“Now calm down. I only want to talk to him. We believe he might know something about one of our cases.” Might know because he might be involved, but there was no reason to tell her that.
“Oh.” She deflated like a punctured tire. “Well, I still say he’s up to no good. Mark my words.”
He didn’t disagree, but wouldn’t do anything to fuel her gossiping tongue. “Well, thank you for the information. If you see him come home, please call my cell. Not the office. My cell.”
She clucked her tongue. “That’s the problem with people today. Never know when to leave their work behind. You should take your wife out for a nice dinner. You are married, aren’t you?”
Her eyes drifted to his fingers, but he positioned his hand so she couldn’t see the bare finger.
Ironically, maybe if he’d taken that advice ten years ago, he might’ve been able to save his marriage.
It was far too late now. “Well, thanks again. Now you call me if you see him.”
She gave a small wave before pushing the door closed.
While he waited for the elevator to arrive, he glanced once more at the closed door to Mitch Taylor’s apartment.
What he wouldn’t give for probable cause right about now.
₪ ₪ ₪
Dak turned away from the window.
While he wasn’t sure how this would all turn out, he felt God telling him to move forward with Kevyn’s plan.
Would Divers spook easily? Would he recognize it if she did? If their suspicions were correct, the woman was an accomplished liar. Sure, he was good at reading people – had to be in his position – but good liars could fool the best.
And he was far from the best.
He opened his desk drawer and pulled out his badge.
Maybe he should pull Kevyn from the stakeout and bring her along.
Divers would no doubt recognize Kevyn from the night before and wonder why an FBI agent would have engaged with her at a club after hours.
It might make her even more edgy. Which also meant more likely to do something reckless.
It might also make her run. Without leading them to the mastermind behind this whole thing.
No, pulling Kevyn in wasn’t the wisest choice.
But he could wire up and have both Kevyn and Sid watch the interview.
Three sets of eyes and ears were far superior to one.
Forty-five minutes later, he approached the glass face of the blood bank.
Everything was set.
Kevyn and Sid watched from around the corner. A simple phone call had revealed that Divers was working in the building today.
“Can you guys see and hear me okay?” He spoke in a low tone, much lower than he would use while speaking with Divers. If they could hear him speaking quietly, then they would hear everything Divers said.
“Loud and clear.” Sid’s voice came through his earpiece.
“All right. Let me know if anything flags.” As observers, they might pick up on visual cues that he would miss.
The door chimed as he pushed it open.
He spotted Divers instantly.
Standing immediately beside a chair, she smiled and gave her head a subtle toss that sent her blonde curls dancing around her cheeks.
The solidly-built, forty-something guy in the chair drank in the whole act.
“Have you donated with us before?”
Dak turned toward the female voice. A woman smiled at him from behind the reception desk.
He pulled his badge. “Actually, I need to speak with Lorelei Divers.”
The woman’s smile grew as curiosity lit her eyes. “Of course. Let me get her for you.”
The woman seemed only too happy to interrupt Divers’ flirt-fest.
A few seconds passed before Divers approached, lips set in a firm line. “I think I answered all your questions the last time you were here.”
Dak replaced his badge. “There have been some new developments that I think you can help us with.”
With an exaggerated eye-roll, Divers motioned for him to follow her.
He didn’t need Kevyn’s mind-reading ability to see that Divers wasn’t happy to see him.
She’d be even less happy once he started asking his questions.
They reached the breakroom and Divers turned to face him, arms crossed over her chest. “Can you make this fast? I’m on the clock and have clients waiting.”
“I’m sure there are other people who can take care of them.” He motioned for her to have a seat.
She dropped into the chair and waited.
No point in wasting time with pleasantries. “We suspect that someone you work with is targeting people based upon their blood type.”
There was so much more he could – and would – say, but for now, he wanted that statement to sink in.
Color slid from her cheeks and her eyes fluttered rapidly. A perfectly manicured hand went to her neck, fingering the gaudy floral pendant hanging from a sparkling gold chain.
A small chuckle erupted from her, so shrill it hurt his ears. “Really? That’s, why that’s… just plumb crazy.”
A breathlessness heightened her words.
She was nervous. Or afraid. Maybe all of the above.
“Speak loudly.” Kevyn’s voice drifted through his earpiece. “Not angry. Just increased volume. I want to see how she responds.”
Okay, he could do that. “Yes, really. We’re narrowing down the suspects, but I thought you might be able to help. Since you were such a help last time.”
She flinched. The movement was ever so slight, but he saw it, as he was sure Kevyn and Sid had, too.
“Hon, no one here would do that.” She lowered her voice and looked around as if someone might overhear. “No one. We’re professionals. We take patient privacy very seriously. Very.”
