Paradox (FBI Thriller 22)

She was silent, then, You swear if I tell you, we can go kill Riley?

“You’re not thinking, Lissy. You know it’s too dangerous for us in Washington right now. We’ve got to wait. I’ll go to the Boggert Used Cars here in Fort Pessel, buy another car there.”

You never told me where you got all the cash. A whole buttload. Where’d you get it, Victor?

“I’ll tell you after you tell me where the robbery money is hidden.”

Silence, then, Okay, maybe. We’ll get some pain meds for me tonight.

“Yes, but no more killing, Lissy, so that means I’ll go alone. You can’t control yourself, so you’ll wait in the car or at your mom’s house.”

Can we sleep in the house, not outside like last night?

“I don’t see why not. You can keep your clothes on, you know I don’t like seeing those ugly stap

les.”

66

* * *

GEORGETOWN

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Savich sat quietly in the Volvo, waiting for Sherlock to get some aspirin at the CVS across the street. He was thinking about the agent Victor had shot in Fort Pessel two and a half years ago. Cawley James had been lucky.

It was now down to a manhunt. Savich knew to his gut where Victor was going next. If he was wrong, so be it. It wouldn’t matter in the long run.

He pulled out his cell and called Agent Reed, one of the three FBI agents stationed at the Smiley house in Fort Pessel, for an update.

“Todd, Savich here. Talk to me.”

“The three of us are in place at the Smiley house, with me inside, two outside surveilling the grounds. You know the house is on a cul-de-sac bordering on a mostly maple and oak forest, lots of places to hide. The house is pretty ramshackle, looks every bit like no one’s lived here since Jennifer Smiley went down in that last bank robbery. The bank repossessed the house and owns it now.

“We’re on it, Savich. All of us remember what happened last time, when Cawley James got shot. What I don’t get is why you think Victor’s coming back here.”

Savich said, “I think he was headed to Fort Pessel all along. He still needs the money he thinks is buried there, or he’d have been long gone by now. He’ll have to dump the Chrysler, buy another car, or steal it. I called the local dealerships, and I’ve got the local police chief on alert for any stolen vehicle reports. Can’t be sure which way Victor will go.” Which way Lissy will make him go. Savich wondered if he should tell the hard-nosed agent, a fifteen-year veteran known as Black ’n’ White in his field office because he never saw any grays in life, that he was looking not only for Victor but for Lissy sharing his body with him, probably appearing whenever she wished, or whenever Victor needed her to. Since Todd knew Lissy was dead, Savich could see him staring at his cell, wondering if Savich was losing it. Savich settled on, “Reed? Be careful. Victor isn’t known for crazy violence, but he can change in a flash. As if he flips a switch, he morphs in an instant.”

Agent Todd Reed was silent, thinking about what Savich had said. Victor could morph, get violent? Well, of course he could. He said, “Well, I’ve found most criminals can become crazy violent or not, depending on the circumstances.”

“Yes, but Victor is different. Believe me on this, Reed. You might not know until it’s too late, so be ready. Don’t hesitate like Cawley did. I’ve seen Victor turn on a dime, trust me. No one wants history to repeat itself. He was in Winslow and it’s only a three-hour drive to Fort Pessel. If that’s his destination, he could already be there, so be on the lookout.”

“We’ll be ready. I went over myself earlier to the two local used car dealerships here in Fort Pessel, not a surprise there’s only two since more folks are shopping online nowadays. They’ll call me if they have a dull brown Chrysler 300 LX come in. And I’ll check in with Chief Wen.”

“He remembers what happened the last time we tried to get Victor there in Fort Pessel. Yes, call him as a courtesy. Remind him to keep this quiet. Call me if you spot Victor, Todd, and don’t forget the access road behind the Smiley house.”

“We’ve got everything covered. Don’t worry, Savich.”

When Sherlock came back to the Volvo, a small bag in her hand from the pharmacy, he said, “You okay?”

“Sure, I already popped a couple of aspirin.” She paused. “I was thinking it was a lovely day to see another part of the country, like Fort Pessel. What do you think?”

Sometimes it was scary how well she knew him. “I figure we can be there by dark.”

“Onward, then.” Sherlock leaned her head back against the seat rest and said, “Did you tell Todd we’re coming?”

“No, but we spoke and I gave him lots of warnings. Sherlock, remember when Cindy kicked Victor and he screamed about her kicking the staples?”