Excerpt: Dark Perception

Carefully she placed a finger tip on the picture of the most recent victim.

Feeling the energy in the room shift, Anabel’s heart sank to her stomach and she felt like she was going to throw up.

Anabel turned to face Grant. “You sorry son-of-a-bitch.”

Grant moved quickly toward her.
“Anabel—,”

Before she even knew what she did, her right hand connected with the side of his face in a harsh slap that echoed in the now quiet room.

No one moved. No one spoke.

Silent questions filled the empty space, but she pushed all the thoughts and emotions that were filling the quiet voids out of her mind.

“You son-of-a-bitch. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you even care or is it all about solving the fucking case?” She yelled, not caring who was listening. She moved to hit him again unable to control her own emotions welling up inside, but he caught her arm.

“You’ve just assaulted a federal agent, Ms. Blake. I could put you in jail for that,” he threatened.

She wasn’t afraid of his threats.

They were face-to-face, nose-to-nose, and she was more livid than she’s ever been.

“You think I’m scared of you. You wouldn’t throw me in jail, Grant. Not when you’re harboring such feelings of guilt. You feel responsible for everything that happened and so what, by rectifying that you have one of your agents drag me here so you can throw me in jail? I don’t think so.”

“That was you’re one free get-out-of-jail free card.”

“Bullshit,” she countered in his face.

Quickly, Grant broke physical contact, knowing she was able to read him.

“I did what I have to do and I’d do it again.”

“Are you talking about now or before?” Anger bubbled in her veins.

“Now.”

“How many other lies have you told me? How many, Grant? How the fuck am I supposed to trust you when you’ve just unraveled everything that I thought to be true over the past eight years?” Anabel turned toward the board and searched the faces that were tacked there. The before picture, then the after. She pushed her hands though her hair and wished herself back to her home. Her safety.

“I wouldn’t have sent for you if I didn’t think we’d be able to catch him this time.”

“This time,” she repeated quietly. “There wasn’t supposed to be a ‘this time’. You’ve pranced me into town, through your front doors, and into this goddamn office. You’re throwing me to the wolves here and I refuse to sit here and be the bait for a fucking psychopath.” She hadn’t started off yelling, but by the time she reached the door, she was. “And, I don’t want any of you following me.” The door closed behind her with a slam that got everyone’s attention that was lucky enough to be on the same floor.