Secrets of the Dead Read Online Free Page A

Raiker’s office he’d figured on seeing several other team members here. The regular briefing sessions over the past ten weeks had been a vehicle for the operatives to share the intelligence gathered on each prong of the investigation into Royce’s attempted kidnapping. But there was no one else in the room, which should have been a tip off that this meeting was going to be different.
    “Whatever you want.”
    Raiker’s smile was grim. “Better wait until you hear what I have in mind for you. Then if you opt out, there will be no hard feelings. I have a plan B.”
    Declan didn’t doubt it. In his experience the hype that surrounded powerful men far dwarfed the men themselves. But not in Raiker’s case. His reputation when he’d been a profiler at Quantico had reached legendary heights. His torture at the hands of the serial child murderer that he’d eventually captured had capped that career and the results of his final case could be seen in the patch he wore over the eye he’d lost; the scar tracing down his jaw and another across his throat. Raiker was a survivor. He’d been a canny agent. But despite the path he’d taken, the heights he’d risen to, at his core the man was a brilliant cop.
    They had that, too, in common. Although Declan’s path had led him to the DC Police Department. Then to the streets for years as an undercover vice officer, before rising in the ranks to homicide detective. There were few opportunities that would have enticed him to leave the DCPD. A chance to work for Raiker Forensics was one of them. His path had crossed with Adam’s when they’d both worked the assassination of Supreme Court Justice Byron Reinbeck a year and a half ago. The job offer tendered later had been an unexpected honor. And too good to pass up. As a member of the elite team of investigators working for Raiker Forensics, Declan investigated some of the most high profile and complex cases in the country, while also utilizing his strength in computer forensics. A strike against Adam’s stepson was a strike against the whole agency.
    “Like I said. I’m in.”
    Raiker gave a curt nod, seemingly satisfied, then rose and—forgoing the use of the cane leaning against his desk—walked with a perceptible limp to a door leading off his office and opened it. “Please join us, Ms. Larrison.”
    Larrison. Interest mounting, Declan watched as a pixie-like blonde entered the space. Not an agent, he instantly surmised. He didn’t recognize the name or the face. Maybe she worked in the labs. Although…he narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched her smile sunnily up at Adam as the two approached. She looked way too young to have an advanced degree. Despite the muted sophistication of her sleek black fitted coat and matching pants she looked young enough to require a curfew.
    She sat in the empty chair next to Declan, setting her black purse on the floor and crossing her legs before beaming a thousand kilowatt smile in his direction. “Declan Gallagher. Adam told me he was expecting you. I’m Eve Larrison.” She paused a beat. “Your new wife.”
    His brow winged up. “My new one? I don’t even have an old one yet.”
    “He agreed before I got to the details.” Adam dropped back into his chair to survey them both across his desk. “Let’s back up a bit.”
    Wife? The very real wariness with which he’d always considered the word had him casting a sidelong glance at the woman beside him before Declan focused on his boss. Trepidation that had been absent when he’d agreed to this case had made an appearance when Larrison walked in and abruptly gelled at her introduction. Wife?
    “I didn’t get a chance to finish filling Eve in on all the backstory.” Adam’s chair creaked as he leaned back in it, his gaze on the woman. “Shortly after the foiled kidnapping of my stepson, the Vienna police department caught two men responsible for the murder of a police officer. They were responsible for delaying Eddie’s