by Ben Miller
The last time Jack visited Randall he gave him the case of the Whalen kidnapping. Dustin Whalen, the 2-year-old son of financial planner Darren and chiropractor Elizabeth, had been taken from his home in Central California in the middle of the night. Within hours, Jack’s FBI division CASMIRC (the Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resource Center) had been called in at the request of the family. Less than two days later, the local authorities apprehended the culprit: Darren’s jilted lover who took Dustin in an act of revenge. The story hit the California news circuit heavily, but national coverage was scant.
“Right again,” Jack said. “Darren, the father, was involved. In a sense. Just like you predicted.”
“A shorted business associate?”
“Pissed-off mistress.”
“Ah. Yes, yes.” Randall nodded several times, soaking in this information. “Anything new for me?”
Jack glared at him. Heretofore, Jack had not been fully honest with Randall about these cases. He had no real intention of informing Randall of the inside details of an active investigation. Instead, he had pulled files of older cases on his way out of the office. He held no reservations about spilling data to Randall from a closed case that would soon be part of public record, if it weren’t already. He had to choose relatively low-profile cases, though, to insure that Randall had not heard of them before.
Randall’s record now stood at 3-0: his interpretation of the investigative information Jack provided had yielded a correct analysis every time. He didn’t always nail the exact culprit precisely, but his intuition pointed in the right direction. Applying Randall’s input in retrospect, Jack concluded that Randall’s contribution would have eventually led to the perpetrator, perhaps faster than the existing authorities had.
Given this, Jack had decided to divulge some information to Randall about an active case, one that had just come into CASMIRC this morning. Now, sitting across from the target of his most fiery enmity, he second-guessed his earlier decision. Other than inflating Randall’s already unparalleled ego, sharing this intelligence with him bore no risk or downside. Yet Jack abhorred the thought of colluding with him.
It’s for the case, he reminded himself. If he can help, we could potentially save lives. He would put his personal vendetta—one he had every right to bear—aside.
Jack leaned forward, talking a little more quietly and pointedly. “This morning an infant was abducted in Massachusetts, just south of Boston.”
Demonstrating that his interest had been piqued, Randall also leaned forward, his face less than a foot from Jack’s—two inches of which were glass. His smile had faded. Amazingly, he said nothing.
“It’s the second such abduction in the last month. Same MO.”
Randall leaned back in his chair, his face remaining expressionless. “You’ve got two babies go missing in Southie?”
“Not Southie, technically. But near there. You know the area?”
“Not outside of Matt Damon movies, no.” Unlike previous interactions, Randall didn’t even crack a smile when using a pop culture reference.
Jack knew he had his full attention. So far he didn’t regret disclosing this case to Randall.
“What happened to the first baby?” Randall asked.
“The first infant has not been found. She’s still missing.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ben Miller was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Yale University and his Medical Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Since completing residency training in pediatrics, he has worked as a Pediatric Hospitalist and Diagnostic Specialist.
In addition to A Bustle in the Hedgerow, Ben is the author of The Piper, the second book in the CASMIRC series. He resides with his wife and three daughters in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, where he continues to work on his next novel while practicing and teaching pediatrics.