Vail picked up a pillow from the couch and fluffed it, put it back in the right place. “I’m glad you two connected. It’s good to have those kinds of relationships where you work.” God knows it took me awhile to find them.
“We’ve got each other’s backs. Figuratively.” Prati laughed. “I’ve got a good gig doing what I do. Something opens up in my unit …” He shrugged. “We’ll see. Robby may be interested.”
Vail studied him intently—but his expression did not reveal anything. “If you had it to do over again, Richard, would you leave ATF for DEA?”
“I’ve been lucky to have spent time with two law enforcement agencies I admire and respect. I cherished my years at ATF. And I wouldn’t trade my work with DEA for anything. So, tough decision. But yeah, I’d do it again.”
Robby pushed himself off the couch. “I’ve gotta get up early.” He gave Prati a man hug. “We’ll have to do this again. Hopefully a time when your wife can join us and Karen won’t get called away.” He glanced at Vail. “Miracles have been known to happen.”
Vail grinned. And clenched her teeth. I love you, honey.
“Maybe catch a Nats game next season,” Prati said. “A buddy of mine has season tickets.”
Vail gave Prati a hug and backed away. “Great seeing you again, even if it was only a short visit.”
She had washed her face and pulled off her clothes when she heard the front door close. After she fell into bed, Hershey climbed in beside her and cuddled up against her body.
Off in the distance, she heard Robby talking to her. But that was the last thing that registered as she fell into a deep sleep.
17
What do I do about the book tour?”
Jasmine and Vail were sitting in a McLean, Virginia, Starbucks. Vail had pulled the lid off her venti Americano and was stirring in a packet of raw sugar.
The snow had stopped during the night but the cold temperatures persisted. The café was warm and cozy, the inside of its windows dripping with condensation.
“That’s going to have to be put on hold. I just don’t see a way around it.”
“If I can’t promote my book, I might be in breach of my contract. My publisher—”
“Will be very happy with the press and media attention. They’ll do fine. In a way, this is the best possible thing that could’ve happened for them.”
Jasmine stared out the window, wrapping her hands around the coffee to warm them. “We’ll see. If I’d known this was gonna happen …”
Vail took a bite of her egg sandwich as she waited for Jasmine to finish.
“You’re going to say you never would’ve written the book?”
“Hell no. It was cathartic in more ways than one.” She glanced around the café and lowered her voice. “It wasn’t something I planned to do. It just sort of happened when I began reflecting on everything, how I’d lived with a man who had brutally murdered young women and men, how that man had kissed me and held me when I was afraid. The most important man in my life.”
Jasmine started peeling away the corner of the cardboard cup jacket.
“That’s how I came to write the book. Started with some thoughts, kept writing night after night after night. I realized I probably saved some lives by turning him in. Eventually the guilt subsided. But it’s never completely gone away. And now he’s out and killing again. Because of me.”
“Look,” Vail said. “No one could’ve foreseen your father’s escape. Well, I guess he did—he’s likely been planning it for a while—but there’s no way you could’ve known what was going to happen when you wrote your book. I’m sure your publisher will understand that your safety has to be the top priority here.”
“My agent is talking to them today.”
“Hopefully we’ll catch him fast and it won’t be an issue.” She snapped her lid back on the cup. “Speaking of which, is there anything you can tell us that would be helpful?”
“Like what?”
“Like his bank. Is his checking account still open?”
Jasmine laughed sardonically. “Like a dutiful daughter, maybe out of guilt, I’ve made sure it stayed open. Every so often I make a small deposit to generate some activity so they don’t close it. Kind of stupid, isn’t it? I mean, he’s in prison for life.” She shook her head. “Definitely guilt.”
“I’m not judging you. Whatever the reason you did it, it’s a good thing. That’ll help us. But stop for now. We need to monitor it for activity.”
“Okay.”
“Which bank?”
“Sutter Savings. I’ll text you the account number.” She took out her phone and opened the messaging app. “What else do you need?”
“Those friends of your father, the ones you told me about. Anything more you can give me on them? Places he used to go when he wanted to unwind. A bar, a restaurant, anything you can think of.”
Jasmine took a bite of her blueberry scone and chewed as she thought. “He did go out drinking. But I never knew where. It’s not like he accounted for his whereabouts to me. Or to my mom.”