Page 77 of Night Moves
“Sierra Rice,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
“Special Agent Ewing.” He flashed credentials. “I’m here to collect evidence from the Gentry missing person’s investigation.”
“Sorry, what investigation?” Sierra had participated in community drama when in high school, and she actually sounded like she hadn’t a clue what he was requesting.
“Come on, now, Mrs. Rice.” He shoved his creds into a sleek suit pocket. “You know what I’m talking about.”
“We process evidence for many law enforcement agencies, so I don’t know the details of every investigation we’re working.” She clamped her hands on her lower back. “But now that I think about it, I don’t know of any evidence we’re currently handling for the FBI.”
Ewing didn’t stand a chance with Sierra. Drake had seen her in action as a teenager and already knew she was a master at telling the truth but still being very evasive.
Ewing widened his stance. “The evidence was submitted by Detective Archibald at PPB.”
“Detective Archibald. Yeah sure. I know him. We’ve handled evidence for him in the past. But if what you’re looking for was submitted by him, I’ll need a transmittal form to return it to him. He has an account and can complete the form online.” She turned to leave.
“Come on now, Mrs. Rice.” His sharp tone had her looking back. “That’s all going to take some time, and this evidence is top priority for our investigation.”
“You’re working this missing person’s investigation now?” she asked.
“We are. Now will you retrieve the evidence, or do I need to go over your head?”
“Sierra,” Drake called out. “I need you in the lab. Now.”
“Gotta go,” Sierra said. “Give me your card. I’ll look up the information and get back to you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He glared at her. “I’ll wait right here.”
“Then I’ll get back to you within the hour.”
He flashed a card, but as she reached out for it, he held on to the end. “Seems to me you’re stalling. You haven’t lost the evidence, have you?”
She stood straight, her back up. “Never. Our evidence is secure and tracked. In fact, we recently started using RFID tags to monitor every item.”
“Radio frequency identification,” the guy said, sounding impressed. “Then you should be able to locate it immediately.”
“I’ll do my best. Now I really must go.” She pulled the card from his fingers.
Drake held the door for her, and she marched through the opening.
In the elevator, she got out a small box of raisins from her lab coat. “You aresogoing to owe me, little brother.”
“You handled him really well.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see how I handle it when he gets mad in an hour and insists on seeing me again.” She stabbed the fourth floor button and leaned back to open the box. “I wouldn’t put it past this guy or his supervisor to call Reed to put pressure on me.”
“And will Reed do that?”
“He’ll have my back, but he’s going to ask about it, and I won’t lie to him or sidestep.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“Wouldn’t you?” She sighed and popped a few raisins in her mouth “No. That’s not fair. You wouldn’t. I’m just confusing you with every officer out there who wants something and will go to any lengths to get it.”
“Guess that’s what I just did,” he admitted. “There’s just so much at stake here.”
“As there is for most every investigation we work on,” she said. “We don’t work the basic breaking-and-entering cases, but we take on murder and other major crimes.”
“Yeah, I know, and I’m pushing you on this. Sorry.”
