Guarding Light (20 page)

   Catlyn's whole body went on alert and her voice shook as she said, "Detective Rider, my hand."

   Jack too became aware of the strange stare the detective gave Catlyn. He took both Catlyn and the detective's wrists and pulled, separating them. Still the detective stared unaware he no longer held Catlyn's hand.

   "Detective Rider, is there a problem?" Jack's voice held demand.

   Jack's voice punched through to the detective. "S-sir?"

   Jack held on to his patience as he repeated. "Is there a problem, because, if there is not, I'd like an explanation for you blatant disrespect towards
Supervisory Special Agent Lyte
." Jack put emphasis on Catlyn's title.

   Catlyn studied the detective. He seemed to be in some sort of shock, even though Jack spoke to him, his eyes never left Catlyn's face. He continued to watch her as though in a trance. He also had tears in his eyes. Catlyn realized she was witnessing grief. Grief so strong, that she or rather her face had triggered it, taking the detective to another place in time.

   Very gently, Catlyn asked, "What's her name detective?"

   "T-tawny. Tawny Brooks. Are you related?"

   Sadly, Catlyn shook her head in the negative. "No, I am sorry, detective. I am not." She took his hand. "I am so sorry for your loss."

   "Thank you, Ma'am." The detective then blindly stumbled from the room.

   "Wait just a second detec—" Catlyn put a staying hand on Jack's arm. "Let him go."

   "What the hell was that about?" Jack asked. "Who the hell is Tawny Brooks and how did you even know there was a Tawny Brooks?"

   Catlyn ignored his questions and asked one of her own. "How long has he been back from bereavement leave? I'd say it wasn't enough time. He probably needs more."

   Totally confused, Jack said, "Detective Carl Rider hasn't been on any bereavement leave of absence."

   "Really? Hmm." Catlyn was surprised.

   The FBI agents in the room were looking at Catlyn. Sanchez said, "One of your feelings, Cat?"

   She nodded and went to the computer at one of the desks off to the side of the conference table. "Jack sign-in for me so I can have a chief's access."

   Seeing that she was obviously on to something he quickly complied. Once he was on and his welcome screen appeared he gave the seat to Catlyn. "What is it, honey?"

   "Your detective has all the earmarks of grief, the kind of grief from the loss of a very close loved one, wife or girlfriend." Catlyn tapped at the keys until she got the logo for the police combined databases. "I am guessing it's a girlfriend since you'd obviously know about a deceased wife."

   "Detective Rider hasn't ever been married and he hasn't got a girlfriend." Jack amended. "Well, at least, not one that any of us has ever seen."

   Catlyn did a search for anything with the names Tawny Brooks and Carl Rider together.

   A few more keystrokes and three Tawny Brooks appeared on the screen. Catlyn clicked on the only black photo. Tawny Shay Brooks.

   Catlyn's hand went to her mouth. She was stunned. She heard Jabaria's gasp and Sanchez's "Holy shit" and Jack's "Oh, my God!"

   "Oh, my God!" Jack repeated. "Catlyn that could be a picture of you taken when you were a teenager."

   Recovering from her shock her fingers flew across the keyboard. "What is worrying me though is the fact that Tawny's picture is of a teenager, which means she may not have gotten any older."

   And just as she voiced her thoughts her search revealed several news stories from 1994. Catlyn clicked on each story arranging them side by side. The headlines were not good.

   
'Coed Body Found Slain/Raped on Campus Green', 'Tawny's Killer Still at Large ', 'Police Baffled Who Killed Tawny'.

   "Chief, you don't remember this story? It's local." Sanchez asked.

   Jack shook his head. "No, I was still in the service, still overseas. I didn't return home until about 1997. Look here," Jack tapped the screen. "'…Ms. Brooks' fiancé, Mr. Carl Rider was cleared with an airtight alibi. Mr. Rider was inconsolable when approached by reporters for an interview'"

"Jack do you archive your cold case files on the premises?"

   "Yes, in the basement. There are 2 rooms down there dedicated to cold cases."

   "I will need access." Catlyn clicked print.

