury sedan. “Yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet.”
He studied the S-Class Mercedez Benz a bit closer as they grew nearer. Moonlight white paint. All-wheel drive. Panoramic sunroof and he bet if he looked under the hood, he’d see an engine most car lovers would drool over.
He slid a sideways glance her way. “That car right there will run you about two-hundred thirty grand.”
“Two-hundred and thirty thousand dollars?” Janie’s almond-shaped eyes grew wide and round at his revelation. “For a car?”
“You read up on O’Neill after she called to set up the meet. The woman makes a shit ton of money doing what she does.”
Emmett had done his own research on the world-renowned, independent forensics analyst. Dr. O’Neill’s consulting costs alone would require most people to take out a second mortgage.
“Boy, am I in the wrong business,” Janie muttered beneath her breath.
He chuckled. “You and me both, sweetheart.”
The term of endearment was a slip of the tongue and one hundred percent unintended. Janie’s blue eyes met his before skittering nervously away.
Way to send the woman mixed signals, asshole.
Emmett opened his mouth to apologize for the verbal blunder but was interrupted by a different woman’s voice and the sound of a car door being shut.
“You must be Emmett Shaw.” An attractive redhead smiled as she met them near the closed garage door. “I’m Scarlett.” She held out a hand and waited. “Talia’s told me a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope.”
“Of course.” The two shared a friendly shake before the redhead turned Janie’s way. “And you’re Janie, right?”
“Janie Reynolds.” They greeted one another with a quick handshake. “It’s very nice to meet you, Dr. O’Neill.”
“It’s nice to meet you both, as well. And please, call me Scarlett.” Her red lips spread into a friendly grin. “Dr. O’Neill makes me sound like my father.” A quick roll of her eyes. “Come on. Let’s get you inside before someone sees.”
He and Janie waited a few feet back while Scarlett used her employee I.D. to activate the door.
“I like her already,” Janie whispered for his ears only.
Mechanical gears began to move, and the heavy door’s pulley system lifted the metal barrier up along its rails.
A blast of cold air hit as the redhead led them into the covered space.
As soon as the three of them were fully inside, Scarlett pushed a button and the door paused before lowering itself back down to the ground.
“I thought you were an independent consultant.” Janie walked between him and the friendly doc. “But that’s a District Office of the ME badge you just used.”
Scarlett’s heels clicked across the concrete floor. “I’m independent, yes, but I also work closely with Dr. Nguyen.” She referred to the Chief Medical Examiner for D.C. “Like I explained to Talia when she called, a case like this, even a presumed suicide, would be handed directly to him.”
“Because of Amy’s connection with the White House?” Janie asked next.
Talia’s friend nodded with a grin. “That’s exactly it. And like I told Emmett when I reached out to him earlier, records for ongoing cases with a direct line to the White House are almost always kept on paper in Dr. Nguyen’s office until they’ve officially been closed.”
“I assume that’s a safeguard to prevent records being hacked?” Emmett guess.
Scarlett smiled. “Talia said you were quick on the uptick.” She used her badge to open another secured door.
“Oh, wow.” Janie hugged herself close. “This place is freezing.”
“This is nothing.” Scarlett held the door so they could walk past. “You should feel what it’s like where the bodies are kept.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” his partner in crime quipped.
Emmett looked at Janie before mouthing the word “creepy” with a waggle of his brows. He nearly chuckled aloud when she pulled her lips inward to keep from laughing as they followed Scarlett down the lengthy hall.
“The Chief’s office is through here.”
The impressive woman led them through a set of double-doors, which opened into another long hallway. She stopped at the last door on the right. Mounted on the wall next to the doorframe was informative plaque that read Chief Medical Examiner.
Janie eyed the electronic keypad attached to the door. “It takes a code?” She looked to Scarlett. “How are we going to get inside?”
“Easy.” Scarlett shrugged. “I know the code.”
“The chief gave you the code to his personal office?” Emmett shared in Janie’s surprise.
“I wouldn’t exactly say he gave it to me.” She opened the door and stepped aside, giving them room to pass. “But I may have seen him enter it the first time I was here.”
“And you remembered it?” He found that impressive.
A shimmer appeared behind Scarlett’s green eyes as a knowing smile lifted her full, bow-shaped lips. “Talia didn’t tell you much about me, did she?”
“Just that you were incredibly smart and the best at what you do.”
“She’s right on both counts.” The woman shrugged.
“And that’s not me being conceded or arrogant.
It’s just a fact. But what I’m guessing our mutual friend failed to mention is that I have what’s known medically as a Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory.
Basically, it’s what people think of when they hear ‘photographic memory’. ”
Janie slid awkwardly to the nearest corner as if she wasn’t sure where to stand. “So you see something one time, and then what? You remember it for the rest of your life?”
“Pretty much.”
“Wow.” Scarlett’s long lashes fluttered with several quick blinks. “That’s such an incredible gift.”
“Most days, it is. Others, not so much.” Scarlett went to one of five file cabinets lining the room’s far wall.
Emmett stood inches from Janie while the spunky redhead pulled something small and silver from her front pocket. Within seconds, she was using the small tool to pick open the top drawer’s lock.
“Okay, seriously.” Janie gave a tiny snort. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
The lock clicked loudly, announcing it had been set free. Scarlett opened the drawer and immediately began a cursory search of the hanging files inside.
“Cook,” she answered bluntly. “I’ve tried countless times, but I always end up burning whatever I’m trying to make. Here we go.” Scarlett pulled one of the files free and faced them. “This is everything Nguyen has on Amy Weaver so far.”
He and Janie joined her at the well-organized desk. Together they hovered around the opened file and began a quick scan of its contents.
“What are you looking for?” Janie asked Scarlett as she flipped through the pages of scribbled notes and photos.
Emmett was impressed by her show of strength. A few of the pictures made her flinch, but even then, she never once looked away.
When Scarlett didn’t respond, Janie added, “The news said it was a suicide.”
Scarlett tucked some hair behind her ear to move it from her face. “It wasn’t a suicide.”
Emmett’s spine grew stiff as he and Janie immediately turned toward the other woman. “You can tell just by looking at a few pictures?”
Rather than give him a yes or no answer, Scarlett pulled one of the photos from the stack of papers and placed it on top for them to see. “A piece of rope had been tied around one of Amy’s ankles.” She pointed to the zoomed-in image.