“I’ll trace her history. And as for other possible candidates who were in this building, I can cross-reference names with any possible political tie-ins,” Will said.
“Concentrate on what you can learn about Bari Macaby,” Logan told him. “Make sure she’s exactly who she says she is.” He turned to Aidan. “It would help, of course, if we had some contact with one of the deceased.”
Aidan took a deep breath, trying not to feel the usual knot in his stomach that came up whenever the situation—or their discussion—had to do with the living seeing the dead.
“Okay,” he began. “You’re all part of this experienced special unit. And I’m not completely sure why I was called in. Apparently you all have what it takes to be Krewe, and I’m not convinced that I do. Not anymore. If I ever did.”
Logan studied him. “You’ve got something. Jackson Crow wouldn’t have asked you to join the New York office if he hadn’t seen that skill in you. We’ll do our best, but you knew Highsmith, and that makes a difference.”
Aidan couldn’t remember if he’d ever mentioned to any of the Krewe that he’d known Richard.
But they had so much reference material available to them...
Of course they knew. They knew everything about him. Maybe even the kind of shirts he bought or his favorite brand of toothpaste.
And hadn’t he been asking Mo Deauville to do what he knew could be done?
“I haven’t made contact with Richard in any way,” he said quietly.
“Maybe, you will soon,” Logan said, just as quietly.
*
Mo was surprised to find Aidan Mahoney outside the emergency room entrance when she and Grace arrived to pick up Rollo once they’d had finished for the night.
“He’s here!” Grace said in a loud whisper. She looked at Mo. “He’s here—for you. He’s got the dog.”
“No, he’s not here for me. He’s here because he checked on J.J. after doing...whatever he did tonight. And he was nice enough to bring Rollo down for us.”
“You’re pathetic,” Grace muttered.
Maybe he did have an interest in her. He was ever hopeful that she’d contact Richard.
She had contacted him.
She was happy to oblige in any way she could; she’d do anything to help.
She and Grace got out of the car and walked over to the hospital. Grace was obviously amused, certain that someone was about to get lucky.
“Good evening, ladies,” Aidan said. Rollo wagged his tail ecstatically.
“Good evening, Agent Mahoney!” Grace returned. “Nice to see you again.”
“I wanted to check on things,” Aidan said. “And...well, I figured it was so late, I’d bring Rollo down for a bathroom break and have him out here when you came by.”
Rollo barked, apparently agreeing with that explanation.
“Thanks,” Grace said. “And since you’re here...” She paused and smiled like some kind of matchmaker. “You can drop Rollo and Mo off. I’m much closer to the hospital and that way I won’t have to double back. And you two can talk about...finding people and stuff like that.”
Mo didn’t protest, although she was horrified by Grace’s broad grin and her unmistakable attempt to throw the two of them together. But Mo knew that if she said anything, she’d look like an idiot who didn’t care about making her friend drive around all night.
“That’s not a problem,” Aidan said. “I can easily drive them home.”
“Well, then, you two can see me safely to my car.” She turned toward the parking lot. “Agent Mahoney, have you taken part in any of our haunted happenings yet? You should come through the Haunted Mausoleum sometime. We’ve gotten rid of our headless horseman for the season,” she added somberly.
“Perhaps I will,” Aidan said.
Grace got into her car, revved the engine and bade them both good-night, still smiling secretively.
Aidan and Mo were left there to stare at each other.
“How was J.J.?” Mo asked.
“Fine. Or as fine as possible under the circumstances. They were going to release him tomorrow, but I’ve asked that he be kept another day.”
“Oh?”
“He’s safe at the hospital. Once he and Debbie are out of there...he’ll need round-the-clock protection.”
“But the killer had his chance to kill J.J. He didn’t.”
“He chose not to strangle and behead a young boy,” Aidan said. “He left him in a vault deep in the earth. If J.J. had been there much longer, he would’ve died.”
“You think you can catch the killer overnight?”
“I wish. Well, let me drive you and Rollo home,” he said.