Chapter 54
Jane spent the rest of her week writing reports. She had so much evidence to collect, files to collate, and calls to return that she didn’t have time to breathe until the weekend.
A text from her cousin came in. This is taking forever.
Be patient, Jane texted back.
After her Saturday morning run, she returned to clean up and spent her day goofing off. A walk through Pike Place market. A stroll downtown and then up to Seattle Center, where she happened upon an art exhibit full of paintings, dancers, and musicians.
She stopped to munch on some amazing cinnamon soft pretzels from a food truck that cost more than she’d normally pay. But hey, it was a festival.
The temperature felt lovely, just two days short of autumn. The wind whipped falling leaves over grass that hadn’t yet gone dormant. Mums still bloomed in pots and containers, framing stages where young performers gathered.
Families and friends laughed and strolled, a feeling of community that warmed Jane and reminded her that just because she chose to be alone didn’t mean there wasn’t room for more.
As if she’d conjured him, a familiar face appeared near a food truck. He glanced around, then moved behind it.
Conscious that she might be watched by any number of people, including nosy Lionel Gambol, Jane strolled casually behind the food truck.
When she saw Gunther Rapp standing tall and doing a poor job of hiding behind a beanie and fake beard, she slugged him in the arm.
“Ow.”
“What the heck, Gunther? Why did you interrupt my takedown of Victor Bednarek?”
He grinned, his gaze a touch wicked. “Jane Cannon. Man, you are looking fierce. Catch any killers lately?” He gave her a onceover that shouldn’t have made her blush but did…until he frowned. “Are you eating enough?”
“Really? That’s all you have to say to me? What are you doing here?”
“Me? I’m visiting Seattle. Having a great time.”
She felt more than saw movement to her left. But when she turned and spotted Diego approaching with a tray of food, he saw her, stopped dead, and turned right around.
“Damn it. I’m hungry,” Gunther complained. “Way to scare off my meal.”
She turned back to Gunther, aware he loomed. He was very good at looming. Annoyed that she’d actually missed him and Diego, she tried to hold onto her irritation. “Admit Lionel called you in.”
“I admit nothing.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I was in the city for something, and he asked if I’d do him a small favor. I did, it’s done, and we’re not supposed to talk about it.”
She sighed. “Freaking Lionel.”
Gunther frowned. “I heard you had a tough one on this case. I’m really sorry about Matthew Scott.”
She swallowed around the knot in her throat. “Yeah, me too. He turned out to be a great guy after all.”
“So I heard.” He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
Then he dropped his hand and took a step back.
“I need to get going. Please don’t tell Lionel we talked.
He threatened me with all kinds of horrible things if I so much as looked your way.
The guy has eyes in the back of his head.
I need to go. If you need me, text me.” He took out his phone and punched a few numbers.
Her phone beeped.
“That’s my new number. File me under Mr. Handsome or Hot Guy. Something codelike.” He shot her a grin and walked away.
Jane swore he vanished between one blink and the next.
Well, at least Gunther’s presence made sense. But that didn’t explain the shooter or if Gunther might know his identity.
Hmm. Diego had been bringing him food. What had he said before? Something about getting the team back together? Oh boy. Did that mean Gina Holtz was swinging by as well? Jane hoped not.
She walked back through Seattle Center, paying less attention to the arts and families around her while a part of her was very aware of familiar faces and patterns and movements.
She shot her cousin a text.
Raine texted back, Nothing yet. This is KILLING me.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Jane smiled and took her time walking home.
* * *
Later that evening, she decided to go out for another run.
She ran a route she didn’t normally take, enjoying the excursion through the crisp night air. The moon had risen, and she let herself speed up, as if chasing a suspect.
The burn in her muscles made her feel alive. All thoughts but speed and force narrowed into a desire to win at all costs.
The loop concluded, and she sprinted the last two hundred meters home, then walked for a bit to cool down. She passed an older woman walking a Pekinese, two cats brawling who saw her and raced away. A few teenagers sat by the park on their phones, jeering and hassling each other over some game.
Jane took a moment to appreciate life. Since Matthew, she was learning to sometimes stop and smell the roses, to not mind the thorns so much.
And speaking of thorns…
Jane checked for messages on her Apple watch. Ah, one from her cousin.
Two emojis. A smiley face and a gun.
Raine had issues.
But Jane couldn’t help laughing.
Once back inside her apartment, she locked up behind her and took a deep, cleansing breath, resting with her back against the door.
She frowned, the living room darker than she’d left it. Had a lightbulb burned out?
A form coalesced from the shadows and stepped out, holding a gun centered on her chest.
“Hello, Agent Cannon. Time to put our challenge to the test.”
Jane gave a slow smile. “Casimir Bednarek. Rook. I’ve been waiting for you.”