Chapter 9 #2
Claire was staring at the phone as if it might explode. “Derek Sullivan.” Her voice was incredulous. “You think Derek is the Countdown Killer?”
“I think the timing is suspicious,” Reeves said.
“I’m having his apartment searched right now, and we’re checking all flights to Montana.
So far, we’ve found nothing on the manifests under Derek Sullivan, but we’re looking for anagrams and scrambled versions of his name in case he’s using an alias.
His computer forensics are being pulled.
Financial records, travel history, everything. ”
“What’s his background?” Garrett asked. “Military? Law enforcement?”
More page shuffling. “Former Navy. He was an electronics technician with four years of active duty and an honorable discharge. He joined the FBI as a contractor about five years ago, as Claire mentioned. He has a spotless record. No red flags.” Reeves paused.
“Until now. I’m sending you what we’ve got so far, Claire. Look it over and see what you think.”
Claire’s face had gone pale. “Derek was always so nice. So helpful. Whenever my computer crashed or my phone acted up, he’d fix it for me. He’d even come to my desk to help me in person if I couldn’t figure something out.”
Garrett’s blood ran cold. “In person? He had physical access to your work computer?”
“And my phone,” Claire said slowly. Her eyes widened. “Oh my god. He had my phone. Multiple times. He could have installed the spyware himself.”
“How long have you known him?” Vivi asked gently.
“Since I joined BAU.” Claire’s voice was shaking. “He was just...Derek. Quiet. Friendly. Always willing to help. I trusted him.”
“You know that’s what predators do,” Garrett said. “They build trust. Make themselves indispensable. Get close to their victims without raising suspicion.”
Claire dropped her head into her hands and groaned. “It never crossed my mind that he was anything but a decent guy.”
Lynx looked up from his screen. “Commander, Derek Sullivan legally changed his name before entering the Navy.”
Everyone turned to Lynx.
“Changed it from what?” Garrett asked.
Lynx’s face was grim. “Derek Brands.”
The name hung in the air like a bomb.
Claire’s mouth fell open. “ As in...Collin Brands?”
Garrett felt like he’d been punched in the chest. “What’s the connection?” Garrett forced the words out. His voice sounded distant, hollow.
Lynx was typing rapidly. “He’s a distant cousin of Collin. Looks like they share a great-grandmother. Different branches of the family tree. No close contact on record, but...”
When he didn’t finish, Garrett barked, “But what?”
“Derek’s parents died when he was sixteen in a car accident. He went to live with relatives, including, briefly, with Collin’s family.” Lynx looked up. “He was seventeen when Lily Harper was murdered, and was living two hundred miles away with another branch of the family by then.”
On the other end of the line, Reeves swore. “None of that surfaced in our investigation, but we just got started. Can you send me a copy of that for my team?”
Lynx glanced at Garrett. Claire did, too. “Of course we will,” she said without waiting for his consent. “We’re all on the same team here.”
“I’ll alert the local FBI office and get you whatever resources you need,” the SAC said, then disconnected.
“So Derek knew Collin,” Claire said. Her voice was shaking. “He knew the man who killed Lily. Maybe even...”
She couldn’t finish. Didn’t need to.
“Maybe he was there when it happened,” Garrett said. The words tasted like acid. “The night Lily died. You said your memories were fragmented. That you couldn’t remember clearly because of the head injury.”
“I remember one man,” she insisted. “But yes, I was concussed. Terrified. It was dark.” Her hands were trembling. “There could have been two. Derek could have been there, and I just...I don’t remember.”
Vivi typed on her tablet. “That would explain how our killer knows details that were sealed in the case files about you.”
Garrett’s chest constricted. Derek had been there, or had at least known Collin Brands personally. If Collin had talked to him about his plans, Derek would have heard about Lily’s family. About her half-brother, who rarely visited.
Would have known Bobby existed.
“Find him,” Garrett said to Lynx. His voice was steel. “I want this bastard. Now.”
“Already on it.” The center screen filled with data Lynx was pulling. “But Commander, if he’s as good as the spyware suggests, he’ll be covering his tracks.”
“Then we track him by what he can’t hide.” Garrett moved to the tactical map. “Blackridge isn’t that big. He can’t hide for long. The locals will flag him as an out-of-towner. We can use that to our advantage. We need boots on the ground in town, going place to place, home to home.”
Garrett looked at his team. At Claire, still pale but determined. At Vivi, already lining up more operatives to join them. “This isn’t only about stopping the Countdown Killer from targeting Claire.”
“What do you mean?” Hawk asked.
Garrett’s eyes met Claire’s across the table. Saw the same rage, the same need for justice burning in her gaze. “It’s about finishing what started fifteen years ago,” he said. “And making sure this predator never hurts anyone again.”
On the main screen, a photo appeared. Derek Sullivan’s FBI contractor ID. Brown hair, average features, unremarkable. The kind of face you’d see and forget.
Except Claire would never forget it now. And neither would Garrett. “Send it to our local law enforcement office,” Garrett said. “I want everyone hunting him.”