Chapter 34
Later that afternoon, Jane sat alone on the couch in ASAC Jon Haversham’s office.
Across from her in the two matching leather chairs, SSA Grimshaw and ASAC Haversham scowled at her with twin expressions of dismay.
Tall and broad chested, with chestnut-brown hair streaked with gray, Jon Haversham projected certainty and sincerity. When he smiled, he charmed. His eight years in the Navy gave him a solid background in intelligence, and his years with the Agency had only honed that skill set.
Haversham trusted his people to get the job done and backed them up when they needed help. Jane liked his military background. To be honest, he reminded her a little of her uncle.
Haversham’s office, unlike Grimshaw’s, boasted furniture in addition to the chairs around his massive desk. While several large bookcases held the typical Bureau reference material, Haversham had personalized the office.
Photographs of family hung on the walls, in addition to the many VIPs he’d posed with in Las Vegas, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. The man was becoming a legend in the Agency. Haversham was no pushover, but he also adhered to reason more than rules.
When she’d been temporarily put on administrative leave last year, he’d been in her corner.
Matthew trusted Haversham. Even Lionel had been known to say the odd, nice thing about the guy.
Her uncle, who looked down on anyone not special forces, had only grunted when she’d mentioned him. Which meant he approved.
With all those ringing endorsements, Jane only respected Haversham more.
“Jane, what are we looking at with this case? Four families killed in the same fashion by the same killer. But the last family was only loosely connected to this supposed ‘Collective.’” Haversham frowned even harder.
“Such a senseless waste. I’m not understanding why the killer didn’t target the Scotts outright. ”
Grimshaw glanced at him thoughtfully.
“I have similar questions,” Jane admitted.
“This doesn’t make sense. But the notebook is the same one that was taken from our evidence, here at headquarters.
The killer left it for us on purpose and named August Kaminski.
We don’t have the lab work back yet, but my bet is the writing in blood belongs to Louis Miller. ”
“What a mess,” Grimshaw murmured. “Has anyone talked to Matthew about his parents’ possible connection?”
Jane carefully kept her gaze on Grimshaw, who was attuned to their boss.
“I’ll talk to him about it, but Matthew and his parents keep a firm line between them. Politics and his time in the FBI don’t mix. Or at least, Matthew won’t allow it to.”
Grimshaw shrugged. “I had to ask. Personally, I think he’s smart to keep his distance. But then he’s fast-tracking in the Bureau because he’s good at his job. Not because his dad’s a senator and his mother’s got connections to most of the big players in the city.”
Belinda Scott was not just Mrs. Scott. She ran charities, invested in several lucrative businesses, and did so much good in the city that many looked to her first, her husband second, when they needed something.
“What do we know about August Kaminski?” SSA Grimshaw asked. “I know there was mention of his possible involvement in the Code Blue Killer’s motivations. But the report was inconclusive. Jane?”
Jane answered, “I think he had something to do with the Mazzuca crime family, but we could never tie him to anything. The man is slick. He’s a ghost. No one ever admits to his involvement with anything criminal. If there’s a whisper, that witness disappears.”
Like her ex-friend, ex-Agent Rob Williams. He knew about Kaminski, but he’d never again mentioned the man’s name after being arrested. Jane knew because she occasionally checked in with the prison about him, and he was still breathing as of last week.
“What I don’t understand is how Kaminski’s name ended up written in blood in our evidence book,” Jane said. “Someone is setting him up. He’d never leave that behind at a crime scene.”
Grimshaw nodded. “I agree. Have we figured out yet how that notebook went missing from our evidence room?”
“No, and that bothers me.” Jane scowled.
“But I…” She swore she saw something like a warning flash in Haversham’s eyes.
Since Matthew, Haversham, and Jane had been the only ones still digging into Kaminski, she knew she should keep any detailed questions to herself for now. No need to get Grimshaw more involved.
“You what?” her boss asked.
“I think I need to focus on Rook. Kaminski’s name is there to point us at Kaminski. To take away from what Rook has been doing. I think Rook and Kaminski are different people. And for some reason, now Rook has it in his head to shift our attention to Kaminski.”
Haversham nodded. “That seems likely. When I was in Las Vegas, a few mentions of Kaminski’s name popped up as well. But we could never verify anything.”
Grimshaw stared at him. “I thought his name was linked to the Harvester case.”
Haversham smiled, and the expression transformed him from harsh taskmaster to charismatic gentleman. “It was in the files but never anything we could release to the media. But I like your attention to detail, Natalie.”
Grimshaw nodded and stood. “Thank you, sir. I’d better get back. This is just the latest problem keeping me up at night.”
“I know. You’re having an eventful month, aren’t you?” Haversham asked. “But you’re doing better than I would. Keep at it.”
Jane stood as well. Her cue to leave.
“Jane, hold on. I have a few additional questions. But let’s not keep your boss from her duties.”
Grimshaw gave a grim smile. “Thanks a lot.”
He grinned. “Anything for the team.”
“Ha. Yeah, right.” Grimshaw left.
Haversham’s smile disappeared. He glared at Jane. “What the hell are you up to?”
“Sir?”
“And where is Matthew Scott?”