“What do you want me to do?”
“Honestly? I’m out of ideas. I’ve stalled as much as I could, but shortly I’m going to have to come clean. I just need the DNA back first, before I go wrecking a man’s life. I may not agree with him on things, but nothing about this case feels right. I’m not ready to tie the knot in the noose just yet.”
“Have you stopped to consider the fact that the JTTF is right, and he is responsible for the three murders?”
“Sure I have. And they might be right. I think they believe they’re going to use the evidence in the file to prove their point, and it’s just not enough. But I can’t get at anything outside of the congressman, nothing about the attack, nothing about the other victims, who’s still sick, anything. I’m cut off, and I can’t work like that. I need as much information as possible if I’m going to do this job right. I have to talk to his family, talk to his staff again. And without knowing for sure if he’s responsible, or even capable of murder, I don’t want to tip my hand.”
“You want me to get you out entirely? I can do that. I can call the chief and ask him to pick someone else.”
“So they can get another stool pigeon in to do the dirty work for them? No, I’m better off staying in and trying to control the fallout. Sam gathered some incredible information for us today. If she can stay under the radar she can be my eyes and ears. You know how people love to talk, but the minute they see a badge they hush up.”
“I’m not sure why they would be undermining the investigation, Fletcher. We’re all on the same team here.”
A knocking began on the bathroom door, low and insistent.
“I know that. I’ve got to go. I’ll let you know what’s happening when I can. Just...keep an eye out for me, would you?”
“Will do. Watch yourself, Fletch.”
He hung up, and Fletcher unlocked the door to find Inez standing there, looking slightly abashed, as if she, too, was embarrassed by their spat.
“Bianco wants you.”
“Tell her I’ll be there in five. I need to arrange for a couple of interviews, first.”
“Fletcher, I’m sorry. I should have known you wouldn’t risk everyone’s job by letting Owens go. The cameras show that she snuck out when you weren’t looking. I’ll deal with setting up the interviews for you. Just go talk to Bianco, okay? Who do you need to meet with?”
The cameras. They monitored their own people. He didn’t know why that surprised him. Then again, nothing should surprise him about this place. It had been rubbing him the wrong way since he walked in the door, and Bianco set his teeth on edge. He didn’t know why, and that was driving him crazy.
“The wife and the chief of staff. Separately. And I need to talk to the Indianapolis police who worked the original cases, before the IBI got involved. I want to start at the beginning.”
“You got it. I’ll get everything taken care of. The lead detective on the case is dead, but he had a junior partner, I’m sure he can help. Sorry, again, Fletch.”
She walked away and he set his jaw and started toward Bianco’s office.
Her door was open, and she was sitting behind the desk, glasses on her nose, looking hard at a computer screen. He knocked on the door frame to announce himself. She looked up, smiled and gestured for him to come in.
“Shut the door, okay?”
He did, then stood in front of her desk with his hands loose at his side.
“Sit,” she said.
“I’d rather stand.”
“Really, Darren, have a seat. We need to talk, and I hate you looming over me. Makes my neck hurt looking up.”
He acquiesced, and she shut the laptop. She smiled at him, and it was different than her earlier smiles, this one looked downright genuine.
“Congratulations.”
Oh boy. Here we go.
“Congratulations on what?”
“Let’s see. In the past twenty-four hours you’ve subverted nearly all my orders, managed to gather and release a key witness, did the opposite of nearly everything I requested of you, and turned Inez into a sulking mess. So congratulations. You passed.”
“Come again?”
She laughed, a low, soft sound that he found rather pleasant, all things considered.
“I need people with imagination, Darren. Talented investigators are a dime a dozen. Talented investigators who can look past the rule books and still get results, on the other hand, aren’t quite as easy to find. You know what our job is here, right?”