Faces of Evil [2] Impulse by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

good sense Dan had managed to hang onto right out the door with the dismissed agent. “I’d say what she needs is legal counsel.”
    “This is your mistake to make, Chief Burnett. But bear in mind that we feel her fixation with the idea that Spears has followed her here and whatever is actually going on will not end well.”
    “I’ve seen his messages to her,” Dan thundered just a decibel or two below shouting. “Two witnesses to my detective’s abduction identified him.”
    “She received messages before,” Gant reminded him unnecessarily. “Followed leads he gave only to her. . . but there was no connection found to the man, Eric Spears, she continues to insist is the Player despite a total lack of evidence. Those anonymous emails she received during our investigation in Richmond were sent from her own home.”
    The ramifications of that statement sent Dan’s concern for Jess up several degrees. The Bureau was building a case against her and if she had any idea, she hadn’t said a word. “There’s no way Jess sent anything to herself.” This was way over the edge.
    Gant exhaled a big breath. “I want to agree with you more than you can possibly imagine. But we have no choice but to consider what this development means. The sender used a path that was nearly impossible to trace, and when we did find the source it was one we didn’t want to see. But our hands are tied. We cannot simply ignore the possibility.”
    “You must understand, Chief Burnett,” Wentworth jumped in with his New England accent and visible impatience, “that Agent Harris’ conduct during the final weeks of the Player investigation, even without this stunning evidence, was questionable. OPR must investigate her actions for her own benefit as well as the Bureau’s.”
    Jesus Christ. They were trying to railroad Jess for more than allegedly screwing up an investigation. Dan took a moment to get his initial reaction in check. “Whatever you believe, Jess is an essential part of our team and, unless you’re planning to take her into custody, that’s not going to change.”
    “We came to you,” Gant contended, his own impatience showing, “as a courtesy. For now, the decision is yours to make but we needed to ensure you were fully aware of Agent Harris’ situation. The outcome of our investigation could prove detrimental to yours when all is said and done. The unsub in your case, if and when he’s caught, could very well use this decision against you.”
    Dan struggled to make sure his voice was calm when he spoke. “Why are you dismissing our stunning evidence? We have two witnesses who ID’d Spears. We can’t ignore that. And I would gladly take Jess’s findings into a courtroom any day.”
    “We would certainly like to interview those witnesses,” Wentworth responded. “At this time, however, our evaluation of the situation remains unchanged.”
    “We’re not suggesting you take Spears off the table as a person of interest,” Gant clarified. “But an ID made from a cell phone snapshot by two witnesses who were no doubt compromised by emotion is not conclusive evidence that Spears is your man. A good attorney, and Spears has the best, could suggest Harris prompted the witnesses. We must tread carefully here.”
    What was the deal? “Maybe you think that just because I’m a police chief in Alabama that I can’t hear beyond what you’re telling me. This hammering at the same issues is getting a little old. You must have more than what you’re disclosing. You and I both know that anyone could have sent those emails via Jess’s home computer.”
    Gant and Wentworth exchanged a look.
    Oh, yeah. There was a lot more.
    “Before we were forced to release Eric Spears, he confided in me that he thought Agent Harris had an interest in him beyond the investigation.” Gant shook his head. “I ignored the assertion. These things happen sometimes. Suspects take shots at the agents involved with their cases. It wasn’t