While Justice Sleeps

by Stacey Abrams

  Avery reached for the remote and killed the sound on the television. Whoever was listening in, she wanted them to hear this.

  To hear her.

  “I’m not going to give up custody of Justice Wynn. Not now, and certainly not because of an article in the newspaper. He left me clues that will lead me to the truth. There’s a line that connects all of it.” Her hands balled into fists. “They’ve killed to stop me, but it won’t work. I’m going to finish it.”

  * * *

  —

  “She’s tough.” Phillips sat on the opposite side of Vance’s desk, watching Keene on the screen. “We should take her out now.”

  Vance thought the same as he took off his headphones. Slammed with bad press and a brush with death, she plowed on. In another life, he’d admire her, but her tenacity was beginning to piss him off.

  Phillips left the office, and Vance reclined in his chair. No one else would begin arriving for at least another hour. Which would give him time to initiate phase two. He jabbed in the extension. On the other line, a woman’s firm tones answered, “Special Agent Robert Lee’s office. How may I assist you?”

  “This is Major Vance at DHS. Liaison for the president.”

  “Right away, sir.”

  Muzak piped through the phone for the seconds it took the operator to locate the proper transmission lines. Soon Vance heard a click, and then a voice. “Special Agent Lee.”

  “Robert. It’s Will Vance at DHS. I’m working on this Justice Wynn debacle, and I keep hitting a brick wall.”

  “The stubbornness of Avery Keene?”

  Vance gave the expected chuckle. “Something like that.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  “I assume you’ve seen the morning paper.”

  The pages lay open on Lee’s cluttered desk, the key passages highlighted in yellow. “Can’t miss the headline.”

  “The president is concerned about how this will affect her judgment as Justice Wynn’s guardian.”

  “Understood. What are you looking for?”

  “I’ve heard about the attempt on her life in Georgia yesterday.”

  Agent Lee cocked a brow. “News travels fast.”

  “Bullets travel faster,” he replied flatly. “And as long as she’s out there on her own, she’s exposed.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “Protective custody. We have shaky grounds to touch her, but the FBI has already established a relationship and jurisdiction. As long as she’s out and roaming around, there’s no telling who’s got their sights on her.”

  The same thought had occurred to Lee, but he doubted that Avery Keene would agree to his protection. Protective custody, however, had a good angle. Still, he chafed at a suggestion coming from DHS. Turf wars weren’t his thing, but Major Vance didn’t give him the warm fuzzies. “So you want me to arrest her for her own good?”

  “I want a key asset protected. If you can’t, I will.”

  “I’ll take it under advisement.” Agent Lee pushed back lightly. “I’m on my way to see Ms. Keene now. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll give you a call. Let you know if I’m going to bring her in.”

  “We’re responsible for her,” Vance reminded him. “We’ve got to keep her safe.” And silent.

  Agent Lee gathered his binder and stood at his desk. “I’ll be in touch.”

  THIRTY-FIVE

  After her cell shrilled through the apartment for the sixth time in less than five minutes, Jared stalked over to where she’d spread out the newspaper on the worktable.

  “Why don’t you let me answer that? Or, if you won’t let me answer the phone, turn it off.”

  “I can’t.” Avery spun the phone in a dizzying circle on the table’s surface. “The hospital could call.”

  “Caller ID.” Jared leaned in and picked up the phone to flip off the ringer. When she glared at him, his eyes and tone were equally sober. “I’m worried about you.”

  Her lips curved. “Why? Because I didn’t break into hysterics this morning?”

  “For starters.”

  “After twenty-six years, I’ve learned to handle bad news. The first time I bailed Rita out of jail, I was thirteen. Had to pawn her wedding ring. At some point, I bought and sold most of the appliances in our house.” She gave a careless shrug. “Obviously, your father finally noticed a worthwhile talent in me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about your mother?” he asked kindly.

  “It wasn’t relevant….Rita is a fact of life. Usually, she stays away until she crashes. We’ve worked out a routine.”

