“That would be Joselyn Cole,” said Sarah.
“I figured it would be easier if we were disturbing fewer people. Since you were here alone, you became the guinea pig.”
“I see. Well, I’m delighted. So where’s home?” she asked Adin.
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. If I did, I’d have to kill you.” The instant he said it, Adin made a face. “Forget I said that.”
“That’s OK.” Sarah smiled.
“Good move, Adin. You get twenty points deducted for lack of tact,” said Ellison. “Want to try for more?”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right, really.”
“Adin sometimes works undercover. Though how he manages it with moves like that, I’m not sure,” said Ellison.
“Undercover I leave the levity at home,” said Adin. “The only time I screw up is when I’m myself, in a bar with a girl.”
“Foot-in-mouth syndrome?” said Sarah.
“You’ve seen this with other stupid guys, I take it,” said Adin.
“A few times.” She laughed. “So is Adin Hirst your real name?”
He made a face, like maybe yes, maybe no.
“I don’t want to be killed. So I won’t ask any more questions,” said Sarah. “What is it you need from me?”
“I have a short questionnaire. A couple of pages,” said Hirst. “If you can fill it out at your leisure and send it back through Agent Ellison’s office, that would be a big help.”
“Sure.”
“When, ah, when are your father and his friends going to be back?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Where did they go?”
“I can’t tell you that. If I did, I’d have to kill you.” Sarah smiled at him.
Hirst laughed. “Touche.”
“You speak French, you must be from France.”
“Funny you should say that. All the girls I kiss tell me the same thing.”
“Oh, you’re bad,” she said. “I’ll bet that’s not on your resume.” She looked at Ellison, who was red to the tips of his ears. “Did you know you had a professional tonsil hockey player on your team?”
“Now you see, you’re wrong,” said Hirst. “With me it’s only a hobby.”
“I think maybe… I think we should, ah…” He looked at Sarah. “You’re not on sound surveillance here, are you?”
“God, I hope not.”
“I think we should look around a little. The unit itself, the apartment,” said Ellison. “And maybe talk to you a little about your experiences here.”
“This is about the best one I’ve had since I got here,” said Sarah.
All three of them cracked up. Sarah thought Ellison might have a heart attack. He was laughing that hard. When he finally regained his composure, he opened his notebook as he wiped a tear from his eye. “Let’s try to get serious here for a moment. Let’s start with a critique of security, starting with the front door,” said Ellison. He looked at Hirst.
“Good point,” said Adin. “Let’s see. Why did you open the door?” He looked at Sarah.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a simple question. Why did you open the door?”
“Because you rang the bell.”
“How did you know who it was?” said Hirst.
“Because your office called. I told you.”
“I have no doubt somebody called,” said Adin. “But how did you know it was the FBI?”
“Because that’s what they told me. Who else would have the number to this condo? It’s unlisted. The place is run by the FBI,” said Sarah.
“All of that is true,” said Ellison. “Still, what Adin is saying is correct. It’s possible that an unlisted number, even one issued to the bureau, can be discovered by an outside party. If so, they can call the number and identify themselves as anyone.”
“I assume that perhaps you’ve given the number out to relatives?” said Hirst.
Sarah nodded a little sheepishly. “Just my aunt and uncle back in Ohio. No one told me I couldn’t.”
“That’s why the FBI has to keep changing the numbers,” said Adin.
“So when your office called… I assume it was your office?”
“It was,” said Ellison.
“So what was I supposed to do?”
“As soon as they identified themselves,” said Adin, “you should have taken the name of the person calling, and the division or office they were calling from. Get all the information and details you can, write it all down. If they want to give you a phone number, fine, but don’t call that number. As soon as they hang up you call downstairs to the duty desk and give the agent all the information. He or she will call the division, check it out, and get back to you.”
“And until they do, you don’t open the door when someone shows up,” said Ellison.
“I see. I thought the place was safe,” said Sarah.
“It is, but because of the people we house here, it’s also a target. Precautions are in order,” said Ellison.
“I screwed up,” said Sarah.
“How could you know? You came in late, and you’re here alone. I’m sure your father and the others were given an orientation, brief as it might have been. They no doubt assumed whoever was on the duty desk would do the same with you. They didn’t.” Ellison took out a small pad and made a note. “What else did you see?”
“Me?” said Sarah.
“No. The hockey player here. He’s the one being graded,” said Ellison.
“When she opened the door, the chain was off,” said Hirst.
“Right. That door is steel, and it’s imbedded in a steel frame,” said Ellison. “The bolts fastening the safety chain are three inches long. They are threaded all the way through the steel frame and into the masonry wall. Same with the hinges. The chain itself is titanium, three-eighths-inch links. Somebody tries to kick that door open, they’re going to break their foot. The same with their shoulder. Of course, none of that works if you open the door without the chain on. That’s what it’s for. What else?” said Ellison.
“The credentials,” said Hirst.
“What about them?”
“She didn’t look at them, and even if she did, it wouldn’t have mattered,” said Adin.
“How do you know she didn’t look at them?”
“Because she was looking at me.”
“OK, we won’t dwell on that one,” said Ellison. “What should she have done?”
“Assuming she had confirmation of our visit from the duty desk, she should have opened the door with the chain on, taken the credentials through the opening, and made sure that the name on the credentials squared with the name from the duty desk.”
“And if not?” said Ellison.
“Slam the door on our fingers and call the duty desk,” said Adin.
“Maybe we should start over so I can practice,” said Sarah. “You can go outside the door. I can put the chain on, and you hand me whatever you want through the crack.” She stared at Adin.
“I don’t think I want to do that. Not with that look in your eye.” He smiled.
“And the dog,” said Ellison. “For the time being, until your father and his friends get back, do yourself a favor and don’t lock him up. Especially if someone you don’t know comes to visit.”
