Chapter 22 #2
Gary cocked his head. “You mean, Professor Robert Martin, a renowned scientist and doctor, was seen in a gay bar in Fort Lauderdale not because he’s gay, but because he was there to use the foam party to spread monkeypox among Florida’s gay men?”
“That wasn’t exactly what I said.”
“Near enough. But can I throw a few wrenches into the works? One, for him to do that, he’d have to add something to whatever solution they used in the machine that created the foam, and someone would have spotted him.
Two, motive. Why would he do that? From someone who is working to improve mankind’s health, it seems like a pretty bizarre thing to do.
And three, do we even know for sure he was there?
That it wasn’t Leo Deakins’s fertile imagination? Well, that or poor eyesight.”
The door opened, and Officer Lomax stuck his head around it.
“Sir? You have a visitor. Interview Room Two.” Then he ducked out of sight.
Gary rose. “You know, every time we get a visitor—”
“It throws one of those wrenches you were mentioning into the cogs of our case. Yeah, I know. Want me to tag along, even though I have some far-fetched ideas?” Dan’s eyes twinkled.
Gary arched his eyebrows. “Of course. We’re the Dynamic Duo, aren’t we?”
Dan’s chuckle was the perfect response.
They left the office and walked through the hallways toward the interview room. Rachel Broome saw them as they passed Homicide and called out to them.
“I saw the report about Dr. Phillips.”
“Well, if you have any ideas or information, please feel free to share. No i in team, right?”
“I take it that means you’re not any nearer to discovering who put a bomb in her car? Thanks for the info on Ray and Wilmer, by the way. We haven’t closed the book on those two yet.”
“Neither have we.” He pointed along the hallway. “Sorry, we have somewhere to be.”
She waved her hand. “Stop by my desk when you’re done with your interview, and we’ll swap notes.”
“Sure.” Not that he was about to share Dan’s theory. Gary felt certain this was probably the first time Dan’s gift had given him a bum steer.
He pushed the door open and groaned. “Nice of you to pay us another visit, Mr. Chambers.” He went into the room, Dan following.
Nathan Chambers wasn’t seated this time. He leaned against the edge of the table, arms folded.
That was not a good sign.
“Detective Mitchell, Mr. Porter”—Chambers narrowed his gaze—“you haven’t followed my advice, have you? You’re not going to let this lie.”
Gary was done being polite.
“No, we’re not. And if there’s the slightest possibility we might find out who filled your sister’s car with enough explosive to blow a very large hole in Boston Common, I’d have thought you’d want us to pursue it.” He gave Chambers a tight smile. “Unless you’re already following your own leads?”
“So you know about the car.”
Gary resisted the childish urge to say “Duh.”
“Yes,” Dan said quickly. “And a lot more besides.”
Chambers’s face showed a flicker of interest. “I see.”
Score one to Dan.
Then Chambers schooled his features. “Delivering another warning would be wasting my breath, wouldn’t it?”
Dan got in first. “Frankly? Yes.”
Chambers stood up straight, hands by his sides. “I did some checking on you, Mr. Porter. You might be useful.”
Dan blinked. “Excuse me?”
He nodded. “I can access all kinds of intelligence, but you… you can see things I can’t. So….” He smiled. “I’m going to help you.”
Gary frowned. “How? What do you know about this that we don’t?”
Stupid question. The man was part of the intelligence community.
What doesn’t he know?
Chambers reached into his inside jacket pocket and removed a small piece of paper. He handed it to Gary.
On it was written a name and address:
Jay Travelyn
7 Race Road
Provincetown, MA
“Go see Jay,” Chambers suggested. “They’ll be able to help you.”
“Who is this person, and why should we go see them?” Gary demanded.
“I can’t answer that. I can only suggest—in the strongest possible terms—that it would be worth your time.”
Dan studied him. “Why are you doing this?”
“I think Detective Mitchell here nailed it. I want answers too, answers that you might be able to find.” His face softened.
“You’re trying to tie these cases together.
I’m giving you the rope. But with a few provisos.
Make sure you’re not followed. Be alert.
Because if I know about your involvement, others will know too. Don’t even tell your lieutenant.”
Dan gaped at him. “Seriously? Isn’t that a bit cloak and dagger?”
Chambers’s eyes glinted. “I’d call it good advice to keep you alive.” He held his hands up. “But please, feel free to ignore it if you wish.”
Gary stared at the slip of paper. “The info this Jay has—it’s that explosive?”
Chambers regarded him coolly. “Trust me. You’ll understand when you hear it. And if I were you, I’d make that sooner rather than later.”
Gary glanced at Dan. “I guess first thing tomorrow, we’re going back to Cape Cod.”
“Very wise.” Chambers headed for the door. “Until the next time, gentlemen.”
“Oh, so there’s going to be a next time?” Dan called out as the door swung shut behind Chambers.
Gary slipped the paper into his wallet.
Dan rubbed the back of his neck. “We are going to tell Travers, aren’t we? Just to cover our backs?”
Gary barely heard Dan’s question.
What have we gotten ourselves into?