Page 71 of Shadow Burn

She raised her chin. “Yes.”

Garrett ran a hand over his face. “Then we are in serious shit.”

The next hour happened in pieces. She moved through all of them with perfect outward composure. Inside, she was an absolute mess.

She gave her statement to Detective Mallory in the conference room while Jasper stood outside the glass wall with Garrett, his bandaged arm crossed over his chest and his expression carved from stone. Mallory recorded everything. He asked what she’d seen, when she’d recognized the man, and whether she was certain the man who’d fired at her today was the same one who’d broken into her rental.

“Yes,” she said.

Mallory’s pen paused. He glanced at the sketch Alyssa had done on the table next to him. “You’re certain.”

Katherine’s eyes darted to the mouth, then away. She heard the man’s voice in her head. Remembered his unmasked face at the gate. “I’m certain.”

He studied her for a long moment, then wrote it down. “And you recognized him by the lower half of his face.”

“His mouth, to be exact,” she said. “His voice confirmed it. I know it was him.”

Mallory’s expression shifted only slightly, but she could tell he believed her. Whether that would be enough later was a different question.

When he finished with her, Jasper took her place. He didn’t look happy about letting her out of his sight, but Sebastian and Reid positioned themselves near the conference room door, Mack was in the hall, and Garrett had locked down the compound so thoroughly that Katherine suspected even the air had to submit a password. Jasper still caught her gaze before he stepped inside with Mallory.

“You okay?” he asked.

No. Not even close. “I’m going to check on Priss.”

His eyes narrowed a little, but he nodded. “Take Sebastian with you. Go straight there and back.”

“I’m inside a locked compound.”

He gave her a look that begged for her cooperation. “Humor me.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “There and back. I promise.”

He let go of a tight breath. “Your cooperation is appreciated.”

“I’ve learned my lesson.”

Sebastian walked with her down the corridor to the private rooms without a word. She felt the tension radiating off him, though. Her presence had brought a gunman to their gate. Her refusal to hand over the Vance papers was putting all of them in the hot seat.

Katherine’s own mind kept circling the same impossible loop. Real plates. Real order. Unknown shooter.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Sebastian, “for putting all of you in this position.”

He nodded. “Vivi and Reid will get it straightened out.”

Would they? No one went up against the CIA and walked away unscathed. The thought of any of them, especially Jasper, ending up on the wrong side of the Agency made her skin crawl.

“I’ll wait here,” Sebastian said, leaning against the wall. “Take your time.”

Inside the bedroom, Priss sat in the center of the bed like an offended queen awaiting explanation. The moment she saw Katherine, she let out a sharp meow and sprang down, weaving around Katherine’s ankles hard enough to nearly trip her.

“I know,” Katherine whispered, crouching to run one hand over the cat’s soft gray back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you.”

Priss pushed into her palm, then stalked toward the food bowl with pointed meaning.

“Also sorry for being late with dinner.”

The ordinary task steadied her. She rinsed and dried the bowl, scooped food from the bag, and set fresh water nearby. Priss dove in with intense focus.