Chapter Twenty-Six
After he walked away, Sam turned to Faith. “What would you think of me using Sawyer as bait to draw out Harlan Peckham?”
Faith’s brows lifted in surprise. “You want to use a federal appeals court judge to lure a killer?”
“You got a better idea? You heard what she said. Harlan Peckham doesn’t own a phone, so we’re not going to find him that way. Jesse Best told us he’s had survival training and can stay hidden for as long as it takes. He could be anywhere, lying in wait for a chance at her so he might finally have his father’s respect. I mean, if he kills, or tries to kill, the three people who his father believes were the most responsible for ruining their family, then maybe his daddy will finally respect him.”
“I hear you, and I see the motivation, but wouldn’t he be more interested in killing Avery, who built the case, than the prosecutor and judge?”
“Willy would view them as equally responsible.” Sam’s backbone tingled. “He’d probably feel it was enough to badly wound Avery, especially since he’d already put a massive scare into him by breaking into his home and holding his pregnant wife and son hostage.”
While Sam liked the idea more with every passing second, Faith still seemed skeptical. “How would you use the judge to lure him out?”
“I haven’t got that fully worked out yet, and of course I’d have to gauge her willingness, but I think it could work. If Harlan shows up carrying the nine-millimeter Glock that was used to kill Tom and shoot Avery, we’d have him nailed.”
“I agree, but I’m still not feeling the connection to the Peckhams. I like Damien Bryant for this much more.”
“We worked that from every angle, but I never got a buzz this strong.”
“A buzz?”
“You’re going to think I’m weird.”
“Too late. I already do.”
“Haha, but when I’m on to something, really on to it, I get this tingle along my backbone. I’ve learned to trust the tingle. I’ve got a huge buzz with Harlan Peckham’s name on it.”
“I’m not sure how I’d get something like this approved without an acting USA in place yet. We’d have to go to Cox.”
“He’d never approve it if I’m involved.”
“Approve what?”
Sam hopped to at the sound of the chief’s voice. “An idea I had, sir, that could lead to us capturing the man who killed Tom Forrester and shot Avery Hill.”
“What’s the idea?”
“To make a long story short, I believe it’s possible both instances were part of a three-part revenge tour to take out the people who busted a family crime ring in Kentucky years ago. Avery was undercover with the family early in his career. The case was transferred to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney in DC with Tom prosecuting. Judge Corrinne Sawyer, who now sits on the circuit court of appeals, was the presiding district court judge. My idea would be to use Sawyer as bait to lure our suspect.”
When her words registered with him, he tipped his head as if trying to hear her correctly. “Did you just say you want to use a federal appeals court judge to bait a murderer?”
“Um, yes, but it sounded better when I said it than when you did.”
The chief huffed out a laugh. “I’m sure it did. Think of something else.”
“Hear me out… The guy we’re looking for has no phone, no local address, no ties to anyone here, and he has survival training. We’re never going to find him unless we do something to smoke him out.”
“You’re asking me to approve putting a federal judge in mortal danger, Lieutenant.”
“I’m trying to find the man who killed Tom and tried to kill Avery.”
“I understand the goal and the urgency, but I’m not liking the plan to use Sawyer. There has to be another way.”
“I think this is the fastest way to him.”
“Unless,” Faith said, “we use his stepmother to lure him.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked.
“She told us his father’s approval means everything to him, right? What if we put the word out that Amber has a message for him from his father and use her to get to him?”
“That won’t work because he could easily find out that she’s in our custody. He’d be immediately suspicious of anything involving her.”
“You’re right.”
Sam bit back the retort she would’ve given Freddie—I usually am. “I like the idea of using Sawyer. According to Amber, Willy Peckham blamed Avery, Tom and the judge for all their problems and was determined to get revenge when he got out of prison. He took Avery’s family hostage. Amber said if Avery had been at home that night, Willy would’ve gutted Avery like a pig and made his pretty wife watch.”
Chief Farnsworth swallowed audibly.
“He killed Tom Forrester, shot Avery and will be coming for Sawyer next. If we don’t stop him, he’ll try to finish the job with Avery as soon as he gets the chance.” She looked to Faith. “Who supervises federal judges?”
Faith used her phone to get the correct info. “The Federal Judicial Center, which is governed by a board of directors that includes the chief justice, director of the Administrative Office and seven judges chosen by the Judicial Conference. The FJC does orientation for new federal judges and provides continuing education for judges and court personnel. They also make recommendations to improve the operations of federal courts.”
“I had no idea how any of that worked,” Sam said.
“Me either,” the chief said. “The federal government is like an onion. Layers on top of layers on top of layers.”
“Indeed,” Faith said. “In order for us to be involved in this in any way, I need the AG’s approval.”
“In that case, how do you feel about us leaving you out of it until we have Harlan in custody?”
“I feel very good about that.”
