Cold Spite (Cold Justice: Most Wanted #5)

Chapter 63

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

D elilah was standing beside her parents as paramedics assessed them. Aside from dehydration, cuts, bruises, and mental trauma they appeared unscathed. Agents from the satellite office in Fredericksburg had hastily answered the call for backup and were now securing the murder scene in the control tower and trying to contain the mayhem of the burning hangar. They needed statements from everyone.

Her father kept trying to give orders, eager to do what he thought was his job, but her mother thankfully managed to distract him.

The paramedic turned to her. “You need that gash looked at.”

Delilah looked up in surprise and flinched when he dabbed at the side of her head with alcohol, cleaning the wound.

“Stick a Steri-Strip on it and give me a Tylenol, and I’ll be fine.”

The guy shook his head ruefully and did as she asked. She began cleaning the blood off her neck with a wipe he handed her. The bullet had whizzed so close she’d felt it melt her flesh. Cas had saved her life with his weapon skills—and she had his years of training with HRT to thank for that.

The man in question strode toward her. And took her elbows in his hands. “I have to go. ”

“What?” She frowned in confusion. “Go where?”

“Task force has been mobilized to head to Louisiana. Half of Gold Team are already en route, and the rest of us are joining them there.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m coming too.”

“What about your parents?” Cas looked toward them.

“They’ll be okay. I have to go, Cas. I have to see him caught. I might be able to help. I know Trainer hates me, but I’ll beg the director if I have to.”

“Trainer’s no longer the head of the task force.”

“When did that happen?”

“About an hour ago. Turns out he sat on DNA evidence that proves one of the Scanlon brothers killed Clarence Carpenter, which was probably why he went after you so hard this morning. Deflect the attention away from himself.”

“Why would he sit on it?”

Cas shook his head. “Possibly because it’s still inconclusive as to which Scanlon the DNA belongs to and possibly because he has some sort of personal vendetta against your father and possibly wanted to use you to smear the family name. I guess he figured it wouldn’t cost him much to delay by a day while making your life hell. Then Nicole Zimmerman was murdered and he was on damage control.”

Delilah swore.

Yael came running toward them. “Alex said we can use the company jet. Shane and the others are going to meet us at Shannon Airport where the aircraft will be waiting for us.”

“Give me two minutes to explain to my mom what’s going on. You explain to the local agents we have to go. If they want to take statements, one of them can come with us.”

Thirty minutes later, they were climbing onboard Cramer, Parker & Gray’s private jet carrying all the gear that had been in the truck.

Cas whistled. “Fancy.”

“This is how the other half lives.” Delilah forced a smile. Her brows rose as she took in ASAC Lincoln Frazer frantically pecking away on his laptop. She hesitated because she hadn’t officially been invited to this party. “Sir.”

“Relax, Agent Quinn.” He didn’t bother to look up. “I hear you recovered your parents in good health?”

“Yes, sir, ASAC Frazer.”

“Frazer will do. Take a seat. I want you to tell me everything.”

As they sat down, Shane Livingstone, Ryan Sullivan, and Meghan Donnelly arrived, dragging with them even more gear which they secured at the back of the aircraft.

As soon as they clipped in, the flight crew set about preparing to take off.

Cas had listened quietly while Delilah told her side of events. She sounded tired, and the corners of her eyes crinkled as if she was in pain. The gash on the side of her head was vivid proof of how close to death she’d come tonight again, and he wasn’t sure how much more of that he could take.

Cas took over, filling in a few of the gaps, giving Alex Parker and Yael most of the credit which the hacker brushed off.

“So who’s in charge now?” Although Cas only took orders from the HRT chain of command, he wanted to know who was running the task force.

Frazer grunted. “They’re appointing someone from HQ, but in the meantime”—his stare was disconcertingly direct and annoyed—“me.”

“What do you think Scanlon will do next?”

“I honestly don’t know, but I do know he won’t confess or give himself up.”

“How can we prove which Scanlon brother killed Clarence Carpenter?” asked Cas.

“We have means and motive for Joseph. We’re going to arrest him and let the DA worry about how to prosecute. We need to contain this guy before anyone else dies.” Frazer eyed him and Delilah pointedly.

Delilah covered a massive yawn.

“Why don’t you get some sleep?” Cas urged Delilah. “There’s a bedroom back there.”

Her eyes flashed. “Don’t treat me like the weak link.”

“I’m not. I plan to get a few hours too, and I’m hoping you’ll take pity on me and share.”

Her gaze shot to Frazer, but Cas was done pretending.

Frazer packed away his laptop and silenced his phone. “I suggest we all get a little shut eye so we can face tomorrow refreshed. And”—he stretched a brow—“I’d grab the bed quick before I pull rank and claim it for myself.”

With that, he turned off his overhead light, pushed back his plush chair until it was almost flat, and closed his eyes.

Cas waited. Holding his breath. Then Delilah took his hand and led him into the bedroom, closed the door.

When Cas slipped out a couple of hours later, it was still dark, but the others were awake and talking quietly.

“Delilah still asleep?” Yael sent him a grin.

He blushed a little even though all he’d done was hold her. He nodded and cleared his throat. “Any updates?”

“Both Scanlon brothers are believed to be home in LaCroix. Local PD had to deal with a disturbance last night when a news crew from New Orleans turned up to ask Joseph some questions about these murders. Apparently, the neighbors got pretty cranky with the press.”

Cas rubbed his face. “Any new evidence?”

Frazer steepled his fingers under his chin. “We have the DNA profile that one of the Scanlons killed Clarence Carpenter—enough reason to interview and obtain a fresh DNA sample from Joseph. We have Pedro Alvarez on camera outside FBI HQ and a trail of evidence that suggests he abducted Delilah’s parents, and most importantly, their testimony. Yael is working to isolate cell signal data that would tie Pedro and Joseph together, but presumably they’ve dumped those cell phones. We have Pedro on commercial flights that would allow for him to have committed some of the murders. We have eyewitnesses and airfield logs that show the Scanlon plane was in San Diego, Seattle, and Virginia. Once we get Pedro’s DNA and fingerprints, we might be able to link him directly to one of the other crime scenes.”

“Any idea what he’s been doing these past five years?”

Yael answered, “Fell off the radar after he was declared dead.”

Cas smiled slightly. “A bit like Delilah.” He went over and helped himself to coffee from the Keurig. “Anyone want one?”

There was a pile of pods in the trash. He wasn’t sure how much his fellow passengers had napped, but he was grateful he’d had the chance to hold Delilah close, if only for a little while.

“Yes, please.” Yael held up her mug. “My caffeine ban has been lifted until this case is over.”

“I’m sorry you’re going to miss your boss’s wedding.”

“It sucks, but this is more important.”

Frazer sent her a benevolent smile. “Maybe we’ll be back in time for the reception.”

Yael laughed. “Maybe.”

“Team is planning to stage at the Sheriff’s Office in Houma. Plan is to arrest good ol’ Joseph on his way to church.”

“Being born again has some advantages,” Cas agreed.

“As good a place as any.” Frazer nodded.

“Do we pick up the brother and father on conspiracy charges?”

“I’m waiting on a judge to sign a warrant, but so far he wants actual evidence both brothers are involved, and we don’t have it.”

“Yet.” Cas took a sip of his coffee before handing Yael hers.

“Yet,” Frazer agreed.