Page 22 of Haunted By Sin

The jogging trail was still an anomaly that Brook couldn’t wrap her mind around.

“The slight difference in the stab wounds in Mary Three’s case is significant. It bothers me.” Brook moved toward the kitchen, picking up her uneaten dinner. She needed more time to think through the abnormalities that took place with the third victim. “Let's take the evening to consider our next steps. We’ll decide in the morning who should make the drive to Ann Arbor.”

After promising Sylvie that Brook would put the tea kettle on one of the burners, she followed Theo into the kitchen. She retrieved a plate from the cupboard and a fork from the drawer before she began to transfer the contents of her meal. She didn’t want to take the chance that the plastic would melt in the microwave, even though there was a label stating the opposite.

“I’m sure Bit filled you in on what is taking place at the prison.” Brook tossed the empty container into the garbage can. “Once I reached the warden, he said that he didn’t call me because the prisoners were located in another cell block.”

“Did you request that Jacob be moved to solitary confinement?”

“Yes.” Brook programmed the time on the keypad and then leaned back against the counter after the microwave hummed to life. “The average incubation for Influenza A is about two days, but it can take up to four. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be an issue.”

“Exactly. The likelihood that anyone, let alone Jacob, would need to be transported to the hospital is rare. The prison has its own medical facilities, Brook.” Theo turned on the faucet to wash his hands. “Why were the prisoners transferred to the hospital to begin with?”

“Dehydration, difficulty breathing, and so on.” Brook ran through the conversation that she had with the warden. “From what I’m being told, the infirmary was at capacity, so the prison transferred the more critical patients. Two of those patients are in their late seventies.”

Brook held up her hand, knowing full well that Theo was about to run down the odds of Jacob becoming so sick that he would need to be transferred to a hospital. She understood that the probability was low, but she would never alter her stance of being prepared for anything.

“I’m going to stop by the federal prison Wednesday morning.”

“You’re flying back to D.C.?”

“Yes,” Brook replied over the microwave’s peal. She sensed the weight of Theo’s stare as she turned to pull on the handle. “I’ll touch base with Arden in the morning regarding my plans. Considering we’re in a regrouping phase in the investigation anyway, I might as well take advantage of the lull.”

While there were no federal prisons located in Washington, D.C., Brook had pulled some strings to transfer Jacob to a federal prison in Maryland. The facility was a little over two hours from D.C., but she would have enough time to drive there and back in time for dinner.

“And you’ll be back…when?”

Theo was fishing for information on whether she was going to remain in the city to celebrate Elizabeth Elliott’s birthday.

“Thursday.”

Theo knocked shoulders with her in silent victory. It was a good thing that Brook had already set her plate on the counter. She tried not to smile, but that was rather difficult when he started singing one of his favorite songs about being unstoppable at the top of his lungs. He had figured out relatively quickly that she had taken his advice. Before too long, Brook could hear Sylvie and Bit joining in from the other room just for fun.

As Theo practically danced out of the kitchen with an undeniable rhythm, Brook remained at the counter to eat her dinner. Hearing their voices get even louder, she couldn’t deny that it was nice to have things back to normal. Unfortunately, in her experience, those times never lasted long.

Chapter Twelve

Brooklyn Sloane

May 2024

Wednesday — 5:57 pm

The upscale dining establishment in downtown D.C. buzzed with low murmurs of the city's elite. The warm glow of the subtle overhead lighting cast faint shadows across the sleek black leather chairs and crisp white tablecloths. The wall panels were made of rich mahogany, and the dark wood was offset by the delicate lightbulbs encased in wrought iron fixtures. Each specific detail had been thought out to the nth degree, and it was obvious that this was not one’s average dining experience.

Brook’s high heels clicked softly on the wooden floor as she made her way across the large foyer to the hostess stand. A young woman was speaking with an older gentleman who was requesting something special for his wife. Brook didn’t mind the short pause in her evening. Such an opportunity to gather her thoughts and take a much-needed calming breath had been few and far between in the past twenty-four hours.

Arden had scheduled a driver to pick her up at the airport yesterday, and the young man had taken her directly to the office. There had been business matters that she had put on hold due to her trip to Michigan last week. Although it had taken her longer than anticipated to get through the paperwork requested by the Bureau, Arden had done an outstanding job in organizing the proper forms and reports. It had been around two o’clock in the morning before she made it home, only to then leave for the federal prison by six o’clock this morning.

Her meeting with the warden hadn’t gone according to plan, but she was confident in the outcome. It had been mid-afternoon by the time that she had made it back to the office. Arden had been waiting for her with Sylvie’s new furry companion in tow. Brook was no longer left wondering how a two-and-a-half-pound bundle of energy could make one a puddle of sap.

Warm lips pressed against the sensitive curve of her neck. Normally, such contact would have taken her by surprise had she not caught the familiar woodsy scent with a hint of sage seconds before contact. Brook turned to find Graham standing behind her in one of his Italian cut suits and his favorite grey and blue tie.

“You look beautiful,” Graham murmured as he guided her away from the hostess stand.

His dark eyes swept over her black cocktail dress with matching high heels before meeting her pensive gaze. She wasn’t the type of woman who took the time to enjoy such social settings. Before him, she would indulge in the occasional need for gratification.

Yet here she was…because of him.