“Yes. The next thing is could you run an NCIC query on Merrie Frances Callahan, and John Horace Colson. Specifically what I’m looking for would be any case information regarding Merrie’s abduction on December twenty- second, nineteen seventy-five, and Colson’s subsequent death on the twenty-fifth.”
“I can do that,” he said. “But ya’know if the paper you’re holdin’ is already incomplete on a case that old, I really doubt there’ll be anything in the database.”
“Agreed, but I’d like to know for sure.”
“And number three?”
“I’d like for you to get me whatever you can on Sheriff Addison Carmichael.”
“Thought you said you liked ol’ Sheriff Sherlock? Second guessin’ yourself now, are ya’?”
“Just trusting my gut. I really don’t think he’s dirty, but… Well… You know. I’d just like to have some background so I can cover all the bases.”
“Yeah, can’t hurt.”
“He’s been the sheriff here for at least the last seven years. And, he was a deputy here back in seventy- five…”
“Okay, got it…”
“Somewhere in between he was with the KCPD. Made detective from what I’ve picked up in conversation.”
“KC Missouri or KC Kansas?”
“I’d assume Missouri, but I’m not sure.”
“No prob; I’ll figure it out.”
“Thanks. I owe you.”
“Yeah… We can talk about that later. Okay… Well, I’m sure you knew this was comin’, so here it is, the sixty-four-kay question. You’re a Feeb. You’ve got better resources than the metropolitan PD. Why’re ya’ callin’ me ta’ do this? Forget ta’ take your computer with ya’?”
“That’s the other thing I should mention,” she sighed. “I sort of need you to keep all this under the radar. In fact, it would be best if you could get someone else to pull the NCIC info, so your name isn’t on it since you can be connected back to me.” A thick silence fell in the wake of her words. She took several measured breaths as she waited for a response, then finally gave in and said, “Ben? Are you still there?”
His voice flat, he responded, “Yeah… I had a feelin’ that’s what you were gonna say. Jeezus… What the hell’ve you stepped in up there, hon?”
“I don’t know yet,” she admitted. “But I’m pretty sure the sheriff isn’t the only one holding out on me.”
“Feeb central?”
“Possibly. I don’t know. I just don’t want any red flags popping up until I’m sure, so if you could mask the queries somehow that would help. I just definitely don’t want them coming from my computer with my ID.”
“Okay, tell me exactly where you’re stayin’,” he said. “I’m on my way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’m comin’ up there.”
“No,” she objected. “I need you to stay right where you are and do that background check for me.”
“Constance, think about it. You’re in the middle of north fuckin’ nowhere, workin’ a jacked up serial case, and now you’re tellin’ me your own people might be coverin’ somethin’ up. You need backup, hon, and you need it yesterday.”
His reaction wasn’t wholly unexpected, and it made her glad she’d held back on the emotional information dump. If she’d told him about the anonymous email and texts, or especially the incident at the soda machine last night, he would probably already be halfway here. There were times when it was cute that he wanted to come to her rescue, but this wasn’t one of them.
“Don’t overreact, Ben. I appreciate your concern-really I do-but I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but this could be different.”
“I’m a big girl, Ben. With a badge and a gun and bullets and everything.”
“I just dunno… What if-”
She cut him off. “I can take care of myself. Think about it… I took you to the mat, didn’t I?”
“Two outta three falls.”
“Well?”
“It’s that one outta the three that worries me, hon.”
“I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I let you win that time. I didn’t want you to feel totally emasculated by a woman who’s more than a foot shorter than you.”
“Dammit, I’m serious, Constance.”
She puffed her cheeks as she blew out a protracted breath, then answered, “I know you are. But I’m serious too. I can take care of myself and you know it. Besides… This is all just speculation at this point. I’m not even sure there’s a cover-up, but even if there is, there have been too many agents involved before me, and they’re all still alive and kicking. If there’s a danger in this, it will most likely be to my career, not my life.”
“Jeezus…” he moaned. “I still don’t like it. Not at all.”
“Don’t worry so much,” she appealed. “Just see what info you can get for me. Maybe then I’ll know where I stand.”
“Yeah… Okay… Let me make some calls. I dunno how quick this is gonna happen with it bein’ a holiday, especially if I gotta fly low. I’m prob’ly gonna hafta call in some markers.”
“I understand. But the sooner the better.”
“Yeah… Always is.”
“Okay… Well, I have some leads to follow up, and then I need to try to grab a nap. We’re staking out the repeat crime scene tonight,” she said.
Ben huffed out a sympathetic sounding snort. “Hell of a way ta’ spend Christmas Eve.”
“Tell me about it,” Constance agreed.
“How late can I call ya’ back? Don’t wanna interfere.”
“You’re probably good up till ten.”
“Gotcha.”
“I’ll try to check in later if I don’t hear from you first.”
“You’d better,” he returned. “Ya’ got Kevlar with ya’?”
“Of course. It’s out in my trunk.”
“Damn lotta good it’s doin’ ya’ in there,” he spat.
“Don’t worry so much.”
“Get the vest outta the trunk and wear it, hear me?”
“I will.”
“And watch your back, okay?”
She sighed. “Stop worrying… I need to go… Later…”
“Yeah… Later…”
Constance started to pull the phone away from her ear then pressed it back up and said, “Oh… Wait… Are you still there?”
She heard a quick fumble then his voice came back on the line, a bit of sudden concern evident in the tone. “Yeah, I’m here, what is it?”
“Nothing really important. I just have a weird question. Kind of a riddle someone asked me,” she explained. “What would you say is ‘heavy symbolism of the Christmas season’?”
She lied about the importance. She was already asking him to do enough, but if the searches set off any flags, he shouldn’t be the one to take the heat; it would come down on her. However, she had no idea what was in that hidden file or from whom it had come. If it turned out that it was something she wasn’t supposed to be seeing, then it was definitely not something Ben should know about. She wanted to keep that brand of trouble contained to herself if possible. Besides, she didn’t need him rushing up here to save her right now.
“Heavy?” he snorted. “That’s easy. My Lieutenant’s wife’s godawful homemade fruitcake.”
