Chapter 26
Friday afternoon, Jane frowned at her phone. She’d left Matthew several messages, both text and voice. He hadn’t responded to any of them.
And then he did.
Can you come over to my place as soon as possible? I need to talk to you about something.
Jane paused before responding.
While she understood the need for confidentiality while on this particular case, she also knew better than to blindly accept a message as genuine.
Jane texted back, Will do. Still on for bowling Saturday with Jenn?
What are you talking about? I thought we were doing dinner tonight.
Just checking to make sure you’re you.
Her phone rang.
“Hello?” Jane answered.
“It’s me.” That was definitely Matthew’s voice. He sounded amused when he said, “Good thinking checking, though. I really do need to talk to you. The sooner the better. I need to figure out what to do next.”
Jane checked the time. “I can get out in the next half hour. Your place?”
“If that’s all right.”
“See you then. I’ll bring food.”
“Oh. Well now, I’m even more excited.” He disconnected.
Jane smiled.
Unfortunately, Jenn caught the expression.
Her friend narrowed her eyes. “So, what’s with all the good mood, lately? I don’t know if I like it.”
“Funny.”
“I’m kidding. When are we going out again? Dash is away for the month, and I’m getting bored. You owe me a drink.”
“Because your boyfriend is away, now you want my company?”
Jenn grinned. “Well, yeah.”
“You know I’m not a drinker.”
“I’m good for coffee too, you know. I might not share your caffeine addiction, but I have been known to enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate, no matter the season.”
Jane figured she owed Jenn for a host of reasons.
To be honest, she wouldn’t mind going over the pros and cons of her new relationship with someone who knew Matthew.
Because no way in hell could she talk to her uncle or cousin about it.
Not without undergoing massive interrogation and making her uncomfortable in the process.
“My uncle’s in town,” Jane admitted. “Want to come over and say hi?”
Jenn’s eyes lit up. “Oh. Which one?”
“Uncle Chris. My actual uncle.” Though she loved Team Ten, they were more honorary uncles, and a few weren’t that much older than Jane.
“I’m in. That means heading over to Bainbridge, right?”
“Aren’t you all but living there?”
Jenn flushed. She and her boyfriend practically lived in each other’s pockets, and Dash had a big house on the island. “Pretty much. I just can’t give up my home in the city, though. Especially when I’m neck-deep in a case.”
“How’s the trafficking case shaking?”
“We’ve shut down three of the five major players, and we’re working on the others. It’s taking time, but we’re going to get there.”
“And that girl and her sister?”
Jenn sighed. “The sister… We were too late to help her. But the girl is getting the help she needs.”
“Good.”
They discussed Jane’s home invasions, which were taking on a life of their own in the press, unfortunately. “But I got eyes on the killer, and we talked to the last victim. He’s changing his MO, and I’m not sure why.”
She also knew she hadn’t gotten enough out of Stephen Harte, despite his wife’s threats. Jane wanted another go at him, so she’d reached out to his lawyer to set up a meeting first thing Monday morning.
Ray had wanted to go after him again last evening, but Stephen had shielded himself and his family with tough legal protection. Monday was the soonest they could talk to him.
With any luck, the guy would still be alive come time for their meeting.
Jenn wound down with all her questions. “So do you want to drive over Saturday together?”
“I was planning to stay over until Sunday. You’re more than welcome to come along.”
“I’m game. With Dash gone, I’m lonely.”
“What about Sam?” Jane liked Jenn’s cousin. Despite Jenn’s best efforts to match them up, Jane and Sam had become good friends. Platonic friends.
“He’s at some training thing in Spokane for the week. Everybody’s ditching me.” Jenn leaned closer and poked Jane in the arm. “Don’t even try leaving me behind. In fact, I’ll drive us so you have no excuse to bail.”
“Would I do that?”
“Yes. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning to catch the 9:35 ferry.”
“Text me and let me know when you’re on the way. I have plans later tonight.” Jane frowned, wondering just what Matthew needed help figuring out. “I have to tell you, this case I’m on has so many roots and connections, it’s like there’s this massive conspiracy digging into everything.”
Jenn shook her head. “Be careful. Remember the Mazzucas. And Dan.”
“Hard to forget.”
“We never did find Kaminski, did we?”
“No.” But it was looking like they were getting closer to tracking the bastard down. And Jane didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing.
* * *
Half an hour later, Jane packed up and left for the day. She stopped by a popular fast-food place and picked up some tasty burgers and fries. Nothing as sophisticated as Matthew’s first meal, but she hoped he’d appreciate it.
She pulled up and had just crossed the street to his house when he met her at the gate and took the bags of food from her hands.
“Hi, Matthew.” Every time she said his name, it felt less awkward on her tongue.
His smile looked strained. “Hi back. It’s been a day.”
“I can’t wait to hear.”
They walked inside, and it seemed to Jane that Matthew took extra time to search the area behind him before closing them inside. He locked the door and gestured for her to precede him.
They settled at the kitchen island, where he’d already put out some plates and napkins.
“That smells delicious.”
“I know. I’m starved.”
They fell on the food, not speaking much except for a few details of the case Jane needed to share. She didn’t mind. It felt as though they had turned a corner in their relationship. Not in an intimate way but working together as peers rather than boss and subordinate.
He trusted her, and that meant something.