  “What about your father?”

  “Dead.” When he simply stared, she continued reluctantly: “He was the love of her life. They met in college and railed against apartheid and nuclear energy and environmental racism. They were in a bus crash when I was six. He died. She didn’t.”

  “Is that when she started using?”

  “She had some lingering injuries after the crash—she was prescribed painkillers, and it went from there. But she could still feel.” Avery twisted her fingers together but kept her voice even. “By the time I was in fifth grade, she’d graduated to the hard-core, and we started moving.”

  Jared inched the newspaper toward them. “When did you see her last?”

  “The day I met you.” She traced the grainy photograph. “Rita had a bender that weekend, and she needed cash to soften the landing. But that’s not when this photo was taken. She had on a different dress.”

  “Why do you still take care of her?”

  “She’s my mother.” A threatening harridan one day and a fragile champion the next. Such was life with Rita Keene. What would she be today? Avery wondered, staring at the photo. A wasted harlot willing to service a dealer for a fix? Or, maybe, she’d call the Gazette to yell at them for abusing her daughter.

  She stood so abruptly, her chair toppled behind her. “I’ve got to go,” she hissed out as her breath hitched in realization. “They know where she is. I’ve got to find her. Before they hurt her.”

  Jared rose too. “Where would we look?”

  She pressed the heels of her hands against her brows. “Earlier this week, she was in Adams Morgan. But I don’t know how to find her.” Turning, she took a step toward Jared and gripped a fistful of his T-shirt. “If they could take pictures of her, they can hurt her.”

  Jared wrapped an arm around Avery and pulled her against him. She let him. “We’ll go look for her. Get your things, and I’ll clear it with the agent.”

  Avery nodded and raced into her bedroom. Jared yanked open the front door, only to find a new man standing on the threshold, his hand lifted to knock.

  “Mr. Wynn, I’m Special Agent Robert Lee.” He nodded to the agent on duty, and the woman headed for the stairwell. “I’m here to talk to you, Ms. Keene, and Dr. Yin.”

  “Avery and I have to run an errand,” Jared said, blocking his entry. He braced his forearms on the doorjamb to reinforce the do-not-enter message. Glaring down at the agent, he explained, “She’ll be free to answer your questions in a couple of hours.”

  Though Jared Wynn had him by at least four inches, Agent Lee held his ground, not bothering to finger the gun that would guarantee him passage. He recognized the attempt at chivalry and respected Jared for the bravado. But time was slipping away. “This isn’t a request, Mr. Wynn. You and Ms. Keene are material witnesses to at least one crime I am aware of. I’ll talk to you both now.”

  Jared widened his stance. “Are we under arrest?”

  “Not yet, but I can arrange that if you’d like,” Agent Lee offered reasonably. “We both want to protect her, Jared. Let me do my job.”

  Torn, Jared checked over his shoulder, but Avery had not reappeared. He lowered his voice and his chin to Agent Lee. “Did you see the paper this morning?”

&nbs
p; “I saw the paper, heard the news reports, and got an earful from the vultures camped outside.”

  “Avery is worried about her mother. She’s afraid whoever tried to kill us might harm her.”

  Agent Lee nodded. “I understand. I’ve already dispatched an agent and some DC narcotics officers to find and secure Mrs. Keene.” He glanced over Jared’s shoulder, saw Avery approach. “Ms. Keene, we’re looking for your mother, but I must speak with you both. Now.”

  “I know what she’s like—I’ll be able to find her.”

  “You try to find her, and a reporter or something worse will be with you when you do.” Agent Lee shook his head once. “Let me handle this. We’ll find her. I promise.”

  Avery gave Jared a short nod, and he stepped back.

  She watched as Lee examined the modest apartment. “Oh, this is just my work apartment,” Avery quipped as she shut the door. “The penthouse is under renovation. Marble floors and gold-plated doorknobs.”

  “I guess you’re still raw about the other day.”

