Page 51 of Tell Me Your Desires

“A fucking gun.” He redirected his focus back to Anya. “I will get you those files.”

“The risk is too great, Detective. If you get caught with those files, the FBI can do much more damage than administrative leave.”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do, and so would Jaime.” Anya stood up and stretched her aching body. It had been a long, restless night spent sitting in a chair, hoping that Jaime would wake up. Anya placed a gentle hand on Jaime’s leg just to feel a connection. “She wouldn’t want you to tank your career for her, Max.”

“With all due respect, Dr. Grant, Jaime wouldn’t survive if anything happened to you. So, she would do whatever it took to put that son of a bitch either in the ground or behind bars. Preferably the former.”

That’s why I’m going to do whatever it takes, Anya vowed silently. “Max…”

“Anastasia.”

Anya froze. As soon as Anya had heard that the FBI was taking over the case, she’d anticipated a visit.

She was a witness to a shooting, a former person of interest, and the object of the unsub’s obsession.

There was no way to avoid an interview with a special agent.

However, Anya did not expect this special agent.

Max stood and blocked the path between Anya and their new visitor. “Can I help you?”

Anya could tell from Max’s posture and tone that he was aware this was the FBI, and he wasn’t pleased about their presence in Jaime’s room. Oh, if he only knew how pissed off Jaime would be if she knew exactly who it was. She patted Max’s back in a calming gesture.

“Detective Fraser, this is Special Agent Kate Sullivan,” Anya introduced them to one another.

“So, you’re the one who stole my case?” Max snarled. “Did you come to rub it in my face while I’m visiting my partner in the hospital, Special Agent? We don’t need you here.”

“We didn’t steal your case, Detective.” Kate flipped open the folder she had in her hand. “Six deaths and the attempted murder of a detective with no suspects. And that’s just here in Nevada. I’d say you do need us here.”

“Kate,” Anya warned.

“I’m just stating the facts, Anastasia.”

“Yeah?” Max scoffed. “The facts are there are five victims, not six, Special Agent.”

“It’s Special Agent in Charge,” Kate corrected.

“And according to ballistics, the gun used to shoot your partner was the same gun used in a cold case three years ago. A,” Kate checked her notes.

“Taylor Chamberlain. I don’t know what that says to you, Detective, but it tells me these cases are connected. ”

Anya’s hand flew to her mouth as Max sank back into the chair he had just left. “Oh, my god.”

“What…?” Kate began, but Anya was quick to cut her off.

“Kate, give us a minute.”

“Anastasia.”

“I’m asking you to give us a minute, Special Agent in Charge Sullivan,” Anya repeated coldly. “You owe me that much.”

Kate hesitated briefly before she nodded and exited the room.

“What the hell do we do now? They’re not going to give me any of that information.

Hell, I can’t even go to the fucking station without a Union Rep.

And something this huge? I can’t risk Taylor’s case by doing something stupid.

” Max ran a hand down his face. “The FBI doesn’t understand what this case means, Anya.

If they find out that this was just a fucking gun making its rounds out there on the streets, they’re not going to give a shit about solving a three-year-old case.

” Max paused when he cast his gaze on Jaime.

Anya noted the turmoil written all over his face.

“Then this starts all over again for Jaime. We can’t let that happen.

And we can’t let Jaime go rogue in her condition.

I’m open to any ideas here, Doc, because I don’t know what the fuck to do. ”

Max’s voice was raw with emotion. Anya didn’t need a degree or years of experience to grasp the significance of this moment.

Max’s partner had spent the last three years mourning someone she loved, believing she would never find closure or discover the identity of her killer.

Now that both were a possibility as Jaime lay in a coma from the same gun, it seemed…

wrong to take it away from her. She would do whatever it took to put that son of a bitch either in the ground or behind bars.

“You’re going to stay here with Jaime,” Anya answered softly.

She went to Jaime and caressed her cheek as best as she could without disturbing the tubes.

After a moment’s hesitation, she leaned down and kissed Jaime gently on the lips before turning back to Max.

“Text me if anything changes, and I’ll return as quickly as I can. ”

“Where are you going?”

“To cash in a debt.”

“Kate?”

Kate turned to Anya and offered her a smile. “It’s good to see you, Anastasia.”

“Why are you really here?” Anya asked, ignoring Kate’s sentiment. “Agents in charge don’t make personal appearances unless it’s a high-profile case or there’s something in it for them.”

Kate’s smile faded. “Right. Well, this case came across my desk, and Anastasia Grant was named as a potential victim. Since the one I used to know had practically fallen off the face of the earth, I needed to see if it was my Anastasia Grant.”

“Not yours and not a potential victim,” Anya stated clearly. She also noted that Kate had skipped over the part where Anya had been a person of interest first. “How did it end up on your desk, anyway?”

“You know better than anyone that cases such as these, especially ones involving the attempted murder of a cop, are FBI territory.”

Anya frowned. “But how did you get it? And so quickly? The details of these cases have been largely kept out of the media.”

“Meaning the authorities have kept it from the public that a serial killer is out there?”

Anya didn’t appreciate the accusatory tone in Kate’s voice.

“Your disapproval rings hollow, considering our past, don’t you think, Kate?

And you didn’t answer my question. How did you get this case?

” Anya noticed Kate’s hesitation; she could see the hard swallow and the way Kate avoided making eye contact.

