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Dana usedher key card to access the elevator, stepping on with the silent Agent Spector by her side. She still wasn’t sure bringing him here was a good idea, but when he’d asked if there was somewhere private where they could speak, the Smithsonian was the first place that came to mind.

Being on her home turf offered a modicum of comfortability. She’d yet to learn if her sense of security was false, but since Agent Spector hadn’t offered any other information, she’d decided to take every advantage she could get.

Dana hated the worry she knew she was causing Jake. She’d seen the anguish in his eyes right before she’d disconnected their call. He was part of the reason she’d chosen to come to the Smithsonian. It was a place Jake would look for her if things with the mysterious Homeland Security agent went south.

The elevator doors rolled open, and Dana stepped out into the familiar library she called home. “My office is right this way,” she offered.

Past stacks of dusty books and display cases of ancient bones, Agent Spector followed without pause. If he was affronted by the subject matter of sub level three, it didn’t show.

Finally, they arrived at Dana’s office. Agent Spector took a seat first, making himself comfortable in the leather chair in front of her desk. Out of habit, Dana took her own seat, behind the desk, like she was the one conducting this strange interview.

Agent Spector stared at her, an amused look on his weather worn face. At first Dana had thought they were around the same age, but upon closer inspection, she estimated he was a bit older, maybe late forties.

His tanned face held a boyish charm, and his physique was beyond impressive. It was the dusting of salt and pepper at his temples that gave him away. It spread through his short sandy brown hair like cream mixing into coffee.

Dana sat across from the quiet man, fidgeting with her ragged nails while she waited for him to speak. She understood the technique. He was waiting her out. Seeing if she’d get spooked and offer up some fact he didn’t know he wanted.

She was determined not to fall for it, but in the end, he was more seasoned than her.

“You asked for somewhere to speak. I assumed that meant you had something to say,” Dana pressed.

His grin was so sudden, Dana wondered if she’d imagined the flash of white teeth and dimples. It was a wonder he didn’t deploy it more. His smile was full of a boyishness that made it hard for her to remember he was a federal agent with the power to lock her up and throw away the key.

“I have many things to say. But I’m more interested in your opinions.”

“On what?”

“Cash Holloway.”

“Are you taking that case from Metro, too?”

He nodded. “It seems so.”

“What does that mean?”

“We received a call from Metro PD requesting joint evidence analysis.”

Dana mentally kicked herself for insisting Hartwell make that call.

“Don’t worry,” Spector said. “You only expedited the inevitable. HSI has a TFO unit in route to seize the crime scene evidence as we speak.”

“If you took the time to call me back, you might’ve saved yourself the trip,” Dana said.

“We don’t take matters of National Security lightly, Dr. Gray.”

“That’s just it. Cash Holloway’s death proves we’re most likely dealing with a serial killer, not a political terrorist.”

“Cash Holloway’s parents are public figures who are notoriously vocal about their political agenda. That makes it impossible to eliminate the possibility of a political threat,” Spector argued.

“The only thing similar about the Hayes and Holloway murders is the weapon. This is serial. It should go to the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, and you know it.”

Spector grinned. “You’ve worked three FBI cases, Dr. Gray. That hardly makes you an expert.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’ve worked enough cases to know that if the alphabet soup of D.C. agencies stopped using red tape to measure their pissing matches, we’d get a lot more done.”

“I agree.”

“Yeah,” Dana scoffed. “That’s why you keep swooping in and taking all the evidence Metro collects.”

“A second look never hurts. You should know that better than anyone.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Spector nodded toward the library beyond the open door of her office. “Your books and artifacts have been examined by centuries of experts, but still, you find new occult discoveries every day.”

“You know a lot about me.”

“It’s my job.”

“Why did you pull me over? I know it wasn’t because you’re interested in my studies.”

“I need a favor.”

“From me?” Dana crossed her arms. “There are easier ways to ask.”

He flashed that disarming grin again. “Meredith Kincaid. I’d like you to ask her to speak to me.”

“About what?”

“The same things you spoke with her about on your last visit, I expect.”

Dana briefly wondered if Meredith’s room was bugged. Or maybe she was. Jake had acted like it was nothing to put spyware on Claire’s phone. Surely Homeland Security wouldn’t find it difficult to do the same.

Agent Spector interrupted her thoughts. “I’d like you to ask Miss Kincaid to cooperate.”

“You’re Homeland. Can’t you make her?”

“My position allows certain liberties, yes. But I prefer not to employ them unless absolutely necessary.”

Dana heard Jake’s voice in her mind. Gain before you give. She wasn’t granting a favor unless she could get one in return. The question was … what to ask for?

“Why Meredith?” Dana asked, stalling.

“Her name has come up in our investigation. I’m just seeing if any dots connect.”

“Dots as in Dr. Dvita?”

Spector’s intense blue eyes bore into Dana’s. “You have a keen sense of suspicion. I see why Agent Shepard liked working with you. Shame about him.”

Dana gritted her teeth, wishing people would stop saying that in the past tense. “If I do this, what do I get in return?”

“I’ll owe you a chit.”

A favor from Homeland Security? It was a veritable get out of jail free card. Something to keep in her back pocket for a rainy day.

Trouble was, Dana wasn’t much for rainy days.

She reached inside her shirt, her fingers tightening around the dog tags, knowing exactly what favor to cash in on.