The Sleeping Doll (Kathryn Dance 1)

"That's right."

More muttering. Prayer again, Dance assumed.

"Ms. Whitfield?"

"I'm here."

"I'm going to ask you something and I'd like you to think about it before you answer."

"Go on."

"We'd like you to come here and help us."

"What?" she whispered.

"Daniel Pell is a mystery to us. We're pretty sure he's staying on the Peninsula. But we can't figure out why. Nobody knows him better than you, Samantha and Rebecca. We're hoping you can help us figure it out."

"Are they coming?"

"You're the first one I've called."

A pause. "But what could I possibly do?"

"I want to talk to you about him, see if you can think of anything that suggests what his plans might be, where he might be going."

"But I haven't heard from him in seven or eight years."

"There could be something he said or did back then that'll give us a clue. He's taking a big risk staying here. I'm sure he has a reason."

"Well . . ."

Dance was familiar with how mental defense processes work. She could imagine the woman's brain frantically looking for--and rejecting or holding on to--reasons why she couldn't do what the agent asked. She wasn't surprised when she heard, "The problem is I'm helping my brother and sister-in-law with their foster children. I can't just up and leave."

Dance remembered that she lived with the couple. She asked if they could handle the children for a day or two. "It won't be any longer than that."

"I don't think they could, no."

The verb "think" has great significance to interrogators. It's a denial flag expression--like "I don't remember" or "probably not." Its meaning: I'm hedging but not flatly saying no. The message to Dance was that the couple could easily handle the children.

"I know it's a lot to ask. But we need your help."

After a pause the woman offered excuse two: "And even if I could get away I don't have any money to travel."

"We'll fly you in a private jet."

"Private?"

"An FBI jet."

"Oh, my."

Dance dealt with excuse three before it was raised: "And you'll be under very tight security. No one will know you're here, and you'll be guarded twenty-four hours a day. Please. Will you help us?"

More silence.

"I'll have to ask."

"Your brother, your supervisor at work? I can give them a call and--"