‘I’m sorry,’ Wade said. ‘But the Principal summoned me to his office after you left the school on Thursday. He wanted to know everything you and I discussed. In particular he was very keen to learn how close I had come to transgressing the school-wide agreement not to talk about the events of that day in August.’
‘I understand. Sounds as if he took the opportunity to freshen up the threat. So it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to be seen together again.’
‘It certainly would not. Besides, we have nothing more to discuss, do we? I was unable to answer your questions before, so I can’t see how I’d be of any help to you now.’
‘I did want to ask you about some other students, Rebecca. We could do that over the phone if you would prefer.’
‘I don’t. What I want is for you to leave me alone. If you’ll please excuse me, I’m late for my shift at the Humane Society. Perhaps there I can get some peace without people bothering me and checking up on what I say and who I say it to.’
When Wade abruptly terminated the connection, Sydney stared at her phone as if it had grown horns. Bemused by the turn the conversation had taken, she replayed it a couple of times in her head. Initially wary, then subdued, but right at the point where the exchange was about at an end, Rebecca Wade had escalated. As if…
Was it the way her own devious mind worked, Sydney wondered, or had the teacher not been insisting she steer clear at all? Had she instead deliberately volunteered her location during the next few hours? Sydney checked the time on her cell. There was only one way to find out for sure.
The Humane Society shared a charming single-storey green and white building with the Tuolumne County Animal Control centre on the edge of Jamestown. By the time Sydney had finished getting ready and driven down the hill and along the 49 highway, Rebecca was at her post behind the reception desk.
During her previous visits to the society, Sydney had enjoyed seeing cats and kittens running free all over the place, and it was no different on this occasion. The moment she entered, two cute little tabbies came bouncing over to her and started mewling and slinking around in between her feet. She petted them for a while, but broke away before losing her heart to either or both of them. This enforced absence from her own darling boy was already pulling at those strings, and no good would come of starting something that might easily finish with her having to take two more animals back down to San Diego with her in a few weeks’ time. Bruce possessed a laid-back personality, but her home was his domain and he would not take kindly to having to share it with other cats, no matter how tiny and adorable they were.
When Sydney had entered the building, another staff member was behind the counter with Wade. Sydney waited until she and Rebecca were alone before saying a word. She stood straight and without looking directly at the woman, said, ‘If this is not what you wanted, tell me and I’ll go.’
Casting nervous glances around, the teacher leaned over the counter and replied in a hushed voice. ‘When my colleague comes back, ask me about our dogs. I’ll take you back there. The noise they make will drown out anything we have to say to each other.’
Less than five minutes later they were walking beside the cages. Dogs of all shapes and sizes introduced themselves in their own unique way, the one commonality being the energetic barking. Sydney wasn’t much of a dog person, but even she had to remark upon how pitiful one or two of the smaller animals were when they gave her the I’m sad – take me home with you eyes.
‘So what was that all about?’ Sydney asked when she was certain nobody was close enough to overhear their conversation. The rooms were large and the dogs had ample room inside their kennels, but the air was pungent and her nose crinkled in distaste. ‘You can’t seriously believe your phones are being tapped, surely?’
‘That’s exactly what I do think,’ Rebecca said, nodding furiously. ‘I’m not blaming you, but ever since your visit to the school I’m not alone in having become paranoid. I’m of the opinion that our people within the school system, together with your people in law-enforcement, are working hard to make sure none of us talk to outsiders.’
‘I take it that bothers you more than most.’
‘Perhaps because the focus is on me since you came to the school. I think they understand that you spoke to me because I have the – sorry, had – the most contact with Kevin, but it does mean they can also monitor me more closely.’
‘You don’t think this is risky? My being here right now?’
‘I think the FBI would tap my phones because it costs very little to do so, but I don’t believe they would place me under constant surveillance. Not yet, at least.’
Sydney gave a weak smile. ‘Rebecca, after the atrocities of nine-eleven, the one thing agencies like mine don’t lack, is funding. I have no doubt at all that, should they have chosen to do so, SAC Doman from the Sacramento field office would have ordered the necessary teams. Thing is, I’m one of them and I know what to look out for. I wasn’t followed, and I can pretty much guarantee there are no eyes on this place, either.’
Wade blew out a breath. ‘So, you mentioned other students before. How can I help?’
Sydney went through her conversations with Duncan Baxter, and how the retiree had volunteered three alternative names.
‘I’d rather not identify them at this moment,’ Sydney continued. ‘But only because I don’t want to steer you. I think it would be fascinating if you were to name three boys as well, especially if any of them happen to match the list I already have.’
Folding her arms beneath her chest, Rebecca also crossed one leg behind the other. ‘Hmm. Interesting. You honestly believe someone else pulled the trigger that day and then set Kevin up to die?’
‘I think it’s a possibility, and therefore something to explore.’
They paused while a short, stocky woman came into the dog pen to briefly check on a thin Alsatian pup whose jutting ribs told their own sorry tale of misery for the animal. The woman’s presence started the other dogs yapping again, and it took a minute or so for it to die down after she’d left the area.
