"Officially? Or unofficially?"

  "Unofficially," Cami said. "I don't think he told anyone. Not even me. But he was also helping me with … with a side issue of mine, a problem I wanted to look at. He went into that bar, and he recognized someone, and that same someone must have recognized him. And then, he said we had to leave in a hurry. It was suddenly super-urgent that we got out of there. He didn’t even have time to explain it all, except that he recognized someone there—the same someone I was hoping to find out about—and said that person was bad news. He was getting us as far away from that club as he could and then the next moment, he was shot."

  There was a long, considering silence. Cami opened her bottle of diet Coke and took a gulp, her mouth suddenly dry.

  "Do you know who followed you?" Jacenta asked.

  "No," Cami said. "I don't know who the shooter was. I know who I was there to find out about, and he was the same person that Ethan recognized. But it wasn't the shooter."

  There was another long pause. She was sure Jacenta was thinking carefully about what she'd said and why. Jacenta wouldn't just take her words at face value. Cami knew she'd go deeper and think about why she'd said them. And what she hadn't said.

  "I see you're not naming names," Jacenta said. "And I think I see why. You're clearly not sure if anyone in the FBI is connected with this. And by that, I mean anyone currently employed within the FBI."

  Cami's eyes widened. Jacenta was as sharp as a tack, and she'd hit on the exact crux of the matter that was making it so difficult for Cami to talk about. And she'd done it without even pressuring Cami to name names. Cami's respect for her parole officer, already high, leaped even further.

  "That's exactly correct," she admitted.

  “Well, I understand your caution," Jacenta said. "You don't know who to trust, and you don't want to endanger yourself or anyone else. I want to know what you know, but I won't press you to tell me anymore right now. However, I think when you’re ready, when you’re surer, you need to tell me. Or tell Connor. And don’t wait too long."

  "Thank you," Cami said, her thoughts suddenly veering to Kieran. She didn't want to put him at risk, either.

  "What I will say, though, is that for the time being, you need to decide." Now Jacenta's voice was firm, and Cami listened carefully. "There's a fine line between taking something into your own hands in your spare time to do some research and deliberately turning your back on the FBI mandate and rules. I'm sure you know, because you've seen, how acting on your own can get you into big trouble. Make sure it doesn’t happen at a level where it will be serious, and even criminal, if you're found out."

  "Yes, I understand," Cami said in a low voice. Again, Jacenta was getting right to the uncomfortable core of the issue.

  "However," she then said, "I'm the first to admit that rot can exist, even within an organization like the FBI, and that you don't want to risk yourself, or anyone else, especially given what's happened. And that you're not sure who you can trust."

  "That's right," Cami said.

  Jacenta sighed. "All I can say is that you need to keep very aware of the consequences of acting on your own. As your parole officer, I need to emphasize to you that any action regarded as criminal will be taken very seriously. And I need to strongly discourage you from taking any such action and to strongly encourage you to share this."

  "I understand," Cami said. Now, her heart was pounding as Jacenta's words sank in, and Cami felt the weight of them on her shoulders. She knew that Jacenta was right—that any action she took had to be carefully considered, and that she had to be sure of her facts and her motivations. She should think before she acted and not let her emotions get the better of her.

  Jacenta's voice softened. "I have faith that you’ll do the right thing. You're smart, you're brave, and you're capable. I believe in you, and I know you'll make the right decision. Just remember that you can't do this alone. When you're ready, you need to talk to someone you trust, and make sure you're getting the support and guidance you need. And from my standpoint, there are many good, trustworthy people within the FBI who will have your back. Myself and Connor included."

  Tears sprang to Cami's eyes, and she quickly wiped them away. Jacenta was more than her parole officer—she had become her mentor, her confidant, and her friend.

  "Thank you," she said. "I will. I'll keep in mind what you've said."

  "Good," Jacenta said. "Now get some rest, and I'll talk to you soon, okay? If at any stage, you want to share more with me, then do. I'll treat it with confidence."

  "Okay," Cami said, feeling a little better. "I will."

  Sternly, Jacenta repeated, "And remember my warning. Don't get on the wrong side of the law. Not now, Cami."

  "I promise I won't," Cami said, hoping it was a promise she could keep.

  "Goodnight," Jacenta said and hung up the phone.

  Cami put her phone down and sighed. She felt a little better as she opened her sandwich and began eating, but she was still uncertain. She knew that she had to go forward with this investigation because she had no choice. If she didn't, then they might find out who she was and try to take her out too.

  She needed to find out the shooter’s identity, and what the relationship between Ethan and Liam had been, but she was scared of the consequences. She knew she had to take the risk and trust her gut, but who could she trust?

  With that thought in mind, Cami decided to send a message. She got out her phone and texted Kieran.

  "I'm on a case with the FBI now. When it's done, I'm going to try and find out more about Ethan, and what he was looking into," she said. "What do you think?"

  She hesitated for a moment before sending it. Then, nerves immediately flooded in as she waited to see if she'd get a reply.

