“Maybe now’s a good time to get back in touch.” Prof. Thornton lifted his glass. “Here’s to the end of your residency, and new beginnings.”

“New beginnings,” Paige repeated, clinking glasses. A new career, where she wouldn’t have to spend her day sitting across from a serial killer if she didn’t choose to.

Of course, there was the possibility that she might choose to, or at least that she might continue to study them. She still needed answers, still wanted to understand the man who had taken her father from her. For now, though, maybe it would be best to take a short break.

That was the moment when someone started hammering on the door. Prof. Thornton got up to answer it, but Paige found herself going with him, wanting to see what the fuss was all about.

A tall man in an FBI jacket stood on the doorstep, ID held out in front of him so that it was almost the first thing that Paige noticed. The second thing that she noticed was that he was attractive, probably in his thirties, with sandy hair and square jawed features. If Paige had met him in a bar somewhere, she would definitely have found herself looking his way.

Instead, though, he was there standing on the Thorntons’ doorstep, looking concerned and official. Paige also saw that he was looking straight past Prof. Thornton to her.

“Paige King?”

“Um… yes?”

Was she in some kind of trouble? Paige couldn’t think of anything she’d done that might warrant the attentions of the FBI, but even so, she found herself worrying about it.

“My name is Agent Marriott. I’m with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. I need to talk to you urgently.”

Paige felt the moments stretching out. A sudden sense of dread ran through her. Why would someone from the FBI take the trouble to find out that she was at her supervisor’s house? What was going on?

“What’s this about?” Paige asked.

“Adam Riker has escaped.”


Tags: Blake Pierce Paige King FBI Suspense Thriller Thriller