The Burning Wire (Lincoln Rhyme 9)

Rhyme and Sachs exchanged glances.

Jessen continued, explaining that Galt accosted se

curity chief Bernard Wahl as the man was returning from lunch.

"Is Wahl there with you?" Sachs asked.

"Hold on a minute," Jessen said. "He was being debriefed by the FBI. . . . Let me see."

Sellitto whispered, "They didn't fucking bother to even tell us they were talking to him, the feebies? It had to come from her?"

A moment later solid-shouldered Bernard Wahl appeared on the screen and sat down next to Andi Jessen. His round, black scalp glistened.

"Hello," Sachs said.

The handsome face nodded.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, Detective."

He wasn't all right, though, Rhyme could see. His eyes were hollow. They were avoiding the webcam.

"Tell us what happened."

"I was coming back from lunch. And Galt came up behind me with a gun and took me to an alleyway. Then he shoved the letter into my pocket and said get it to Ms. Jessen right away. Then he was gone."

"That's all?"

A hesitation. "Pretty much. Yes, ma'am."

"Did he say anything that might lead us to where he's hiding out or where the next target might be?"

"No. Mostly he just rambled about electricity causing cancer and being dangerous and how nobody cares."

Rhyme was curious about something. "Mr. Wahl? Did you see the weapon? Or was he bluffing?"

Another hesitation. Then the security man said, "I caught a look. A forty-five. Nineteen-eleven. The old army model."

"Did he grab you? We could get some trace evidence off your clothes."

"No. Only his gun."

"Where'd this happen?"

"Somewhere in an alley near B and R Auto Repair. I don't really remember, sir. I was pretty shaken up."

Sachs asked, "And that was it? He didn't ask anything about the investigation?"

"No, ma'am, he didn't. I think all he cared about was getting the letter to Ms. Jessen right away. He couldn't think of another way to do it except to stop an employee."

Rhyme had no more questions for him. He glanced to Sellitto, who shook his head.

They thanked him, and Wahl moved off camera. Jessen looked up, nodding at somebody who'd come into the doorway. Then back to the camera for the video conference. "Gary Noble and I are meeting with the mayor. Then I'm doing a press conference. I'll make that personal appeal to Galt. Do you think that'll work?"

No, Rhyme didn't think it would work. But he said, "Anything you can do--even if it just buys us some time."

After they disconnected the call, Sellitto asked, "What wasn't Wahl telling us?"