Chapter 22
Maverick
The who’s who of law enforcement bothered me more than it should. This was a boutique firm, medium-sized and one that shouldn’t have but so much clout.
In my mind, perhaps it was a way of making some powerful people feel better about the state of the judicial system.
“This is quite the surprise,” Timothy mused, shaking his head as he did. “I never expected to see you this way.”
“I keep my toes in with law enforcement.”
“The law is very exacting. I would think you’d be tired of it by now. But your books say otherwise.”
“I know what you have to deal with as an attorney. As you know, it’s much like being an agent for the FBI.”
“To a point, but you proved to all of us that you could avoid rules.”
I had to laugh at his choice of words. “How did I avoid them? I was plagued with them.” I hadn’t seen Timothy in at least fifteen years. He’d been fresh faced and eager, always the go-getter in the academy.
“Oh, come on now. All you need to do is to read one of your books and you can see all the ways in which you bent the rules on almost every case. You were something special and I learned so much from you.”
“You’ve read one of my books.”
He laughed and scratched his bearded jaw. “I think all of them. It allows me to see inside the criminal mind. I love what I do, but I must admit there are times I miss the nitty-gritty of working in the field on a case.”
“I guess I do as well.” Which wasn’t a complete lie.
“But you get to write about crimes, displaying exactly how you’d manage to catch the horrible criminals.
I mean the cleverness of how you handle the clues in every storyline reminds me of the Python Killer case.
My God. You were brilliant with that case.
And rescuing that girl. Just wow. I was in complete awe when I heard. ”
“I simply followed the clues.”
“No. It was as if you got into the head of the killer. Is that what you did?”
Shrugging, I remembered how interested he’d always been in the psychological aspect of the most heinous criminals. “Doing so certainly helped.”
“I knew it. Where did he go wrong? I mean he kept to himself. He never grandstanded. He didn’t choose the same type of women.”
“True, but he made the same mistake as every serial killer out there. He wanted to be famous. Serial killers crave attention because they didn’t get any as a kid. Classic psychology. You should remember that from the academy.”
He pressed the down button on the elevator and shoved his hands into his pockets.
That’s when I noticed an outline of a weapon. Granted, I had one with me as well, although better concealed in a shoulder holster.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. But you know what they say. The smartest killers usually have a twist at the end of the story.”
A twist. That was one way of putting it.
“I hadn’t realized you’d kept up with the case. Weren’t you in law school at the time?” We stepped inside and I was instantly struck by a heavy claustrophobic sensation.
Which wasn’t typical for me.
“Yes, but come on. Who wasn’t paying attention? I don’t think there was another agent who had what it took to locate that girl. One lone survivor. Just very difficult to believe. How’s your partner?”
“Max? Unfortunately, he died in the line of duty a couple years later.”
“Nah. I mean that pretty female partner you had. The one you stalked as an exercise for solving the Python Killer case. What was her name? Carrie Tappers. I’ll never forget her even if she wanted nothing to do with me. Did you know she had a crush on you?”
The elevator doors opened and the noise was insane.
“I’m sorry. What?” While he stepped out, I stood where I was, staring after him.
“You knew that. Every woman had a crush on you. Come on. Let’s give out some awards. I have it under good authority your gal is getting a bonus. Plus, I need a drink. I don’t know about you.”
“Yeah, I could use another.”
As he walked away, I sucked in my breath, almost allowing the elevator doors to close. As soon as I shoved my arm between the doors, my entire body stiffened.
There were at least two hundred people in the oversized room, a few standing on a stage. Timothy was trotting up the three stairs leading to the platform.
“What’s wrong?” Alexia asked as soon as I joined her.
“I’m not sure. I need you to hear me and not argue with me. Whatever happens, do not leave the office.”
“You’re scaring me.”
“I’m not trying to. I just need to check a few things. You have your phone?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Text me if you see anything out of the ordinary or if you feel the least bit uncomfortable.”
“What is going on, Maverick? You really are terrifying me.”
I offered a smile even as I scanned the room.
Betty’s story stuck in my mind. I’d seen the way she’d looked at me and at her own employee.
