Page 4 of Chilled

“Yes, sir,” she stated. “It’s where I grew up.”

The chief continued. “Has anyone from Riverton ever threatened you?”

“No,” she said, her fingers drumming against the tabletop again.

“Were you ever involved in an incident that would make someone consider you a threat?”

Her hand stilled. “Other than my case work?”

“Correct.”

She hesitated, darting another glance at the mirror as she tucked a long strand of hair behind her ear. “No.”

Was the hair flicking a nervous gesture? Was she not telling the chief something? Nick’s gut said yes. What secrets could a criminal investigator have?

Chief Burkholder continued the questioning without delving into her answer. If Nick had conducted the interview, he’d have questioned her further. But she was a cop and probably didn’t think the information was relevant to the case.

When the interview was over, Brenna stood and gathered her satchel and the copy of her note. “Now can we get on with solving this case?”

“Eager, aren’t we?” The chief patted her shoulder. “Come on, I’ll show you where they’ve set up.”

Nick left the observation room ahead of Brenna and the chief and beat them to the large conference room. It had been converted to a “war room.” Completely covering one wall was a large whiteboard with a timeline sketched out in black erasable marker. Three notches were marked with the names of the missing women and the times they’d been reported missing. Another spot was marked “Note.”

Now that he had Brenna’s statement, she wasn’t necessary to the case, and Nick wanted her out of the station and on her way back to Bismarck.

Although she was another key to solving the case, Nick had no intention of allowing her onto his team. He liked to work with people he knew and trusted. Get in, solve the crime, get out and don’t get involved. That was Nick’s policy, and he sure as hell didn’t want to be in this godforsaken, frigid country any longer than he had to. He braced himself for the coming clash of wills with Special Agent Jensen.

The woman topmost on his mind breezed into the war room and tossed her satchel onto the conference table as if throwing down the gauntlet.

Chief Burkholder handed Nick the copy of the note he’d already seen as a blurry faxed copy they’d received around four that morning while Jensen had been in route.

Nick laid the paper on the table and walked over to Brenna. No time like the present. “Thank you for your statement, Special Agent Jensen. We no longer need your services. I advise you to return to Bismarck and lock your doors.”

She stared up into his face for a long moment, her rate of breathing increasing until the air she exhaled blew in a sharp stream out her nose. Then she stepped closer to him, until her chest bumped against his. “I’m an experienced investigator assigned to this case by the state of North Dakota. I’m not running from some jerk who thinks he can pull my chain.”

“Agent Tarver,” Chief Burkholder said and then cleared his throat. “Jensen is one of North Dakota’s best.”

“I don’t care.” Tarver’s eyes never left her face, and his expression remained unflinching. “She’s a liability. I can’t focus on the case if I’m playing bodyguard.”

Her face flushed red. “I don’t need your protection. I’ve been in law enforcement for six years. I can take care of myself.”

That she hadn’t backed down impressed him at the same time it annoyed him. “In case you haven’t gotten the picture, the FBI has jurisdiction and is calling the shots now. You’re off the case.”

“Understand this, Agent Tarver. Iwillbe involved fully in this case, with or without the FBI. I have more at stake here than you or any of your agents. This is my hometown, not yours. Nobody gets away with kidnapping or murder in my hometown.”

“Agent Tarver, Special Agent Jensen was assigned from the state level. She won’t be returning to Bismarck. If you don’t include her on the team, she’ll work alone to solve this case. You’d better serve the cause by including her.” Chief Burkholder laid a hand on Nick’s shoulder.

Okay, so the girl had the chief’s confidence. He could admire that, but he didn’t like being forced to accept her on his team. He shook off the chief’s hand and stared down his nose into Brenna’s clear blue eyes. “Get this straight, Jensen, I give the orders. Do you understand?”

For a moment, he thought she’d spit in his eye and tell him to go to hell. But her shoulders pushed back, and she met his gaze head-on. “I do.”

“Good. Then don’t get in my way.”

“So does that mean I’m a part of the team?”

“I’ll let you know.” For a moment, Nick swam in the depths of her stormy blue eyes—until he remembered how badly he’d been burned by a woman with blue eyes and why he’d never go there again. “Time’s wasting. We’ve got a killer to catch before he does it again.”

CHAPTER 2

---