The Investigators (Badge of Honor 7)

“Matt, that’s not going to work. Christ, they’ve got film of her—you saw it—of her meeting with Chenowith in the Poconos!”

“We’re going to give it a shot, Jack,” Matt said.

“What I’m going to do right now—Christ, do you realize what a spot you’ve put me in with Davis?”

“What we’re going to do right now, Jack, is go arrest Jennifer Ollwood,” Matt interrupted.

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“It means we’re going to arrest Jennifer Ollwood.”

“You know where she is?”

“I know where she’s going to be,” Matt said. “And once we have her in custody, I will lead the FBI to where Miss Reynolds has shown me we can find Mr. Chenowith and his pimply-faced sidekick.”

“If you think I’m going off with you, alone, to arrest that woman, you’re out of your mind.”

“Okay, then you stay here in your car and wait for me to bring her to you.”

Matt reached up and snatched the keys from the ignition switch.

“Don’t be childish!” Matthews said, as much in disgust as anger. “Give me the keys back!”

“I figure it will take you five minutes to find the police station, and another ten before you can find someone who will both believe the wild story you’re going to tell him and has enough authority to act on it, and another ten minutes—minimum—before they can locate an unmarked Plymouth. By that time, I’ll have the Ollwood woman in the back of my car.”

“And then what do you think is going to happen to you?”

“Then I will lead the FBI to Chenowith.”

“That’s not what I meant. And you know it. You’re going to go to jail, Matt.”

Susan inhaled audibly in the backseat.

“For what? For arresting somebody wanted on a murder rap? For stealing your car keys?”

“They call it obstructing justice,” Matthews said. “And interfering with a federal officer in the execution of his office, and—”

“On the other hand, you could go with me,” Matt said. “We grab Ollwood, take her to the locals, tell them who she is, and ask them do they want to grab Chenowith?”

“You mean not even call the Anti-Terrorist Group?”

“It would take them at least an hour, probably much longer, to get up here. No telling where Chenowith would be by then, particularly if Ollwood doesn’t come back when she’s supposed to.”

“That’s insane.”

“Ollwood has got another ‘package’ she wants Susan to keep for her,” Matt said.

“More bank loot.”

“What else? And you could grab that, too. Which do you think Walter Davis would prefer? That—presuming Chenowith and whatsisname, acne face?—”

“Edgar L. Cole,” Matthews furnished.

“—Cole aren’t long gone by the time they get up here—that those Anti-Terrorist clowns grab them, in his area of responsibility? Or that one of his own agents, seizing the moment, did?”

“Goddamn you, Matt!” Matthews said.

“Is that a yes or a no?”