   Sanchez asked. "Cat, you think this might have something to do with the Slasher? Think we need a new profile?"

   Catlyn gathered the pages of the stories as they came off the printer. "Not sure yet, I would have to see the case file. But, I think we may have found the original target, the first girl."

   Jack looked at Catlyn. "Wait, wait just a second. Why is Sanchez asking you about a new profile? I thought you guys were partners of equal rank."

   "We are but Cat does the profi—"

   Jack slapped his hand against his forehead, "Of course, the PhD in abnormal psych." He pointed a finger at Catlyn and said in an accusing tone. "You're Dr. C. L. Light."

   Catlyn looked at Jack, wondering if he was upset or not. "Yes, I am Dr. Catlyn Lee Light."

   Jack studied her for several seconds and then shook his head. "I keep forgetting just how big your brain really is."

   "Does that bother you?" Catlyn held her breath for his answer and released it in relief when he winked at her and said, "No I find smart chicks really sexy. And, if they just happen to look like you and are built like you I consider that a bonus."

   The small group laughed. Jack, looking over her shoulder as she read the pages, asked. "Why the change of spelling to your last name and why use initials?"

   Catlyn looked back at Jack, smiling. "Because my gorgeous alpha male, people, and by people I mean men, tend to trust males more when it comes to something like profiling and most people, and by people, I mean everyone, automatically assume the sex of a person who uses initials is male."

   Jack smiled back, nodding, for he indeed had pictured an older man, a professor type with glasses when he heard the name of the profiler. "I have to admit. I did think our profiler was an old white guy in glasses."

   "See, that is exactly why I changed the spelling of my last name and started using initials when I did my profiler gig, hiding in plain sight. Since the start of my profiler program and my stint at Quantico I have had to put up with people being surprised when we meet, especially if we've only ever corresponded through letters or emails. I am either, the wrong sex, age or race."

   "That must have been really tough to go through." Jack sympathized.

   "Jack, it's not past tense, I am still going through it." She set the pages down on the table. "Do you honestly believe any of your male task force members would have accepted that profile if they knew it came from me? I can't tell you how many times I had to deal with the 'boy's club' when on assignment."

   Jack frowned. "Now I know some of us guys can be assholes but we respect other law officials. My men would have accepted you Catlyn. And, in case you haven't noticed, there are several women on this task force."

   Catlyn shrugged. "I am sorry if you are offended but I am basing my actions on past experiences in other towns, with other LEOs."

   Jack was a little offended. "Come on, honey, if I hadn't known you and we met the first time you walked into my office, I would have given you the benefit of the doubt to know your job and how to handle yourself."

   Catlyn gave him a doubtful look, then reminding him of a few pertinent facts. "Jack, you know me and you still questioned my ability to do my job because I am a woman. You initiated a physical altercation to get me to step down from doing my job." Getting upset she added, "Now tell me with a straight face that you would have done that if I were a man."

   The others in the room saw the argument that was coming and silently left the room. Jose said in a low voice before leaving and closing the door. "We are going to go chase down that cold case."

   They didn't even acknowledge Jose. Jack was stunned. He had acted like a chauvinist. "Catlyn, that is not fair. You know that my actions had more to do with my feelings for you than your ability to do your job."

   "Well, you didn't treat me any differently than complete strangers I've met on the job who couldn't believe the big bad FBI sent a 'little lady' to do some heavy lifting."

   Jack paused, thinking. He really had treated her unfairly. She was right. "Catlyn, you're right. I didn't treat you like an agent." He cupped her cheek, moving in close, looking deeply into her troubled eyes. "But, sweetheart, that had absolutely nothing to do with me thinking your ability as an agent is deficient." He leaned in and softly kissed her lips, whispering, "It had to do with my feelings for you and my body's reaction to you being in my presence."

   He tried to deepen their kiss, but she turned her face away and he let her. "So, you are basically saying that if I had been a stranger you would have allowed me to do my job unhindered?"

   Jack thought over her question. If they had been strangers the conflict on the conference table would have never happened, but he still would have hesitated to have a female agent put herself in harm's way in his city. He still would have tried to talk a female agent out of the assignment.

