Gideon sighed. ‘He’s right. You have to let us take some of the responsibility. And Molina’s prepared for whatever we do or do not find. But I doubt you talking to Mrs Franklin will expose Eden. It’s not like anyone in the nursing home would know that her son’s connected to a cult.’
Tom handed the butterfly lapel pin to Rafe. ‘Put it on her, please? And pass this back to Liza? I need to run a quick test.’ He waited until both Mercy and Liza wore their wires. ‘Fine, talk among yourselves.’
‘About what?’ Mercy asked. ‘Like “testing, one, two, three”?’
‘How about we go over a few pointers about talking to patients with dementia?’ Liza asked. She leaned over the seat, between Farrah and Mercy, her dragon pendant swinging a little before settling against her skin. ‘First of all, call her by her name. Mrs Franklin or Belinda. Speak to her just as you would anyone else, but when she talks, you listen. She might not be able to communicate the way she wants to, and it might frustrate her. Let her speak and give her time and space to choose her words.’
‘So don’t finish her sentences,’ Mercy said quietly.
Liza nodded. ‘Exactly. I’ll be there with you, and I’ll step in to redirect if I need to, or if you look like you need a second to think, okay?’
Mercy was grateful. ‘Yes, that’s wonderful. I know that I’m Miriam.’ That was the name inscribed on the locket, because that had been her given name in Eden. Fortunately there had been a lot of Miriams, so they’d allowed nicknames, like Midge or Mimi. Her own name had been an acceptable alternative. ‘But who will you be?’
‘I’m Beth, your friend,’ Liza said. ‘If she asks how we met, tell her it was in school. I’d be surprised if she pushes for more info, but if she does, I’ll distract her.’
Farrah squeezed her hand again. ‘You’ll be wonderful, Mercy.’
Mercy just wanted it to be over. But it wouldn’t be over until it got started. She straightened her shoulders and guided Rory into the cat carrier. ‘I’m ready. Let’s do this.’
When Mercy, Rafe, and Liza had exited the van, Tom turned to André. ‘You should sit in the SUV with Agent Schumacher. She’s keeping watch over the vehicles and will get you to safety if it becomes necessary.’
André patted the holster at his hip. Luckily, it was his left arm that Ephraim had stabbed, because he was right-handed. He might have still been in some pain, but he could still use his weapon. ‘I’ll also be keeping watch. But I am curious about something. Isn’t she senior to you? Why isn’t she going in with them?’
Mercy stilled, waiting for his answer, because she’d wondered the same thing.
Tom gave Gideon and Rafe a rueful look. ‘She is senior, but my boss thinks that I have a good relationship with these guys and have a better chance of keeping them in line.’
Rafe snorted. ‘Seriously?’
But Gideon just shook his head. ‘It’s fair,’ he admitted. ‘Thanks, Tom. I have a feeling you helped grease the skids with Molina, or we wouldn’t even be here with Mercy.’
Mercy could see the hint of heat in Tom’s cheeks. ‘Thank you, Tom,’ she said quietly.
Tom looked embarrassed. ‘Your brother’s helped mentor me these past months and Rafe’s mom gave me cake. It was the least I could do.’ He gave a final check to the cameras Mercy and Liza wore. ‘It’s showtime.’
Santa Rosa, California
Tuesday, 18 April, 1.45 P.M.
Rafe, Gideon, and Hunter didn’t end up sitting in the lobby but were shown to an office instead. Which was a bit of a relief, because no one had seen them come in except for the woman behind the front desk, who was not the same woman Rafe had seen when he’d been here before.
The woman who’d met them at the front door now closed the office door behind them and smoothed her nurse’s scrubs, briefly revealing the outline of a holster. ‘Agent Hunter, Agent Reynolds, it’s nice to meet you. Agent Molina speaks highly of you both.’
Hunter shook her hand. ‘Thank you and likewise. You’re Agent Simpson?’
‘I am. The management here has been very cooperative. They’ve allowed us to use this office while you’re here. Please have a seat, gentlemen.’
‘Thank you,’ Gideon said quietly as the three of them sat in the chairs in front of the large desk. He was pale and fidgety, and Rafe would have been glad that they didn’t have to sit in a waiting room for that reason alone.
Gideon might have been decent at undercover work, but only if he wasn’t related to someone involved. Rafe was having a similar problem. He hadn’t lied to Mercy when he said he wouldn’t miss the next time he got Ephraim Burton in his sights. The motherfucker was going down.
‘Detective Sokolov?’
Rafe turned to Hunter, who had a concerned look on his face. ‘Yes, Agent Hunter?’
‘I was attempting to introduce you to Agent Simpson. She’s the lead on this operation today.’
Rafe shook her hand. ‘Thank you for not making us sit in the lobby.’
Simpson gave him a smile that managed to be both sharp and sympathetic. ‘This is not the optimal situation, Detective. If I had my way, you’d all be outside in the van, but Agent Hunter convinced his supervisor that you’d conduct yourselves professionally. This office is my best compromise. You’ll be able to monitor what’s happening in the patient’s room via the wire feed. In exchange, I need your word that you will stay in this room. The woman managing the front desk is also one of ours, as is one of the nursing aides in the room next to Mrs Franklin’s.’
More than a little annoyed, Rafe wanted to snarl at her, but he controlled himself. A glance at Gideon showed his best friend in a similar mood. Rafe gave him a nod. ‘Mercy will be all right, Gid.’
‘Of course she will,’ Simpson said briskly. ‘There’s coffee in the pot and bottled water in the mini fridge. Please help yourselves, gentlemen.’ She took the seat behind the desk and folded her hands. ‘We have made progress on tracking the payments for Mrs Franklin’s care. The funds come from a bank here in Santa Rosa. The name on the account is Eustace Carmelo.’
‘The name on the ID that Burton used to board the flight to New Orleans,’ Rafe said quietly. ‘The names are those of two of his sons. Mercy said that Pastor gave Burton the ID and that Burton was unhappy about it. Something about the names meaning “fruitful”.’
Simpson considered this. ‘Well, at least they’re consistent. The funds transferred into the account come from a company called Frutuoso. That’s Portuguese for “fruitful”. The business has an agricultural classification. Its main products are olive oil and pomegranate juice.’