“Now you’ve lost me,” Barry said.
“Every piece of evidence has led us to Elise Hansen, and she gives us Garza on a silver platter.”
“There’s evidence—the stationery,” Barry countered. “We worked hard for the information. She didn’t give it up easily. It wasn’t until after the second attempt to kill her.”
“Except if Sean is right,” Brad said, “Elise wasn’t the target of today’s shooting.”
Lucy didn’t comment because while Sean might be right, she didn’t see how she could be the primary target. Maybe one of the targets.
She said, “I’m not saying that Garza wasn’t involved; I’m saying that he was set up to take the fall. He’s dead—point every finger at him as the ringmaster.”
Brad said, “Someone tried to kill her the other night. If today was Tobias going after you, Monday was … Oh shit.”
Lucy didn’t realize the repercussions until Brad said his name.
“It’s Tobias. From the very beginning,” she said.
“What the hell was Adeline Reyes-Worthington into?” Brad said.
Barry was perplexed. “You think this drug dealer is behind this?”
“He’s not a drug dealer,” Brad said. “He’s more than that. Until two months ago, no one knew who he was, he was just a name. But now…”
“His name got out because of what happened in Mexico,” Lucy said. “We—you and Kane, I mean—outed him. Blew his anonymity, so to speak.”
“And Kane stole two trucks’ worth of his guns,” Brad said. “And destroyed his San Antonio operation. Tobias then aligned himself with Marquez and had Marquez take out the rest of Sanchez/Trejo’s failed gang. Almost as if … as if…”
“He had a temper tantrum,” Lucy said.
“Why didn’t he take the drugs?”
“Maybe he doesn’t have a network to sell them. Operation Heatwave put a huge hole in his net. He’s both purging and rebuilding.”
“Where does Adeline Reyes-Worthington fit in?” Barry asked.
Brad said, “Political corruption. Buying and selling government land. Sean said—” He stopped.
Barry bristled. “You told Sean about the undercover operation?”
“Sean’s the one who found the bug,” Lucy said. “He knew it was a federal sting.”
“And he tells the DEA.”
“Barry—we’re way beyond compartmentalizing this information,” Lucy said.
No one spoke for a moment. Then Barry said, “If Adeline is as corrupt as Logan Dunbar seems to think, where did all the money go? And how does Tobias fit in?”
“I don’t know,” Lucy admitted. “But we’re going to find out.” She hesitated, then said, “Barry, I need you to give me a little leeway with her. I can flip her. But you have to trust me.”
Barry didn’t say anything for a minute. “All right,” he finally said. “But watch my cues. If you step over the line, I’m going to rein you in.”
* * *
“Where’s all her security?” Lucy asked after they were buzzed in.
“It’s getting dark. Maybe they’re better at hiding at night.”
Lucy closed her eyes. The hum of the car, the distant neigh of a horse. It was calm. Almost peaceful.
“No one is here,” she said.
Barry looked around, but didn’t say anything. He stopped the car and said, “Don’t get out.”
Barry called the patrol car that was stationed on the street outside for a report. “Any activity?”
“The house manager, Mr. Contreras, left at three this afternoon and returned at six. After, the rest of the staff left.”
“How many?”
“There were two vehicles. I don’t know how many were in each vehicle. At least two per vehicle.”
“Thank you,” Barry said.
Brad said, “I’ll walk the grounds, make sure there’s nothing off.”
“Keep the channel open.” Barry put in his earpiece and Brad did the same. They tested the signal, then Barry and Lucy went to the front door.
Joseph Contreras opened the door before they rang. “Adeline is in the den,” he said. “She isn’t feeling well and asked that you keep this visit short.”
Contreras led the way to a small room near the entry. It was smaller and warmer than Adeline’s office, with several chairs, built-in bookcases with history books and antique knick-knacks, and on one wall a map of Texas from before Texas became a state.
Adeline sat on a chair with her laptop, dressed in jeans and a simple blouse, her eyes rimmed red. “My campaign manager just died,” she said. “I’m … having a difficult time. Can this wait until tomorrow? Or after the weekend? Harper’s memorial is on Saturday.”
“I’m sorry, this can’t wait,” Barry said. “We’re here about Mr. Garza.”
“How did you hear about his death?” Lucy asked.
“Airport security contacted me when they searched his identification and learned he worked for me. Why does that matter? Everyone I care about is dying.”
“You mean murdered,” Lucy said.
She blinked. “Harper was murdered. Security said that Rob collapsed at the airport.”
“He was murdered at the airport,” Lucy said. “When did you last speak to Mr. Garza?”
Adeline was struggling with her composure. “Yesterday,” she said. “After lunch.”
“Where were you?”
“Here. We were working…” Her voice trailed off and she didn’t look at them.
“What did you discuss?”
“That’s none of your business,” she snapped. “It was campaign related.”
“Did you discuss the girl I showed you a picture of yesterday? Her name is Elise Hansen.”
“N-no,” she said.
Lucy didn’t believe her. Did this woman actually think that she was a believable liar?
“Were you aware that Rob Garza had hired Ms. Hansen for sex when he was in Washington?”
