“You’re not giving me some crap about a split personality,” Quinn muttered.
“No. Adam is fully aware of who he is. For him, it’s image. He needs to think of himself as strong, successful, virile. That’s Trask. I think his sexual dysfunction is growing because we know who he really is. While we don’t know enough about his childhood to figure out what caused this, he doesn’t know that. He assumes we know everything.”
Dillon looked from Quinn to Kate. “You’re not safe, Kate. Not until he’s caught.”
“He can’t get to me,” she said.
“Did you get a good look at that woman?” Dillon asked.
She nodded. “She looks just like me.”
When Kate Donovan walked into the Seattle field office heads turned. She entered with her head held high, her pride intact, but inside she was scared. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Jeff Merritt since the day Paige had died, when he’d told her he’d track her down to the ends of the earth.
There was nothing he, personally, could do except bring her in front of OPR. They would launch an investigation-one she knew had been going on for years-into the op that had gotten Paige and Evan killed. She didn’t know what they believed or what they knew. Even if they believed her that Paige had told her they had backup, Kate had broken protocol by not briefing the backup squad herself.
She had trusted Paige.
She had run five years ago because she was scared and angry. Mostly scared. And Jeff had been wild-eyed, overcome with grief she knew all too well. She had watched Evan die in front of her.
She’d intuitively believed that the only way to clear her name was to find Trask-Adam Scott-and prove that he was the brutal killer she knew him to be. She’d done that over the years, but still Merritt wanted her head.
Because Paige had died and he blamed her as much as Adam Scott. He didn’t know the truth. She hadn’t wanted to hurt him at the time, but he wouldn’t have believed her anyway. How could she have ruined the reputation of her dead partner? It had seemed so much easier to run and work outside of the law.
But now? She just wanted it to be over.
Quinn let Dillon stay with her in an interview room. “I’ll be here the entire time.”
She shook her head. “Merritt won’t allow it.”
“Then I’ll be right outside.”
Again, she shook her head. Dillon frowned.
“I can’t let you do that. You need to go home with Lucy.”
Dillon took her hands, squeezed them. “Lucy is in good hands. Carina is with her. She’s going to be overwhelmed as it is when she sees everyone. And we haven’t told her about Patrick. We didn’t want her to know until she regained some strength.”
“Dillon, I’m not going to walk out of here tomorrow or the next day. Merritt is going to find a way to detain me. I don’t know what tricks Quinn has up his sleeve, but it’s going to take time. And I’m going to have to face the Office of Professional Responsibility at Quantico.”
“What do you want?”
“What do you mean?”
“You face the OPR, you tell them everything, and they clear you.”
“You have an active fantasy life.” But she smiled.
“Are you going to ask for your job back?”
She blinked. She hadn’t thought about it. “I don’t know.”
“Whatever you decide to do, do it for you. Not because of me, or Paige, or Adam Scott. Make the decision that is best for you.”
She thought about what she wanted. She really didn’t know. For so long she’d been alone with her computers. She’d learned so much, taught herself, much of it illegal-like hacking into private corporations and the government. She would have to tell the OPR everything about what she’d done. She had no idea what they would do. Maybe they would clear her of charges on Paige’s death, but what about the crimes she’d willingly committed in her pursuit of Adam Scott?
“I could go to e-crimes,” she said. “If they’ll have me. I had an offer from them five years ago to transfer out of the VCMO unit. Don’t know if it’s still open, but I’m a lot better now than I was then.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“Adam Scott was even better. He manipulated me through the computers. He knew exactly what I knew. Maybe I’m not as good as I thought.”
“You’re incredible. Patrick was impressed, and he’s the best I know.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Dillon kissed her hand. “I’m not going to leave you, Kate.”
“I’m okay. I’m not going to blame you for being with your family right now.” But she would miss him.
They held hands across the table, the silent connection giving them both strength they needed.
Quinn Peterson entered. “Merritt’s here and he’s pissed. I told him you walked in and surrendered. Are you ready for this, Kate?”
She nodded, not taking her eyes from Dillon. “I’m ready.”
“You’ll have to leave, Dillon. When we’re done, I’ll call over to the jail and have Morton transported here for the interview.”
Reluctantly, Dillon stood. “How long?” he asked Quinn.
“An hour, maybe a little more.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s eight right now. If you have something to do, meet me here at ten.”
“I’ll be back, Kate. I promise.”
Kate watched Dillon walk out the door and her resolve began to chip away. Quinn sat on the edge of the table. “I’ll be here for the formal statement,” he said. “Just tell the truth, the good, the bad, and the ugly, okay? We’ll find a way out of this.”
Jeff Merritt opened the door and slammed it shut.
“Kate Donovan,” he spat out.
“Jeff Merritt,” she said with equal disdain, looking him straight in the eye. He was short and lean, blond, with a goatee but no mustache to go with it. Kate couldn’t believe that five years ago she’d thought he and Paige made a cute couple. The guy was dangerous.
“I don’t know how you can live with yourself,” he finally said.
Peterson interrupted. “Let’s do this by the book.”
“Leave.”
“No.”
“Dammit, Peterson, you’re already on thin ice.”
“Agent Donovan has a right to representation. I’m that person. And in case you’re forgetting, this is my field office.”
“In case you’re forgetting, you work for me.”
“Don’t pull rank.”
“Don’t be an asshole.”
Quinn didn’t move. Finally, Merritt sat down and took out a tape recorder. He slammed it on the table.
“ADIC Jeff Merritt and SAC Quincy Peterson are interviewing former Special Agent Katherine Donovan regarding the murders of SAC Evan Standler and SA Paige Henshaw, as well as civilians Denise Arno and Oliver Johnson.”
Kate slammed her fist on the table. “Denise was not an innocent civilian! She’s been working with Adam Scott from the beginning.”
“You’ll have a chance to tell your story, Ms. Donovan. For now I’ll take your statement and you will answer my questions. Understand?”
She fumed. She hated this arrogant prick.
“Understood.”
Dillon arrived at the hospital as Lucy was getting ready to leave.
“Where have you been?” Carina admonished. “We’re already late for the plane.”
“How’d Lucy do last night?”
A cloud crossed Carina’s face. “She had nightmares. Miranda is a saint. She calmed Lucy down instantly, knowing exactly what to say, when to be tough and when to be kind.”
Jack walked around the corner. Dillon was surprised to see him. “I thought you left.”
Jack stared at him a moment. “I had some things to take care of. I thought I’d head back to San Diego with you, if it’s all right. I have some time.”
Dillon nodded. “Thank you. I’m not going back right now.”
Carina frowned. “Why?”
“I have things to wrap up here.” When Carina didn’t say anything, he added, “I’m sitting in on the FBI interview with Roger Morton at ten.”