Chapter 26
Athena hummed and reached for Flash, then remembered she was alone in the loft.
She’d slept well in the bed that held so many fond memories.
Would moving in together be just as dangerous for Flash as marriage?
Surely not. A criminal would have to dig deep to gain that information—especially if she kept her apartment near FBI headquarters as her official residence.
She could install automatic light switches and would have to drive by a few times a week to pick up the mail, but she didn’t have to live there.
Sitting up, Athena glanced around the eclectic bedroom, cluttered with books, games, and CDs, colorful art, green plants, and family and pet photos.
The five-by-seven propped on Flash’s nightstand was of the two of them, faces beaming, Flash’s arms around Athena.
A brilliant striped Mexican sarape blanket covered the bed, oddly paired with a green-and-white square pillow with the Irish Blessing embroidered beside a big shamrock.
Compared to her subdued, orderly apartment, the loft seemed like chaos.
It felt alive. Athena smiled, hugging the pillow to her chest, debating whether to ask Flash about living together.
A text message alerted on her phone. Agent Ice, asking if she needed to be picked up for work. Athena moved to the window and pulled open the drapes, hoping to see everything melted. Alas, it was as frozen as yesterday.
Yes, thank you, she typed back. Finding clothes in Flash’s closet, a hairbrush, toothbrush, shampoo, and deodorant she’d left tucked in a designated drawer, she went about getting ready for the day, determined to make headway in the case.
Athena’s unit members were all at their desks when she and Travis entered. “The internet is working better today,” Paulson announced with cheer.
“And the phones,” Agent Howard added.
“And, like it or not, you’ve got me back.”
Athena twisted to spot Detective Bach pouring himself a cup of coffee from the station in the corner.
She gave him an approving nod. “Excellent. Now, let’s discover the identity of the Nexus person.
I want to reinterview both Whitmore and Kerrington.
I know they’ll bring their lawyers, but they could still let information slip. ”
“Let me put some pressure on them,” Bach offered, “see if we can get them to come to us this time.”
“All right,” Athena agreed.
“I wiggled a little more out of the damaged disks,” Paulson reported, “but found nothing new. I thought I’d broaden the search into employees’ financial records to see if anything stands out.
If Booker had a shell company to hide the under-the-table profits in, whoever Nexus is must be putting their share somewhere. ”
“Good,” Athena replied. “Shoops, dig deeper into the employees’ histories, families, and other connections.
If Whitmore’s security guy engaged in an affair with an eco-activist, maybe someone who worked in the plant did too.
Howard, I want you to focus on a new angle.
See if somebody unaffiliated with Gulf Allied Chemicals or Lone Star had a beef with Inspector Nolan.
These illegal product sales might be totally unrelated to the homicide.
Look at his wife, co-workers, individuals, and companies that sent him hate mail or filed complaints. Who was he scheduled to inspect next?”
She pivoted toward Ice and Hernandez, then recalled she should show interest in their lives. I’m their supervisor, not a stone-cold dictator.
“Agent Hernandez, did you get everything squared away at home from the tree? Do you require any assistance?”
The brawny man smiled. “Thanks to the saints and angels looking out for me, everything will be fine.”
Athena frowned. A tree significantly damaged his car. How was that evidence of God’s agents looking out for him?
“It could have been so much worse,” he added, “if it had hit the house instead. My little girl’s bedroom was right there, but the wind blew the tree onto the driveway instead. That’s a blessing, boss.”
Her frown dissipated, and she nodded. “You’re correct.
It’s also a blessing to see those silver linings, Hernandez.
Everyone, take notice. Now, if you two will focus on service company vendors who made regular stops at the Gulf Allied plant.
Who was contracted for their laundry service, vending machines, copier repair, hazardous waste removal, and pest control?
Check out truck drivers from outside suppliers—anyone with a legitimate reason to enter the facility. Any one of them could be Nexus.”
“We’re on it,” Ice said, and moved to his desk.
“I’ll be in my office.” Athena carried her coffee cup in and checked her emails before calling the lab for an update. “Were you able to establish the presence of blood on the wrenches my agents brought in?”
“No blood,” the tech confirmed. “We were able to reconstruct the explosive device but pulled no fingerprints from the pieces. HPD is trying to track down where the components could have been purchased, but none were unique. If you find the remote detonation device, we might be able to match it.”
“Thank you. Keep me updated.”
She looked over to find Bach lounging in her doorway, a triumphant look on his stubbled face. “I persuaded them both to come here.”
“Oh?” Athena arched a brow. “Did you employ your inexhaustible charm on them?”
“I convinced each CEO that the negative publicity their companies were about to receive after our press conference this afternoon, when we tell the public how uncooperative they’ve been in a case where both are prime suspects, wasn’t worth it.
If they wanted their reputations to remain intact, they would be here this morning. ”
Impressive, she thought, presenting a blank expression. She blinked. “Do we have a press conference this afternoon?”
Bach shrugged. “We might. Right now, they’re only talking about the weather, but sooner or later, that’ll get old. And if we learn anything probative, we could certainly call a press conference to announce it.”
It took all the discipline Athena could muster not to mirror his grin. “You best not employ such sneaky tactics when dealing with my Agent Shoops.”
“Never,” he swore. “I think she’s cute, and we both know she’s smart. Never fear, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Bouvier—I am a consummate gentleman.”
“You’re a flirt.”
“Can’t a guy be both?” Bach cocked his head at her, his smile remaining firm.
“Let’s get ready to knock these CEOs down to size, shall we?”
