The next day Felicity was on the phone with Geneva while Jace drove her to the Ortega courthouse where she’d pulled some strings and gotten some local press to show up for an impromptu bogus press conference to make her announcement that she’d finally solved the mystery of the SEAL suicides and how they were connected to the death of Tim Rigsdale. “So, what’s happening with Quinn this morning?”

“We tracked him to the local BP station,” Geneva said. “He’s been inside for a while now. I’m guessing maybe he’s got a situation in the bathroom.”

“Okay. Ew. TMI.” Felicity snorted.

“What?” Jace said, glancing over at her from behind the wheel.

“Nothing. Quinn’s at a gas station. He’s apparently been in the bathroom for awhile.”

Jace chuckled. “Guess he had enough gas after all.”

“Seriously?” Felicity rolled her eyes as Geneva cracked up over the line. She put the call on speaker. “Guys, sober up. Potty humor aside, do you think maybe he escaped. Is there a back exit?”

“Mark just went inside to check,” Geneva said.

Moments later there was a ruckus as Mark got on the line. “He’s gone.”

“Shit.” Jace met Felicity’s gaze. “What’s the plan now?”

“I vote we abort the whole mission,” Mark said. “Meet back at the compound and regroup.”

“No.” Felicity shook her head. “We’re in too deep now. He must’ve heard about Kim Rigsdale turning against him and his financial situation has to be getting desperate. If we don’t act now, he could bolt and we’d never find him. We need to draw him out. I’m going to do my press conference.”

“Listen, darlin’. I—” Jace started.

“We’re sticking to the plan. That’s it.” Felicity exhaled. “He’s due for another killing soon and I don’t want to risk another innocent person losing their life to this psycho. Given the fact we’ve got his back to the wall, he might even push the date up and break his pattern, kill someone randomly. Desperation makes people reckless. I can’t risk waiting any longer.”

Mark cursed then sighed. “If you’re sure….”

“I am.” She ended the call, Jace’s stare burning a hole through her left temple. “What?”

“So you’re not willing to risk innocent lives, but don’t give a rat’s ass about your own?”

“I’ll be fine.” She swallowed hard. “I’m a trained FBI agent. I know how to deal with people like him. I’m the perfect bait.”

“Stop calling yourself that.” Jace’s scowl darkened. “I hate the idea of you luring him in.”

“You agreed before.”

“Yeah? Well, things have changed.” He stopped at a red light and faced her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, okay? If he hurt you, I don’t know what I’d do.”

She cupped his cheek, needing to touch him, needing reassurance that the connection between them was still strong, still vital. “I won’t let that happen.”

“Neither will I.” He kissed her hard and hot and deep, only letting her go when the car behind them honked. The light had turned green. Waving to the irate driver behind him in the rearview mirror, Jace sped toward the courthouse. He took her hand and squeezed it tight. “If you’re going to do this, then I’m right by your side every step of the way.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I do.” He glanced over at her and winked. “See, I didn’t plan any of this, but somehow, you got inside me, into my heart, and filled a hole I didn’t even know was there. If I lose you now, I’m not sure I’d survive.”

Funny thing was, she felt the same way about him.

It was nuts. They’d hadn’t known each other nearly long enough.

Yet feeling this close to Jace felt like the most natural, most perfect thing in the world.

Felicity laced her fingers with his and stared out the window. Suddenly, her career at the FBI didn’t seem nearly as enticing as it had before she’d come to California. In fact, the thought of flying back to DC only filled her with dread and sadness. Which was also insane, because it wasn’t like they’d discussed any sort of long-term plans. Hell, Jace hadn’t even mentioned if he wanted to continue their relationship once Kevin Quinn was captured.

They pulled into a parking spot along the street in front of the courthouse and Jace cut the engine. “You sure you want to do this?”

“I’m sure.” Felicity unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, taking a deep breath of fresh morning air before jogging up the steps to the southwestern-style building. Her boss back in DC wouldn’t be thrilled that she was using her FBI contacts to pull some strings, given this wasn’t technically official business, but if she caught the Bureau a killer, Felicity figured all would be forgiven.

Inside the lobby, she was met by a small cluster of reporters, jostling for position.

A receptionist waved her over to the desk. “Are you Special Agent Felicity Belasko?”

“I am.”

“Good.” The receptionist stood and gestured toward a small conference room to her right. “We’ve got you set up in here for the press conference.”

“Great. Thanks.” She and Jace headed for the door. “I appreciate you letting me hold it here.”

Minutes later, lights had been set up and turned on around a podium at the front of the room. The reporters took their spots before her and Felicity clicked on the mic, wincing as a shrill whine pierced the air. Finally, she tapped the mic and smiled. “Everyone ready?”

The low murmur of the crowd died down as she began.

“Thank you for coming today. As you know, I’m Special Agent Felicity Belasko of the FBI. I’m here in Ortega working to investigate the recent rash of mysterious deaths involving Navy SEALs in the area.”

“Agent Belasko, haven’t those deaths already been ruled suicides?” one of the press corps asked.

“Yes.” She glanced over at Jace. “But we have reason to believe the deaths were not self-inflicted after all.”

“So you’re saying they’re murders?” This from another reporter.

“From the evidence I’ve uncovered, I believe so. Yes.”

“What evidence?” A guy with a steno pad called.

“I’m sorry. I’m not at liberty to discuss specifics of the case.” Her skin prickled as the lights beaming down on her grew warmer. “Suffice it to say that we have witness testimony that proves these crimes were funded by a group with anti-military views.”

A gasp rang out through the room followed by a flurry of questions. “Do you have any suspects?”

“Who are persons of suspicion?”

“Based on this information do you expect more deaths in the future?”

Felicity held up a hand to stem the tide of comments and smiled. “Yes, based on the pattern of deaths so far, we expect another murder is imminent. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Mr. Kevin Quinn, please contact me at The Brothers In Arms compound. I’ll be staying there indefinitely until this case is solved. Thank you.”

As she stepped away from the podium, she spotted a figure lurking in the shadows near the back of the room, same height and build as Kevin Quinn. Given that he’d eluded Mark and Geneva at the gas station, it was entirely possible he’d found a way here to her press conference. If so, that would mean he’d heard her spiel and hopefully would track her back to the compound.

Jace took her arm and led her toward the exit. At the side door, she glanced back one last time and spotted the figure, now moving out into the light. Yep. It was Kevin Quinn all right.

Good. Let’s get this party started.

On the way back to the car, she told Jace what she’d seen.

“So what happens now?” he asked. “Want me to take him out now and save you the trouble?”

“No.” She climbed into the passenger seat of his truck and snapped her seatbelt into place. “We need him alive so we can get his confession. So, we wait.”