Edge of Black (Dr. Samantha Owens #2)

Answers.

“I need something else from you. You’ve been looking at those photos Sam got you access to, right?”

“Yes. Dr. Ledbetter was a wonderful photographer.”

“If nothing else is leaping out at you, set them aside for now. I want you to find everything you can on the congressman’s past, especially around 1990. I want to know what he ate for dinner, where he shopped, the works. And not just details, I want assumptions, too. Go through his life with a fine-tooth comb. Everything that you think could be relevant to his murder. I need a second set of eyes and hands on this, so consider yourself promoted. No more fetching me coffee. Unless you’re absolutely itching to continue being secretary of the year instead of doing the heavy lifting.”

Inez smiled. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

She brightened, and pushed her glasses back up her nose in excitement. “I was hoping you’d ask. I’ve actually already started looking into him.”

He smiled at her. “I figured. What do you have?”

“Well, Africa, for one. His military record is pretty straightforward. He was in Liberia in 1990, supposedly part of the reinforced rifle company that went in to protect the embassy in Monrovia. Now that’s on the other side of the continent from Kenya, where Ledbetter’s photo was supposedly taken, but I think Dr. Ledbetter was actually in Liberia when that picture was taken, not Kenya. The Maasi travel, of course. Plus they’re trotted out for national visits and things, they’re one of the most recognizable tribes in Africa. It’s plausible that the whole Peace Corps thing could be a front for her. It would help her life take on some perspective.”

“What are you saying? Ledbetter was a spy?”

“I think she might have been, yes. She was a world traveler, never stayed in one place more than two or three years. State Department doesn’t have a record of her working for them, but that means nothing. But they do have a record for Leighton. And it’s redacted. That’s why he would have been in plain clothes in Liberia instead of military—he was attached to the embassy, and so was she. The Maasi shot could even be cover for where she really was in Africa. And it would be very hush-hush, of course. Not something you talk to your friends about. But lots of people get recruited out of the Peace Corps. Or are placed there to start their careers.”

Fletcher had to give it to Inez, she was showing what Bianco liked to refer to as “real imagination.”

“So if Leighton’s job in the Army was to run interference for CIA operatives, wouldn’t that kind of information get out during a congressional run?”

“Not if they covered their tracks pretty well. He was a popular candidate, didn’t have a lot of opposition that stood a chance. His first election was relatively painless, and in his subsequent elections he ran unchallenged. So it’s very possible that no one dug deep enough to find this. It’s not the kind of thing your run-of-the mill journalist can get his hands on—I’m lucky State was willing to play ball. I think the only reason they were was because he was dead. And I agreed to have dinner with the watch officer who pulled the file for me.”

“He cute?”

“Very.” She shared a wicked grin with him.

“That is all very compelling. What else do you have?”

“A lot that doesn’t make sense. The murders, for example. He couldn’t have done them.”

“Yeah, I already suspected that.”

“You did?”

“Just a hunch. As soon as that DNA comes back, we’ll know for sure, but it just felt too convenient.”

“Convenient, for sure. His schedule matches up perfectly to the estimated dates of the crimes. But the last two girls went missing for a day or two before they turned up dead, so there’s some leeway on exactly when the crimes occurred. Twelve hours in either direction casts some pretty big doubt on his whereabouts. He leaves town before they’re found, but they’re all dead for almost one day before he comes to town. Now remember time of death is somewhat unreliable when you’re talking days, rather than hours. All they can really tell is what day they were killed based on insect activity on the bodies, not what time exactly. So it’s feasible that he was there and the first thing he does when he lands is go out and find a girl to kill.”

“Tell me more about him.”

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