CEO Amanda Kerrington arrived first, accompanied by her attorney, Claire Buchanan, and her personal bodyguard, Ray Adebayo. After opening pleasantries and informing them the interview was being recorded, Athena cut to the chase.
“Ms. Buchanan, I debated bringing Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Harmon to this interview to discuss corporate espionage with you as it relates to your nephew, Keaton Walsh. But I’m more interested in the attack on Gulf Allied Chemicals and EPA Inspector Jeff Nolan’s murder.”
The refined professional lifted her chin, tossing her red hair, and crossed her arms. “Having a relative working for a competitor isn’t a crime. It happens all the time, and you have zero evidence of wrongdoing, or he and I would be under arrest.”
“Murder?” Kerrington straightened, her eyes rounding. “No one’s mentioned murder.”
“We’re planning to release that detail to the press this afternoon,” Bach told her, backing up his press conference ploy. “The coroner has confirmed that Mr. Nolan died from a blow to the head before the explosion and subsequent fire gutted the office where his body was found.”
With a surprised and confused expression, she turned to her lawyer. “Claire?”
The powerful Adebayo remained as silent and unyielding as a stone, his presence more symbolic than essential.
Ms. Buchanan responded with equal surprise.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.” She swung her gaze to Athena, her nonchalance shattered.
“You can’t think Keaton had anything to do with that.
The boy won’t even harm a mouse, uses those catch-and-release traps.
He only took that job because Lone Star didn’t have any junior positions open when he graduated, and I told him he could gain experience at Gulf Allied. You can’t possibly think he—”
“We’ve spoken with Mr. Walsh, as you are aware,” Bach said.
Buchanan’s brows narrowed. “You tapped his phone? Of course you did. I’d like to see the warrant.”
Bach produced a copy from his folder and slid it across the table to her. She studied it with a frown and pushed it back. “Then you know he had nothing to do with the bomb or killing the EPA inspector.”
“Mr. Walsh is not under suspicion of arson or murder at this time,” Athena stated, giving the lawyer a look that said, You, on the other hand …
“Ms. Kerrington,” Bach said in his tough-cop voice, “isn’t it true that Lone Star Industrial’s Houston facility was the next plant on Mr. Nolan’s list to inspect, and, if he weren’t dead, he’d be starting his inspection next week?”
She gaped at him. “Yes, but we have nothing to hide.”
“You received citations in the past,” Athena reminded her.
Buchanan answered in her stead. “Yes, but unlike Mr. Whitmore, Lone Star made all necessary corrections. And what purpose would killing Mr. Nolan serve? The EPA would just send somebody else. This line of questioning is preposterous.”
Athena felt as if they were grasping at straws.
Still, she pressed on. “Ms. Kerrington, I know you had eyes and ears in Gulf Allied’s office.
They reported to you or your attorney things of interest. Now, assuming these ‘little birdies’ were not stealing corporate secrets for you, surely you learned something from them. ”
Kerrington looked at Buchanan for approval. The lawyer relaxed her defensive posture and nodded.
“Perhaps, in the course of casual conversation, the dilapidated state of their plant came up,” the CEO said.
“And someone might have voiced concern over financial discrepancies. They might have thought Whitmore was selling products off the books—either that, or someone was stealing from him under his nose. Either is believable. The man is so self-absorbed and arrogant, his attention always on other matters.”
Amanda Kerrington’s expression softened, expressing genuine sorrow. “I wish none of this had happened. We wanted Inspector Nolan to do his job. If Gulf Allied was shut down after a legitimate inspection, Houston buyers would turn to Lone Star.”
“You see, Agent Bouvier, Detective Bach,” Buchanan said triumphantly. “We had no reason to sabotage Gulf Allied or to want the inspector dead. Amanda has told you everything we know. As to your claims of spying on the competition, I challenge you to prove it. People talk, and it isn’t a crime.”
CEO Kerrington leaned forward, pinning Athena with a serious gaze. “I heard you arrested the manager, Mr. Booker. He struck me as concerned, doing the best he could with an unpleasant situation.”
“We can’t comment on Mr. Booker or his arrest,” Bach answered.
“It’s a separate matter. Let me make myself clear.
If you are holding back even the slightest detail pertaining to the bombing, murder, and deaths of three Gulf Allied employees, I’ll have you arrested for obstruction of justice.
Ms. Buchanan, a conviction could cost you your law license. Do you ladies understand?”
The women shared a grave look, and Buchanan answered. “We understand. Honestly, we weren’t involved in that tragedy and don’t know who was, or why.”
“Very well,” Athena concluded. “Thank you for coming in, especially considering the weather. Drive safely out there. The first responders are busy enough without another wreck to deal with.”
“I assure you, we shall,” said Adebayo as he pushed up from the table. He extended a hand to Amanda, and she took it with a sly smile.
“We’re all concerned for the well-being of our first responders,” she said. “And I truly hope you catch the person responsible.”
Athena watched as Bach escorted them out.
I take it you did your homework too, Amanda.
The knowing gleam in the CEO’s eye gave her pause.
What if truly bad people found out about Flash?
Athena would have to make a solid decision, and soon, between what her heart wanted and keeping Flash safe from her enemies.
She knew what Flash would say, but she didn’t deal with ruthless career criminals and deranged psychotics every day.
John and Samuel have wives and kids. The job hasn’t put them in danger.
Then she remembered that former Agent Anthony Daniels had been compromised when the cartel threatened his family.
Flash wasn’t like an FBI wife, though. She ran into burning buildings without hesitation, strong and brave to a fault.
This wasn’t something Athena could just unilaterally decide. Flash wouldn’t stand for it.
We need to talk about it, she determined. But first, that entitled Charles Whitmore.