The Sixth Man (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 5)

“What makes you say that?” asked Megan.

“Her office was bare. No personal items. She doesn’t intend on staying long. Like Mark Twain and Halley’s Comet, I think she came in with Edgar Roy and she’ll go out with him.”

Megan said, “It really seems like people have it in for Edgar Roy.”

“The question is why?” said Sean. “You said Bergin spoke with you about him.”

“Just about some spot research, nothing substantive. You said you met the client, Roy’s sister, Kelly Paul. What was her story?”

“She wants to help her brother. She has a POA for him and retained Bergin to rep him. Bergin was her godfather.”

Megan finished her coffee. “So we have a client who won’t talk. The FBI won’t tell us anything. Mr. Bergin and Hilary are dead with no leads.”

“We need to find out what Roy was really doing,” said Sean.

“What do you mean?”

“An IRS geek turned alleged serial killer does not generate this much federal excitement,” explained Michelle. “We talked with his boss at the IRS. He wouldn’t tell us anything, which actually told us a lot.”

Sean added, “And he had a friend who worked there. She said Roy stopped working there months before he was arrested. He called her once and said he was working on something sensitive, but he couldn’t say any more.”

“So you think Roy was involved in something else? Maybe something criminal?”

“No, maybe something having to do with intelligence work.”

“I thought you might get there,” said the voice.

She was standing near their table. When Sean looked up he wondered how the woman was able to move so silently.

Kelly Paul took off her large sunglasses and said, “May I join you?”

She had on black jeans, a woolen vest, and a thick corduroy jacket over that. Heavy boots with fur toppings were on her feet. She looked ready for a long winter’s stay in coastal Maine.

Sean scooted over and Paul slid in next to him. “Megan Riley, this is Kelly Paul. Our client,” he added awkwardly.

The women shook hands.

“Understand the FBI was giving you the third degree,” said Paul. “Hope they didn’t leave any permanent wounds.”

Before Megan could answer, Sean said, “What are you doing up here?”

“Perfectly logical question,” replied Paul.

“Could I have an answer?” said Sean, when it seemed apparent she was not going to provide one.

“Figured taking in the lay of the land myself was a good proposition.”

“But it’ll come with the cost of your anonymity,” pointed out Michelle.

Paul got the attention of their waitress and ordered a cup of tea. She remained silent until it arrived and she took a sip. She set the cup

down and took a moment to pat her lips dry. “My anonymity died the moment you two visited me, I’m afraid.”

“No one followed us to your place,” said Michelle.

“No one you could see,” said Paul, and she took another sip of tea.

“Meaning what exactly?” said Sean.