Double Blind--A Novel

by Iris Johansen

  CHAPTER

  11

  SEVERAL MINUTES LATER they’d reached the edge of the woods overlooking the cabin.

  Lynch pointed to a stretch of flattened brush. “Freshly trampled,” he whispered. “Stay sharp.”

  Pow! A branch exploded next to Facey’s head.

  Lynch and Facey ducked behind a tree as bark flew from a barrage of bullets.

  Lynch cocked his head toward a shallow gully behind the row of trees. “Follow me.”

  He led Facey down to the gully and ran alongside the cabin.

  Blam-blam-blam-blam!

  A wall of bullets blocked their path.

  Lynch and Facey ducked behind a large rock.

  “What now?” Facey asked.

  Lynch pulled out his phone.

  Blam-blam!

  Shredded bark rained down on them from the trees above.

  “I think it’s too late to call in the cavalry,” Facey said sarcastically.

  Lynch stared intently at the phone screen. “Maybe not. We just need a distraction.”

  “From who?”

  Lynch slid his thumbs across the screen. “Get ready to run around to the back porch of the cabin.”

  “When?”

  “When those guys start shooting.”

  “Seriously?”

  “They won’t be shooting at us.”

  At that moment there was movement on the other side of the clearing. Branches snapped and the brush rustled.

  Blam-blam-blam-blam-blam!

  The shooters took the bait, shredding the branches with their gunfire.

  “Now!” Lynch said. He and Facey sprinted toward the cabin and threw themselves on the back porch.

  Blam-blam-blam-blam!

  Still distracted by the movement on the other side of the clearing, the shooters continue their assault on the trees. They fired until splintered branches fell away to reveal the source of the movement.

  Lynch’s drone.

  It sputtered crazily until it crashed in the middle of the clearing.

  “Too bad,” Lynch said regretfully, as he and Facey watched from their vantage point on the back porch. “I was kind of fond of that thing.”

  He turned away and started trotting down the porch.

  “The trees…” Facey murmured.

  Lynch looked over his shoulder. Facey was no longer behind him but was climbing off the porch and obviously going to try to run toward the woods.

  Lynch swore beneath his breath. “I told you to stay close.” Lynch launched a tackle and brought Facey down.

  “Why did you do that?” Facey gasped. “I could have made it.”

  “Not likely. I’m trying to keep you alive, dammit.” He jerked him to his feet. “You kept your word and I—” Another bullet struck the porch next to him. “They’re moving closer. Shit, they’re getting impatient. I thought we’d have a little more time.” He grabbed Facey’s arm and dragged him after him.

  Another series of bullets sprayed the porch in front of them. “We have to keep away from the trees for the next couple minutes. They can see us. From where they are, they’d have a clear shot.”

  “I might have made it,” Facey muttered. But he obeyed Lynch and was staying on the porch for the time being. “And they’re not firing any more right now. Maybe we could try—”

  Lynch went still. He put out a hand to silence Facey. “No, they’re not firing anymore. Why not?”

  Then he realized what that answer had to be.

  “Jump! Hit the ground!”

  He dove off the porch.

  But it was too late! He felt the first heat even before the blast.

  The cabin’s explosion lit up the night sky!

  3:40 A.M.

  San Diego

  Lynch should have called her by now.

  Hell, he should have called her long before this, Kendra thought as she turned over in bed. Lynch might think that this kind of surveillance was totally commonplace, but he knew she didn’t. And he hadn’t thought this stakeout would take this long.

  And he kept his promises.

  Dammit!

  She sat up in bed and reached for her phone.

  The light illuminated the screen as she punched in Lynch’s number.

  It went direct to voice mail.

  She drew a shaky breath. Okay, he might have it on vibrate while he was on stakeout. It didn’t have to mean anything particularly dire. But it didn’t mean that everything was fine either.

  And he had made her another promise.

  She quickly punched in Griffin’s home number.

