“Good point.”
Alex held Arlea for a few more minutes so that David and Miri could say a somewhat private goodbye. In reality, they just wanted to kiss each other for several minutes, but that was impossible with a one year old demanding attention. So Alex took charge of her playmate again, eyeing the couple with a tolerant smile.
“Come on, you. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Alex,” David called. “Before you introduce them, make sure Teren’s gun is empty, huh?”
“Oh, go play kissy-face, David. Me are Arlea will be just fine.”
She took the few steps up to the dark woman who was leaning against the wall by window.
“Teren, this is Arlea. Arlea this is Teren.”
Teren nodded at the little girl. “Nice to meet you.”
Alex held her playmate out, and Arlea reached for Teren’s neck. Teren reacted without thinking, and suddenly the child was in her arms.
“Um, Alex, I’m not really good with kids.”
“Well, you’re just going to have to hold her for a moment, cause I need to tie my shoe.”
Alex didn’t really have to tie her shoe, but she leaned down for a moment to fuss with it, giving Teren the opportunity to examine the tot in her arms.
Arlea had a cinnamon complexion, similar to her mother’s, and the fine straight hair that fell in the same pattern as her father’s. Her nose was still very tiny, but straight, and Teren could tell she’d have a long nose, but not a big one. She also had high cheekbones, much like both her parents, and she definitely was blessed with her father’s inquisitive nature.
Though, Teren thought that was more of a curse at the moment. Arlea had her one tiny fist wrapped around the dark silk of Teren’s hair, and she was trying to stuff that handful into her mouth, while the other hand reached up to play with Teren’s face.
“Um, Alex, could you come back up here, please?”
Alex stood, stifling a laugh at the situation Teren was in. She considered letting her playmate continue her exertions, but relented when she was the look of panic in Teren’s face. With a quiet chuckle, Alex reached out and took Arlea from the taller woman. Teren gently pried her hair loose, then leaned out of arm’s reach. Arlea yelled in outrage.
“Okay, Teren, what did you do to my daughter?” David almost laughed at the shocked look of panic on Teren’s face.
“Nothing, I swear.”
Alex did laugh. “Nah, Arlea just decided Teren was something new to play with and she didn’t want to give up her toy. Did you, sweetheart?” She kissed her playmate, then handed her over to Miri’s waiting arms. Arlea began fussing again, but not as loudly.
“So, David, are we ready to go?”
“Just about. They called our flight.”
“Yep, I heard. Teren, are you ready?”
“In a minute.” Teren was busy wiping at her hair and jacket, where Arlea had left her calling card. “Does anybody have a towel?”
Alex and David grinned as Miri reached into the diaper bag for the baby wipes.
Chapter Fifteen
They were met at Denver International Airport by Andrew Tanner of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. With him was Captain Matthew Weaver, of the Denver Police Department. The two men were clearly surprised to see two women on the FBI team.
Tanner nodded at Alex, handing back her identification. He looked at Teren’s, then gazed up at her.
“Says here you’re CIA.”
“That’s correct. Currently I’m on loan to the Bureau.” Teren stared at him. “Is that a problem, Mr. Tanner.”
“That’s Agent Tanner, ma’am, and no. If these folks think you can help, I have no problem with that.”
Captain Weaver didn’t seem to agree with him, but he said nothing. He shook David’s hand firmly, and offered a lighter handshake to Alex. He was going to do the same to Teren, but the former spy gripped his hand firmly, displaying her strength. Weaver raised an eyebrow but returned the pressure.
“We got you folks rooms at the Hilton Airport. It’s close to DIA but pretty far from the crime scene and all. Hope that’s alright.”
“Thank you, Captain, I’m sure that will be fine.”
“Do you folks need to go to baggage claim?”
“No, we didn’t check anything. Unless something else happens we’re to be on a plane back to Washington late tomorrow night.”
“Alright then, we’ve got a van waiting for us out front. If you’ll follow me?”
Alex took the lead with the two Colorado men on either side of her.Teren and David followed. “Agent Tanner, I believe you have a file for me?”
“It’s in the car, ma’am.”
Alex smiled at Tanner. “Please, call me Alex. Ma’am makes me feel older than David is.” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder at him. David gave a mock glare to his partner.
Everyone chuckled and Tanner gave her a grin. “Okay, Alex. I’m Andrew.”
“Good. Now, what can you tell us? Is Seffren still alive?”
“Yes, and it looks like she’s going to make it just fine. Unfortunately, one of her friends was killed in the attack.”
“You mean the shooter missed Seffren and hit someone else?” Alex frowned. “Doesn’t sound like the kind of thing a professional would do.” She glanced back at Teren.
Teren knew what Alex was asking, and she shrugged. “Everyone misses sometime, Alex.”
The frown stayed, but Alex nodded her head. “And the shooter? He’s in custody at the hospital?”
Agent Tanner looked over at Captain Weaver, who cleared his throat before speaking.
“Uh, well, Agent Reis, it seems somebody messed up. Somehow, the guy got ahold of a cyanide capsule. By the time anyone got to him, it was too late.”
“The guy killed himself?”
“That’s right, Agent Reis.”
Alex didn’t speak again until they reached the car. The she turned and gazed at Weaver. “Captain, did you search him while he was in the hospital?”
“Yes, of course we did.”
“And yet he managed to somehow keep you from finding a cyanide capsule.”
“No, Agent Reis. He was thoroughly searched. Before and after his surgery. And no, we could’t have missed it.” Weaver glared back at Alex.
“Then, Captain Weaver, someone slipped it to him. I want a record of any and all personnel, from your staff or the hospital’s, that went in and out of his room.”
“Are you saying one of my men gave it to him?”
“I don’t know, Captain, did anyone other than your men go into his room?”
“Yes.”
“Then no, I’m not accusing your men. But someone gave him that capsule, Captain, and I want to know who.”
Weaver blinked at her, still staring after her when Alex climbed into the backseat of the van. He walked around to the driver’s door, muttering.
Teren looked at David. “Is she always that aggressive?”
David nodded. Teren smiled.
“Cool.” She climbed into the very back seat, leaving David the spot beside his fuming partner.
*******************************************************
Alex let her body sink into the chair by the table in her room. She took a long swallow from the glass of wine that she’d ordered with dinner, and let her head drop against the back of the armchair. It wasn’t, she thought, that she hated flying. It was the jetlag she could do without. By Colorado time, it was just before eleven at night. In DC it was nearly one in the morning. Alex tried not to think about it.
She looked around her room, both happy and disappointed that Teren had chosen not to stay in her room. Alex had told her that she was welcome to share, but the tall figure had simply given her a smile and replied, “That’s not a good idea, Alex. I’m a light sleeper, and if you even rolled over in your sleep, I’d be drawing my gun.”
Alex had decided Teren was right. It would be better for each of them to have their own room.
Finished with her dinner, Alex pushed the tray off to the side, and reached for the file Andrew Tanner had given her.
The first page was a report on the shooting, detailing the events. As Cliff had told them, the shooter had been on a nearby roof, and had fired four shots into the small group among which Ann Seffren had been standing. Then he had retreated into the building, fleeing down a back stairway. His car was outside waiting, though there was no driver. He had come out of the back door, only to run into the middle of a drug bust. The police, seeing the rifle in his hands, had fired, thinking they were under attack.