Under Cover of Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

simultaneously, sharing a laugh as they let the charade go.
    "Isaac," she said playfully, "nice to know I can count on your goofball sense of humor to lift my spirits."
    He grinned widely, then caught the server's eye and ordered a cup of American coffee. Isaac Underwood was the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Seattle field office, or ASAC, the number two man in an office of a hundred and sixteen agents. He had been Andie's immediate supervisor for eighteen months before the promotion.
    He settled into the stool and reached for a fully loaded nacho. "Pretty decadent dinner," he said with his mouth full.
    "Like they say, we didn't work our way to the top of the food chain to eat tofu."
    "Amen to that." The server brought his coffee. Isaac reached for the sugar. "So, kiddo. You doing okay?"
    "Yeah," she said, adding a quick nod for emphasis. "I am."
    His expression turned serious. "Andie, if there's anything you need. Time off. Even a transfer."
    She raised a hand, halting him. "I'm okay. Really."
    He sipped his coffee. "If it's any consolation, I always thought that guy was a bit of a prick."
    "Now you tell me."
    "You didn't notice?"
    "He wasn't always that way. We were inseparable all through law school. Even talked about opening up a firm together. When I ditched the idea of practicing law and joined the FBI instead, I think he had it in his mind that the bureau would eat me alive, that I'd quit before long. He definitely didn't think it would last three years."
    "Plenty of people change their minds about marrying cops. Most of them just cancel the engagement."
    Andie lowered her eyes. "In hindsight, I think he tried. We had a huge fight last week. From the day we got engaged, we always talked about raising a family. All of a sudden he tells me no kids so long as my job description includes bullet dodging."
    "Sounds like you should have canceled."
    "I know. My mother talked me into going through with it. She had me convinced we could work it out, that Rick was just bluffing. I guess he wasn't bluffing. Just wish he hadn't picked such a sleazy way to keep us both from making a terrible mistake. And now I really wish I hadn't turned it into a circus."
    "I'm sorry, Andie."
    "Thanks. But don't be. I just want to get back to normal as soon as possible."
    "I'm glad you see it that way. Because I've got an assignment for you."
    "Isaac, how sweet. You arranged to have a bank robbed just to take my mind off my personal problems."
    "Not exactly." He smiled, then was serious again. "Victoria Santos is coming over from Quantico tomorrow morning."
    Andie didn't know Santos, but she certainly knew of her. Santos had taught the course on criminal psychology to Andie's class of cadets at the academy. More to her credit, she was a legend among criminal profilers in the FBI's elite Investigative Support Unit.
    "What for?" asked Andie.
    Isaac glanced at the crowd of customers hovering around them. "Let's talk about this outside, all right?"
    They paid the bill, poured their coffee into paper go-cups, and stepped outside. The busy city street crackled with the sound of rush hour on wet pavement. A damp chill cut through their overcoats. The sun had set only minutes ago, but the temperature had dropped precipitously. Andie sipped her hot coffee. Isaac kept talking as they walked together down the wide, tree-lined sidewalk.
    "Local police have asked the FBI for assistance:' he said. "They have some homicides that may be related. Possibly a serial killer at work."
    "How many victims so far?"
    "Two that they're pretty sure of. A third was found today."
    "What makes them think they're related?"
    "The first two took place in different parts of the town, about a week apart. But they were virtually identical."
    "You mean the similarities are in the killer's m . O . or in the victims' characteristics?"
    "Both. From the victimology standpoint, it's like one was a carbon copy of the other. Both white males. Both fifty-one years old. Same