  Her phone beeped, and she grabbed it, but her heart sank as she saw it was a student friend, asking for advice on one of the study assignments. Quickly, switching her brain to that side of her life, Cami texted a reply she knew would help. She ended up getting into some detail on it. After all, mobile device security was an important assignment topic and a problematic one for a lot of her classmates.

  But by the time she'd sent it, she saw that Kieran had answered. With a surge of nerves, she read the reply.

  "I think that's great. But I'm worried for you.”

  “And I’m worried for you too.”

  “Point taken. We don’t know how far this goes. Our neighborhood security company has seen strange vehicles in the area for two nights now, near our house. No number plates, and they’ve fled when approached.”

  “Serious?” Cami felt fear wash through her.

  “Might be nothing, or something else, but I feel it’s important. Police were in touch again today about the case. We told them about the vehicle. They said they’d station an officer here for the next few nights, but for now, there’s still no progress. So whoever he is, they’re not close to finding him.”

  “That’s scary.”

  “I want to help. How?"

  Cami thought. "We need to talk. Can we meet asap when case is over?"

  "Sure."

  “Please, take care until then.”

  “You too.”

  Reading the message, she felt a sense of purpose. It was even more important to find out who the shooter was and what they had to do with Ethan's investigation. She was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, and she hoped that with Kieran's help, she could do it before the danger got any closer. These people knew who Kieran was, that was easy, because he was Ethan’s brother. They might not know who she was yet, if they’d only glimpsed her at the bar, which was why she hadn’t been targeted since then.

  She wasn't leaving this alone. And the sooner she could work it out, the better. Cami thought again of that shooter, out there on the deserted road.

  He'd gone for Ethan first, but he'd intended to shoot her, too, and had been searching for her. Only luck, quick thinking, and the arrival of the police had prevented him from getting her right there and then.

  She needed to move first, and fast. And until then, Cami knew, she'd need to watch her back. She didn't know what this was about, but there were people who wanted to keep it secret at all costs. And it was likely some of them were within the FBI.

  She needed to solve this case, as fast as she could, so that she could tackle this danger with everything she had. Tomorrow, at Gatherings, Cami hoped they would get a breakthrough, thanks to those all-important image records.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  At seven-thirty the next morning, Cami was waiting near the main entrance of MIT, looking out for Connor's car. She couldn’t wait to get to this new lead. After all, both Antoinette and Rosalind had visited Gatherings more than once, and their facial images would be stored on the records. Then they could find out who had access to those records.

  Cami felt excited that this might be a big step forward in the case.

  When Connor arrived, and she got into the car, he was busy on a call.

  "Yes," he was saying, “that's correct. We're warning all women on their own, in Boston, to be especially careful at this time. The killer so far seems to be targeting women of a certain appearance, and those women with dark, brunette hair and blue eyes should be especially alert and aware when leaving home or arriving home. If you suspect you are being followed, or you are at all worried, call your local police urgently."

  Cami realized he was on the phone with the media and that he was issuing a warning to help keep other women safe. She felt glad about that.

  "This is the hotline we're encouraging people to call with any information." Easing the car forward, waiting for the traffic light to change, Connor glanced down at his notepad before reading the number out. "Any leads, any information will be treated in confidence."

  He waited.

  "Yes, this is a top priority for us at this time," he said. "We're working on it as we speak, and we're assigning all possible resources to it." He paused. "Yes. I am aware it's creating a sense of fear within the Boston area, and this is exactly why we issued the cautionary message we did, last night, which I’m explaining to you now."

  Last night? So, Connor had been working into the night after taking Cami home? He hadn't been resting quite as much as he'd advised her to do. Cami could see why, though. Public safety was a side of this case she could do nothing about. It was up to Connor to communicate with the media and protect the public as best as he could.

  "People mustn’t panic but should stay alert and aware and follow all safety guidelines in the police memorandum."

  He waited, listened. "Yes. You can call me at any time, but for updates on the case, it will be better to call the FBI media offices, as there may be more than one angle of investigation under way, and they can give you the complete picture."

  He hung up the phone and sighed. "The media is all over this," he said. "I'm trying to make sure they know the facts and are able to warn people without creating a climate of fear."

  Cami nodded, feeling her stomach twist, because what hope did anyone have if an unknown killer followed them into their house and overpowered them? Would a warning make any difference? Perhaps it might, she thought, if people looked over their shoulder in time. At least they could slam the door or scream.

  "It's tough," he said. "But it's worth it if we can keep people safe."

  "Is there pressure from your bosses also?" she asked, knowing that there was likely to be.

  "Yes. I've already had three calls today and two last night from Fraser and others. And it's not even eight a.m. This is made worse by the fact that these are high-profile victims, who had big followings." He sighed. "We just have to do what we can. They didn't deserve this. Being high-profile doesn't matter to me. It's the fact that they were targeted at all that makes me want to go at this, without any sleep, without stopping, until we get this guy."

  Cami nodded, understanding the pressure he was under. They pulled up outside the headquarters of Gatherings.

