Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

"Well, you two sure have me working overtime." Agent Ty Carter grinned at Beth around his toothpick. He indicated to Dr. Nate Mace and lowered his voice. "You didn't allow him to touch you, did you, Beth?"

Indignant, Beth stared at him. "He is my local doctor, but when we discovered Wolfe was on his way, we waited."

"We followed protocol to the letter." Styles stood beside her chair and his fists flexed. "Or she wouldn't be still sitting here soaked in blood and urine."

"I did allow him to call the time of death." Cash moved into the circle and looked at Carter. "He was on scene no more than ten minutes after the attack on Beth."

"Okay. I'll record our interview. It makes life easier." Carter pulled out his phone. He dragged a chair closer to Beth and sat down. "What happened? Start with why you were on the streets and where you were heading."

Beth went through the attack, giving a precise and clear statement. "Then I called Cash and they came running. Nate came along a short time after."

"Why call Sheriff Ryder and not Styles?" Carter frowned.

Beth shot Styles a look and then turned back to Carter. "He had his phone switched off. He didn't want it giving away his position when he was under fire. Check my phone logs. I did call him, and the call went to voicemail, so I called Cash."

"Can you pull up your sleeves?" Carter raised both eyebrows. "I'd like to see the bruising from the nightstick. It was a telescopic nightstick as you surmised, and he was carrying a Glock and a knife. Why do you figure he used a nightstick? If he'd wanted to kill you, why not shoot and run? The streets were empty as you mentioned. It seems a risky way to attack an FBI agent."

"What are you implying?" Styles glared at him.

"Nothing, but these are the questions the director will expect me to ask." Carter moved his attention back to Beth. "You know that right? After three takedowns, another person killed by an FBI agent doesn't look so good."

Exhausted and hurting all over, Beth pulled up her sleeves to display the angry blackening welts across both wrists. "Satisfied? I'm sure Wolfe will provide all the necessary images of the injuries I sustained." She lifted her chin and sucked in a steadying breath. She needed to cool her temper. Carter was only doing his job. He wasn't her enemy. "He followed this with a punch to the temple, but he missed and it grazed my shoulder. I figure it was a lethal punch. He was skilled and brutal. He wanted a clean and silent kill just like the others."

"I happen to agree with you, but you know the deal." Carter gave her a long look. "The director sent me to question you by the book. Don't kill the messenger. Give me the facts, is all. Why do you figure he was trying to kill you?"

Trying hard to ignore the blood drying on her clothes and the stink rising from her body, Beth explained her theory. "I could dig deeper with Kalo's help. He is a smart kid. He might see something I've overlooked."

"Using Kalo isn't a problem." Carter smiled. "He'll love the challenge." He stopped the recording. "I found your weapon." He met her gaze. "It was just where you said it would be. From your statement and my observance of the crime scene and the fact the guy who attacked you has no fingerprints, my report will say it was a righteous kill. I'm sure Wolfe will back it up with a forensic report." He glanced at the door behind her and smiled. "Here he is now."

Relieved, Beth turned in her chair to see Wolfe come through the sheriff's office doorway, and then her heart sank. Right on his heels was the FBI authority on serial killers, Agent Jo Wells. Not that she had a problem with the behavioral analyst personally. In fact, Jo had always treated her with a friendly attitude, but the underlying professionalism was always there. "So my state of mind is going to be the hot topic around the office again this week?"

"We all go through it after discharging our weapons." Carter smiled at her. "Don't take it personal."

"How are you, Beth?" Wolfe looked down at her, his gray eyes missing nothing as they moved over her. "I'll need your clothes." He looked down. "You can keep your boots. They look clean and I don't want you walking home barefoot." He looked at Styles. "Did you get her a change of clothes?"

"Yeah." Styles indicated with his chin toward the bathroom. "I left them outside the shower."

"Okay." Wolfe placed his forensic kit on Cash's desk and pulled out a large evidence bag. "Strip down to your underwear and bag them. I'll be along to take swabs and photograph the injuries."

Glancing at Nate, Beth swallowed hard. "I'd like Dr. Mace to be there. I'm hurting all over and might need ongoing care."

"Sure." Wolfe nodded to Nate. "When we're done, you can take a shower and Jo will have a chat with you. I know you're anxious to get back to your current case, but we need to clear you fit for duty." He met her gaze, his eyes filled with concern. "You've had a tough week."

Not used to sympathy, Beth swallowed hard. "It's going to get tougher if we don't catch this guy. You are aware I'm the only one capable of following the trail he's left on the dark web? It would take me months to bring someone up to speed with where I am on this investigation so far. If I'm taken off this case for medical reasons, when I might be banged up but my mind is working just fine, more children are going to be put in danger. There are times when we must put our own welfare to one side and look at the bigger picture." She waved a hand toward Carter. "How many times has Carter been injured and fought on, or Styles? I'm no different. I can cope with the physical stuff and my head is clear."

"You can see she's exhausted." Styles looked at Jo. "Can't this wait until the morning?"

"I wish it could." Jo frowned at him. "While we're waiting, I'll have a chat with you. Have you been under fire by a sniper before?" She led him away.

Beth struggled to her feet. "Okay let's get this over with. I can't stand the stink much longer."