  He answered in three rings and did not sound pleased. “Between you and Lynch, I might manage to get an hour’s sleep tonight. I don’t know why I ever gave you my home number. I must be a masochist. What’s wrong now, Kendra?”

  “You tell me. Lynch did call you tonight? He told you about Facey?”

  “You know he did. He said that he’d promised you he’d request an agent be sent up to those woods in the back of beyond. Do you think I’m at your beck and call?”

  “So you didn’t do it?”

  “I did it,” he said testily. “Brian Nolan, local field office. He reported back to me when he made contact with Lynch. I don’t know why I even bothered. Lynch is probably just pissed off at Brock for wrecking his damn car.”

  “You don’t believe that.”

  “Only partially. I don’t like the idea of Brock being involved in this case. They complicate things. Now can I get back to sleep?”

  “Not yet. I haven’t heard from Lynch. Have you?”

  “No. But when does Lynch contact me except when he wants something? That’s not his M.O. He disappears sometimes for weeks on those missions he does overseas for the Justice Department and then surfaces to collect all the money and accolades.” He paused and then said reluctantly, “But Nolan will have to call me if Lynch doesn’t. I’ll phone you as soon as I hear from either one of them. But don’t expect it anytime soon. I’ve seen Lynch like this before and he gets absorbed when he’s on the hunt.”

  “I do expect it,” she said curtly. “He promised me.”

  “Like I said, I’ll call you.” He cut the connection.

  She sat there and gazed down at the phone.

  One more time.

  She punched in Lynch’s number.

  Straight to voice mail.

  She put the phone back on her night table.

  Go to sleep.

  No one could take care of himself better than Lynch. He’d probably found out something from Facey that had led him in another direction. He’d call her when he could.

  Close your eyes.

  Go to sleep.

  * * *

  “YOU LOOK LIKE HELL,” Jessie said when she got in Kendra’s car the next morning. “Mega circles. No sleep?”

  “I got a little.” Kendra backed out of her parking spot and headed for the exit. “Did you find out anything from your friends at the base?”

  “Just a lot of fuming and ugliness,” Jessie said. “And the feeling that Brock was trying to expand all over the damn planet.” Her lips tightened. “That can’t happen. They’re too powerful now. What did you hear from Lynch?”

  “Nothing. Except that he thinks that Facey is on the run and that he can tap him for information.” She drove onto the street and turned left. “And Lynch was supposed to call me back last night and didn’t do it.”

  “Hence the mega circles. You can’t contact him?”

  “Griffin says it’s no big deal. He said he’d call me when he heard from him. That he’s a bloody superstar and runs his own show.”

  “He’s probably right,” Jessie said quietly. “From what I’ve seen of Lynch, you don’t have to worry about him being able to take care of himself.”

  “I know that’s true. It’s just that I can’t stop—” She broke off. She had to quit talking about this. “Where are we supposed to be going? Where does Ivan Campbell live anyway?”

  “234 Sunset Way. I
t’s a condo near the airport. I called him on the way here and told him we were coming.” She smiled. “I used your connection with the FBI to make it happen. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. He seems to be pretty broken up.”

  “Why shouldn’t he?” Kendra asked as she turned toward the airport. “He’s probably just waiting for word that his wife is dead. This must seem to be a nightmare to him.”

  “Yeah, I hear you. But maybe we’ll get lucky. Or maybe that butcher will change his pattern and hold her until we have a chance to find him.”

  “You’re full of optimism today.”

  “I think maybe you need a little of that commodity today.” She looked at the notes on her phone. “Ivan Campbell married Barbara Labkan three years ago. They seem to be the perfect couple, probably because they were seldom together. He travels a lot with his job for a pharmaceutical company and she worked with her sister starting up a business. She was described as warm and outgoing, and he as very quiet, but polite and likeable.”

  Kendra was remembering Barbara Campbell’s speech at the reception. “She seemed to be very fond of the bride. I only have a vague memory of her husband.”