They glanced at the chief, knowing it would be his call as to whether they went forward with Sam’s plan.
“I’d want to hear from the judge that she’s on board and willing to be part of this.”
“She’s my next stop.”
“Talk to her and let me know what she says. If she approves, then we’ll put together an airtight plan with no room for error.”
That had Sam swallowing hard, knowing from experience there was no such thing as a fully foolproof plan. Her experience undercover with the Johnson family had led to a dead child in a crack house. She’d never seen the kid in the house prior to the night they raided the place and had carried the grim lessons learned in that case with her ever since.
Freddie returned with Amber’s pizza and Coke. “George Terrell is here asking to see you.”
“Go see what he wants and keep me in the loop on the judge,” the chief said.
“Yes, sir.” She walked toward her office, where Terrell was seated in one of her visitor chairs. “Hey, how’s Avery?”
“Still doing well, thankfully.” He handed her a large, thick envelope. “The dump of Tom’s work phone with some redactions to protect ongoing cases. Please keep this under lock and key.”
“Thank you, and I will. Any smoking guns?”
“I’m not sure. There was a lot of back-and-forth with Cox, which is somewhat unusual in the course of regular business. While the AG heads the Justice Department, he’s not regularly in contact with the USAs.”
Sam sat behind her desk. “He and Tom were longtime friends.”
“Yes, I’m aware, but their correspondence wasn’t related to being friends or about work.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. What was it about?”
“I’m not sure. It was cryptic, like they were talking in code or something.”
“I’ll take a look.”
“Are you investigating Cox?”
“I might be. Something is off with him. I can’t figure out what it is, but these messages might shed some light.”
George released a low whistle. “Like that won’t be nuclear or anything.”
“I know, but he’s been weird with me several times now and so has his nephew-slash-assistant.”
“Wait, Allston is his nephew?”
“Yeah, do you know him?”
“I know of him. People can’t stand the way he acts like a firewall to Cox. You can’t get to the AG without going through him, and he’s a pain in the ass about granting access.”
“As I’ve learned. You didn’t know he’s Cox’s nephew?”
“First I’ve heard of that.”
“The stink around Cox gets more fragrant with everything I find out about him.”
“You can’t honestly think the U.S. Attorney General is involved in something criminal.”
“You say that like it’d be the first time in history.”
“True, but it’s still unbelievable.”
“I don’t know anything yet, but I’m picking up the scent of something rotten. My goal right now is to find Tom’s killer and Avery’s shooter as soon as possible, and then I’ll figure out what stinks at Justice.”
“Let me know if we can help, on the deepest down-low, of course.”
Sam smiled. “Of course.” An FBI agent wouldn’t want to be caught investigating the AG, which Sam certainly understood. “Thanks for delivering the phone dump.”
“No problem.”
George had no sooner left than Dr. Trulo appeared in her doorway.
Sam waved him in.
He closed the door behind him. “I thought you might come by, but I figured you got busy.”
“You figured right.” His presence was a reminder of the horrors she’d heard earlier and how she’d reacted to them. “It’s been a day, but what day around here isn’t?”
“Truth.” He took a seat and crossed his legs, his pose casual, but his eyes sharply focused on her. “I take it you heard the latest from the Stahl investigation.”
Sam had done her best to stuff that into the back of her mind so she could function. At his mention, it came roaring back to the forefront. “I did.”
“It’s a lot for everyone to process, but I imagine it’s even more so for you.”
She shrugged, hating being singled out on the job for any reason. “It’s a horror no matter how you cut it.”
“You and me… We’ll never understand what could possibly motivate someone like him.”
“I don’t want to understand what motivates him.”
“What can I do for you today?”
“I’m okay. It was a shock at first, but I’m coping. We’ve got a hot lead in the Forrester case. It helps to keep busy.”
“You and your husband looked marvelous last night. I was so proud.”
“Aw, thanks. We clean up pretty well.”
“Indeed, you do, my friend. I won’t take any more of your time. I wanted to remind you I’m here. I’m always here. If you need me…”
“I know where to find you. Thank you, Doc. Your friendship means a lot to me.”
“Likewise.”
After he left, Sam tried to get her head back into her work, but the latest horrors surrounding Stahl were hard to push aside. She reached for the painkillers she kept in her top drawer and took a couple to ward off the headache she felt coming on.
There was no time today or any day for an emotional setback tied to that monster. She’d worked hard to come back from the nightmare he’d perpetrated on her, and she wouldn’t let him get the better of her again.
She called for Cameron Green.
He came into the office. “What’s up?”
Sam handed him the file George had brought. “Data from Tom’s work phone, compliments of the FBI, which we’re to keep airtight. I’m most interested in his dealings with AG Cox and Congressman Bryant.”
“I’ll get on it right away.”
“How are things?” Sam had learned to check in with her team, especially after something like what Cam and Gigi had recently endured, with Gigi forced to kill his ex-girlfriend to save herself.