  "Let's go do this," Connor said. "If we can find out who had access to the records, we'll be one step closer to solving this."

  It might even be solved completely if this theory was right, Cami thought.

  Gatherings was a four-story building, square in shape, with a massive footprint and a mirrored façade. Cami could see it must have been purpose built for accommodating large functions, and she was sure that the interior contained many large spaces and halls that could be used for expos or big events.

  As they drove in, a security guard waved them into visitor's parking in the basement. From there, they took the elevator to the lobby. The moment they walked in, Cami could see the cameras. There were two trained on the elevators, two trained on the doors. And that was just the entrances to the admin offices. She could see this company had embraced technology and was using it to the fullest.

  But had one rotten apple been misusing it here?

  Connor strode up to the desk. "FBI here. We need to speak to your director, or your IT head. Either one will do. It's in connection with the serial murders, which you’ve probably heard about."

  The receptionist, an efficient looking woman with graying hair, looked surprised.

  "I have heard about them. But—you're here?" she asked.

  "The two victims both attended this venue more than once in the past few weeks," Connor explained.

  "I'll call Sandra Keyes, head of IT," she said. "Our directors are out this morning, so she'll be able to help you the quickest."

  The receptionist looked at Connor’s ID and then made a call, and Connor and Cami waited, exchanging hopeful glances.

  Within a minute, with a brisk clicking of her fashionable boots, Sandra Keyes arrived, a tall and elegant woman with a no-nonsense demeanor. Her chestnut hair was tied back from her face. She had sharp features and intense, green eyes.

  "Please, come upstairs," she said. She led them up one floor, to a large boardroom that seemed to be opposite her office. At any rate, the sweeping white desk and leather chair in the room opposite were empty. Glancing at the name board on the open door, Cami realized she was right.

  The boardroom was smaller, with chilly air conditioning, a round table, and six seats. Sandra closed the door and sat down.

  "How can I help?" Her gaze veered from Cami to Connor.

  "FBI Agent Connor and Cami Lark, assisting on this case," Connor introduced them. "It's in connection with the serial murders."

  "How is our company involved?"

  There was a steely tone to her words that told Cami, straight off the bat, that this wasn't going to be easy, and this woman was not going to cooperate instantly. She'd had enough experience now to know defensiveness when she saw it.

  "We don't know if your company is involved, but what we do know is that both the victims visited your premises more than once in the past few weeks. They would have been caught on your facial recognition software, and we'd like to know who had access to this as we believe this is how the killer is choosing these victims. They're both similar in appearance," Connor explained.

  Her eyes narrowed. "You're suggesting one of our team is the killer?"

  "Ma'am, we need to follow all leads," Connor said calmly.

  Sandra Keyes nodded slowly. "I see. Well, I can assure you that our facial recognition software is secure. We have a very strict security protocol in place. Only authorized personnel may access the data, and all of that activity is logged."

  "Can we see the logs?"

  She shook her head. "It's our private, secure information. Company policy," she said firmly.

  For a moment, Cami felt like screaming. Sandra Keyes was clearly not going to give them what they needed without a fight.

  Connor nodded. "We understand that. But this is a matter of public safety, and we need to find out who had access to the records. We'll be discreet and won’t reveal your company's confidential information, if that's what you're worried about."

  Cami could feel the tension in the air, but Sandra Keyes seemed to be considering the request.

  Then she shook her head once more, and in a more final way. "You're looking at a very loose connection, and I don't feel you have sufficient evidence to search our private records," she said. “Come back with a warrant, and we’ll talk again.”

  Cami glanced at Connor’s face. She could see he was mad about this but hiding it well. From what she had picked up from their cases so far, they didn’t need a warrant to access this information. It should be made available to them without one. But this woman was being obstructive, and now she had no idea how Connor was going to handle it.

  Unless she could think of a quick way around this?

  "We are legally entitled to view this information without a warrant,” Connor confirmed.

  “I disagree,” Sandra said rudely, and Cami’s eyes widened. This was not a matter of opinion! She wasn’t entitled to have a “different view” on matters of basic police procedure.

  Even so, they could be here arguing the point for hours unless she was able to help things along.

  Cami caught Connor's eye. It was the most speedy, sidelong glance, but it spoke volumes.

  She knew what she needed to do while they were discussing Sandra’s recent movements. This was extremely risky, but she guessed, from that quick look back, that Connor was on board with it.

  Connor turned his focus back to Sandra. “May I ask for your whereabouts yesterday morning?" he asked her.

  That showed Cami he was on board with her idea. By checking her alibi, he could hopefully keep her distracted, and in the meantime, she could take a look on her own.

  What she now had to do was get out and access the records on her own, while Connor kept this obstructive woman occupied. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with an excuse to leave that wouldn’t trigger any suspicion.

  Thinking quickly while Sandra Keyes wasn't looking, she activated the ringtone on her phone.

  The loud tone made the others look around. Pretending to be embarrassed, Cami quickly silenced the tone and glanced down at her phone.