‘Two names spring readily to mind,’ Wade said when she and Sydney were alone again. ‘Mitchell Copping and Dylan Cole. Copping because of his links to extremist groups and an absolute fascination for weapons of all kinds. Cole because he was a junior member of the NRA as soon as it was humanly possible to sign up, and became a full member. He openly discusses his second amendment rights, and has often stated his willingness to use weapons in any fight to ensure his security and that of his family. His father is a cop, and let me tell you I would not wish to cross paths with that man with his firearm drawn.’
Sydney couldn’t prevent a smile from touching her lips. ‘I have both of their names noted down already. Anybody else?’
‘I hate the reasoning, but Stepka Sokolov comes to mind. Rumour has it that the Sokolovs are Russian mafia who moved here from Brighton Beach in New Jersey. He’s a surly young man, monosyllabic with a Russian accent despite having been born in the US. But I only stand him alongside the other two because of his father, so I may be way off base.’
‘Interesting,’ Sydney said with a small nod. ‘His name is new to me, Rebecca. How about Luke DeVeer? How well do you know him?’
‘Luke? Involved with this?’ The teacher pondered that for some time before shaking her head. ‘I have to say, I don’t see it. I like Duncan, and I can see why he put the name forward. But you also need to bear in mind that one of Dunc’s many foibles is his passionate hatred of wealth, greed, and entitlement. He’s a great guy and I miss him terribly, because he’s forthright and on the money more often than not. Regarding the subject of the DeVeers family, he may be letting the sort of people they are cloud his judgement.’
Sydney nodded. ‘I’ll bear his prejudices in mind. Thank you. And thanks for trusting me, Rebecca. Given I am also FBI, that’s quite a chance you took.’
The teacher shook her head, as beside them a small wiry terrier leapt up and down, bo
uncing off the cage door and began barking. ‘You were the only one who took an interest in Kevin. To ask about him rather than dismiss him as if he were nothing. The fact that you are pursuing this tells me you don’t conform.’
‘Until this week, I would have argued with you on that point. A cop, a detective and now an agent, I’d say there’s a whole lot of conformity involved in making progress throughout my career.’
‘And yet here you are looking to take on a case your side has already won. A case nobody will thank you for rooting around in, I suspect.’
‘With one exception, perhaps.’
‘Dexter Muller.’
Smiling, Sydney met Rebecca’s still-anxious gaze. ‘He’s worth the time, I think. Even if I end up proving him wrong.’
‘You don’t think your own bosses will react angrily?’ Rebecca asked.
‘Oh, I’m quite certain they will. I’d be astonished if I didn’t receive a call from the San Diego field office before this weekend is over. That or the presence of SAC Doman on my doorstep.’
‘I take it you’ve already rattled some cages, then.’
‘I have at that. My visit to your school was unofficial. As was my chat with Mitchell Copping.’
‘You’ve spoken with Copping?’ Rebecca gasped. A hand flew unbidden to her chest. ‘I don’t imagine that went well.’
‘I made sure it was before his father got home. His mother was protective, but yet my supposed authority kept her in the background for the most part.’
‘And Mitchell himself? What did you make of him?’
‘Feral,’ Sydney said, it being the first word that come to mind. ‘At least as far as his mind is concerned. Not in his eyes, though.’
Rebecca nodded as they began walking around towards the door that led back towards reception. ‘I know exactly what you mean,’ she said softly. ‘There would have to be life in them to be feral.’
Twenty-Six
By the time Benton arrived for lunch, shortly before one-thirty that afternoon, Sydney was in a lousy mood. She was not good at keeping it from her eyes, and he must have noticed the shift in her demeanour within seconds of entering the kitchen.
She had taken two calls since arriving back home. The first from her immediate boss, who was unhappy to learn about her using FBI credentials to gain access to the high school. Neither was he best pleased at having received complaints about her interviewing a student, a kid who was apparently so traumatised by recent events he was still having nightmares. Sydney scoffed at the idea of Copping being affected at all by the shootings, but her response drew a swift rebuke from her Assistant Special Agent in Charge.
Both complaints had originated from Doman, who was the next to call her.
‘What did that jerk have to say?’ Ben asked, having listened intently to Sydney’s tale of officialdom raining on her parade. ‘The man has a God complex and a pretty short fuse – not a great combination. But then he is Bureau, and they have a habit of thinking their shit smells sweeter than ours. Present company excepted, of course.’
‘Of course.’ Sydney remained shaken by both the tone and content of the mostly one-sided telephone conversations. ‘Doman was succinct but made himself very clear. I am to keep away from Moon Falls High School, its staff and students. Furthermore, if I misuse my FBI credentials again he is going to insist I lose them. Permanently. There was a final warning that I should go about my stated business of closing down my father’s company and then do the people of Moon Falls a favour and run off back down south. Oh, but not without first ensuring Dexter Muller understands I am no longer available to continue with his case. If I don’t comply, they’ll revoke my sabbatical agreement.’
Benton whistled. ‘Sounds serious. I can see why your outlook has changed. But you’re not a naive woman, Syd. You must have expected some kind of backlash.’
