Valerie Hansen - Face of Danger

“Were you able to arrest anyone at the grave site?”

“Not at that time, but it worked out in the end. All we got at first was the jacket of the guy who was trying to retrieve the skull. Later, a man named Greco came after Jennifer Rodgers, the woman who owns the property on which the drop site and skull were located. Greco was killed by the Ranger we had working undercover there.”

“Uh-oh. He didn’t talk first?”

“No.” Cade frowned and gestured at the skull. “If you can help us ID this guy, we may be able to make more progress than we have lately.”

“What about the guy in the coma? Could he have been a secret informant for Captain Pike? He was found shot at the house alongside Pike’s body, right?”

“Yeah. He’s still in a coma so we can’t question him, although we do have hope he may recover. They say he moved his fingers slightly. All we have to work with right now is his photo and the fact that he’s Irish.”

Cade tilted his head toward the skull she was holding so gingerly. “Which leaves that as our only other clue at present. That’s why it’s so important. So important that I’ve been ordered to stick around until you finish the facial reconstruct—”

Without any warning, all the overhead lights blinked off.

Cade heard Paige gasp.

“Hold your horses,” he said. “I’m sure it’s nothing. The emergency generator should kick on in a few seconds.”

“I wonder. Look outside. The lights in the parking lot are still working.”

Cade’s right hand instinctively went to his gun, his palm resting on the grip, his thumb unsnapping the tab that kept it in the holster. “You’re right. Stay where you are. I’ll go have a look around.”

He heard shuffling. Then she grabbed the sleeve of his leather jacket.

“I’m going with you.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“The silly part is how afraid I get when it’s totally dark. Either you take me with you or I’ll probably panic and get hysterical.” She drew a noisy, shaky breath. “I mean it. I know it’s stupid and irrational but I’m really, really scared.”

“Okay. You can come. Grab the evidence. We’re not leaving it unguarded.”

He heard the slide of a zipper as she closed the carrying case. Now that his vision had adjusted more to the darkness he could see enough via the reflected exterior lights to move around safely, even in such unfamiliar territory.

“Got it,” Paige said. “I’m ready.”

Judging by the quaver in her tone she was truly frightened. Although such unfounded fears made no sense to him, he was willing to indulge her, particularly in view of the Rangers’ desperate need for her talents. The last thing he wanted to do was alienate her.

They crossed the room, moving as one.

Cade grasped the doorknob. He had no sooner started to twist it than he heard a clicking, sliding sound. He froze. Was that a bullet being chambered in an automatic weapon?

If someone else was outside in the hallway, as he now suspected, they might very well be getting ready to shoot the first person dumb enough to stick his—or her—head out.

Cade steeled himself. He wasn’t going to make it that easy.

Staying close to Cade, Paige kept out of the way of the Ranger’s drawn gun. He’d tensed and stopped dead in his tracks when they’d heard the metallic sounds on the other side of the door.

It was ludicrous to assume they were in any serious danger. This was one of the safest buildings in the whole state. The sprawling complex of the Texas Department of Public Safety housed both the State Troopers and the Rangers. With all those lawmen roaming around, not to mention enough professional bureaucrats to scare the socks off anybody, no criminals would dare set foot in the place.

When the Ranger reached back and gave her a gentle push, she resisted. “You’re not leaving me.”

His tone was brusque and civil at the same time. It rumbled along her nerve endings and raised goose bumps on her arms. “Just stay back while I check. You’re not going out there till I say it’s clear.”

“Yes, sir.” Feeling contrite, Paige eased away from him slightly. The padded case bumped against her knees. She shoved it toward the hinged edge of the opening door for added security, thinking belatedly that maybe she should put her own body in its place. She didn’t.

“Who’s there?” Cade called loudly. “Identify yourself.” No one answered, and he said more quietly to Paige, “Do you happen to have a flashlight? I left mine in my truck.”

“Yes. I’ll get it. What are we going to do?”

“We’re not. I am.”

As soon as he had the light in hand, he eased the door open another six inches, then a foot, then all the way. Swinging out in a half crouch, he aimed both gun and light first in one direction, then the other.

“Okay,” Cade told her, straightening. “Looks like the coast is clear.”

“Now what?”

“We find the main panel that controls the lights in this place and try to figure out what’s wrong. Any idea where that panel might be?”

“Up front. We throw those breakers whenever we have a fire or disaster drill.”

“That’s what I’m looking for.”

Paige pointed down the hallway toward the reception area. “Go that way. There’s a fuse box in a utility closet. It’s on the left, not far from the front door.”

“Okay. Follow me. And stay close.”

She chuckled derisively, positive that doing so was a lot better than letting herself be too serious. “Close? Trust me. That’s not going to be a problem.”

The farther they traveled, the more the hair on Paige’s neck and arms prickled. She shivered. Listened to the echo of their soft footfalls. Suddenly, there was something else. What was that noise?

Tapping the Ranger on the shoulder, she saw the beam of the light he was carrying jump and realized he wasn’t nearly as calm and collected as he’d wanted her to believe.

“Stop,” Paige whispered. “Did you hear something funny just now?”

“I don’t think so. Did you?” He played the light over the walls and floor and shined it into the distance, forward and behind. Its beam vanished into the gloom.

“I don’t know. I thought so but now I’m not sure. I do have a very active imagination.”

“In your line of work that’s probably an asset.”

She huffed softly. “It’s not so hot when I’m trapped in a dark building, even if I do have one of Texas’s finest to protect me. I was sure I heard something. Besides our footsteps, I mean.”

They stood quietly together, listening to the silence, before Cade said, “Maybe you aren’t the only one who stayed to work late and somebody else is trying to fix the problem, too. Come on.”

Carrying the evidence bag behind her, Paige stuck close to Cade as they tiptoed along the hallway. Each private office door they tried to open was locked, as they should have been. Unless the prowler—assuming there was one—had individual keys, there was no way he could be hiding in any of those rooms.

“You said the controls for the overhead lighting are around here, right? Show me.” Cade painted the beige-tiled floor with the narrow beam of light.

It took her only a few seconds to guide him to the gray metal box containing the electrical panel. He located the breakers and flipped them all to On.

The resulting illumination was blinding. Paige shaded her eyes with her free hand and could feel the tension flowing out of her. “Whew. That’s better. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. We’ll need to report this incident to Captain Parker. It may have been just a blown breaker from a power surge or something, but an electrician should have a look at the whole system just the same. No use taking chances.”