Joint Investigation. Terri Reed

he’d be cautious enough to know taking on a killer by himself wasn’t a good idea. He couldn’t let her do this alone. The killer had brought his carnage to Drew’s door—Drew planned to repay the favor and help Sami capture the man. He’d have to okay it through his boss, but if that didn’t fly, then he’d take a lesson from Sami and opt to take some vacation time. “I’m going with you.”

      Her eyes widened. “I work alone.”

      “Not anymore.”

      She tucked in her chin and narrowed her gaze. “As much as I appreciate that you saved my bacon twice tonight, I don’t want a partner.”

      “You don’t have a choice. This now involves both of our countries.” He could see the protest forming in her eyes. Before she had a chance to speak, he said, “Look, finding and capturing Birdman will go quicker and more smoothly if we combine our resources. There’s no reason for you to do this alone anymore.”

      She pressed her lips together and inhaled, then slowly released her breath. “Fine. Just don’t get in my way.”

      He grinned. He couldn’t deny he looked forward to catching a killer. But he also looked forward to getting to know more about Special Agent Bennett. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

      * * *

      The next morning, after a hurried breakfast of toast and coffee, Drew and Sami piled into Dad’s car with Dad insisting on driving them to the airport.

      “Thanks, Dad. I’ll let you know when I’m coming back.” Drew shut the door to his dad’s luxury sedan and watched as his father pulled away from the curb outside the terminal at the Vancouver International Airport.

      Drew had had to hide his surprise at how taken Dad was with Sami. He must be mellowing in his old age. Normally his father was suspicious of women, especially ones Drew showed interest in. Something that didn’t occur often these days, because he was still smarting from Gretchen’s betrayal.

      However, Drew was his father’s son, after all, and had suffered the same hurt and heartache as his dad when Colleen Kelley walked out of their lives. And again when Drew’s marriage fell apart. But his past had nothing to do with the present. His association with Sami was strictly business. He would keep things professional despite his growing interest in her.

      He and Sami checked in with airport security, presenting their IDs, filling out the necessary paperwork and having their weapons inspected. Once they were cleared, they made their way to the gate, where they filed onto the Cloud Jet airplane with the rest of the passengers.

      Drew wouldn’t have guessed so many people would head willingly to one of the hottest places in the summer. He wasn’t looking forward to the heat of Arizona in July.

      It had taken some fancy talking on his part to convince his boss the trip was warranted. The deputy commissioner had granted him permission but wanted to be kept apprised of the situation. Not a problem, Drew had assured him. He didn’t want to jeopardize his standing with IBETs.

      “That’s us,” Sami said from behind him. “Thirteen A and B.”

      He moved past their row of seats so she could step in and have the window seat. She set her suitcase on the floor, then opened the overhead compartment. Before Drew could reach for the suitcase, the man coming in behind her picked up the case and tucked it into the luggage space with quick efficiency.

      “There you go,” the man said with a polite smile.

      “Thank you,” Sami murmured, and slipped into her seat. Drew nodded his thanks to the stranger, then settled into his seat beside Sami. His knees hit the fold-down table attached to the back of the seat in front of him.

      In the cramped space, his shoulder and upper arm bumped against Sami. The little sparks each connection created unnerved him. It was hard to stay professional when she set his blood on fire. He shifted away, but short of sitting in the aisle, there was nowhere to go.

      As she fiddled with her seat belt, he took in her appearance. She wore a flowery blouse and light-colored cargo pants. She carried no purse today. Her ID and gun were stashed in the deep pockets of her pants, and the knife she’d used to free herself was hidden away. Most likely in a boot. Big and clunky, they were in stark contrast to the feminine top. Yet the ensemble worked for her. Very Portlandian.

      Her blond hair was held back by a barrette at the nape of her slender neck and smelled like his shampoo. He could tell she’d applied a touch of mascara to the black lashes framing her pretty eyes, and her lips shone with gloss.

      She looked so different from the woman dressed like a ninja last night. However, both sides of the lady appealed to him, despite his need to stay detached emotionally. She was brave and spunky when she needed to be but didn’t flaunt those traits as if needing to prove her toughness.

      He waited until after takeoff to ask, “Tell me how you became involved in this case. You said your friend was a victim?”

      Her lips pressed together for a moment. She nodded. “Lisa and I were like sisters. The Westovers lived next door. Seaside isn’t a big community. At least not for those who live there year-round. Our families became close.”

      “When was Lisa killed?”

      “Six months ago. Her case went cold quickly.” She told him in graphic detail how similar Lisa’s murder was to the crime scene from last night. “Birdman is clever and knows how to not leave behind trace evidence.”

      “Except for bird drawings and writing on the wall,” he remarked drily.

      “Done without leaving fibers or DNA.”

      “How did you connect this Birdman to Lisa’s murder?”

      She frowned. “I didn’t at first. I searched for similar crimes in the metro Portland area and came up empty. Then I spread out from there via the FBI’s ViCAP.”

      The Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, a searchable database to collect and analyze crime, was the model that the Canadian government followed for their own version, ViCLAS—Violent Crime Linkage System. Both automated systems were invaluable to IBETs and all law enforcement in both countries. “We have something similar.”

      She gripped the armrests as the plane bounced through turbulence. “I found comparable crimes across the US but never in the same city. By then my boss realized what I was doing and wasn’t pleased, despite the fact I was investigating on my own time.”

      She shrugged. “There wasn’t much he could say, though. He definitely wasn’t okay with me leaving Portland to investigate crimes outside our field office assignments. But I couldn’t stop. I had to know. I had to see if there were any connections to Lisa’s murder.”

      “So this trip to Vancouver...?”

      “Technically I’m on vacation. The special agent in charge has given me some rope.” Her mouth tipped up at the corners. “Probably enough to hang myself with.”

      Not if he could help it. She’d been targeted twice now. She obviously wasn’t safe alone. Not that he saw her as a damsel in distress. Far from it. She’d shown bravery and smarts. And the drive to do what was necessary to stop a criminal. “Your dedication is admirable.”

      “Thanks.” She shrugged. “I made a promise to Lisa’s parents that I’d find her killer. I always keep my promises.”

      The flight attendant stopped to offer them drinks and the opportunity to purchase a snack from the cart.

      They each ordered a drink and a snack plate of fruit, cheese and nuts. While the attendant poured their drinks and handed over their plates, Drew contemplated Sami’s statement.

      Did she truly honor her promises? Or were her words just that—words?

      Gretchen had made promises to love and honor and cherish him. But she’d broken those promises so easily. Drew was wary of any woman’s promises.

      Once the flight attendant