Page 100 of Coordinates of Death

Aurora continued to sob. He tightened his hold around her, setting his chin on top of her head. The others remained silent as if not knowing what to do at their colleague’s sorrow.

After a few moments, Aurora pulled back and wiped her eyes. “Sorry for breaking down. My nerves are shot.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” Kordell helped her to her feet. “We all understand. Right, guys?”

“Of course,” Dr. Sharpe said.

Dirk grunted his response.

“I’m ready to transport Candace. We’ll take her out on the sled I brought. Unorthodox, but we don’t really have a choice.”

“Understood.” Aurora gestured to the body bag. “We can help.”

After making it out through the treacherous terrain, driving back to Sweetwood Falls, and getting Aurora’s cut stitched at the hospital, Kordell followed her into her home later that night. They had stopped at the station to get her new keys from her leader, and even though Aurora had insisted she’d be safe, Kordell wasn’t risking her life. He wanted to confirm that her condo was secure.

“I’m home, Lady.” Aurora wiggled her good arm out of her coat, struggling with the other.

“Rory’s home. Rory’s home.” The parrot’s squawk resonated throughout the hallway.

“Let me get that.” Kordell helped Aurora take off her coat, chuckling at the parrot. “She sounds happy.”

“What can I say? She loves me. Well, she knows she’s about to be fed.” Aurora kicked off her boots and proceeded to the living room.

Kordell’s cell phone rang, and he fished it from his pocket, checking the screen before answering. “Hey, Dawson.”

“Where are you?”

“At Aurora’s. We just returned from finding another body.” Kordell put him on Speaker and set his phone on the foyer table, then wormed out of his coat as he explained what happened.

“Oh my. How’s Aurora?”

He stuck his head around the corner and smiled. “Right now, she’s feeding Lady Grey.”

“Who?”

She opened the cage, and Lady flew out, landing on her shoulder. “Hey, girl. I love you.”

“You too, you too.” The bird placed its beak on Aurora’s cheek as if giving her a kiss.

Had she taught the parrot that routine?

“Her African Grey parrot.”

Dawson whistled. “Interesting choice of pet.”

“Right? Do you have news?” Kordell entered the living room. “Rory, I have Dawson on the line.”

“Oh. Hi, Dawson.” Aurora put Lady into the cage and added her feed before closing the door.

“Glad you’re safe and sound back at your condo, Aurora. Kord told me what happened. Maybe you should come and stay with us.”

“No. I had my locks changed, and Hill has increased patrols.” She tightened her hands at her sides. “I will not be forced out of my home.”

“But what makes you sure SBK can’t get through these locks?” Dawson asked.

“I had an extra countermeasure added—a keypad. So he’d need a lock and the code.”

“Well, he may be a she.”