What was she talking about?
He fought back the irritation rising in his chest. “Slow down and explain.”
“Slow down?” She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing on him. “Slow down? The FBI was at my work today! They said they think someone at the office is targeting patients based on blood type!”
Not good.
While he’d known involving her was a risk, she’d provided him with intel he couldn’t have gotten on his own.
“I threw them off. For now. But that won’t distract them for long.” She leaned in, placing her manicured hand flat on his desk. “I need fifty thousand dollars so I can get out of the country.”
She must be out of her blonde little head. “You’ve been well compensated. Use what I’ve already paid you.”
“Aren’t you precious?” Sarcasm bled from her lips, which curled into a pout. “Like I keep that money sitting around? That’s my nest egg. It’ll help me get established somewhere. I need money to leave now.”
“You’ve gotten every cent you’ve earned.”
“For the blood types, sure. But not for my silence.” The smug smile gave her an arrogant look, one he wanted to punch right off her face.
“You talk to them and you’ll be charged, too.” He stared at her until she shifted her eyes away. “Never forget that orange isn’t your color.”
Her lips parted and she glared at him.
He was done with this conversation. “Do what you need to do, but we’re done here. You can leave.”
As if summoned, Zane appeared in the doorway.
Her face flushed like a tomato and she jerked to her feet. “If they come for me, I’ll tell them everything I know! I won’t go down alone.”
Time to calm her down. She was a liability, even more so when she was so worked up. “They don’t know anything. They’re fishing. Play it cool and you’ll be fine.”
Her nostrils flared as she exhaled deeply. “You think so?”
“Of course. We’ve been careful. They have no evidence.”
Her breathing evened out. “Maybe you’re right. I mean, it’s not like I’ve done anything to draw attention.”
Except spend like there was no tomorrow.
The new car and the jewelry she wore were far beyond her earnings.
“Lay low and don’t do anything rash.” He kept his voice conciliatory, even as he doubted she’d be capable of such a thing. “We’ll step back for a few weeks until the heat passes, then pick things back up.”
She nodded. “Okay. Yes, you’re right. What they know don’t amount to a hill of beans. We’ve been careful.”
She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
It didn’t matter if she believed it or not. She wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.
Zane led her out of the office, returning alone a few moments later. “She’s a threat.”
He didn’t need Zane to tell him that, although it was good to know that they saw the same liability. “Make it look like a suicide.”
₪ ₪ ₪
A grumble rolled through his stomach, the sound echoing in the empty office.
Dak shut down his computer. It was time to call it a day.
Noise from the hallway drew his attention as Agent Caldwell stepped into his office.
Now what?
He forced himself to smile and be pleasant. “Agent Caldwell. What can I do for you?”
“I’m on my way to Mitch Taylor’s place. Thought you might want to tag along.”
Really? That was a surprise. “Why me?”
“I’d like another set of eyes there when I talk to him. You have a personal stake in this, so you’re a logical choice.”
“Sure. As long as I can grab some takeout along the way.”
Caldwell grinned. “I could go for a double burger from that joint around the corner.”
“Where’s Taylor live?”
“Northeast of downtown. His nosy neighbor called me and said he just got home. Let’s drive separately so I don’t have to come back here when we’re done.”
Sounded good to him. He’d be ready to head home, not come all the way back downtown.
He followed Caldwell to the locally-owned fast-food place, ordered a cheddar bacon burger, and took his tray to join Caldwell at a booth in the far rear corner.
“So you know, I haven’t found any evidence that Agent Taylor has been anything less than honest about her relationship with her father or her communication with him.”
Dak finished chewing a bite as he processed Caldwell’s admission. “I didn’t expect anything less.”
Caldwell paused with the burger an inch from his mouth. “Really. You never once thought she was playing you?”
“No.” Part of him was surprised to discover that it was the truth. “Kevyn sometimes has some, uh, unusual tactics, but she also has integrity. Even when she doesn’t play by the rules, it’s because she’s doing what she thinks is best.”
Even if it wasn’t always right.
“Hmmm.”
He couldn’t tell if Caldwell believed him or not, but it didn’t matter. OPR could dig all they wanted, but they couldn’t find something that wasn’t there.
And in this instance, he was certain there was nothing there.
They quickly finished their meal, then headed back to their vehicles.
At almost six-thirty, traffic had lightened some in the downtown area, making it easy to follow Caldwell as he navigated his mid-sized SUV through the skyscraper-lined streets. As they moved further from the heart of downtown, the traffic lessened and many of the buildings grew smaller.
Caldwell pulled up in front of a high-rise with more mirrored glass than brick and mortar.
A keypad beside the main entrance screamed that only authorized people could gain access.
Dak stepped out of his Jeep and glanced over at Caldwell as he shut his door. “You have a code? Or do you hit buttons until someone buzzes you through?”
Caldwell chuckled. “What do you think this is, the ‘70s?”
Seemed like a valid question to him.
