Chapter 4
Parker
It was still fairly chilly when we left Virginia, so arriving in the small town of Selene, Texas, was a bit of a surprise.
I suppose I should have expected the change in temperature when I stepped off the plane, but having been raised in the North East and then staying there as an adult, I wasn’t used to April being quite so… warm.
There was little chatter amongst our group as we loaded into the two waiting vans.
Only five of us made it onto the task force team, and I had a feeling that I was an unexpected last-minute add-on, if the expressions of two of the more senior agents were anything to go by.
I did my best to ignore them. I wasn’t going to let anyone ruin this for me.
They were all in my place at one time. If they didn’t push their way onto a case they were passionate about, then that was their problem, not mine.
Our luggage was shoved into the back of the vans, but I wasn’t the only one who held on to my satchel. No one wanted to risk having their laptops lost or damaged. The ride wasn’t long, but it was tedious. Just as it had been on the plane, I felt as if I were being watched, judged… criticized.
Monique jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow and leaned over to whisper in my ear.
“Girl, stop letting these fools get to you. You have every right to be here just like we do.” She sat back and glanced at the other FBI agent who was riding in the van with us, then back to me.
“Welcome to the team, Special Agent Parker.”
I felt the emphasis she’d put on my title, as I was certain the other agent had as well. It was a good reminder that we were equals in rank, even if I was the youngest and the least experienced. I was every bit as qualified as the rest of the team. I offered her a grateful smile.
The other agent gave a grudging smile at me when I glanced his way.
That was fine. I understood how competitive our jobs could be when it came to advancement.
I was not only the youngest, but I was also the newest team member.
While each of our jobs was important, I wasn’t irreplaceable.
There were a hundred others ready and eager to take my place.
But I had something that most of the others didn’t. While for most it was a job, a job they were even passionate about, for me, it was my whole goddamn life. I had a burning need inside me to see every single serial killer behind bars.
I spent every day of the last six years doing everything I could to be right where I was at that very moment.
I lived and breathed school, studying, testing, even strengthening myself physically, just so I could make it into Quantico, and finally right here in this van on my way into a small town in the middle of nowhere, Texas, because that’s where a serial killer is hiding.
I was going to find the fucker and put him behind bars.
We started leaving behind the long roads we’d been travelling down with the vast expanse of fields lined with fences.
Cattle had been grazing, though I hadn’t really been paying much attention as my thoughts drifted towards the case I had been poring over since Monique had shoved the folder at me.
There was a woman killer somewhere in the area, a murderer whose modus operandi too closely resembled my sister’s killer.
My sister’s killer, who had suddenly vanished without a trace after Mariposa’s body was found displayed for all to see.
I squeezed my eyes closed and fisted my hands until my fingernails dug sharply into my palms. I let the pain wash over me for a moment, sinking into the abyss without conscious thought.
With a gasp, I jerked my hands open and stared down at half-moon cuts in my flesh where small beads of crimson were welling up.
“Oh, shit,” Monique swore as she leaned over, alerted by my reaction. She reached for my hands, but I quickly closed my fists again, ignoring the sting as my nails dug back into the grooves.
“It’s fine.” I gave her a fake smile, willing myself not to tear up at my weakness. “I was just thinking about my sister. I’m okay, though. Are we there yet?” I asked, turning to look out the van window, seeing that we had entered the town.
We pulled up to the inn and all filed out of the vans, each of us grabbing our bags from the back of the ones we’d been riding in.
I glanced around, admiring the pretty house that had been turned into the bed-and-breakfast that we were supposed to be staying at while in Texas.
It looked so much better than a hotel. The large house was painted a cheerful blue with white trim.
Baskets of flowers hung along the porch awning while large planters overflowing with flowers of different kinds and bright colors led up the walkway.
It provided a cheerful explosion of color, making the inn inviting and homey.
Looking at the place, you would never be able to tell that this town and the entire surrounding area were under the threat of a monster.
“All right, let’s all head inside and get checked in.
We need to drop our bags off quickly before we head to the local police station.
” SSA Walker called. He was already walking up the pathway lined with small river rock to the front door.
I heard the low chime of a bell ring out as he opened the door and stepped inside.
I lingered back, waiting for everyone else to head in first. When I finally stepped in, pulling my small rolling suitcase behind me and my satchel over my shoulder, I was greeted with the scent of vanilla and chocolate, making my stomach growl in appreciation.
The foyer was crowded with my four coworkers as they bunched together near the small check-in desk. I couldn’t help but admire it.
The desk appeared to be an antique dresser that had been repurposed.
It fit in nicely with the rest of the decor.
What I guessed had once been a living room or family gathering room was now an informal sitting room for guests.
A fireplace against the far wall was currently unlit, seeing as how it was already spring in Texas and much too warm for an indoor fire.
The inside of the fireplace had been cleaned out for the season.
Instead of logs, there was a fancy floral arrangement with candleholders set inside the hearth.
Everywhere I looked, I saw antique-looking decor from the wall sconces to the landscape paintings. It was very charming.
Words from someone I assumed was the owner caught my attention, bringing me back to the present from my perusal of the room. I frowned as I finally caught what she was saying.
“I am so sorry about the mix-up. I had expected only four guests.”
The older woman was wringing her hands as she glanced around at the five of us.
She did look sincerely apologetic. She was a pretty woman with dark brown hair, silver strands liberally spread throughout.
She had pretty features, and I could tell that she had been a beautiful woman when she was younger and, honestly, still was today.
I could only hope that when I was her age, I would look as lovely as she did.
Unfortunately, with the stress I felt I was constantly under, I highly doubted that I would get away with only a few wrinkles.
Another woman walked through an open doorway behind her, and it was very apparent that they were related.
If I had to guess, I would say that they were sisters.
She was carrying a plate full of what appeared to be chocolate chip cookies, smiling warmly.
I knew then that the wonderful vanilla smell lingering in the room came from her baking, and my stomach twisted with hunger again.
SSA Walker and the first woman were trying to come up with solutions to the apparent bedroom issue, or lack thereof. I glanced between the two while they continued discussing the dilemma.
“Do you have a room with two beds in it?” he was asking. She was already shaking her head no before he’d even finished the question.
“I’m so sorry, all of our rooms are single rooms, each with one king-size bed. I truly am sorry.” SSA Walker turned to glance between Monique and me.
“Would you girls mind sharing a bed?” he asked with one raised eyebrow.
I wanted to roll my eyes. Of course, it had to be the only two women who would be required to share.
I glanced at Monique and saw that she was already looking at me with a slight grimace.
I understood her feelings on the matter.
Yes, we were coworkers, and I would say, out of everybody I worked with, we were the closest to what could be considered friends, but I still didn’t know her well enough to share a room.
Certainly not well enough to share a bed with her. I gave her my own weak smile.
Monique turned to our team leader. “No offense to Parker, but I really don’t relish the idea of sharing a bed with anybody other than my husband.”
I nodded my agreement. I didn’t have a husband, or any partner for that matter, but I completely understood. I gave a one shoulder shrug “That would be a little awkward,” I agreed.
With an annoyed glance between the two of us, SSA Walker turned back to the owner. “Do any of the furniture in the rooms turn into pull-out beds?”
Again, she shook her head no. “I’m so sorry. Our rooms are generally for couples, not for families. Not that I’m against having family stay here,” she was quick to add. “It’s just that our rooms are only set up for one person or a couple.”
“Do you have any rollaway beds here?” he pushed.
“No, I truly am sorry.”