  “About being accused of theft and murder?” She settled onto the futon. “Another day, another slander, Agent Lee.”

  “You’ve had a rough week.”

  “Masterful observation.”

  He met her look squarely. “I want to help you.”

  Cognizant of the surveillance, she lied without compunction: “I’ve told you everything I know.”

  “I doubt that.” Before she could protest, he jerked his chin at Ling, who hovered in the kitchen. “Why don’t you join us, Dr. Yin? You’re in the thick of this now too.” He nodded at Noah. “You too, Mr. Fox.”

  Ling and Noah entered the main room, eyes equally wary. “Good morning,” Ling offered.

  “That’s a matter of opinion,” he said dryly. Four stubborn faces stared blankly at him, and Agent Lee gave an audible sigh. Earning trust was the toughest part of the job, especially once he’d inserted both feet squarely into his mouth. Aiming for the only military man in the room, he asked, “You know why I joined the FBI, Jared?”

  “To harass the weak?”

  He shifted his elbows to his knees and linked his fingers loosely. “I like puzzles. I like having bits and pieces of information and filling in the blanks.” The sharp gaze shifted to Avery. “I’m guessing that’s part of the reason you and Noah became lawyers, and why Dr. Yin chose medicine.”

  Unimpressed, Avery returned his look without reaction. “Your point?”

  “Well, my favorite puzzles weren’t the ones where you had a picture you had to remake. I always thought that was cheating. I preferred the ones where you had to unlock the code to understand the riddle.” He held her eyes with his. “Avery, I think you’re the key to unlocking the code. I think Justice Wynn figured out something very big. He hid the answers, and you’re the cipher.”

  “What’s the question?” Noah asked.

  “I’m not exactly sure,” Agent Lee admitted. “But you found something in his house that sent you to Georgia.”

  “We looked. But we found nothing worth reporting.”

  “I know you’re hiding something, Avery. I want to help you.” When she just stared at him, he lifted his hands in surrender. “Look, we got off on the wrong foot.”

  “Multiple times,” she reminded him. “I know what you think of me. An opinion that will now be shared by most of Washington, DC.”

  “You know nothing of my opinions. I deal in facts. So, if you’re not going to clue me in, let’s see what we know.” He slipped a notebook from his pocket. “One fact: you and Mr. Wynn took a short trip to Georgia yesterday. Who knew you were going?”

  Protesting seemed futile, so Avery answered: “Everyone in this room except for you.” Including whoever had planted listening devices in her apartment, which could very well have been Lee, Avery reminded herself.

  “Anyone else?” When she shook her head, he prompted, “Anyone at all? Doesn’t matter how they knew, I need names.”

  “I booked the tickets online,” Avery explained. “I don’t have a job anymore, so there’s no one at work who could know.”

  “Did you learn anything new on your trip?”

  Avery kept her eyes on the agent and prayed Jared would do the same. If she told him about the attack at the cabin, her detail would increase and she’d never make her appointment with Wilma. She groused, “One more dead end, courtesy of Justice Wynn.”

  “Jared?”

  “Like Avery said, it was a wild-goose chase.”

  “I see.” Agent Lee grilled them for another few minutes, then set the notebook aside. “Someone is working awfully hard to shut you down.”

  “Ruin my reputation, at least.”

  “I don’t think that knock on the head you got was about your reputation,” he corrected. Before she could argue, he held up a hand. “I got a call this morning from Major Vance at DHS. He wants me to put you in protective custody.”

  Stiffening, she asked, “Is that why you’re here?”

  “It’s worth considering. The midday news will make sure everyone can find you. Besides, this building has no visible security other than a coded door any pizza delivery guy could get through. You’re not safe on your own.”

  “I’m sure Major Vance would be only too happy to have me arrested.”

  “Not arrested. Protective custody. He’s just doing his job.” Agent Lee hesitated. “Terrorists use a variety of methods to undermine our national security. Anticipating those threats is Major Vance’s job.”

  “A bit of a stretch. He’s in the science department.”

