Fletcher wondered how many more were out there.
He stared out the window as Jordan drove back into the city. The day was going to be a scorcher, followed by wicked thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening. Stormy weather would hamper their search. He wanted to find Rachel before then.
They had all the threads. Now it was time to weave them into some semblance of a fabric everyone could understand. If they could do that, they’d find Rachel Stevens and Kaylie Rousch. And destroy Eden.
Chapter
51
Fauquier County, Virginia
BALDWIN ARRIVED AT the unholy hour of 7:00 a.m. Xander had begged off, said he wanted to spend some time on the computer seeing what he could find about Eden and its followers. She knew he was going to do some deeper sleuthing, in places the FBI couldn’t legally go. With any luck, they’d all get some answers soon.
He came to the door as Sam was leaving, kissed her, gave her a pat on the bottom and sent her on her way. All she was missing was a lunch box.
She was somewhat refreshed after a few hours of sleep, a hot shower and half a pot of extremely strong Turkish coffee. The bandage on her neck itched. She’d checked the wound and thought it was going to heal fine, possibly without a scar. Her hands hurt, and her shoulders were sore from the struggle with Kaylie, but other than that, she felt good. Jazzed. Everything was coming together, and she was certain they were on the right track at last.
She kept an eye out, knowing Adrian or even Kaylie might be lurking nearby. But the birds were chirping and people flowed up and down the Georgetown streets without a care. She didn’t get the sense either of them were nearby.
That’s the point, isn’t it, Sam? He’s a prolific serial killer—he knows how to make himself invisible.
Bravery banished, she hopped into Baldwin’s vehicle and triggered the door locks.
He glanced at her but didn’t say anything. Once they were over the Key Bridge and driving west on the George Washington Parkway, Sam told Baldwin everything Xander and Fletcher had discovered, and asked him what he hoped to accomplish talking to Anne Carter.
“That’s a good question. I don’t know, exactly. We’re missing something. She was in charge of the operation, had access to all the files, all the intel. It’s been ten years. There’s a whole new round of leadership in place. More than that, I’m not convinced the files we have are accurate. You know we don’t like to commit everything to paper. An agent going rogue is what we fear the most. I’m hoping Carter left something out, something important, that might help us.”
“Any news on Rachel?”
His lips tightened. “No. The search resumed at first light. There have been hundreds of tips, and we’re chasing them all down, but none has been the one we need. Like Fletch said, Agent Blake is putting together a team to go into the area specified in Kaylie’s note. The BOLO on her got us exactly squat. She’s quite good at blending in.”
“I think you were right. Matcliff had years to teach her military survival tactics. The question is, where do you think she’d headed?”
“Same place we are, when we find out where it is. Eden.”
“You know that’s where Rachel has to be. Shouldn’t we be helping them?”
“I’m happy to let Jordan’s team handle the operational stuff. They can’t go in without authorization, and that’s going to take a while. We’ll catch up to them. I have a hunch we’re going to find something useful out here. We’ll talk to Carter, and then we’ll head back and see if they’re ready to saddle up. What’s Xander really doing?”
She smiled. “You’re quick. Most people think he just lazes about by the pool and jogs with the dog.”
“He’s much too intelligent to waste his time doing nothing. I figure he’s been working all the angles this whole time.”
“You’re right. He has been. So I’ll be honest with you. If he’s not on the computer digging, he’s probably on the road behind us, heading out to Great Falls with Thor.”
Baldwin shot her a glance. “Should I let the team know there’s a friendly in the woods?”
“You can, but they won’t see him. He’s like the wind out there. If he finds something worth our time, he’ll call in.”
“You sure about that?”
She watched the Potomac slip by the highway, the water on its incessant southerly march. “I know him well enough to know we can’t put him back into the chain of command and expect him to listen to orders. I will tell you this—he must think highly of you to let me off on my own without an argument. He’s been ridiculously overprotective of late, and he wasn’t exactly thrilled at your offer to have me join the Bureau.”
“Well, when we see him again, I’ll tell him I’m honored. You ready to talk about my offer again?”
She grinned at him. “Nope.”