Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [264]
“Agent O’Dell, I owe you an apology,” Agent Tully was saying. At some point he had removed his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves in haphazard and uneven folds. He unbuttoned his collar and twisted the knot of his tie loose. “I really thought there was nothing here. I feel like such an asshole.”
Maggie stared at him and tried to remember the last time anyone, especially in law enforcement, had apologized to her, let alone admitted to making a mistake. Was this guy for real? Instead of looking embarrassed, he genuinely looked sorry.
“I have to admit, Agent Tully, I was simply acting on gut instinct.”
“Maggie, we should remember to pull the drain from the whirlpool bath,” Ganza interrupted without looking up. “I’m betting that’s where he cut her open. We may find some leftovers.”
Agent Tully’s face grew paler, and she saw him wince.
“One thing we didn’t check last night, Agent Tully, was the garbage cans outside,” she told him, offering to save him. “Since the house is for sale and empty, the garbage collectors may have skipped it.”
He seemed grateful for the chance to escape. “I’ll go check.”
As he left, Maggie realized he could possibly find something equally shocking in the garbage. Perhaps she wasn’t saving him at all. She pulled out a fresh pair of latex gloves from her forensic kit and tossed out the ones she had contaminated with luminol. Keith unpacked a wrench, screwdriver and several evidence bags.
“You’re being awfully nice to the new guy,” he said.
She glanced at him. Though he kept his eyes on the items he was unearthing from his bag, she could see the corner of his mouth caught in a smile.
“I can be nice. It’s not like it’s an impossibility.”
“Didn’t say that it was.” He dug out Q-Tips, several brushes, forceps and small brown bottles, lining everything up as if taking inventory. “Don’t worry, Maggie, I won’t tell anyone. Wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation.” This time he gave her his eyes, light blue behind hooded, heavy lids that Maggie knew in the last thirty years had seen more horror and evil than any one person should ever be allowed to see. Yet now they were smiling at her.
“Keith, what do you know about Agent Tully?”
“I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
“Of course there are nothing but good things. He looks like a cross between Mr. Rogers and Fox Mulder.”
“Fox Mulder?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
“You know, from the TV show The X-Files?”
“Oh, I know who he is. I’m just surprised you know who he is.”
She found herself blushing as though he’d discovered some secret.
“I’ve caught a couple of episodes. What things have you heard? About Tully?” She quickly returned to the subject.
“He’s here from Cleveland at Cunningham’s request, so the guy has to be good, right? Someone said he’s able to look at crime scene photos alone and come up with a profile that nine times out of ten is on target.”
“Crime scene photos. That explains why he’s so squeamish with the real thing.”
“I don’t think he’s been with the Bureau long—five, six years. Probably slipped in right at the age limit.”
“What did he do before? Please don’t tell me he’s a lawyer.”
“Something wrong with lawyers?” Agent Tully interrupted from the doorway.
Maggie checked his eyes to see if he was angry with them. Keith went back to his task, leaving Maggie feeling as though she was the one who needed to explain.
“I was just curious,” she said without apology.
“You could just ask me.”
Yes, he was angry, but she saw him pretending not to be. Did he always make certain his emotions were so carefully kept in check?
“Okay. So what did you do before you joined the Bureau?”
He held up a black garbage bag in one hand.
“I was an insurance fraud investigator.” In his other latex-gloved hand he held up a wad of what looked like candy bar wrappers. “And I’d say our boy has a serious sweet tooth.”
CHAPTER 42
Maggie gripped the