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between her and Spears.
    The problem, in Dan’s opinion, was that none of that worry was spared for herself.
    Making sure he stayed squarely between her and this maniac was the one thing he didn’t fear. If Spears or whoever he was wanted Jess, he would have to get through Dan to reach her. He half hoped the scumbag would be stupid enough to try.
    With renewed purpose, Dan entered the conference room. The attention of those seated tracked his movements as he approached the head of the table.
    “Mayor Pratt, Sheriff Griggs, Agent Manning,” he said, “I appreciate your being here to support our department. Let me bring you up to speed.”
    As Jefferson County sheriff, Roy Griggs had more experience than anyone in the room. Dan was genuinely grateful to have him on this team.
    One of their own was out there. . .
    “Two witnesses have identified Eric Spears as the man who took Detective Lori Wells from her mother’s home at approximately seven-thirty this morning,” he started as all around the table grim faces absorbed the bad news. “We issued an APB and, if we’re lucky, someone will have seen him.”
    Silence held the floor as all absorbed the gravity of the situation.
    Dan cleared his throat. “No one in the neighborhood where Detective Wells’ mother resides saw or heard anything. We’ve had no further contact from Spears. The courier who delivered the package this morning that included her detective’s shield described the person who ordered and paid for the delivery as a Caucasian male, between sixty and sixty-five. His appearance was disheveled, ragged. You can find dozens matching that same description lined up at the homeless shelters and soup kitchens. We’re not expecting viable results from that lead.”
    Still no comments or questions.
    “Despite showing himself at the Wells home and leaving behind two uninjured witnesses, Spears paid someone, who could also potentially identify him, to set up the delivery. It would be impossible to hazard a guess at this stage as to why he would act in such a conflicting manner.”
    “You’re assuming the unsub is Spears,” Manning commented with an indifference that infuriated Dan. “For the record you have no substantiated evidence here to that end and, as you know, Spears was cleared during the Bureau’s investigation in Richmond.”
    His condescending remarks broke the silence.
    And Jess sprung out of her chair.
    “Two witnesses made the identification, Agent Manning. I’d call that pretty substantial. For the record, it was my conclusion, in the Player investigation to which you’re referring, that Spears is the Player, whether we were able to prove that or not. He has contacted me five times in the last four days.” Her cheeks flushed with swiftly rising anger. “Detective Wells’ badge was sent to me in the same manner as the Player sends gifts to the families of his victims.”
    “Agent Manning.” Dan stepped in before first blood was drawn. “At this time, we do have sufficient reason to believe Spears is our man. With the positive identification from a recent photo by two witnesses, we are inclined to proceed under that assumption.”
    “This recent photo,” Manning countered, “was not an official photo and hardly admissible as evidence. A photo, I might add, that Agent Harris has on her cell phone.” He turned to Jess to stoke the fire he’d lit. “I find that convenient and somewhat unsettling. Why carry the photo of a person of interest from a previous case in your cell, Harris? This guy must have really gotten to you.”
    Dan clenched his jaw. Agent Harris. Though Manning didn’t know Jess personally, obviously he’d heard enough to want to twist the dagger the Bureau had shoved in her back. Or maybe he had orders to treat her as a hostile in this investigation. Officially, she was still a special agent employed by the Bureau. In fact, she outranked the smart ass running his mouth.
    Jess remained standing, braced for battle.