Page 12 of So Sinister
David didn’t blink this time.His surprise was too great for that involuntary reaction.Then it occurred to him that they had mentioned the abused dogs even before bringing up the CIA.
Rogers chuckled.“Sometimes, I think you guys forget that we’re also FBI agents.I know we look big and dumb, but we’re just big.”
David managed to blink finally.“Um… Yeah, well… Wow.So you guys know?”
“Yeah, we figured it out a few days ago.We weren’t sure what we were going to do about it, but the more we think about it, the more we think that helping is the right thing to do.So if you want to talk to Ms.Fenniman, we can make that happen.”
David blinked.“What… How did…”
Hammerton laughed.“Boy, we’re detectives.And you ain’t a good liar.We knew what you were planning to do the moment we saw you on your computer this morning.”
David still wasn’t sure.“Guys, this could be really dangerous.They’ve tried to kill me already.They’re watching me still.”
“Yeah, we’re gonna have to do something about that,” Hammerton agreed.“Might need to change your haircut and grow out your beard, but we’ll figure it out.In the meantime, we still think it’s the right thing to do.”
When David continued to waver, Rogers said, “David, we’re in.We’re not asking.I mean, we are, but we’re just being polite.Lovely as your house is, we don’t want to spend seventy percent of our time sitting around it.”
Finally, David relented.He smiled at the two men and said, “Thank you.I really appreciate it.You guys are awesome.”
“Hell yeah, we are,” Hammerton agreed.“And since we’re going to be partners, we might as well be on a first name basis.I’m Jeff.”He hooked a thumb toward Rogers.“That’s Greg.”
David grinned and extended his hand.“Dr.Friedman.”
“Go to hell,” Jeff fired back.
David laughed, and the other two joined in.David still had some misgivings about bringing them in all the way, but overall, he felt excited.He wasn’t trapped anymore.He could finally make some real progress.
Maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for Sierra.
CHAPTER FIVE
Faith checked her watch.Seven-oh-five.Apparently in addition to being a prick, Chief Rosenberg was also fine with being late.Must be nice to be the big fish in a small pond.
She was considering just leaving the airport and finding Craig Daniels another way.All of Entwhistle’s subordinates had confirmed that the confrontation between the two had gotten ugly, though all stressed it hadn’t gotten physical.They had more than enough to make their suspicions reasonable.Waiting around for yet another bit of information wasn’t going to help.
She opened her mouth to say that to Jessica when her partner said, “Finally.There she is.”
Faith looked at the staff entrance to see a short, thin woman in a crisp suit a size too large for her push past the security guards without so much as a glance.She had medium-length platinum blonde hair and wore dark sunglasses that made her look like a suspect in a white-collar crime case trying to hide her identity on her way out of the courtroom.
“Okay,” Faith said.“Let’s go talk to her before she finds a reason to avoid us.”
She got to her feet, and Turk stood next to her, wagging his tail.They started toward Rosenberg when Faith’s phone rang.When she saw Michael’s number, her eyes widened.“Jess, it’s Michael.I’m gonna take this, okay?Can you interview her?”
“Yeah, for sure,” Jessica said.“Let me know what he says.”
Faith smiled gratefully and stepped away to answer the phone without being overheard.Turk followed, looking intently at her, sensing her nervous excitement.
She found a corner that was a little removed from the press of the morning crowd and answered.“Hey, Michael.That was fast.Do you have a name?”
“No,” Michael said reluctantly.“I’m afraid not.”
Faith’s excitement faded.“Uh oh.”
“Uh oh is right.Whoever this guy is, he really doesn’t want us to find out.”
Faith sighed.“So you can’t trace him?”
“Oh, we traced the emails.It’s the Stafford County Public Library in Stafford Courthouse.They were sent from one of the computers you can rent for three dollars an hour if you don’t have a library card.”