  “See? The perfect marriage, she soaked up all the attention. I imagine that he was grateful to let her shine. Introverts usually take comfort from not having to compete. They tend to fall apart when they lose their alpha partner.”

  “Maybe. Sometimes it doesn’t work that way.”

  But when Ivan Campbell let them into his condo, Kendra had an idea that Jessie had been right. Thin, dark-haired, moderately good looking, yet his expression was so tense and tortured that he looked like a holocaust survivor.

  “You still haven’t heard anything?” were the first words he spoke after they’d introduced themselves. His voice was sharp, angry. “How that can be? All the technology. All your resources and experts and you still can’t find one woman?”

  “I’m sorry,” Kendra said gently. “I know Special Agent Griffin is doing everything he can to locate your wife. We’re sparing no effort. We’re just here to make certain we’re not missing even one step.” She handed him her tablet with the wedding video. “I wonder if you’d just look at this wedding video and see if there’s anything that strikes a note with you. Perhaps something not as it should be?”

  He stared at the video as if it was a snake ready to bite him. “I don’t want to see that damn wedding video. It just makes me remember how beautiful and funny Barbara could be. Why do you even think it’s connected?”

  “One of the first victims sent it to Kendra,” Jessie said. “It’s what drew us into this case, sir. It might have taken much longer and many more victims if Kendra hadn’t become involved. So you can see that it’s important that we make sure that we don’t miss anything it might tell us.”

  “It was sent to you.” Campbell whirled angrily on Kendra. “Then why didn’t you catch what it meant? Why didn’t you stop all this before it began? Why didn’t you stop it before he took Barbara?”

  “I wish I could have known what it meant,” Kendra said quietly. “It wasn’t clear at the time.”

  “Why not?” he said sarcastically. “You’re obviously so clever. Why couldn’t you save Barbara?”

  “Easy,” Jessie said. “She’s doing everything she can to help your wife. But you need to help, too. Will you look at the video for us?”

  “What else can I do?” He gestured in frustration toward Kendra. “Since she’s already made blunders that might have gotten my Barbara murdered.” He turned on the video.

  Jessie gave Kendra a faint shrug and they both were silent, waiting, while Campbell finished watching the video.

  “Nothing,” Campbell said sharply as he handed the tablet back to Kendra. “Was I supposed to recognize someone? Pick some bastard out of that crowd so that you wouldn’t have to do your job and catch that murderer? I’m afraid not. Now get out of here and find my wife.”

  Jessie took a step forward. “I told you not to—”

  “We’ll go.” Kendra put her hand on Jessie’s arm. “Just one more question. Everything on that video is exactly as you remembered it that night?”

  “I told you. Nothing is different.” He opened the door. “But if there is, you should have noticed what it was. I’m beginning to think all of this is your fault. Get out.”

  “We’re going.” Kendra had to quickly pull Jessie into the hall before the door slammed behind them. “Let it go, Jessie. He’s in pain. He has to have someone to blame.”

  “Not you,” Jessie said grimly. “I’ll show him pain.”

  “I was convenient. I was the first one to get a clue in this case.” She added wearily, “And maybe I might have been to blame for not putting all this together. Who knows?”

  “I do,” Jessie said as she stepped into the elevator. “You’re not psychic, Kendra, and you shouldn’t let that jackass make you—”

  “Just a minute.” Kendra’s phone was buzzing and she glanced down at the ID. “Yes. It’s Griffin, Jessie. Go ahead and wait for me in the car. I’ll be right down. I’ve got to take this. I left him a message to call me back.”

  Jessie nodded as she pressed the down button. “It’s about time he got around to it. You’ve been on pins and needles all morning. I hate bureaucrats.”

  “Griffin isn’t usually one. Though he can be a complete asshole.” She picked up the call, “What have you heard, Griffin?”

  “It’s not Griffin,” Metcalf said. “I’m calling for him. He asked me to get hold of you. He’s on the other line.”