  Because he didn’t disagree, Agent Lee bent in to close the distance between them. “Regardless of Homeland Security’s interest, I’m clear on mine. I’m here to see if you’re ready to tell me what Justice Wynn wants from you before whoever killed Jamie Lewis makes good on his next attempt.”

  Avery stood then, well aware that the killers were likely listening in. In solidarity, Noah, Ling, and Jared rose too. “Agent Lee, I appreciate your help yesterday, and I wish I could tell you more. But I’ve told you all I know.”

  The agent reluctantly got to his feet, his dismissal clear. “I don’t think you have, Ms. Keene.” He flicked a look at Jared. “She’s putting herself in harm’s way for your father. Can’t say I’d let a woman put herself in danger for me too.”

  Jared failed to react. “Avery knows her own mind, Agent Lee.”

  “Any chance you’ll take me up on protective custody?” he asked without much hope. He intended to keep a couple of agents on her regardless, but hiding her would be an easier task. “I’d strongly advise you to consider it.”

  “I will,” Avery told the agent as she led him to the door. His concern was genuine, as was his suspicion. She’d need to leverage one without triggering the other.

  “I assume these agents are a permanent fixture?”

  “I’d like to keep someone on you, yes. If you protest loudly enough, I’ll have to pull them back, but they aren’t going anywhere.”

  Avery blew out a breath. “Well, then can they give us a lift to Lowry Kihneman? I’ve got a custody hearing on Monday to get prepped for, and I’d rather not take the Metro today.”

  “We can do that.”

  Minutes later, they used the service elevator and exited the apartment building directly into an Explorer idling in the alley. Avery sat on the rear bench with Jared. After a brief, tense discussion, Ling and Noah headed for Noah’s car, where an agent got into the front seat. Agent Lee took the SUV’s passenger side and gave instructions to the agent driving.

  As the Explorer pulled away, no one noticed the scruffy fortysomething man peering down from the roof of the adjacent building, his telephoto lens trained on the activity below, most of the images already in his memory drive. The photographer sank down onto a concrete protrusion on the roof, a grin
rippling across his face. He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Scott Curlee: “Got your pics—perfect headline for noon broadcast: Avery Keene Detained by FBI.”

  * * *

  —

  Inside the SUV, Avery turned to Agent Lee. “Want me to trust you? Did you decide to be helpful and get what I asked for?”

  “The LUDs on Justice Wynn’s house?”

  “Yes.”

  “As a sign of good faith, yes, I did.” Smirking at her look of disbelief, he reached into his breast pocket. The folded sheets peeked out, but he didn’t offer them. “The man didn’t make or receive many calls, and his cell phone had even less use.”

  “But?” She could hear the hesitation.

  “On a whim, I went back a year—longer than the six months you requested. Over a span of three months, he racked up quite a few international calls.”

  Avery struggled not to seem excited, but her hand reached out for the pages. “Do you have the numbers?”

  “Will you accept protective custody?”

  “No. Can I have the numbers?”

  Lee let out what sounded like a half chuckle. Reluctantly, he handed over the folded sheets. “None of these are working numbers any longer. I’ve already checked.” He cocked his head to study her. “You’re not surprised. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me who he was trying to reach in India?”

  “A ghost.” Avery plucked the pages free and gave Jared an inclination of her head. “We’re still trying to figure it out ourselves.”

  “That’s my job, which I’m pretty good at. So now that we’re in the car, why don’t you tell me what you were afraid to say in your apartment?”

  Avery looked up at him, surprised. Lee gave a thin smile. “I’m guessing your apartment is bugged. Video and audio.”

  Avery glanced at Jared, who nodded. “The equipment is high-grade. Very,” he said.

  “We can clean it out now, while you’re out,” Agent Lee responded, frowning thoughtfully. “When did you know?”

  “I found one of the devices this morning, but we’ve been careful,” Avery told him. She squared her shoulders, prepared for the argument. “I’d like to keep them in place.”