“Okay, I agree with that. But could their killings be a symbolic act against Kanak Roe and Gamma? Remember the money in the mouths.”
Decker shook his head. “I would maybe think that, if Draymont and Lancer had no connection to one another. But they did. It’s beyond probability that they would both be targeted simply as symbolic stand-ins for Kanak Roe or Gamma Protection Services. And Patty Kelly intimated that they were doing something to make money.”
“You thought that involved blackmail, and that they got their hands slammed in the cookie jar. So that was probably why they were killed.”
“But that was somehow also connected to Kanak Roe and his home country. Hence the Slovakian money in their mouths.”
“But, Decker, Roe came to this country many decades ago — before Draymont or Lancer were even born, in fact.”
“Doesn’t matter. If the connection is there, it will explain all facets of the case.”
She shook her head. “Well, right now, I just don’t see it. And I like to keep an open mind on cases. Going down only one alley can waste a lot of time if it turns out to be the wrong alley.”
“And it can save time if it turns out to be the right one,” countered Decker. “What’s the latest on Andrews?”
“He’s awake and in a lot of pain. But he’s lucky. If the bullet had hit a few inches or so to the right, he’s not waking up ever.”
“And ballistics on the slug in him and the one that killed Kelly?”
“Did not match the rounds taken from Draymont and Lancer. They were probably from a rifle, because the shots definitely came from a distance.”
“Like I said before, we need to know more about Draymont and Lancer from their time back in DC.”
“Do we fly there and check it out? I’m not sure how much we would find out that’s relevant besides what I learned on my phone calls.”
“You can fly there and check it out. I’ll stay here and run down some leads.”
Her look turned sour. “Trying to get rid of me again? I thought we had covered that.”
“We can divide and conquer.” He paused, looking uncomfortable. “And...”
“And what?” she said, evidently looking for a fight.
“And I thought you might want to see your kids.”
All the venom seeped from White’s features as she scrutinized him. “Okay, that is the only response that would have saved your butt with me right this second. So, what do you want me to try to find out?”
“I said before I didn’t think this was Draymont’s and Lancer’s first attempt at blackmail. And maybe they picked up down here where they left off in DC.”
“Pretty bad blackmailers then, because Draymont drove an old car and lived in a crummy apartment. Lancer’s house was pretty modest.”
“Draymont also had on a Cartier watch and his suit was an Armani. Both were the real deal. And he had a personal platinum Amex card.”
“Shit,” said White. “Now that I think about it, the clothes in Lancer’s apartment were all designer and so were her handbags. I thought they were knockoffs. And the motivation for the people who killed them?”
“It’s about something more important than money.”
“Which is?”
“What we have to find out.”
Chapter 49
Decker dropped White off at the airport the following morning.
“Say hello to your family. Maybe I’ll meet them one day.”
She stabbed him with a look. “Maybe you will. If you hold up your end of our partnership.”
Next, Decker drove to the hospital where they had transferred Agent Andrews. The man was sitting up in his bed appearing forlorn and defeated.
Decker sat down next to him and looked the agent over. “You feel like talking or you need to rest?”
“I’m on a ton of painkillers, but I’m still lucid and bored. So, your visit is welcome.”
“Okay.”
“Kelly’s dead?” Andrews said.
Decker nodded.
“I guess I’m lucky to be alive,” said Andrews.
“We all are.”
“Where’s your sidekick?”
“She’s not my sidekick. She’s my partner. She went back to DC.”
Andrews looked shocked. “You’re not giving up the case?”
“No, we’re expanding it. Did you know Kanak Roe?”
“I told you I did.”
“Tell me more,” said Decker.
“What do you want to know?”
“Anything, considering I really know nothing about him.”
“He was an impressive man. Everyone respected him. More than they do his daughter,” he added, a bit petulantly, thought Decker.
“You seem to have an issue with her,” said Decker.
Andrews rubbed at his injured shoulder and said, “Maybe I do.”
“Why?”
“No particular reason,” said Andrews, not meeting his eye.
“Well, let me give you one. You tried to get a position with Gamma but were rejected. Too inflexible, maybe?”
Andrews gasped, “How in the hell did you know that?”
“I didn’t, not for sure, until right now. But there was something just off about you and Gamma and Kasimira Roe. You were a little too effusive about the firm, and you knew a lot about it. And you seem to like the finer things in life, not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Andrews lay back and closed his eyes. “I guess I should have recused myself from the investigation, like you suggested.”
“We’re all human.”
“What else do you want to know about Kanak Roe?”
“Successful, respected. Anything more?”
“You really want the observations of an inflexible agent who can’t make the grade in the private sector?”
“I want the observations of a veteran FBI agent who was nearly killed performing his duty.”
Andrews opened his eyes. “I appreciate your saying that.”
“It’s the truth. Subtlety is not my thing.”
Andrews let out a sigh. “I’ll tell you something about Kanak Roe that I don’t think I’ve told anyone else.”
“What’s that?”
“I went deep-sea fishing with him once, oh, this was a little over four years ago.”
“Didn’t know you were into fishing.”
“I was thinking about jumping to the private sector back then. I was coming up on my full twenty-five-year pension at the Bureau, and the bucks even the young punks made at Gamma were twice what the Bureau paid. I was hoping that if I got to know Roe better it might help my chances. Unfortunately, he died before I was ready to apply. And under Kasimira’s regime I didn’t make the cut.” He glanced sideways at Decker. “You were right, they considered me ‘an inside-the-box thinker and too bureaucratic.’ She’d hire you in a heartbeat.”
“Go on.”
“We had a good day out on the boat. His buddy, Danny Garcia, came along with us. We had our beers and caught a couple of marlins and nearly landed a big-ass tuna. We were heading back and I was feeling good about things when he told me.”
“Told you what?”
“That he’d just been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer.” He looked at Decker probingly. “You don’t seem surprised.”
“Garcia told me about it.”
“Right. Anyway, he seemed to be in a contemplative mood. I guess anyone would be with death staring them in the face. He said he had about a year, eighteen months if he was lucky.”
“And what else did he say?”
“Just so you know, he never really came out and said anything definitive.” He stared at Decker. “But I think he wanted to make amends for something, Decker. Something he’d done in the past. End-of-life kind of remorse and penance, I guess. It happens.”