“No.” She wasn’t looking at Barry or Lucy, but at the bookshelf behind them. She was trying hard to keep it together.
Lucy continued to push. “Were you aware that Mr. Garza paid Ms. Hansen more than ten thousand dollars to come to San Antonio for the purpose of seducing your husband and taking pornographic photos?”
Adeline paled. “N-no. He wouldn’t.”
“Were you aware that Mr. Garza shot Ms. Hansen when she tried to collect the money?”
“God, no. No. That’s not possible.”
“We had an arrest warrant and were looking for Mr. Garza when he attempted to flee our jurisdiction by buying a ticket from Dallas to New York City. We believe he may have been trying to leave the country. But he was killed before he could board the plane by an unknown assailant. The Dallas FBI office in conjunction with Homeland Security is investigating his murder. But we’re finding it hard to believe that you didn’t know your campaign manager and chief consultant had your husband killed.”
“I— That’s not what happened. I had nothing to do with it. But—no. He couldn’t be—but—” She stared at the wall behind them, not looking at either Barry or Lucy.
Lucy said, “Mrs. Worthington, do you know a man who goes by the name Tobias?”
Adeline started to shake. “Oh God. Oh God.”
Barry glanced at Lucy and for a moment she thought that Barry was angry because she’d brought up Tobias, but his expression was one of total surprise.
He said to Adeline, “How do you know Tobias?”
“No. I mean, I’ve never met him, but…” She got up from her seat and walked to the bookshelf. She pushed in three books, and a hidden compartment opened. “Tobias thinks I took money from him. He killed Harper. I … I didn’t think Rob had anything to do with it, but maybe…”
Adeline handed Barry an envelope.
“What is this?” he asked.
“Proof that I didn’t kill my husband.”
Barry first looked into the envelope, then he cautiously pulled out a single p
iece of paper. Lucy read over his shoulder.
Adeline ~
I told you two months ago that if you changed allegiances, you would regret it. I want what you owe me. You have forty-eight hours, or you’re next.
I know you won’t say anything to the police or FBI about this note, because I have enough evidence to bury you. Not only evidence of our arrangement, but proof that you had your husband killed.
~ Tobias
Barry took out a photo from the envelope. It was Harper Worthington half-naked in the motel room.
Lucy’s stomach tightened. Elise Hansen must have taken this photo—and there was nothing sexual about it. It was obvious that the man was dead.
“You have to protect me,” she said. “He’ll kill me.”
“What was your arrangement with Tobias?” Lucy asked.
She opened her mouth, then closed it. “I can’t tell you that.”
“This note says that he has proof that you had Harper killed.”
“I didn’t! He set it up. He’s framing me! Rob must have been in on it, because that whore was his—” She stopped talking.
“You said you’d never seen Elise Hansen,” Lucy said.
Adeline didn’t say anything.
“We can’t help you unless you tell us the truth,” Barry said.
“The truth is that I don’t know what he’s talking about! But he must have thought I’d done something to him…” She seemed to realize that she wasn’t making any sense and stopped talking. She took a deep breath and put her chin out. “I should have come to you first. I realize that now. I didn’t know what to do.”
Barry seemed stunned that she would think they were such idiots. Lucy wasn’t. Lucy was angry and not a little bit worried. But she pushed her fear aside and said, “Tobias had your husband killed because you betrayed him. What specifically did you do for Tobias?”
“Nothing!”
“You’re lying.”
“How dare you,” Adeline said. “I’m a member of Congress. I will have you fired, Agent Kincaid.”
Barry said, “Mrs. Reyes-Worthington, I’d like you to come down to headquarters for further questioning.”
“No.”
“You’re making this more difficult for yourself.”
“I am not going to be treated like a criminal when I’m the victim.”
“You’re no victim,” Lucy said.
“Get out of my house!” Adeline shouted.
Barry pulled out his phone. He said to Lucy, “Watch her,” then left the room.
Adeline stared after Barry. “The audacity!”
Lucy glared at her. “Your husband was murdered because you were involved with a known criminal.”
“Do not talk to me. I want a lawyer.”
“Do you think this is a game? That you can give the right answer and pull a get-out-of-jail-free card? At a minimum, you’re an accessory to murder. More likely, you’re an accomplice.” Lucy wanted to say more, but she bit her tongue. Barry hadn’t brought up the political corruption or bribery charges, so she kept that to herself. But to Lucy, murder was worse. Murder was personal.
Adeline didn’t budge. “You have no idea who you are up against.”
Lucy refused to let Adeline bait her. She watched her closely and received a bit of satisfaction as the woman squirmed under her glare.
“There is no reason for Tobias to kill your husband except that Harper must have found something that connected to him instead of you,” Lucy said, working her mind around what they knew versus what they suspected. “Tobias could care less about whether you’re caught for doing something illegal, but there must be a paper trail that leads to Tobias, and he feared that Harper would find it. That’s why he died. And you let it happen.”
“I didn’t! I didn’t know!”
“But you knew that Harper was preoccupied. And you knew that you were involved in illegal activities with a gun runner.”
Adeline’s face completely drained and she sat down.
Lucy realized she was on to something. She sent Zach Charles a text message.
