told her to relax.
Lieutenant General Hall regarded her steadily. “I understand you know how to work a camera.”
Surprise washed through her. “Yes, sir.”
“Excellent. You are being reassigned to the photo lab effective immediately.”
“Excuse me?” Felicity stared at the lieutenant general then her gaze darted to Westley. His inscrutable expression irked her. Had he signed off on this transfer? She didn’t want to leave the training center. She wanted to work with the dogs. Was this photo-lab assignment some sort of punishment? Had Westley used the situation as an opportunity to have her removed from the training center?
Lieutenant General Hall held up a hand. “Now, hear us out.” He nodded at the OSI agent.
Ian tipped his chin at her. “Of the potential victims, you’re the only one trained to handle the likes of Boyd Sullivan.”
His words sounded like a compliment. Still, confusion pounded at her temples. She glanced around the room at the men seated at the conference room table. When Westley had requested she rejoin them a few minutes ago, she’d had no idea what to expect. Certainly not this. “What do you want from me?”
“You take on the role of base photographer,” Ian said. “This allows you to be visible, to roam the base at will taking many, many photos.”
“You’ll then upload the images to our database,” the FBI agent said. “We’ll run the pictures through our facial-recognition software. If Boyd is on base and you can capture his image then we’ll have a better chance of finding him before he hurts anyone else.”
She turned this over in her head. Her gaze strayed to Westley again. The muscle in his jaw ticked, as if he was clenching his teeth. Was he upset or happy to be rid of her? She didn’t know. He was so hard to read.
Her gaze swept over the other men staring at her and waiting for a response. How did one reply to being asked to act as bait for a serial killer?
But Ian was correct. No way could Yvette or Vanessa take on the role, despite the training all air-force personnel went through. Felicity imagined her father would want her to take on the challenge. Her mother, on the other hand, would flip out when she learned about this. Not that Felicity had any intention of telling her mother until after the fact. Or ever.
Straightening her shoulders and standing tall, she turned her attention to Lieutenant General Hall. “I will do whatever is needed, sir.”
Approval shone in his eyes. “Well done. Then I will let you and Agent Steffen work out the details. You’ll report for duty in the photo lab tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lieutenant General Hall looked to Ian. “I’ll let you take it from here.”
“Take a seat,” Ian told her as he pinned her with his gaze. “I’m not going to lie to you. This could be dangerous. We don’t know what Boyd will do. We do know he is ruthless and cunning.”
Swallowing back the trepidation clawing up her throat, she nodded. “I understand, sir.”
“Despite his objections to your new assignment, Master Sergeant James has volunteered to be detailed to your protection.”
Felicity absorbed the information like a blow to the gut. Why had Westley objected? She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but she was...disappointed. “I don’t need Master Sergeant James’s protection.”
Ian raised his eyebrows. “It’s not up for debate, Staff Sergeant Monroe.”
She slanted a glance at Westley. He stared at her with a hooded gaze that made her fingers curl in her lap. “Who will run the training center?”
“I’ll check in often with the center, but Master Sergeant Streeter will take over until Boyd is caught and put back in prison,” Westley stated in a tight voice.
Caleb Streeter was a seasoned trainer and more than capable of handling the center. But he wasn’t a master level trainer like Westley. She didn’t understand how he could give up control. He ran the center like his own personal company. His way or the highway.
She wanted to ask Westley why he’d volunteered and why he disapproved of her taking the photography position, but with so many people staring at her, she decided her questions would have to wait.
She returned her attention back to Ian, who regarded her closely. No doubt he was waiting to see if she was going to continue to argue. No way. She wouldn’t be that person. She was up for taking down the Red Rose Killer. She nodded her head in acquiescence.
“Now that that’s settled,” Ian said. “We are forming a task force to include all of you. We will add to it, as we need. But for now, all information is to be kept confidential. We don’t want the base or the general public to be aware of what we are doing to bring Boyd to justice. A traitor on this base is helping Boyd. We don’t know who it is.” He turned his gaze to Justin. “We need to find this traitor, Captain.”
“We’re doing our best, sir,” Justin said. “We will interview everyone on base.”
“Who were Boyd’s friends on base?” Oliver asked.
Felicity noticed the look exchanged between Justin and Linc before Justin spoke again. “Boyd was buddies with Airman Jim Ahern, who works in aircraft maintenance.”
“We will be questioning him,” Linc said.
“Good,” Oliver said. “I want to be there when you do.”
“Yes, sir,” Linc and Justin both said.
“I want you all to report back here tomorrow at sixteen hundred with updates.” Lieutenant General Hall rose. Everyone in the room snapped to attention.
“You all have your orders,” Lieutenant General Hall said. “I have arrangements to make with Miss Lockwood for her father’s service.” He walked out.
As Felicity and Westley headed for the door, Ian said, “Staff Sergeant Monroe, if you’d wait a moment. I’d like to speak to you privately.”
The scowl spreading over Westley’s features made Felicity tense.
Finally, he directed his gaze on her. “I’ll wait in the hall.”
She nodded and sat down.
Westley walked out, followed by the others. When she and Ian were alone, Ian said, “I want you to search your house for anything that might be related to your father’s last case. Tell no one. We don’t know who to trust.”
She swallowed the burn of wariness. “Yes, sir.”
Whoever had been in her house might also be looking for her father’s case notes. A shiver ran over her. And that would mean her father hadn’t died by an accidental fall...
She fought to catch her breath.
He had been murdered.
Numbed by the realization, she left the conference room.
True