   Seeing his hesitation to answer, Catlyn shook her head in disappointment, "Just what I thought." She stepped out of his embrace and turned to leave.

   Jack getting frustrated sighed. "Come on, Catlyn, you know you're no match for a crazed killer or any male."

   She turned back quickly. "What?" Her eyes flashed at him angrily. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

   Jack reacting to her anger spoke carelessly. "No woman can beat a man physically." He shrugged ignoring her widening eyes. "It's just the way it is. Men can't give birth and a woman cannot beat a man physically. It's the way we are built." His eyes traveled down her body appreciatively. "And you are built more womanly than most."

   With each word Catlyn's eyebrows rose higher as did her irritation with Jack's narrow view. "May I remind you about our little tussle I seem to recall it was I who was standing and you on the floor."

   Jack gave her a look as though something should be obvious to her, "Because I allowed you to be the one standing."

   Appalled at the rampet chauvinism, she placed her hands on her hips. "Let me get this straight, I am unable to beat a male physically unless he allows me to best him?"

   Jack nodded. "Sweetheart, men are naturally built stronger and faster. If a female gets an advantage over a male, there is a physical cause for it or a mental one."

   Catlyn couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Jack, that's a sexist view. You're saying I couldn't beat a male unless he is physically unfit or retarded."

   Jack frowned, his confusion very genuine. "Of course, that's the way it is, besides it's part of a man's job to protect the weaker sex."

   "I can't believe you just said that." Catlyn threw her hands up, "The weaker sex, really?"

   Mimicking her frustrated action, Jack threw his hands up in defeat. "What? Am I wrong?"

   Just before she was about to storm out of the conference room, she paused, Catlyn looked at Jack closely. He truly wasn't trying to be insulting. She could see his confusion in the squint of his eyes and the wonder in the deepening green. Jack believed what he was saying. He felt it was part of his job to protect females.

   Instead of getting angry with him she tried to understand his reasoning. Stepping closer to him and placing her hands on his chest, she looked deeply into his eyes. He reciprocated by putting his hands at her waist, pulling her tightly to his body. He looked into her eyes confused. "We are ok? I don't like the feeling that just went through me. It felt like I was losing you." He touched his forehead to hers, "And that I would not survive."

   She initiated a kiss he quickly took over, much to her pleasure. "Me either. We are ok. I realized you weren't being deliberately disrespectful, you believe what you are saying."

   "Of course I believe it and I respect you more than anyone in my life. You're amazing." His eyes darkened with want.

   She kissed him and smiled broadly, "Right back at you Stud-Muffin." She reached down and cupped his semi-aroused shaft. "I will just have to convince you of woman's strength some other way." She stroked him through his slacks. He grew long and strong, testing the seams of his pants.

   "Oooh baby, you're making me weak right now!" Jack took her mouth hungrily, backing her into the nearest wall, grinding their pelvises, seeking her heat.

   Catlyn enjoyed his bump and grind for a few precious moments before she gently pushed against Jack's chest. He gave way instantly. Even in the throes of passion he respected her enough to let her call the shots. Keeping her smile under control she whispered against his lips. "I got to go and speak with Detective Rider about Tawny."

   Jack's heated gaze drilled into hers, "Now, right this second? Kitten, you could give me a few more minutes, give us a few more." He kissed her persuasively on her lips.

   She licked his Adam's apple and sucked the flesh just below his earlobe, feeling him shudder. "I could…" She laughed a little stepping completely out of his embrace. "…but since I am of the weaker sex I need to stop now." She glanced at his rock hard cock. "I am sure you being the big strong man," Catlyn raised her arm in an arm-wrestling gesture making a muscle, "you can bring your body under control instantly." She squeezed his erection. "I am such a silly, weak, female, I need to stop in the ladies' room to cool off from my body's reaction to yours."

   She opened the door and turned back, winking at him, she blew him a kiss.

   Jack narrowed his eyes on her, saying between gritted teeth, "Catlyn, you know I can't walk out of this room looking like this."

   She gasped in exaggerated surprise, "Really?" With brows raised in faked innocence she walked out the door, laughing at his glaring eyes and flushed face.