Sweet Dreams (WJA Series Book 1)

Chapter 21

KIRK LOOKED AT THE two bodies that lay in the queen bed. He nodded to the coroners—who nodded back. They were thinking the same thing. This was the calculated work of a professional.

Jenkins lay on his stomach, a single gunshot hole on the back of the head. His pillow was soaked with blood, and bits of his skull were embedded in the pillowcase.

His wife was on her back, a horrified look on her face, staring with wide, lifeless eyes at the ceiling fan that spun in lazy circles above them. She must have awakened when her husband was shot, just in time to see the killer standing over her. She had probably been killed before she could even scream.

The CSI agents took pictures of their coworker and dusted for fingerprints. They powdered everything, even though Kirk knew they wouldn’t find the slightest careless fingerprint or casing. The room was just as it should be. Other than the bodies lying in pools of tacky, gelling blood, nothing was out of place.

Kirk rummaged through the closet, touching the suits and dresses. The owners would never wear them again, unless one was suitable for a funeral. His foot hit something hard, and he bent over to get a closer look. It was a small metal safe, similar to those found in hotels, where guests kept personal items.

He motioned for Geoff to help him move the heavy box. “Know anything about getting into one of these?”

“I think I can do it,” Geoff said.

Kirk didn’t show any surprise at this bit of news. He was getting used to the idea that his friend had many hidden talents.

Kirk snickered. “I s’pose you’re gonna tell me you were a locksmith in high school.”

“No. Just a bad kid—you know, cars and the occasional quickie mart. My dad put a stop to it as soon as he found out. No worries, though. I’m retired now.” He gave Kirk a half grin.

Kirk watched as he leaned down, put his ear to the small safe, and slowly turned the dial. In a few minutes it was open. Geoff sat up and shrugged. “It’s a simple safe lock. Anyone could do it.”

Kirk smiled. “Thanks. Just remind me not to leave my wallet around your sticky little fingers.” Inside the safe, they found a file, a few savings bonds, and a clip from a service revolver; however, the gun was missing. Kirk scanned the file, then shoved it in his coat and called one of the investigators over to look at the safe. He couldn’t wait to get out of the house to look at the file.

A thin woman wearing a blue CSI ball cap came over to their side of the bed and stooped down to look at the open safe. She began dusting for prints. He decided now would be a good time to leave, before the questions started coming.

“Let’s get out of here.” He strode out the front door, Geoff right behind him. Something else was going on, something other than WJA.He knew from the file the FBI gave him that the WJA people would not kill an innocent man, let alone his wife.

“What was in that file?” Geoff asked.

“You’re not going to believe it. It’s the David’s Island file from Cassy’s office, the only file left outside of what the FBI has.”

Geoff raised an eyebrow. He turned to look at Jenkins’s house, which was now crawling with FBI and NYPD. Two officers were taping off the crime scene with bright yellow tape. “What are you thinking?”

Kirk looked at Geoff as he called a taxi. “I think we have a mastermind who is hiring hit men to do his dirty work, who works for the FBI, or worse…the CIA. He wants this to look like it was done by the WJA group, but maybe he has other plans as well.”