“Oh my god, you have me on the Hotwatch list, don’t you! ”

“It’s not like that, Anastasia. At least, it’s not how you think.”

“Not how I think. Why don’t you explain it to me then?” Anya crossed her arms, lifted a brow, and waited for whatever asinine explanation Kate decided to give her.

Kate looked around, clearly feeling uneasy under Anya’s scrutiny. “Maybe we could find a more private place to have this conversation?”

“Dr. Grant?” Anya turned toward Zoe’s voice. “Is everything okay here?”

She almost laughed at Zoe’s fierce glare directed at Kate. “Everything is fine, Zoe. Thank you. I thought you went home.”

Zoe narrowed her eyes at Kate, then smiled at Anya and shook her head. “That was last night, hon. I should have brought that cot into Jaime’s room for you. You must be exhausted.”

“I am, but I think I’m going to go home for a bit to change, rest, and help with the case.

” Anya plucked a pen from the pocket of the young nurse’s scrubs.

“Do you have a piece of paper?” Zoe handed Anya a small notepad, and Anya scribbled her name and number down.

“I’ve instructed Max to text me if anything changes with Jaime, but you know how men are.

” She gave Zoe a playful eye roll. “I’d feel much better knowing you have my number. ”

“I will definitely call you if Jaime wakes up.” Zoe chuckled.

“Oh! Hold on!” She jogged behind the nurse’s station and came back with a bag.

“Here are the clothes you were wearing when you came in. I didn’t know if it’d be too upsetting for you to have them, but…

” She lifted a shoulder with uncertainty.

Anya’s movements were as tremulous as Zoe’s smile. “T-thank you.”

“Of course. And I’ll take good care of Jaime while you work your magic.”

Anya tilted her head in question. “My magic?”

“I Googled you,” Zoe answered sheepishly. “I’ve read about your career. If anyone can find out who did this to Jaime and those women, it’s you.”

Anya turned to Kate when Zoe walked away. “I need to see everything you have on these cases.”

Kate stared, then laughed uncomfortably. “Anastasia, despite your background, you’re a civilian now. I can’t just let you—”

“You are the Special Agent in Charge, and you’re welcome for that, by the way. You have the authority to bring me on as a consultant.”

“Anastasia—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake! Will you stop calling me that? It’s Anya. And I’m calling in my favor, Kate.” Anya scoffed as she glared at Kate. The reminder of the favor only had her slipping back to that day. The day when everything changed.

Kate was on her knees, clutching Anastasia’s hands.

“Please! I will do anything, Anastasia. If they know I altered your report, they could hold me accountable for what happened. They could put me in federal prison! They’re offering you early retirement—no black marks.

I’m begging you not to tell them the truth. ”

Anastasia was reasonably confident that the FBI wouldn’t imprison Kate for altering a report.

But Kate’s career would certainly be over.

Although that was Anastasia’s fate, she couldn’t bear the thought of being the reason someone she loved lost everything.

Still, could she ever forgive Kate for betraying her?

“Anastasia, you’re not saying anything. It’s never good when you’re quiet.” Tears streamed down Kate’s face. “Look, I thought I was doing the right thing! We were under the gun, and…”

“And you thought you could assert your dominance by undermining me?” Anastasia finished for Kate.

“That wasn’t my intention.”

“Wasn’t it? The Director asked for a meeting with me a week prior to this case, presumably for a promotion.

When I told you about it, you weren’t happy for me.

In fact, your attitude changed quite a bit in private and professionally.

You’re asking me to throw away my career to save yours.

You can at least be honest with me about that, Kate. ”

Kate lowered her eyes but never relinquished her hold on Anastasia’s hands. “Yes, I was jealous. I came up from Quantico a year before you, and I’m a tactical field agent, not just a profiler.”

“Just a profiler,” Anastasia repeated, trying to extract her hands from Kate’s almost painful grip.

“I didn’t mean it that way, I—” Kate sighed.

“This is all coming out wrong, and I’m scared.

This is my life we’re talking about here.

You have the power to end it all for me right now, and I am literally on my knees begging you not to.

” Kate dipped her head to look Anastasia in the eyes. “Think of it as a favor.”

“A favor?”

“Yes. Give me this, and I will owe you for the rest of my life. Whatever you want, Anastasia. If I can give it to you, I will.”

Anya kicked that day from her mind and focused on Kate. She wasn’t taking no for an answer. No matter what, she was dealing with this. “Well?”

Kate sighed. “I have a team scheduled to be here at 0800. I can give you until then.”

“Not good enough.” Anya held up a hand. “Your exact words the day I gave up everything for you were, ‘I will owe you for the rest of my life. Whatever you want, Anastasia. If I can give it to you, I will.’ I got them tattooed on my ass.”

“I remember w…w-what…?” The folder Kate was holding slipped from her grasp and hit the floor with a loud thunk.

“Pick that up. We’ll need it along with everything else. Call your team and tell them you won’t need them for another twenty-four hours.”

“Anastasia.”

“Anya,” Anya corrected. “I stopped being Anastasia a long time ago, Kate. Twenty-four hours. That’s what I’m asking for with the files and all the resources I need.”

Kate bent down to pick up the file she dropped, and Anya wondered if Kate thought she was being discreet when she glanced at Anya’s ass while she was down there.

“Fine. We’ll go to my hotel room.”

“No. You’ll bring everything to my home. I’ve been gone far too long. Derek will be worried about me.”

“Your home is a crime… who’s Derek?”