“Better.”
“How’s Gigi holding up?”
“She’s taking it a day at a time. Even though she knew it was her life or Jaycee’s, she’s struggling with having taken a life.”
“If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t be the person we know and love.”
“That’s what I tell her every day. We ran away for a couple of nights last weekend. It helped.”
“Glad to hear that. Let me know if there’s anything I can do for either of you.”
“I will, thanks. Last night was an incredible experience. None of us will ever forget it.”
“Thanks for coming. It meant a lot to us to be surrounded by friends.”
“My entire family is green with envy.”
Sam laughed. “No pun intended.”
“That’s right. I’ll let you know what comes of the phone data.”
“Thanks, Cam. Tell Freddie to come in, will you?”
“Sure thing.”
Her partner appeared at the door a minute later. “You summoned?”
“Will you please figure out where we might find Judge Sawyer?”
“Yep.”
He returned a few minutes later. “She’s in her office at E Street Northwest. I spoke to her clerk, and she said it’s fine to come by.”
“Let’s go.”
Lindsey stretchedout on the sofa in her favorite room in the townhome she shared with Terry. Afternoon sun streamed in through the windows she kept uncovered to take full advantage of the natural light. The cheery blooms on her orchids that lined the windowsills filled her with delight. Raising orchids had become a hobby after Terry bought her one for her birthday last year, and now she was obsessed with understanding the complicated, moody plants.
Terry came in with a tray that he placed on her lap. He’d made her tea and toast with the strawberry jam she loved. Next to that was a bowl of berries and a medicine cup with her afternoon pills.
“This looks delicious. Thank you.”
“Can I get you anything else?” As he took a seat on the coffee table, she noticed his handsome face was still pinched from the strain of the last few days.
Lindsey held out a hand to him. “I’m all right. I promise.” The doctors prescribed rest and relaxation until she felt back to normal.
He kissed the back of her hand. “That’s all that matters to me. You know that, right?”
“I do, and I’m sorry I scared you.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me.”
“Yes, I do. I feel bad that I put you through such an ordeal, especially during such a big week at work.”
“As long as you’re feeling better, I’m fine.”
“Are you?” She studied him, looking for cracks in the veneer.
“I’ve been doing meetings twice a day online and talking to my sponsor several times a day.”
“I’m proud of you.”
He snorted. “Why?”
“Because you recognized the makings of a crisis and acted accordingly. Not that long ago, you might’ve made different choices that would’ve led to trouble.”
“I have every good reason to stay clean and sober these days. I have the woman of my dreams, the job of my dreams, the life of my dreams. I’d never do anything to mess up any of it, especially with the woman of my dreams.”
Lindsey smiled. How could she not? “We’re so lucky. So, so lucky.”
“Yes, we are.”
His work phone rang. “Gotta take that. Enjoy your snack.”
“You can go to work if you’re needed there.”
“Maybe tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek and got up to take the call. “Hey, Derek, what’s up?”
While he talked to the deputy chief of staff, Lindsey sipped her tea and took bites of toast. Her phone buzzed with a text from Sam.
How you feeling, Doc? Miss you around the house.
Much better. Can’t wait to get back to business.
Eh, take it easy and enjoy the time away. You deserve a break.
Heard the latest about the monster. How you holding up?
I’m ok. It’s not about me.
Sure, it is. Call me if you need to talk.
Thank you, but I’m fine. On to something with Forrester, pulling the threads, doing what I do.
You looked stunning last night. Both of you.
Thanks. It was a team effort. Will check on you later.
I’ll be here.
Hey, so… We don’t do sappy around here, but you should know… I love you, and I’m so glad you’re ok.
Lindsey’s eyes immediately flooded with tears. Love you right back, my friend.
There was nothing like a health crisis to make a girl feel loved and supported by those closest to her.
Terry returned to the sunroom, phone in hand. “Derek said everything was perfect last night, which is a huge relief.”
“It was perfect because you and the rest of the White House team saw to every detail weeks ago.”
“Still nice to hear we pulled it off.”
“I’m sorry you had to miss it.”
“I’m not. I’d rather be home in sweats with you than in a monkey suit at the White House any day.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not lying. You know I’d rather be here with you than anywhere else.”
“I do, but it was still a bummer to miss a fun night with our best friends.”
“Speaking of our best friends, Derek told me he and Roni went public at the state dinner. They arrived holding hands.”
“Ah, I love that for both of them.” She knew Derek and Roni had been spending time together but hadn’t made any official announcements. “When’s her baby due?”
“June. He said they plan to help raise each other’s children.”
“That’s wonderful. They deserve all the happiness in the world after what they’ve been through.”
“Yes, they do, and so do we.” He kissed the back of her left hand. “I can’t wait to put another ring on this gorgeous hand.”
Their wedding was scheduled for July at his parents’ farm in Leesburg. “I can’t wait either.”