“You’ll call me if you find something?” Jack asked.
“I got your number,” the Sheriff answered.
Ross walked into the living room.
“That was quick,” Jack said.
“We aren’t going to solve this case sitting here in my apartment. Let’s go.”
“I see you haven’t unpacked yet,” Jack said pointing to the boxes against the wall. “Have a good camera or binoculars in any of these?”
“No. Those just have crap in them I don’t need; winter clothes, books I don’t have time to read. Stuff like that.”
“OK, we’ll swing by my place. I’ll change clothes and grab some equipment we’ll need.” Jack stood up and put his water glass in the kitchen sink. “Let’s go, Junior. You’re right. We aren’t solving this case sitting here.”
Chapter 30
Cars, vans, and pickups lined the edge of the narrow road that snaked through the cemetery. Each parked vehicle had two tires in the grass and two on the pavement. Jack drove slowly along the line while Ross pointed the video camera through the passenger window to capture the license plates of each of the cars. An analyst would review the tape later and identify the owner of each of the cars for them. At the end of the row of cars, Jack pulled onto the grass, angling the car so Ross would have a good view of the area around the funeral party and a good vantage point for capturing faces on film when they returned to their cars after the burial ceremony.
Jack checked his hair and tie in the mirror. “I’m glad I found my sunglasses, Junior. I wouldn’t have worn yours to a funeral.”
“You look good, Jack. Nice, but official. You’ll blend right in.”
“Thanks.” Jack handed Ross the camera with the long zoom lens. “You shouldn’t have any problem getting everybody’s picture with this. I’ll leave the car running with the AC on for you so you don’t die. Be polite. Don’t let anybody see you taking their picture.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be waiting for you right here,” Ross said.
The heat was almost unbearable. By the time Jack walked across the grass from the car to the gravesite, he was sweating. His shoes crunched through the dry grass, a sound amplified by the quiet of the cemetery. A couple of people glanced at him as he took up position at the back of the group of thirty or so people all facing the pastor preparing to perform the ceremony. Jack bowed his head while he waited for everyone’s attention to return to the pastor. Then he looked up and started his surveillance of the group in front of him.
Nobody appeared not to belong. Family, friends, and coworkers were here to provide support and pay their last respects. The pastor said something that got Jack’s attention. Take these persons into your kingdom? Jack shifted to his right and looked over the shoulder of the man in front of him. Two caskets, side by side, identical in every detail except for their size, sat supported over the holes in the ground into which they would be lowered. The mother and the baby. Jack felt a knot in his stomach. He closed his eyes and turned his face up to the sky. He wanted to swear, but not here. He controlled his anger and returned his attention to the service to pay his respects.
At the conclusion of the service, some people shuffled off to their cars, while others milled around to support each other. Jack waited off to one side in the shade of an old oak tree watching the people around him. A few people had formed a line offering condolences to the husband. Jack waited for most of the people to head to their cars before he approached.
“Mr. Humphrey?” Jack extended his hand. “I’m Special Agent Jack Miller with the FBI. I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m a husband and a father, but I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I just wanted you to know that we’re doing everything we can to catch the man that did this.” Mr. Humphrey nodded and Jack turned and strode back to the car.
Chapter 31
The brown, leather satchel rode smoothly on its side on the seat next to the Governor. He laid his hand protectively on it and gently rubbed the smooth surface. Soon his dreams would come true; his problems would be behind him. He knew this day would come. A quick glance at the satchel proved what the touch of his right hand told him. It was still there.
Months of planning, learning, plotting without knowing if what he dreamt of could come true. His business was a failure, he would soon have to file for bankruptcy, but now it didn’t matter.
He drove down a long, winding driveway lined with crab apple trees and hosta. He had been here before, in the spring, when the trees were flowering and filled the air with their intoxicating smell and the pink petals created a path to the house. Vadim provided a newly emigrated Russian family with housing in exchange for their keeping up the property. They worked hard in exchange and also served as guardians. One of them appeared from around the corner of the house as the Governor pulled into a parking spot in front of the garage. When the gardener recognized the Governor, he relaxed and walked over to the car and opened the door for him.
“He’s at the pool, sir. Can I help you with your bag?”
The Governor held tightly to the handle of the satchel. “I’ll take it, thanks. I probably won’t be long.”
The sun shimmered on the surface of the swimming pool. A light breeze pushed a blue air mattress around in the corner of the pool where it gently bumped against the side. Vadim looked up from his book and waved the Governor to join him in a lounge chair next to him. A table between the two chairs held a pitcher of something cold. Its sides dripped with condensation from the humid air. “Hello, my friend. Join me. Can I offer you some lemonade?”
The Governor sat down in the chair and gently set the satchel on its side at his feet. “I would love a glass, thanks.” The Governor drank half of it and put the glass on the table. With the pleasantries completed between them, he couldn’t wait to get on to why he was here.
“Vadim, I have been successful in obtaining the final piece.”
Vadim closed his book and sat up. “You got it?”
“Yes, but I have a small problem I want to take care of.”
“What is it?” Vadim asked.
“One of the FBI agents who’s been trying to solve the bank robberies. He’s getting closer than I would like him to be. I have a plan to take care of him and I think the distraction may be beneficial to our other endeavor.”
“How can I help?”
“I need a gun, and a rifle with a scope.” The Governor sat up and turned to look at Vadim. “I need it tonight, and I need to practice some. It’ll be about a quarter mile shot.”
“Let me get somebody to take care of it for you.”
“Thanks, but it’s something I need to do.” The Governor forced himself to relax and speak evenly. “It’s safe. I won’t put the job at risk, but it’s something I need to do.”
Vadim swatted a yellow jacket away from the lip of his glass of lemonade. “You are sure I cannot have somebody take care of this for you?” The question hung in the air. “It would be no problem.”
The Governor shook his head.
One of the gardeners appeared from behind them through some bushes. Vadim and the gardener exchanged some words in Russian before Vadim turned to the Governor.
“Follow him. He will get you everything you need. I will take the satchel. Is everything I need here?”
“Everything but the password.”
Chapter 32
The line of oak trees created a horizontal shadow in the distance from the setting sun. Above the shadow, the hill in the background formed a backdrop of greens and oranges as the sun reflected off the grass and wild flowers. In the shadow below, the greens were darker or gray. A series of white discs hung from branches, appearing to hover in mid-air. They hung by monofilament line attached to large branches, twisting lazily in the air like a giant mobile, out of place in the natural setting. The plate on the left turned slowly showing a circle, and then a line as its edge faced the trees and then again, a circle. Then it shattered, leaving a cloud of plaster dust in its place and a loud explosion sounded and echoed off the hill.