‘I did. A rap on the knuckles, which was pretty much all I got from my own ASAC. I’m intrigued by Doman’s response most of all. I appreciate it’s his case, and of course I understand why he would bristle at my involvement, but even so his reaction seems to be completely over the top.’
‘If you knew the man, then you might not think so. I see where you’re coming from, though. He has every right to warn you against any further unofficial interference as a federal agent, but to take it further and suggest you turn your back on Muller and ship out to San Diego, is taking things way beyond his purview.’
‘My thoughts exactly. It makes me wonder why he’s so defensive, and whether he knows more about Muller’s theory than he’s letting on.’
‘It wouldn’t be the first time a senior Fed balked at the truth coming out after their team had screwed the pooch. I’ve heard the stories about other people and places, but he carries the bag on this one.’
‘As would your office,’ Sydney reminded him.
‘Yeah. Believe me, that has not escaped my attention. I think you know me well enough to realise I’m no political animal. I don’t so much campaign for the sheriff’s star as have it handed to me by default because my opponents are so mediocre. Sure, if we got it wrong on this one then I’m gone. I’d jump before they pushed me. Not because I think we overreacted on the day, because given those exact same circumstances I would make the exact same decisions.’
‘You would?’
He thumped the kitchen counter with the side of his fist. ‘Far as I was aware, the masked figure heading our way had moments earlier slaughtered an unknown number of our kids, and was about to continue with my men and anyone else who happened to be in his path. We put him down, and nothing will ever convince me we took the wrong action.’
‘But..?’ Sydney sensed he had more to say on the subject.
He sighed and hung his head. ‘The subsequent investigation is another matter entirely. There I can and do find fault with myself and my office. We did our due diligence, but no more than that. Not even when Dexter Muller came to us. To me. If I got that wrong, then it’s only right for me to lose my job over it, because I will have lost the trust of the people I serve.’
That impressed Sydney. ‘Wow. You say all that out loud and they may go and re-elect you rather than fire you, Doc.’
He shrugged. ‘It’s how I feel. It’s kind of weird, though. I’d be utterly devastated if we shot the wrong kid, but that would not change my convictions. I still maintain we did so for the very best of reasons. As for not investigating it properly afterwards, well that doesn’t sit well with me. Nor Isaac, for that matter.’
Sydney had met the man one time, and recalled being impressed by him. ‘How is Deputy Solomon these days?’ she asked.
‘He’s doing a great job. I like having him as my wingman.’
‘You trust him with this, Ben?’
‘I trust Isaac as much as I trust any man.’
Sydney was happy with that. She had yet to make any firm decisions resulting from her conversations with both her boss and SAC Doman. Walking away from Dexter Muller at this stage was out of the question. There would come a point where she would either accrue sufficient evidence to present it officially, at which juncture she would bow out, or she would have to let Muller down by confirming the man’s son was guilty after all. There was nothing in between so far as she could see.
Benton then revealed the result of his own interesting visit that morning – from sergeant Andy Weekes. It was a rare event for anybody from the PD bothering to come across to the sheriff’s office unless it was something to do with a prisoner exchange, so the unannounced arrival had taken Benton by surprise. Weekes had wanted to know why the sheriff had not informed either the police department or the Bureau about Muller’s complaint and subsequent statement. He also mentioned the mayor’s office were getting ornery about it.
‘What’s their interest?’ Sydney asked.
He looked at her as if she were crazy. ‘Are you kidding me? Do you still not know how small towns like this work? We’re all answerable to the mayor’s office.’
Sydney hit
ched her shoulders. She remembered, but had never been overly interested in the politics of it all. ‘So what did you tell him?’
‘I told him no part of my remit insisted I had to inform Sonora PD. It was a federal matter, so I had already sent the information through to the FBI.’
She wagged a finger at him. ‘Right. When I spoke to Doman the other day he insisted he’d not received any such information. Said that if it was sent a while back then it was probably jammed up in the system somewhere, but if it hadn’t been then it should be sent as soon as and somebody over there would deal with it. Ah, I kind of told him I’d ask you to mail it to him directly rather than through channels.’
‘I can do that,’ Benton said. ‘First thing Monday morning. I also gave Sergeant Weekes shit about arranging for that stop on your vehicle the other night. It was a cheap shot, especially when it exposed you to a creep like Peavey, and I said as much.’
‘Oh, yeah. And what did he have to say about that?’
‘He apologised. Fair play to him, he admitted he got it wrong. Said he had since warned Peavey off.’
Sydney let that seep in before she responded. In her mind, Peavey no longer deserved to wear the uniform. He was a stain on the badge. When she was through working the Muller investigation, she would switch her focus back to the cop. Sydney wanted him gone, and she told Benton so.
He agreed. ‘I don’t think you’ll get much of an argument from Weekes. He knows he screwed up setting that idiot on you, and he’ll want to put distance between himself and Peavey. The guy went too far.’
Over a lunch of toasted sandwiches and a pot of strong coffee, the two continued to discuss her morning. Sydney made no mention of her interest in Gerry Kasper, although she was itching to involve someone else so as to run her thought process by them in the search for anomalies. Rebecca Wade’s mentioning of Stepka Sokolov interested him, though.
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