I should have been shocked by this, but I wasn’t.
“And is he—”
“FBI?”
I nodded. Carlo shook his head and placed his hand over his mouth like he was trying to resist the urge to laugh.
“Why is he here then?” I said.
Carlo smiled and folded his arms and rested them on the table in front of me. He took his time before he replied.
“Let’s just say he has a vested interest in this case and leave it at that. Now to my questions for you….”
Meaning me? I couldn’t think of any other reason he’d be there. I wanted to continue our back and forth banter until I had more answers, but somehow I already knew I wouldn’t get much more out of him, and he looked like he’d said too much already.
“What do you want to know?” I said.
“Everything, but let’s start with your sister.”
I relayed the information about Gabby, most of which I was sure he had already been briefed on by someone else. When I finished, he nodded and said, “Tell me how you came to be the center of Sinnerman’s affections.”
This, too, I was sure he knew, but I humored him with what had gone on over the past week since the murders started up again.
“He seems quite taken with you,” he said. “How do you feel about that?”
“If it helps us catch him, I’m fine with it.”
He moved his hand across the desk and grabbed a file folder and placed it in front of him and opened it. My name was typed in bold letters in the center across the top. I couldn’t read what was below, but it was apparent it was a file about certain moments in my life.
“How long have you been a PI?” he said.
“Is that some kind of profile on me?”
“It’s just a little information to help me get to know you better,” he said.
Why?
“This Sinnerman—the killer, is neat, wouldn’t you say?”
I nodded.
“And careful,” he said. “To the degree that he’s never left behind a print or any type of evidence that would give us any clues to his identity. And then you come into the picture and all of the sudden he takes risks. Why do you think that is?”
“He wrote Coop.”
“But the letters to Detective Cooper a few years back weren’t like the ones he writes you—they’re more personal, intimate.”
“The cops have always focused on the women. They interview their families, look into their background…that’s what they did last time, and it’s no different now. The women were random. Wrong place, wrong time. It’s not like he has any rhyme or reason about who he chooses beyond their age and hair color. Without evidence on Sinnerman, he’s been impossible to find so I understand why everyone wants to shift their attention to the women. They’re the next best thing. But I believe it will lead to the same place it always has—nowhere.”
“What would you suggest?” he said.
I uncrossed my legs and leaned forward in my chair and looked him right in the eye.
“Forget the women. Focus on Sinnerman and you’ll find him.”
“Do you want to know what I think, Miss Monroe?”
I shrugged.
“I think you are the key to whether or not we find him, and that the steps we need to take all begin and end with you,” he said.
Before I could respond the office door opened and Rose poked her head in.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, “but the sketch that woman from the park gave us is finished.” Rose looked over at Agent Luciana. “I thought you might like to know.”
She then turned and closed the door. He stood up and walked toward the door. I remained seated.
“You coming?” he said.
I tried my best not to hide my surprise.
“You want me in there with everyone else?”
“Like I said before, there’s a reason our killer is corresponding with you,” he said, “and I intend to keep you close while I prove that theory.”
“I already have a shadow,” I said.
He shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
I’d started to grow fond of Taye Diggs. In the short time I’d known him, I liked having him around. I wasn’t ready to see him go—not yet.
“What do you mean by that?” I said.
“I’ve already assigned some of my men to you.”
“More than one? When will I get to meet them?” I said.
“I don’t believe that’s necessary. If they do what they’re supposed to, you won’t even know they’re around, but rest assured Miss Monroe—they will be. And then of course, you’ll also have Giovanni.”
“Giovanni—why?” I said. “You said he wasn’t FBI so why would he stick around?”
“Gio is the best protection anyone could ask for. You’d be safer with him than ten of my best men. Besides, it’s what he wants, and I can’t deny my brother’s request.”
The fog in my head lifted, and I saw a clear picture of what I’d missed before. There was only room for one alpha male in the Luciana family, and Agent Carlo Luciana wasn’t it.
CHAPTER 20
Agent Luciana, the chief, Coop, and I stood in a room and ogled the rendering the sketch artist had come up with. It didn’t look much different than a sketch of every other perp in a hoodie that I’d seen. In fact, it was very unibomber-esque.
Agent Luciana looked at me.
“What do you think?” he said.
Coop frowned. He didn’t approve of the fact that my opinion was the first one that was solicited. I smiled—wide.
“I’m not sure how much help it will be,” I said. “This looks like most of the locals in this town.”
He gave the sketch to the chief.
“Get it to the papers,” Agent Luciana said. “No matter how average it looks, it sends a message to the killer.”
“Which is?” Coop said.
“That he slipped up, and we know about it,” Carlo said. “It may not be much, but it’s a start. If we can rile him up, he might make a mistake again.”
Through the office window I glanced at Giovanni when I thought he couldn’t see me. He was leaned up against the back of a desk with his arms folded. His eyes were centered on something, but I couldn’t see what from my vantage point. I leaned over a bit and realized it wasn’t a what, it was a who. Nick thrust the door open and aimed all his frustration in my direction.
“What’s she doing in here?” he said. “I’m getting really tired of this.”
He turned toward the chief who looked at Agent Luciana.
“Can I help you with something?” Agent Luciana said.
“Yeah, you can tell me why Sloane is in this room with you guys and I’m not. She has no business being here.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” Agent Luciana said.
“The hell it isn’t,” Nick said.
Agent Luciana was unfazed by this. He looked at me and then Coop and the chief and without saying a word, we all knew what he wanted. The three of us left the room. Behind closed doors Agent Luciana and Nick went back and forth, voices raised.
Giovanni caught my arm when I walked by.
“Where are you off to?” he said.
“That’s a good question. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. I feel like I’ve been assigned a bunch of babysitters.”
“I wouldn’t look at it like that,” he said. “You hungry?”
I nodded. Food did sound good. It had been hours since I’d eaten anything.
“Great,” he said. “I know just the place.”
Nick stormed out of the office and headed straight for me.
“Who’s this guy then?” he said with his thumb pointed in Giovanni’s direction. “First you strut in here with him like he’s your buddy ol’ pal, and now he’s taking you to dinner? You don’t waste any time.”