“I’ll have to think about what I write back first. Sheraton, I can’t go to the PO box because that message on my mirror said I was being watched. I can’t send Grimm because whoever is watching would expect I’d send him. You’ll have to do it.”
“Is that what you’re going to do? Write back first and then contact Street?”
“I’m not sure. I just know that I can’t take a chance on being seen going into the building to drop a letter or to check that box,” Quinn replied.
She sat down and began typing a response to the package she received.
Thankyou for entrusting me with this information. Your encouragement that I am on the right track was helpful, but actually seeing the evidence as proof that you’re speaking the truth. I have so many questions that I don’t know where to begin. But I know I can’t come out and ask you to reveal who you work for or why you don’t leave their employment, because I am certain the reason is for your own safety because you know too much.
I will try to keep this first correspondence short. And yet, in respect of time, to the point. What can I do to help? We have an FBI agent working on this case now. It hasn’t been made public knowledge. Can I put you in touch with him? Will that help you get out from under this heavy thumb?Q
She printedout the letter and showed it to Grimm and then Sheraton for their approval, then folded it in half. “Do we have a plain envelope we can use for this?”
“I should have one in my office. I’ll be right back,” Sheraton left.
While he was gone, she dug in her purse for Agent Street’s business card. “If I call him, and he advises against reaching out, I’ll feel obligated to follow orders. But if I go ahead and send Sheraton to the box and then reach out, then whatever he says I’ll just need to ask forgiveness if I’ve gone against his wishes.”
“Yep,” Grimm agreed.
“So, you aren’t going to stop me?”
“Nope,” he said.
“Good.”
Sheraton returned with an envelope before she dialed Streets number and she wrote the box number on it, put the letter inside, and sealed it. “Here’s the key.”
“I’ll take it right now. And I’ll make sure no one is following me,” he said. “Hopefully there won’t be too much traffic over near Chestnut this time of day, and I’ll be able to find a parking spot close by.
“I wonder why he chose that location?” Quinn said.
“Probably because there’s a lot of foot traffic,” Sheraton said. “Easy to get lost in the crowd if being followed.”
“Or he works in the area,” she said. There are a lot of law offices in the area too.”
“What are you getting at?” Grimm asked.
“I’m just thinking of what kind of powerful thumb he could be under.”
“I better get going before it gets any later, or traffic will start to pick up down in that area,” Sheraton said.
“Should I drive and drop you off?” Grimm asked. “Quinn should be safe here at the paper making a few phone calls.”
“Do it,” she agreed. “I’m going to call Trish Creswell and talk to her.”
“Okay,” Sheraton said.
Quinn picked up her phone and dialed Trish’s number, getting her on the third ring.
“What a lovely surprise,” she said in greeting. “How are things going?”
“Good, but with some hiccups along the way. However, nothing for you to worry about.
I do have a couple of questions to ask though. Did Barbie ever mention any of the guys that she might have been dating while at Pembroke State? I ask because I ran into someone today who mentioned he dated her while there, and that was something you and I never discussed. And I wondered if you knew about this and just didn’t think to mention it. Not that it would have been connected to her disappearance, but in general.”
“Someone from Altoona? That went to Pembroke State who she might have dated?” Trish said. “I’m trying to think if we ever talked about the boys she was seeing. We talked about most things, but I can’t recall if she mentioned anyone in particular. Who was it? Can you tell me?
“It was Cliff Beamer of all people.”
