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She hadn’t even taken three steps toward them when someone sitting at the bar reached out and touched her arm. She’d thought it was simply a mistake, but then she’d heard her name being called out above the noise.
“Brooklyn Sloane?”
Brook refrained from answering the woman right away. If she was a member of the press or an investigative journalist wanting a comment from the sister of a notorious serial killer, there would be no point in prolonging their conversation. As a matter of fact, Brook came very close to walking away without saying a single word. She changed her mind after quickly scrutinizing the woman’s unique uniform.
“And you are?”
Brook had to raise her voice to be heard, but she didn’t want to be caught leaning in and potentially being made a mark. Theywerein downtown D.C., after all. Crime had risen lately, and she’d purposefully left her purse at the office located around the corner just to be safe. She’d recently bought a cute card holder that fit perfectly onto the back of her cell phone cover, which was currently in the left pocket of her dress coat.
Fortunately, the distinctive blue scrubs indicated that the woman wasn’t looking to pickpocket anyone.
“My name is Millie Gwinn.” Another round of sudden exclamations went through the pub, though this time the patrons weren’t pleased with whatever outcome had occurred on one or more of the screens. “I’ve been trying to reach you at your office. I’m sorry. I know that I shouldn’t be ambushing you right now, but I’m desperate.”
Brook was jostled from behind, but she somehow managed to hold her own. The brief respite gave her time to weigh her options.
She was well-acquainted with Millie Gwinn, though not of a personal nature. Every day this week, the woman had phoned the offices of S&E Investigations, Inc. Millie had left numerous messages with the firm’s administrative assistant, Kate Lin, in regard to having secondhand knowledge of a murder. In fact, Millie had been very insistent with her claims.
Brook had purposefully instructed Kate to refer Millie to the local police.
S&E Investigations, Inc. was a private firm that specialized in solving cold cases. While there had been a few active investigations over the course of the past year where certain state police departments had requested their assistance, such an undertaking hadn’t been the primary goal when she’d established the business. Their current case involved the death of a young man who had been murdered sixteen years ago while attempting to hitchhike from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States. The police had little to go on back then. The lonely stretch of highway where the body had been found had no cameras at the time, and the case had eventually been shelved to collect dust.
Brook had agreed a little over a year ago to partner up with a former Commanding General Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) by the name of Graham Elliott. He was technically her silent partner in their freshly established business. However, he’d recently made known to her that he wouldn’t mind if their personal relationship took a more intimate turn.
She wasn’t so sure a change in their interpersonal status was the brightest of ideas.
Her life had changed drastically since she’d been a consultant for the FBI. That was technically an understatement, but the holidays were closing in. She’d found herself in a giving mood, which was why she’d hesitated to walk away from Ms. Gwinn.
In truth, Brook’s life was nothing like it had been during her tenure with the Bureau. Sure, she still profiled unsubs, also known as unknown subjects, but there had only been a handful of times that Brook had been in the field with the FBI. Such an occasion detailed by her supervisor had been rare.
As for her personal life, it had always been nonexistent.
She had spent almost every waking moment outside of work pursuing leads on her brother. Yet tonight, she was joining her newly assembled team for drinks at a local pub while contemplating talking to a client over an alcoholic beverage.
No, her life was nothing like it had been before.
“Ms. Gwinn, I—“
“Please, Ms. Sloane,” Millie said with utter despair. She tightened her grip on the purse that was in her lap. “My employers don’t believe me, my friends and family think that I’m making a big deal out of nothing, and the police have even suggested that I’m some type of lunatic seeking attention. All I’m asking is that you hear me out. Please.”
By this time, the bartender had made his way down the long line of patrons. Over the past five weeks, Brook had joined her team for their Thursday night get-togethers. It was a bit out of character for her, but she’d found herself enjoying the downtime. Such a drastic change in her routine didn’t mean she had forgone her somewhat overdeveloped sense of situational awareness.
Being the sister of a serial killer hadn’t done her any favors in the trust department. At least, that was the initial reason that Brook had given herself while conducting several cursory background checks on the staff of the pub.
Hugh Steger had worked as a bartender for the establishment for the past three years while putting himself through law school. He still had another two years before graduation, but she was confident that he had the intellect and determination to finish his degree. He also hadn’t blinked an eye when she and the team had chosen this particular pub as their regular Thursday night stress relief station.
Brook held up a hand and signaled that she would buy the next round for the table, catching Hugh’s immediate nod of affirmation.
“This isn’t how I usually conduct my professional business, Ms. Gwinn,” Brook explained as she glanced toward the far corner of the pub. Her team wasn’t expecting to engage in shoptalk tonight, but they were the ones who constantly reminded her that she was far too set in her ways. It wouldn’t hurt to throw them a curveball. “My colleagues have a table in the corner. I can’t promise you anything, but we will hear you out and help point you in the right direction.”
Brook led the way through the crowded pub, not needing to wait to see if that scenario was agreeable with Millie. If the woman had gone to so much trouble to establish a face-to-face meeting with the owner of S&E Investigations, she wouldn’t give up such an opportunity and simply leave.
While Brook understood what doubt could do to a person, whatever Millie believed she knew about a murder obviously hadn’t been substantial enough for the police to open an investigation. Plus, it was unlikely that the woman would want to pay a high-end firm out of her own pocket when it didn’t even sound as if the victim was a close relative. Kate had specifically asked that question in one of the previous phone calls.
“Is everything okay?”
The question had come from Theo Neville, a former FBI agent. He was focused on Brook’s facial expression for any indication the situation was otherwise. She gave him a single nod in answer to alleviate his concern.
A severe injury in the field had resulted in the loss of his right eye. Notwithstanding, he’d almost certainly noticed her encounter with Ms. Gwinn at the bar moments before. If he had stayed with the Bureau, he would have been relegated to desk duty for the rest of his career. He’d opted to work for S&E Investigations instead, and as far as she was aware, he hadn’t regretted the change in jobs.
