Face of Danger. Valerie Hansen
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is associated with Captain Pike’s? Under normal conditions it can take from six months to a year to reduce human remains to a skeletal state. This man must have died long before the captain was killed.”
Cade nodded. “The Lions of Texas drug cartel is the link. It has to be. Did you know that Pike had ordered all of Company D to rendezvous at his house just before he was shot and killed?”
“Yes. Corinna told me all about it while I was making the sketch of the man who broke into her house. Did you ever figure out what her father was so eager to tell all the other Rangers?”
“We have an idea. Apparently, the Lions were afraid there was incriminating evidence in the house. They sent someone to retrieve it, and Corinna interrupted. Since she could ID him, he decided to take her out.”
“Poor Corinna. Is she all right?”
“Yes. Now she is. When we finally nabbed her stalker, he told us he worked for the Lions and mentioned a drug drop site the Lions were still using. We put a Ranger undercover and staked it out, hoping to catch them in the act.”
“Did you?”
“In a manner of speaking. We may have gotten something better.” He pointed. “The skull you’re holding was dug up on that property while we had it under surveillance. It’s too big a coincidence to overlook. There has to be a connection between that murder and the drug cartel.”
“Were you able to arrest anyone at the grave site?”
“Not at that time, but it worked out in the end. All we got at first was the jacket of the guy who was trying to retrieve the skull. Later, a man named Greco came after Jennifer Rodgers, the woman who owns the property on which the drop site and skull were located. Greco was killed by the Ranger we had working undercover there.”
“Uh-oh. He didn’t talk first?”
“No.” Cade frowned and gestured at the skull. “If you can help us ID this guy, we may be able to make more progress than we have lately.”
“What about the guy in the coma? Could he have been a secret informant for Captain Pike? He was found shot at the house alongside Pike’s body, right?”
“Yeah. He’s still in a coma so we can’t question him, although we do have hope he may recover. They say he moved his fingers slightly. All we have to work with right now is his photo and the fact that he’s Irish.”
Cade tilted his head toward the skull she was holding so gingerly. “Which leaves that as our only other clue at present. That’s why it’s so important. So important that I’ve been ordered to stick around until you finish the facial reconstruct—”
Without any warning, all the overhead lights blinked off.
Cade heard Paige gasp.
“Hold your horses,” he said. “I’m sure it’s nothing. The emergency generator should kick on in a few seconds.”
“I wonder. Look outside. The lights in the parking lot are still working.”
Cade’s right hand instinctively went to his gun, his palm resting on the grip, his thumb unsnapping the tab that kept it in the holster. “You’re right. Stay where you are. I’ll go have a look around.”
He heard shuffling. Then she grabbed the sleeve of his leather jacket.
“I’m going with you.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“The silly part is how afraid I get when it’s totally dark. Either you take me with you or I’ll probably panic and get hysterical.” She drew a noisy, shaky breath. “I mean it. I know it’s stupid and irrational but I’m really, really scared.”
“Okay. You can come. Grab the evidence. We’re not leaving it unguarded.”
He heard the slide of a zipper as she closed the carrying case. Now that his vision had adjusted more to the darkness he could see enough via the reflected exterior lights to move around safely, even in such unfamiliar territory.
“Got it,” Paige said. “I’m ready.”
Judging by the quaver in her tone she was truly frightened. Although such unfounded fears made no sense to him, he was willing to indulge her, particularly in view of the Rangers’ desperate need for her talents. The last thing he wanted to do was alienate her.
They crossed the room, moving as one.
Cade grasped the doorknob. He had no sooner started to twist it than he heard a clicking, sliding sound. He froze. Was that a bullet being chambered in an automatic weapon?
If someone else was outside in the hallway, as he now suspected, they might very well be getting ready to shoot the first person dumb enough to stick his—or her—head out.
Cade steeled himself. He wasn’t going to make it that easy.
TWO
Staying close to Cade, Paige kept out of the way of the Ranger’s drawn gun. He’d tensed and stopped dead in his tracks when they’d heard the metallic sounds on the other side of the door.
It was ludicrous to assume they were in any serious danger. This was one of the safest buildings in the whole state. The sprawling complex of the Texas Department of Public Safety housed both the State Troopers and the Rangers. With all those lawmen roaming around, not to mention enough professional bureaucrats to scare the socks off anybody, no criminals would dare set foot in the place.
When the Ranger reached back and gave her a gentle push, she resisted. “You’re not leaving me.”
His tone was brusque and civil at the same time. It rumbled along her nerve endings and raised goose bumps on her arms. “Just stay back while I check. You’re not going out there till I say it’s clear.”
“Yes, sir.” Feeling contrite, Paige eased away from him slightly. The padded case bumped against her knees. She shoved it toward the hinged edge of the opening door for added security, thinking belatedly that maybe she should put her own body in its place. She didn’t.
“Who’s there?” Cade called loudly. “Identify yourself.” No one answered, and he said more quietly to Paige, “Do you happen to have a flashlight? I left mine in my truck.”
“Yes. I’ll get it. What are we going to do?”
“We’re not. I am.”
As soon as he had the light in hand, he eased the door open another six inches, then a foot, then all the way. Swinging out in a half crouch, he aimed both gun and light first in one direction, then the other.
“Okay,” Cade told her, straightening. “Looks like the coast is clear.”
“Now what?”
“We find the main panel that controls the lights in this place and try to figure out what’s wrong. Any idea where that panel might be?”
“Up front. We throw those breakers whenever we have a fire or disaster drill.”
“That’s what I’m looking for.”
Paige pointed down the hallway toward the reception area. “Go that way. There’s a fuse box in a utility closet. It’s on the left, not far from the front door.”
“Okay. Follow me. And stay close.”
She chuckled derisively, positive that doing so was a lot better than letting herself be too serious. “Close? Trust me. That’s not going to be a problem.”
The farther they traveled, the more the hair on Paige’s neck and arms prickled. She shivered. Listened to the echo of their soft footfalls. Suddenly, there was something else. What was that noise?
Tapping the Ranger on the shoulder, she saw the beam of the light he was carrying jump and realized he wasn’t nearly as calm and collected as he’d wanted her to believe.