She answered on the second ring with a voice that seemed more cheerful than I’d heard in the last month. At first I wasn’t even sure it was her.
“Riles?”
“Jack, where are you? I was worried.”
“I’m in Phoenix. Why are you worried?”
“Well, you know, I didn’t know what was going on.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call. Everything’s okay. I’m with the FBI. I can’t say a lot but they are looking into Sean’s death. His and some others.”
I looked out the window and saw the lines of a mountain on the horizon. The tourist pamphlet that came with the room said it was called Camelback Mountain and the name fit. I didn’t know if I was saying too much. But it wasn’t like Riley was going to go sell the story to the National Enquirer.
“Uh, something’s come up on the case. They think there might’ve been some evidence missed on Sean. . . Uh, they want to. . . Riley, they need to take him out of the ground to look at him again.”
There was no response. I waited a long time.
“Riley?”
“Jack, why?”
“It will help the case. The investigation.”
“But what do they want? Are. . . are they going to cut him open again?”
She said the last part in a desperate whisper and I realized how I had bungled the job of telling her.
“Oh, no. Not at all. Uh, all they want to do is look at his hands. Nothing else. You have to give them permission. Otherwise, they have to go through courts and it’s a long mess.”
“His hands? Why Jack?”
“It’s a long story. I’m not really supposed to tell you but I’ll tell you this. They think the guy. . . whoever did this, he tried to hypnotize Sean. They want to look at his hands to see if there are pinpricks, you know. That’s the test somebody might have given to see if Sean was really hypnotized.”
There was more silence.
“There was something else,” I said. “Did Sean have a cough or a cold? You know, back on the day it happened.”
“Yes,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. “He was sick and I told him not to go in that day. I was sick, too, and I told him to stay home with me. Jack, you know what?”
“What?”
“I must’ve felt sick because I was pregnant. I found out Wednesday.”
It caught me off guard. I hesitated.
“Oh, Riley,” I finally said. “That’s wonderful. Did you tell the folks?”
“Yes, they know. They’re very happy. It’s like a miracle child because I didn’t know and we hadn’t really been trying.”
“It’s great news.”
I didn’t know how to get back to the other conversation we had been having. Finally, I just bull-rushed her to the point.
“I’ve got to go now, Riles. What can I tell them?”
Rachel was in the lobby when I stepped out of the elevator. She had both her computer bag and her overnighter with her.
“You checked out?” I asked, not understanding.
“FBI rules of the road. Never leave anything in the room because you never know when you’ll have to fly. We get a break today, I’m not going to have time to come back and pack my things.”
I nodded. It was too late for me to pack and I had almost nothing to pack anyway.
“Did you call her?”
“Yes. She said fine. She said do it. For what it’s worth, she also said he was sick. The cough syrup was his. And I figured out why Sean was killed in his car and not at home like the others.”
“Why?”
“His wife, Riley, was home because she was sick, too. My brother would have done everything he could not to take this guy back to his house. Not with her there.”
I nodded sadly at my brother’s last and maybe bravest act.
“I think you’re right, Jack. It fits. But listen, there’s been a development. Bob’s just got word and called me from the FO. He’s delaying the meeting with the locals. We got a fax from the Poet.”
The mood of the conference room was decidedly somber. Only the agents from Quantico were taking part. Backus, Thompson, Thorson and an agent named Carter who had been at the first status meeting I had attended back at Quantico. I noticed Rachel and Thorson exchange contemptuous looks as we entered. I focused on Backus. He seemed lost in thought. He had his portable computer open on the table in front of him but he wasn’t looking at it. He looked fresh in a different gray suit. A bemused smile spread on his face and he looked at me.
“Jack, you get to see firsthand now why we were concerned about containing this story. A five-second video bite was all it took and the offender knows we are on his trail.”
I nodded.
“I don’t think he should be here for this,” Thorson said.
“A deal is a deal, Gordon. He certainly had nothing to do with the CNN story.”
“Still, I think it’s not—”
“Can it, Gordon,” Rachel said. “It doesn’t matter what you think.”
“Okay, let’s halt hostilities and concentrate on the problem,” Backus said. “I’ve got copies here.”
He opened a file and passed copies of the fax across the table. I got my own copy. There was silence in the room as we all read.
Dear Bob Backus, FBI agent,
And hello to you, sir. I caught the news and saw you in Phoenix, you sly one. No comments to dim bulb reporters do not fool me. I know your face, Bob. You are coming for me and I anxiously await your arrival. But be careful, my friend Bob! Not so close! After all, look what happened to poor Orsulak and those others. They put Orsulak in the ground today, the end of a good job. But an FBI man of such stature as yours, now that would be a noble hunt. Heh, heh.
Not to worry, Bob. You are safe. My next intended has been anointed. I’ve made my choice and I have him in sight, even as you read these words.
Are you huddled with your masses now? Wondering what makes your opponent tick? It’s a terrible mystery, isn’t it? Bothers like a pinprick in the palm I suspect. I offer you one clue. (What are friends for?) I am the rotten apple of my Best Pal’s eye, who am I? When you know the answer, Bob, say it over and over again. Then you’ll get it. You’ll know. You’re a pro and I’m sure you are up to the challenge. I’m counting on you, Bob!
I dwell alone in the world of moan, Bob, and my work has just begun. And Bob? May the best man win.
I cannot sign my correspondence for you haven’t given me my name yet. What is it, Bob? I’ll watch for you on television and I’ll wait to hear my name. Until then I will close with this: Short and Tall—I killed them all!
Drive carefully!
I read the fax twice and each time it gave me the same chill. I knew what they meant now. About the moon. The letter was the voice of a man from someplace else. Not here. Not this planet.
“Everybody in agreement on authenticity?” Backus asked.
“There are several authenticators,” Rachel said. “The pinprick. The quote from Poe. What about the reference to Best Pal? Has Florida been informed about this?”
“Yes. The Best Pals angle obviously becomes the priority. They’re dropping everything else for the time being.”