“Okay,” she said as she finished her last fry. “I can’t wait any longer. Why haven’t you been answering me? What’s going on?”
He pushed his plate away, half his food still there, uneaten. “I need to know the truth.”
“About…?”
“The list of names you have for the Collective. Were my parents’ names on it?”
Ah. So he shared her suspicions. “No. I would have told you if they were.”
“Do you think the list of names you have is complete?”
“I don’t know.” She’d already explained about seeing the intruder at Stephen Harte’s house.
“I don’t think Harte told us everything.
Detective Ryan and I have an appointment to talk to him on Monday.
Harte’s lawyer will be there, so I doubt we’ll get anything substantial out of him.
But he seemed willing to talk to us after someone held his family hostage. ”
“Do you think the intruder and the home invasion killer are one and the same?”
“From what Stephen said, yes. Yet Harte and his family were unharmed. I don’t think it was because we showed up to talk to him. Our killer murders on Mondays. The bodies are found two days later. He steals crypto and leaves everything else behind.”
“Didn’t you say he took from the Hartes?”
“Yes, but more, he took material Stephen Harte didn’t think he knew about. And Harte hasn’t said what exactly was on those drives. He claims he doesn’t know. I think he does.”
Matthew frowned. “You also said the intruder attacked you.” He looked her over, though she’d already told him she was fine. “He had an accent?”
She nodded. “I believe he’s Polish. August Kaminski is Polish.”
“So you think this guy might have been Rook, August’s righthand man?”
“I don’t know.” Jane studied him. “Why are you so stressed out? What aren’t you telling me?”
“I think… I’m not sure, but I think my parents might be involved in this somehow.
I haven’t found anything tying them to Kaminski.
There’s nothing they’ve ever said or done to act guilty of anything more than not seeing their own entitlement,” he added wryly.
“But I can’t stop this feeling that they’re hiding something. ”
“Of course they’re hiding something. They’re rich and political. And you’re the FBI, the guy who goes by the book. They won’t tell you everything.”
“It’s more than that.” He sounded frustrated. “My father’s aide has disappeared.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“I mean the man who knows what my father is doing before he does it has vanished. He was supposed to meet my parents last night at a fund raiser. He never showed. And Louis never misses an opportunity to stand in my father’s shadow.”
“Did you put out a missing person’s report?” Despite it not having been twenty-four hours, Matthew could have started looking.
“No. My father asked me not to.” Matthew shook his head. “Something has happened. We all know it. My father knows it. But I’m not supposed to do anything official about it. My dad wanted me to know just in case ‘something happens.’”
“Something like what?”
“I wish I knew.” He pushed a French fry around on his plate. “I need to dig deeper.”
“You need to be careful. How much does Haversham know? He’s the only one you’ve been working with on this besides me, right?”
“Correct. He knows everything you do except that Louis is missing. I haven’t told him I think my parents are involved.”
“Because you’re not sure.” She sighed. “If it was my uncle, I’d do the same. Unless I had something solid, I wouldn’t cast suspicion. You’re not a bad guy for keeping this to yourself.”
“I’m not?” He looked so hopeful.
“But then, I’m not the best person to guide you or pass judgement. I know we have strict laws about right and wrong, but sometimes what’s right lingers in the gray area between legal and illegal, you know?” She flushed. “I mean, I’ve never crossed the line. Not exactly.”
He stared at her. “Oh?”
“Well, when I went looking for Jenn, back when she’d been held hostage by Rob Williams, I could have asked for official backup. I had a feeling I was walking into a trap. Instead, I asked my cousin to come with me.”
“Yes, but you still followed the law.”
“I guess. But I really enjoyed beating the crap out of Williams. I broke his wrists and dislocated his knee.”
Matthew’s smile grew wide. “I enjoyed reading about that in your report.” He took a moment. “So I’m curious.”
“About?”
“When we found the Red Ribbon Killer dead from an apparent suicide, you seemed surprised to hear about his death. Were you really?”
“Really what? Surprised?” She nodded. “You bet. I remembered tying him up, but the drugs he gave me took me under. When I woke, I figured you guys had taken him in for questioning. Not that he’d killed himself.
” She shrugged. “But I’m not sorry at all.
Some people deserve to die.” She flinched. “That sounds terrible.”
“It does and it doesn’t. Because I agree with you.”
Jane tried to explain, “I’m not saying I’d be the one to kill them. But if they get the death penalty or die in a gunfight they started, I’m not shedding a tear, you know?”
He nodded. “Relax, Jane. I’m on your side.”
“Same here. You can trust me, Matthew. And you can trust Haversham. Just make sure you’re careful. People keep winding up dead on this case.”
Matthew nodded. “Make sure you follow your own advice. Now let me tell you about what Grace said about her most promising ex-junior agent.”
His smile told her Grace had been telling tales about her again.
They spent the rest of the evening sharing stories. And a few kisses that lingered, stirring new heat.
But when Jane said goodbye, Matthew looked troubled. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing and everything.” He sighed. “I need to figure things out.”
“Be careful. Call if you need me. I’ll come.”
“I know you will.” He caressed her cheek. “Now go home. You have a long weekend ahead of you if you’re taking Jenn home to your family.”
“You said it.”
She drove away. But she couldn’t stop thinking about the worry on Matthew’s face.
And what it might mean.