Page 29 of The Devoted Game

Aldridge exchanged a look with Worth.

“I’m aware that you’re going to consider me a suspect until you have someone else to blame,” Ryan said, letting both men off the hook. “Justdon’t let that aspect of your investigative work keep you from looking for the real suspect.”

“We know how to conduct an investigation,” Worth said. “We’ve got folks at Quantico reviewing your old cases, checking on any possible family connections to perps you’ve eliminated or put behind bars who might bear a grudge. You made a few enemies in your time, McBride.”

He couldn’t deny that charge. Ryan was just glad to hear that at least some effort was being directed toward any theory at all that didn’t include him as a suspect.

“Excuse me, sir.” Agent Schaffer strode into the room.

Ryan had wondered where she’d gotten off to. Today she wore shiny red cowboy boots. The lady did like her boots.

Worth looked up as Schaffer approached his end of the conference table. “Yes, Agent Schaffer?”

She glanced at Ryan, then said, “We have a new communication from Devoted Fan.”

Everyone in the room prepared to move into action, but Ryan was the one to go to the computer to view the newest communication. He felt Grace move up behind him as he clicked the necessary keys to open the document.

Good morning, McBride,

I trust you slept well in your grand accommodations.

“He knows where you’re staying,” Grace said, her voice thin.

McBride cleared his mind of both distractions, Grace and the idea that this scumbag knew where he’d stayed last night, and read the rest of the email.

Here is your next challenge:

This city was built on blood, sweat, and determination.

Even now, mightiest to weakest, hard work is what makes it thrive ... is what forged the path from atop Red Mountain.

A Jones is a hard worker, but there was a time when she was oblivious. She is remorseful of that mistake and its consequences. But remorse is not always enough and is inevitably too late.

Her life is in danger, McBride, you must find her before she drowns in her regret. Death can be so cold; she need not die to find her atonement. Her preservation is in plain sight.

You have twenty-four hours ... don’t be late.

I remain . . .

Your Devoted Fan

Ryan reread the last two lines. Only twenty-four hours this time. The wording and details given were much more obscure ... not as definitive as before. Uncertainty snaked around his chest and squeezed. First, he should ... His mind scrambled for the proper protocol.

“Who is A. Jones?” Grace called out to the others. “We need to know the answer to that question ASAP!”

“I’m on it,” Pratt tossed back.

Okay. Ryan knew how to do this.No fear.No self-doubt.Focus.

He printed a copy of the email and pushed away from the computer.What next?“Davis ... you ... you stay on narrowing down those fan mail lists. Aldridge, you and Schaffer work on what Devoted Fan has given us this time. See if you get any matches on possible locations in the city using this verbiage.”

“The first thing that comes to mind is steel,” Grace said as she retrieved the hard copy of the email from the printer. “This city was built by the steel magnates.” She studied the email. “He uses the wordforged.”

“Iron Man,” Schaffer suggested, taking Grace’s theory and running with it.

“Atop Red Mountain,” Grace concurred. “Schaffer’s right. Vulcan Park, home to the Iron Man atop Red Mountain. And he’s definitely in plain sight.” Grace looked to Ryan. “That would be a good place to start, maybe even before we identify the victim. We could get a search team over there to have a look around. Park security could assist.”

“See if Birmingham PD will authorize a small search team to get started,” Ryan agreed. “Any head start is better than none.” TheAbefore Jones worried him. Was theAan initial, or an article referring to Jones? That one missing piece of punctuation would cost them precious time ... but then that was likely the point.