Dig into Adeline’s finances—personal, campaign, corporate, anything—from mid-March through the present. See if there’s anything odd or unusual. Ask Juan if you can use Sean for this.
She sent it before she could change her mind. She shouldn’t bring Sean into it at all, but he had already analyzed Harper Worthington’s business and financial records, so he was primed to dig into Adeline’s. He’d see the connection—figure out what Harper had uncovered that had gotten him killed. Because the only reason for Tobias to have killed Harper was not just to scare Adeline or frame her, but because Harper knew something that could jeopardize Tobias.
“Who is Gary Ackerman?” Lucy asked. “Why did you get a restraining order against him seven years ago?”
Adeline didn’t say anything.
“Did you know your husband was meeting with him?”
Again, no answer, but Adeline closed her eyes.
Lucy said quietly, “Do you know that Ackerman was murdered, too?”
“Dear God.” Adeline put her head in her hands.
Barry walked back in. “Lucy.” He jerked his head and she followed him into the hall.
Quietly, he said, “Juan passed me up to Naygrew. He listened to what just happened, and wants to get an arrest warrant. I wanted to bring her in now, but Naygrew thinks it puts the Bureau at risk.”
“How?” Lucy would never understand politics.
“Because we have a lot of circumstantial evidence but nothing substantial. It’s a big clusterfuck.”
“And so she gets to go free?”
“No. Dunbar is going up in front of a grand jury tomorrow with the AUSA and they expect a multicharge indictment on bribery, abuse of power, political corruption, whatever they’re calling it these days. She’s not going to get a pass on murder. But we can’t prove it at this point.”
“She knows more.”
“Which is why we’re going to ask her to come in of her own free will tomorrow morning to answer questions. If she refuses, we’ll get a subpoena to compel her to answer. You need to work on Elise Hansen tonight.”
“She lied to us. Multiple times.”
“She’s sixteen.”
“I don’t care. That photo…” Lucy shook her head. “Okay. I’ll push Elise. Do what you need to do.”
Barry walked back into the den, and Lucy followed.
“Mrs. Reyes-Worthington,” Barry said, “I spoke to my boss, and he requests that you come to FBI headquarters tomorrow morning to answer additional questions regarding your husband’s murder and what you knew about your campaign manager’s activities.”
“I don’t know,” Adeline said. “Can I think about it?”
“We can get a subpoena, if you would prefer. A subpoena would be part of the public record.”
“Don’t threaten me.” Adeline’s attitude had returned. “I can bring my lawyer, right? It’s my right, of course I can bring him,” Adeline answered her own question.
“Eight A.M.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll be there.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Sean drove to HWI after Juan Casilla chewed him out. It was the end of the day and most of the staff was gone, but Gregor Smith was still there.
As soon as Sean entered the building, Gregor greeted him. “Is it true about Adeline’s campaign manager?”
“That he’s dead or that he’s a killer? Probably both.”
Gregor led Sean up to his office. “Was Adeline involved?”
“I don’t know,” Sean said as they both sat down.
“I’m stunned. I don’t know what to think. Why?”
“That’s the million-dollar question. The FBI thinks that Harper found incriminating information about his wife’s political corruption and that’s why he was acting peculiar for the last month.”
“Incriminating how?”
“She was on the Interior Committee. It oversees the Bure
au of Land Management. She could have had inside information that would be profitable to her friends. Maybe Garza figured it out and decided to protect his boss. Maybe it was Garza who was sharing information.” Sean paused. “Whatever was going on, she’s certainly not innocent, even if she didn’t have Harper killed.”
“I got your report, I’m glad that our operation is clean—but I wanted to ask you about the BLM audit. You said that there was a problem, but didn’t elaborate.”
“I don’t think that there is anything wrong with the files you have. I think that everything is going to match up fine for BLM. But I’d like to look at the records again and compare them with a document that Harper kept on a private tablet.” Sean didn’t tell Lucy he’d made a copy of the dates and parcel numbers. She’d shown the pages to him, but the FBI didn’t have access to all the information. It would take them weeks to go through the files—because of manpower issues—and because Sean had access to HWI now, he could match them up in a few hours.
“Anything you need if it’s going to help clear Harper’s name.”
“He’s already cleared.”
“The press leaked that he was with a prostitute.”
“The FBI will issue a statement. It’s clear that he was expecting to meet someone else, not a hooker.”
Which was one thing that was bothering Sean, and if Lucy thought about it for one second she’d realize it, too. How did Garza find out about Harper’s meetings with Gary Ackerman and why was he worried? How did he set up the meeting with Harper the night he was killed? Harper had thought he was meeting with Ackerman. It was an anomaly, and Sean didn’t like it.
“They followed him,” Sean said suddenly.
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, I’m just working through something in my head. I think Harper was being followed. It’s the only way his killer could have known he was meeting with the person who gave him information about the illegal land transactions.”
“You’ve lost me. Are you talking about the BLM audit? Or something else?”
“Both. I can’t explain right now, but if I can have access to Harper’s office tonight, I’ll tell you when I put it all together. Right now it’s just a mess of numbers in my head.”
Best Laid Plans Page 33