  “Since when have you been his errand boy?” Kendra asked. “I thought you were climbing the FBI ladder pretty steadily, Metcalf. You shouldn’t let him use you like this.”

  “I didn’t mind,” he said quickly. “I could see that it was important. He’ll be right with you, Kendra.” He put her on hold.

  She found herself tensing. He hadn’t sounded like himself. And she couldn’t remember when he hadn’t taken a few minutes to just shoot the breeze with her when he had the opportunity.

  She had to wait for almost four minutes until Griffin came on the line. “Hello, Kendra.” His voice was brusque. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I just needed to double-check something before I spoke to you.”

  “Double-check what?” Kendra asked. “Why are you calling me, Griffin?” She paused. “Have you heard anything from Lynch?”

  “Nothing definitive.” He was silent. Then he said roughly, “I’m lying. And you don’t deserve it. It’s about as definitive as it gets without a final ME report. I’m sorry, Kendra.”

  She couldn’t breathe. What was he saying? She must have misunderstood. “What are you sorry about? I only asked you to check on Lynch. I was worried because I hadn’t heard from him. What the hell are you sorry about, Griffin?” He wasn’t answering and she was beginning to panic. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said again. “This is the last news I wanted to give you. That’s why I had to double check.” He paused. “No mistake. He’s dead, Kendra.”

  She jerked back as the words struck her. The hall was spinning. She was dizzy and sick. “That’s crazy. No, he isn’t. Not Lynch. Don’t tell me it’s not a mistake.”

  “I wish I could.”

  She swallowed. It took her a minute to get the words out. “You’re telling me Lynch is really dead, Griffin?”

  “I’m telling you that two hours ago a body was found at that cabin that answered to his general description as far as we could determine. There was also another body that was probably Ryan Facey.” He added, “Though the remains were difficult to identify since the place was blown to smithereens and so were Lynch and the second victim. That was why I was on the other line. I was checking to see if they’d managed to get enough DNA from Lynch for a match.”

  DNA. It was always about DNA, she thought dully. “And did they?”

  “Yes. Preliminary match of 98.7 percent. As I said, they’ll know more after the ME gets through with—”

&nb
sp; “I don’t believe it,” she said flatly. “It’s a mistake. Men like Lynch don’t just—” She stopped. “It has to be a mistake. We don’t even know if he actually went back to that cabin. He was just going to stake out the area.”

  “He was in those woods outside that cabin when he called me to get me to send that agent.” Griffin’s voice was gentle for him. “He called me from there, Kendra. He had photos of those Brock goons and wanted me to run checks on them. He was in a hurry because he wanted to get out of there in case he’d been followed.” He added, “He was joking about the fact that he’d promised you that he wouldn’t let Brock kill him. He said he’d hate like hell to have to rely on me.”

  That did sound like Lynch. “But you’re saying they did kill him?” Kendra said hoarsely. She was still too dazed to take it in. “Not Lynch, Griffin,” she said desperately. “He was too smart.”

  “Everyone dies, Kendra. It’s just a matter of time. Yes, he was smart, but he didn’t walk on water.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Kendra. I realize you were close. Look, as soon as I get the final, you’ll be the first to know. But I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t tell you that the results are almost certain to be identical.”

  “You’re that sure?” Tell me no. Give me hope. Just a little hope, dammit.

  “I’m that sure. I wish I could say I wasn’t.” Another silence. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  “No,” she whispered numbly. What could Griffin do in a world where an extraordinary man like Lynch could be blown away in a heartbeat. What could anyone do? “Goodbye, Griffin.”

  She pressed the disconnect.

  Pain.

  She stood there, leaning against the wall, while the waves of pain and loss swept over her. Darkness. It was like being dragged down into a whirlpool where there was no light, no sound. She had never been afraid of darkness, it was familiar, it could be a friend, but this was different. Because Lynch was lost in that darkness and she would never be able to find him again. But she had to find him, because he was alone, and no one was there for him.

  No!