My theory of a sort of sex game is looking more and more real, I think.
“I did put a call into the FBI and suggest they look into that situation,” he continues.
“Who did you talk to?” I ask.
“I called the local office and spoke to an agent. I’m afraid I don’t have the name. I felt I did my duty by calling at all. I just wanted distance and I couldn’t get it fast enough.”
“When was this?”
“A good year back at this point,” he states. “And I didn’t offer either of you a beverage. Would either of you like anything?”
“No, thank you,” I state because I have manners when appropriate, and with this man, it’s appropriate. “You have some investments in the medical and pharmaceutical business, correct?”
He perks up. “And proudly. Some of our biggest success stories. Nothing in oil though. Sure would like to talk to Kane about that. I’ve tried to get his attention. Maybe you can help, which I shouldn’t be asking right now. I heard about his crash. My God. I chopper out of here all the time. The next time I’ll be a little more uneasy.”
I’m not sure if he’s sincere, trying to throw me off, or taunting me.
“And perhaps you should,” I say. “Rejecting people the way you rejected Rip over and over must create enemies. And you do have a connection to one of the victims.”
He wets his lips, his eyes narrowing. “Not really much of a connection.”
“We can’t say that when we don’t know who killed Rip, now can we?” I challenge. “Did you know Emma Wells?”
“I did not, but I do believe her husband did work for a few of the people involved in our investment group.”
Another connection. I’m headed at least close to the right direction, but I don’t ask him for names he won’t want to give up. I don’t want him to close off. Tic Tac will find out that information for me. And if he can’t, Lucas will.
I move on. “Are you involved in any military or defense contracts?”
“No,” he says, but he cuts his gaze for the first time in this conversation.
“Sometimes no really does mean yes,” I say.
“No, Agent Love.”
I let it go.
For now.
It’s time to end this meeting, but I’m not done with Mr. Woodard.
He’ll be seeing me again.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Once Jay and I are back on the road, I text Andrew to let him know I’m on my way to the diner. Next, I text Tic Tac, asking him to dig around in Woodard’s affairs and find me a defense connection. I’ll call Lucas later to do the same after he sleeps.
Next, I call Director Murphy. “Agent Love,” he greets.
“What do you know about Neal Woodard?”
His answer is fast and easy. “He’s one of them.”
“You know, I think I need you to give me a list. Kane’s chopper—”
“You want to know what I know?” he suggests.
“Of course I want to know what you know.”
“I expected you to ask this morning. My inside sources tell me our—”
“He’s not our friend. The devil. Did he do it?”
“My sources say no. And logically, I have to accept that. He’s too smart and calculated to strike this close to his return to the spotlight. And he’s got an election to win with your father.”
“Well, we all know how my death would deliver the sympathy vote.”
“Yes. We do. And there is that. I still think he’s too smart to do that right now. I’ll keep digging.”
“About Banking the Billionaire and my warrant,” I say.
“We can’t serve a ghost. Tic Tac is still trying to get that information.”
“Exactly. It’s a Russian server and the ownership is hidden. But if we can get access, it could potentially break something big here, and expose a group of powerful people. Lucas is our best chance of doing that but before I let him dig around, I need to know he’s protected.”
“I’ll get you a contractor’s agreement,” he says a little too easily, considering his “hands-off” attitude about Lucas. But then he’s a savvy one, a manipulator, and more and more, I believe Murphy wants me for who I bring to the table. I thought that meant Kane, but maybe, it’s Lucas, too.
“And pay,” I say. “A full-time salary.”
“He doesn’t need the money, but yes, and pay.”
“Then I’ll get him to work. If we can find some lower-level connections to the devil, maybe we can get them talking.”
“Interesting,” he says. “And you have my attention. I’m shocked that you’ve decided to take down the devil without a gun.”
“I never said anything about my plan to take anyone down. I simply stated what I, a well-behaved agent, has in mind.”
He snorts and says, “Well behaved, my ass.” He offers no chance for my rebuttal. “I have a few Russian connections. I’ll see what I can do.” He pauses and adds, “Careful, Agent Love. Watch your back. And Kane’s.”
He hangs up.
I let the phone settle in my lap and then sit there, the realization hitting me.
I’ve been thinking this killer wanted me on this case to ride the tails of the press following my involvement in the Umbrella Man case. But right now, I’m thinking of the woman who came to our house, pretending to be a sous chef and used the second victim’s name. I’m thinking of Kane’s chopper last night. Andrew’s words come back to me. “What about Kane?” he challenges. “Is he in the revenge circle?”
Maybe for once, my dumbass brother got something right.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jay and I enter the diner and, as planned, he heads to the back, where he plans to keep watch and stuff his face with a burger. Apparently, he didn’t have so much as a slice of strawberry pie today. Andrew waves me over to a corner table not too far from Jay. I’m about to head in that direction and order my own burger when Judith, the pretty young new hostess, motions me to her. “Lilah, this was left for you.” She shoves an unmarked envelope at me.
I frown and accept it. “Who’s it from?”
“It was just lying here on the hostess stand,” she explains, shoving long blonde hair behind her ear.
Junior is clearly getting bolder, I think. “When?” I ask.
“A few minutes ago.”
“Do you have cameras in the diner?” I ask.
“Definitely not and I know that because I heard the owner arguing with his wife over the cost of installing them. He was for them. She was against them.”
I don’t comment. I just can’t do stupid on an empty stomach and the hostess wasn’t the one who was stupid, anyway. “No one saw anyone at the hostess stand?”
“No,” she says. “Sorry. I asked around. It seemed logical we find out. You are an FBI agent and it’s a little weird.”