was almost completely covered with a ski mask with the exception of their eyes. He zoomed in closer, but the feed became grainy.
Aaron pulled up the entry log on the computer. It showed every single entry into the compound as well as which secure passkey was used. What he saw there was most alarming.
The passkey used to enter both the compound and the prison before Sam’s death was Liz’s. He stared at her in disbelief, unable to digest what was in plain sight.
Each key had a sensor device in it so that when used, that particular Scorpion member was identified as the user. It couldn’t be faked. There was no mistaking it was Liz’s key. The only question: How?
Her clear emerald-green eyes filled with worry as she shook her head. “No, that’s not possible.” He’d never seen her look so frightened before. He resisted the urge to take her in his arms and reassure her everything was going to be okay. Since his former girlfriend Beth’s betrayal, he hadn’t been able to let himself get too close to another woman. He’d loved Beth so much and yet she’d used him, and in the process she’d destroyed his ability to trust his heart to another. Instead, he kept himself buried in work.
Liz tossed her raven braid off her shoulder. She appeared so vulnerable right now, and yet her fragile beauty was deceiving. As a highly decorated agent, he couldn’t think of anyone else he’d want to have his back.
“It wasn’t me, Aaron,” she said in a shaky voice. “I promise I didn’t do this.”
But if not her, then who? Someone had used her passkey to enter the prison and kill Sam. As much as he wanted to believe her, there was no denying the evidence certainly made her look guilty.
* * *
“I don’t think you killed Sam,” he reassured her because he knew Liz. They’d become close while working together and he’d witnessed time and again that her faith in God was as unshakable as her valor. She didn’t kill Sam or Michael, but clearly someone was trying to make them believe she had.
“When was the last time you used your passkey?” he asked, hoping there was some innocent explanation. Maybe she’d lost it. Had it stolen?
She didn’t hesitate. “This morning when I left the compound with Michael.”
“Where is it now?” he prompted.
“In my purse. Aaron?”
“Go get it,” he interrupted and watched as she flinched at the hard edge in his tone.
She stared at him for a second then hurried away and he regretted the way his words had sounded.
When she came back with her purse, he saw the truth on her face even before she said the words.
“It’s not there,” she said and shook her head. “I have no idea where it is.”
Aaron tried to squash the dread growing inside of him. “I need you to account for your time today, Liz,” he told her and hated that the request sounded like an interrogation.
She never broke eye contact. “After we left here, I took Michael home and made lunch. I hung out with him for a while and then I left him to rest.”
“What time was that? Where did you go afterward?” he asked because they needed to create a timeline before he could her to rule her out as a suspect.
“I left around two. Then I ran some errands and went for a long walk.”
All things that couldn’t be accounted for unless she’d purchased something along the way.
“What type of errands?” he pushed and couldn’t keep the urgency from his tone.
“Aaron, you’re scaring me,” she breathed the words out.
His heart went out to her but he needed answers now. “I know and I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “Answer the question, Liz.”
She struggled to bring her thoughts together. “As I said, I left Michael’s house around two because he insisted. I didn’t want to leave him, but he told me he was tired and wanted to rest. He promised me he’d be okay. He told me he’d call me when he woke up.”
“What did you do first after you left Michael?” he prompted and he watched as she swallowed visibly.
“I went for a drive to clear my head then I stopped by the library in town. After that, I got coffee. Hung out a while, and then drove to the trailhead at the base of Painted Rock Mountain. The view there is beautiful and I go there to think. I was there until late. Then...” She hesitated long enough to capture his full attention. “Then when I didn’t hear from Michael, I went to his house. And you know the rest.”
None of her earlier moves could be documented fully, which meant she could have had time to murder Sam and then Michael. It didn’t look good and he needed to conduct the investigation by the book. He’d have the library and the coffee shop checked. Maybe someone would remember her being there.
“Liz, I need you to go home. Now. You know you can’t be part of this.”
There was no mistaking the hurt written on her face. “Aaron...”
“Like it or not, you’re a suspect because of the passkey and you were the last person to see Michael alive,” he said gently. “Take my SUV. Go home and don’t talk to anyone until you hear from me.” He dug in his pocket and handed her the keys and then walked outside with her.
It was hard to associate the lost expression on her face with the competent agent he knew Liz to be.
“Aaron, you believe me, don’t you?” she asked with a hint of desperation in her tone.
He stopped next to the SUV, squeezed her shoulder and tried his best to assure her. “Of course I do. We’ll get to the bottom of this. There has to be another explanation we’re missing. I’m calling the team in and I’ll have Reyna get here as soon as she’s finished at Michael’s. In the meantime, go home. I’ll call you the minute I know anything.”
Aaron waited as she reluctantly left the prison. Then he went back inside and called Alex Booth.
“Reyna just left. We’re wrapping up here. I called in the local police department as you asked. They’re canvassing the area now,” Alex said, assuming the reason for Aaron’s call.
“Let Gavin finish there. We have a much bigger problem,” Aaron said, his tone brittle. He stared down at the lifeless body of the man who had caused so much pain. “Sam’s dead.” He briefly explained the crime scene.
Stunned, Alex audibly sucked in a breath. “I’m on my way.”
“Good. I’ll see you soon.” Aaron disconnected the call. He knew how bad this looked for Liz, but what he couldn’t understand was why she of all people was being targeted.
Agent Alex Booth arrived within minutes of the call. “Reyna’s right behind me.”
Reyna Bradford was the wife of the base commander, Jase Bradford. As a doctor, Reyna had willingly agreed to head up the medical team for the Scorpions. Reyna was highly skilled and had proven to be a huge asset.
