Page 58 of The Devoted Game

Grace was far too controlled under normal circumstances.

One thing he could say for certain, she damned sure hadn’t disappeared for even a second while they were bumping and grinding.

Worth assumed a position at the head of the table, placed a file folder there, then pushed his lapels aside and rested his hands on his hips. His expression was unreadable, and that nudged at Ryan’s suspicions. Since he’d basically slept about half an hour last night, he wasn’t going to waste any energy worrying about whatever this guy had on his mind. Good, bad, or indifferent, Ryan was halfway out of here already.

“McBride,” Worth announced, glancing around the table as if what he was about to say was of particular importance to all present. “I, and the Bureau, owe you an apology.”

Now there was a revelation he hadn’t seen coming. Ryan folded his arms over his chest and studied the man with avid curiosity. He felt Grace looking at him, but he was enjoying watching Worth sweat too much to meet her eyes.

“You were correct,” Worth went on, “when you suggested that the leak was in this office.” He surveyed those seated around the table for a moment before continuing. “Agent Aldridge inadvertently mentioned your participation in this case to an acquaintance, who then tipped off his friend Nadine Goodman. Agent Aldridge realized the mistake late last night. He will remain on administrative leave until this case is resolved.”

Ryan kept the “told you so” to himself. The open apology was more than he had expected. Maybe Worth wasn’t all asshole.

“According to Ms. Goodman,” Worth explained, “she sent an associate she refused to identify down to Key West to get some current background on you. The overly enthusiastic associate broke into yourhome and discovered some old work files you evidently have in your possession. He found a copy of the final report you had written on the Braden case and passed certain key details to Goodman, who used the information in her exposé.”

At least now Ryan knew for sure what was in those boxes. “The Bureau shipped four boxes to me. I never opened them,” he clarified just to ensure there was no misunderstanding this time.

“Agent Grace explained that,” Worth acknowledged. “As a precautionary measure, Agent Schaffer is en route to Key West to go through those boxes to see if there is anything else that might prove relevant to this case. Though Goodman insisted that her associate didn’t physically remove anything from your home or pass along any other information not yet released, we want to verify that for our own edification. There’s no word yet whether charges will be pressed against Goodman.” Worth’s expression remained closed, his tone businesslike. “Since a crime was committed at your residence, we didn’t need your permission to have a look.”

No big deal. Ryan didn’t have anything to hide. “Get to the point, Worth.” He didn’t see any reason to beat around the bush either. There would be a point. The apology was to set the stage, maybe earn a few points before going for the real target. “Why am I still here?”

Worth stared at the table a moment, as if what he had to say was difficult for him, before leveling his attention back on Ryan. “Director Stone has asked that, in addition to passing along his sincerest apologies, I implore you, on his behalf, to provide your continued cooperation in stopping this madman who calls himself Devoted Fan.”

Ryan took a beat to absorb and truly appreciate the confession. Three years ago they had taken everything from him, hung him out to dry in the worst way. If they expected him to be grateful now, they were going to be seriously disappointed.

“Don’t you just hate when that happens?” Ryan lifted one shoulder in a negligible shrug. “If I hadn’t been right, you wouldn’t have to beg like this. Must be humiliating.”

“McBride,” Grace cautioned.

Worth held up his hand to silence Grace. “McBride and I are going to need a moment.”

Grace and the others stood and filed out of the room. She shot him one final warning look as she made her exit.

When the door closed, Worth tried valiantly to hang on to his professional tone, but he failed. “That’s the difference between us, McBride.” That firm grip on his Bureau-perfect demeanor was gone; outrage had scratched its way to the surface and seized control. “I don’t think for one second that I know everything or that I’m always right. I fully understand that I’m only human and that mistakes are inevitable.

“Unlike you,” he went on, disdain oozing from every pore, “I don’t assume that no one else can do the job the way I can. Isn’t that what happened three years ago?” he goaded. “You thought you were the only agent in your unit who could do the job right. You worked day and night, the way I heard it. Rarely slept, hardly even went home. Your termination report said you tried to solve all the cases personally. Had done so for years. A real team player.” Worth shook his head slowly in unconcealed pity. “Let me see if I can get this right. The wording was”—he gestured vaguely—“a perfect definition of your character. ‘Agent McBride repeatedly and brazenly spread himself too thin. He showed no regard for authority or procedure. Crash and burn was inevitable.’”

There it was. The whole Ryan McBride story in a nutshell. Crash and burn. Ten years of service, and that was the summation. Yeah, he had spread himself too thin. Hell yeah, he’d ignored the rules and done things his way. But, by God, he’d gotten the job done.

Ryan held that condescending gaze. “And yet, here we are. In the same place.”

“Trust me,” Worth guaranteed him, “if there was any other way to do this, you would be out of my town so fast that enormous ego of yours would have to be FedExed to the Keys to catch up.”

All that charm and a sense of humor too. “Is all this foreplay leading someplace, Worth? Because, to tell you the truth, I’m not feeling it.”

A quiet fury, hampered by a distinct resignation, settled over the SAC’s face. “We don’t know where this is going.” He shrugged. “Devoted Fan has abducted and drugged two innocent victims. He’s facing several felonies already. And from the look of things, he isn’t finished yet. That doesn’t even take into account that the fallout has indirectly cost two lives. We need to find this son of a bitch before this thing takes any more unexpected turns.”

Worth let go a mighty breath. “That said, we received another email.”

What the hell? The guy goes through all that bullshit before getting to this? “You couldn’t have mentioned that first?” Ryan seemed to recall asking that same question before. What was it about guys like Worth who needed all that beating around the bush before just spitting out the real issue?

Worth held up both hands in a hold-on gesture. “No victim, just an email.”

Relief deflated some of his surliness. “Let’s see it.”

Worth reached into the file and removed a sheet of paper and passed it to Ryan.

The email got straight to the point.