“Los Alamos puts its scientists up there because the Jackson gives them discounts. If there’s a scientific meeting that involves more than a couple of people, the lab uses that hotel. There are smaller hotels in the city of Los Alamos, but the Jackson’s the biggest that has a deal with the lab. And since I couldn’t take a job everywhere, I picked the Jackson.”
“You think he’s a scientist?” Ben’s mom asked.
“Ben thinks it’s someone with an affiliation with Los Alamos.” Ro turned to Ben. “You haven’t said anything to your parents?”
Laura was throwing her son dagger eyes. “What . . . is . . . going . . . on?”
Ben took a deep breath and let it out. “Over the years I’ve been looking at things that were similar to Ellen’s case.”
“I know that, Benjamin. What have you found out?”
“Similar cases that have taken place near other national labs—geographically. I have told Shanks. He knows my theories. But I have no idea if I’m right or wrong.”
Dad said, “How did you find out that this hotel deals with Los Alamos National Lab, Ro?”
“It was very high tech, Mr. Vicksburg. I made phone calls.”
Ben said, “It’s my fault. She did it for me.”
Ro’s face remained impassive. “No, Ben, I did it for Ellen.”
Laura’s eyes overflowed. “Oh dear.”
Ben said, “Dorothy, I’m so sorry I got you involved in this mess.”
“I’m not sorry at all. But I don’t know where to go from here.” She smiled at Ben’s parents. “I’m open to ideas.”
“Well, it’s clear you can’t tell anyone without compromising yourself. Furthermore, even if you did tell Shanks, he couldn’t use the information because you obtained everything in an illegal manner. Ellen’s case is still open. We could suggest that Shanks go back and get a subpoena for all hotel registries at the time of the incident. If you figured out some names, he should be able to do the same thing.”
“Why didn’t he go to the hotels when it first happened?” Laura asked.
“He did, Mom. He investigated every single hotel in the area and looked at the names of people staying in town around the dates of the abduction. But he didn’t know he was looking for someone associated with the labs. Also, it could be that the perpetrator’s name wasn’t on any local guest list.”
“Or not in a form he recognized,” Ro said. When Ben glared at her, she said, “The jig is up, Vicks. Just come clean.”
“What?” Ben’s dad asked.
“It’s possible he could be using aliases.”
“Like women’s names,” Ro added.
“You know this for a fact?”
“No. That’s why we’re looking at the data from way before and way after the incident. Shanks can’t get access to that data without reasonable cause.”
“I want to see your files.”
“Bad idea, Dad. You work for the government. No one would benefit from you being disbarred.”
“Cut the sarcastic shit.”
“William, please.”
Dad said, “Stop trying to stonewall me, Ben, I don’t like it.”
Shanks was done interviewing Lisa and was walking toward them. Ben said, “We’ll continue this conversation at home.”
“What conversation?” Shanks asked.
“Sorry, Sam,” William said. “Privileged information.”
“What the hell is going on?” When no one answered him, Shanks took Ben’s arm. “You’re coming to the police station. We’re going to have a nice talk, Vicksburg.”
Ro said, “He won’t admit to anything there because everything is recorded. But he may tell you stuff off the record if he knows what’s good for him.” She smiled widely. “How about if we go to Ben’s house? I’ll make a nice pot of coffee and Mr. Vicksburg—the senior Mr. Vicksburg—can tell us what to say and what not to say so no one ends up in prison.”
“Just go home, Dorothy,” Ben told her.
“Uh, let me think about that, Vicks.” She was still smiling. “No.”
William turned to Laura. “Go home with the girls and I’ll meet you there.” To Shanks: “The kids and I will come with you.”
“Dad, I have to wait for the tow truck.”
Shanks said, “I’m impounding your car.”
“Sam, I have finals. I have to get to Albuquerque.”
“Take a bus.” He shook his head. “Ro’s right. The kids aren’t going to talk at the police station. Mind if we use your house? That way I can also see what they’ve been up to.”
Dad put his hand on Sam’s shoulder. His eyes grew watery. “Just like old times.”
Ben said, “You don’t have to get involved, Dad. I’ll tell him everything.”
“Maybe I need your father, hotshot.” Ro punched his shoulder. “God, I hate you right now.”
“Someone slashed my tires and you hate me?”
“You ruined homecoming by cutting out on my special day, you ruined the winter dance by not going with me, you ruined the spring fling with your slugfest, and now you’ve ruined prom. Grad night is my last hurrah in this godforsaken place. It would be nice to have one event here that you didn’t spoil.”
“I don’t believe you,” Ben said. “Let me remind you that I saved you from a very bad Christmas Eve and I took you out to a very nice and expensive dinner for your eighteenth birthday. I also gave you exactly what you wanted as far as birthday presents are concerned. And while we’re talking about people spoiling things, guess who spoiled Valentine’s Day?”
She yanked him aside and whispered furiously, “That was awful. You know how remorseful I feel. Everything I’ve done has been for you because I feel so ashamed. You call yourself a nice guy. Stop it already.”
Her eyes were pure wrath. “I won’t mention it again,” he told her. “Just go home, Dorothy. I’m trying to save your ass.”
“My ass doesn’t need to be saved by you. And I’d like to remind you that you weren’t making any headway in your ‘research’ until I helped you out.”
“All true, but what does that have to do with anything? I don’t want you involved!”
“Too late for that because I’m already involved!” She hit him again. Abruptly, she burst into tears. “Now JD is taking Lisa to the after party and he’s probably going to bang her.”
“No, he won’t.” He took her in his arms and kissed the top of her updo. “I promise you he won’t.”
“Why?” Her eyes were ablaze. “Did you already bang her?” She pushed him away. “Where the hell were you two for so long?”
“I didn’t bang anyone. All I’m saying is that JD is loyal to you—”
Shanks broke in. “Sorry to interrupt your little lovers’ spat, but there’s work to do. Shall we go?”
Ro dried her eyes on the back of her hand. Then she slipped her arm under Ben’s. “Let’s.”
Chapter 8
Stewing and feeling violated, Ben said nothing as his father sifted through his carefully constructed files, reading what had been meant for his eyes only. He squirmed and sighed, showing his resentment, but his father was uninterested. Ro held his hand and glanced at him in understanding. At long last, they had reached a truce.