There was a moment of irritation. As if seeing the two of us together brought back unwanted memories.
“Maybe nothing. I’m going to check a few things out.
Don’t worry. I’ll be right back. If anyone asks, just let them know I had a phone call I needed to take. ”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
I brushed my knuckles under her chin. “You know me.”
“Ladies and gentlemen. Let’s gather around. We wanted to make a few announcements.”
Betty was standing in front of a microphone.
“That’s what I’m afraid of, Maverick. Don’t go too far. Not when…” She stopped mid-sentence, offering a smile. “Go do what you need to do.”
As Betty began to tell the story of the firm, I only had eyes for the beautiful woman. If only she understood that I’d walk through fire if necessary to protect her.
Right now, I was going on a hunch, but I refused to ignore one ever again.
The moment shared was even more intimate than when I’d had her in my arms. I’d never felt so close to another human being.
It was true that during some of the roughest times for a person, you found your inner self.
In this case, I’d found what I’d been missing, searching for in every book I’d written.
Her.
There was no other explanation for the fact I could suddenly breathe again. It was crazy the way I felt about her, powerful in every way.
And as possessive as it was protective.
“What were you going to say?” I asked her.
“Just that, um…” She brushed a strand of a hair behind her ear.
“The associate of the year is Alexia Martino. Alexia. Please come up here.”
Alexia laughed. “I’ll hold that thought for now. Remember, don’t go too far.”
“Trust me. I won’t.”
The entire audience started clapping and the photographer moved closer. I took the opportunity to back away, heading to the elevator.
Something was very off about Timothy. Even Betty was acting strange. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why except for one thing.
Timothy should have had no way of knowing what had occurred with my other partner. Only the killer seemed to know, other than my boss at the time.
I don’t know what I was looking for but now was the only opportunity I’d get to look around.
As soon as I was on the floor, I grabbed my phone and dialed Chase. “I need you to check on something quickly for me.”
“Aren’t you at a party?”
“Yeah, I am, I need you to run a quick check on Timothy Chambers. He was my first partner at the FBI who quit and went into law school.”
“What the hell am I looking for?’
“Any anomalies. And I need to know who his father is.”
“You sound frantic,” Chase told me. “Do you need the team?”
“Not frantic but something is off with this party. Push Ruger. I need to know what happened to Samuel’s house. I also need to know about the board members listed with Landers and Jacobson, the firm Alexia works with. And I need that information on Betty Landers.”
“Wait. You think her boss knows something?”
“Yeah, I do. And I’d bet the farm on the fact Timothy Chambers does as well.
” I moved through the offices until I found Betty’s at the end of the hall.
“Call me the moment you find something. Another woman was taken, another attorney. The killer is tossing crumbs right and left. Cross reference everything we have.”
“Got it. We’re on standby. Don’t take any chances.”
“I have no intention of doing so.” With the call ended, I slipped the phone into my coat pocket, unbuttoning my holster.
At this point, I couldn’t be careful enough.
Something told me Betty was hiding a secret, a big one.
I slipped into her office, pushing the door closed.
At least she’d left on her office desk lamp.
I moved from one side to the other, scanning every piece of furniture until I noticed a credenza in the shadows. There were several pictures in frames. One after the other, I picked them up. Most were of accomplishments with the firm, and almost none seemed personal.
However, there was one in the back as if being kept private, two older photographs inside a frame.
As soon as I had it in my hand, a cold chill shifted through me. The first was a young woman with long, dark, curly hair.
Just like Alexia.
The young man was in a uniform. An Army uniform.
I took a deep breath, holding it. The other picture had two infants in her arms. Two.
They appeared identical.
After glancing over my shoulder, I removed the back of the frame, hoping for some additional information. Given Betty’s age, I had a feeling she handled photographs as my mother had done.
By listing the date and general information about who was in the picture.
And there it was.
Two infant children. They were just babies. Maybe six or seven months. Dressed alike.
Steven and Samuel
Frankfort, Germany nineteen seventy-eight.
Information on the back of the photograph of the children.
Jameson