Chapter 19 A Light at the End of the Tunnel #3
“We have to see if there are any cameras within that radius around the lake. Perhaps we get lucky.” George didn’t hold much hope for that, but it was a good task for Officer Kaustrowitz.
He texted their helpful rookie then stared back out onto the lake.
From a distance, everything seemed so peaceful, so idyllic.
One of the first things George had learned when he started his career was that something was always lurking and never to trust a shiny surface.
There were times when he mourned his loss of innocence, the time when his brain had looked at boats on a lake and not seen several potential crimes in the making.
“What are you thinking? You’re…chrt, chss, waiting, for what, calm, on the surface, going under, so deep, her heart, thump, thump, so warm, so warm.” Andi was facing him, expression a bit strained.
George put his hand on Andi’s face, letting his warmth seep into his lover’s cold skin.
Even though they were standing in the sun, Andi was cool to the touch, a sign that his blood sugar was dropping.
“Let’s get back to the car. You need food.
And don’t worry. I was just being philosophical about things almost never being as peaceful as they seem. ”
“Ah, I understand.” Andi easily followed George’s lead back to the car. “I can ignore the blob side and just pretend things are fine. With them, not so much. Nothing is ever peaceful there, though on the other hand, it rarely pretends to be, just seems like it to our senses.”
They had just reached the car, and Andi was busy munching on some energy balls made from dates, coconut, and hazelnuts, when George’s phone started to ring.
Eating in the car was only allowed under dire circumstances, so they were standing in the shade of an oak.
George got his cell out and read the ID. It was Geena.
“Hi, Geena, we didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”
“Are you insinuating that I’m slow, Donovan?” Geena’s voice was tinged with laughter.
“I’d rather arm wrestle the devil.”
“Wise man. Is Andi with you?”
“Mpf.”
“As you can hear.”
“Wonderful. I have news for you. What you’re going to make of it is entirely up to you because I honestly don’t know what to think.”
“Consider us warned.” George winked at Andi, who was busy attacking his second energy ball. George made a mental note to stock up on them as soon as they were back in Charleston.
“So, Agent DeCapristo is quite an interesting woman. She studied criminal science and forensic accounting at West Virginia University before she went to Quantico. Had top grades, best of her year. She rose through the ranks in typical overachiever fashion, and everything she did seemed to turn into gold.”
“The way you’re telling the story makes me wait for the plot twist.” George watched as Andi licked a stray piece of coconut from his lips.
“Oh yeah, and what a plot twist it is. It started two years ago as far as I can see. DeCapristo was known for taking on cases where not much evidence could be found. She has a knack for sniffing out clues. Not as good as Andi, but she’s better than average.
Anyway, her cases went from difficult but doable and carefully selected to downright flimsy and impossible.
Not to mention random. The case she’s currently on, and you as well, as I assume, shouldn’t even be on the FBI’s list.”
George shared a meaningful look with Andi. Shireen had been right.
“Here comes the kicker. Since I knew you wouldn’t be calling me without good cause and because I’m a suspicious and nosy gal, I started looking at her cases a little closer.
The ones from the difficult but doable list were all chosen by her with the help of a new algorithm the FBI has been testing.
The ones falling into the cuckoo column starting two years ago all came from somebody else.
Somebody who’s very careful not to be found. ”
“You mean somebody is trying to set her up?” George inquired. As unpleasant as Agent DeCapristo was, nobody deserved that kind of treatment.
“It sure looks like it.” George could practically see Geena rolling her eyes. “It also doesn’t look like she’s doing anything to stop it. My guess is she either majorly stepped on someone’s toes or she found something she shouldn’t have, and for some reason, simply killing her isn’t a solution.”
“I love your optimistic outlook on your own employer.”
“Hey, it’s my job to be suspicious and sarcastic.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve been both of these things before you joined the FBI. Hell, before you started kindergarten.”
“I’m offended now.”
George laughed. “No, you’re not. It’s a compliment.”
“Coming from Andi, I would believe it. Not from you, Mr. Plays-Nicely.”
“Why does this sound like an insult?”
“Because it is.” Geena paused for a moment.
“My advice for you? Tread carefully. Whatever is going on with DeCapristo, I’m sure she’s been backed into a corner.
And you know, wild animals are the most dangerous when there’s no means of escape.
Not to mention that whoever is toying with her probably now knows about you as well. ”
“Thank you, Geena. We appreciate your help. I can’t say I like how the plot thickens, but your help was most welcome.”
“Always, George. Andi, keep him safe. Bye.”
Geena ended the call before they could say their goodbyes. And people say men are bad at talking.
“Back to the hotel?” Andi was done with the energy balls and looked a little more alert.
“Back to the hotel. Tomorrow, we have to report to Chief Savalle and Agent DeCapristo.”
A conversation George was looking forward to as much as getting his toenails yanked out with pliers.