“As long as you return the favor. Of course I could have had you brought into my office, but that might have caused resentment. That wouldn’t have accomplished anything. I wanted your cooperation. So when the agent I assigned to you reported that you appeared to be going to Lynch’s place, I decided to join you.”
Kendra shook her head in disbelief. “The agent you had assigned to me . . .”
“Just covering all the bases.”
“Uh-huh. You must have been disappointed that I wasn’t meeting Lynch today.”
He shook his head. “I doubted that he’d be here. Justice had already sent out a man to check this property.” He paused. “Though I was hoping that your being here might bring him and save me time. It’s no secret that you’re in a relationship.”
She was staring at him in disbelief. “I’m getting an unpleasant vibe here. It sounds as if he’s under suspicion or something.”
“No such thing,” he said quickly. “Just the opposite. Neither of you has anything to worry about. I just wanted to know what Lynch has told you about the case he’s working on.”
“Nothing,” she said flatly. “We never discuss his work. He’d regard it as a breach of confidence.”
“And yet you showed up here today when you knew he wasn’t here.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, yes, the seals.”
“Exactly. I was doing Lynch a favor. He has caretakers and experts from UCSD here every day, but it makes him feel better to know I’m keeping tabs on things.” She stopped on the path and turned to face Griffin. “And I’m not sure I believe you when you said there’s nothing suspicious in anything you’re asking. Almost everything that Lynch deals with is classified. Perhaps I’d better call the Justice Department myself.”
“No!” Griffin said sharply. “You’re right, they stressed it was top secret. We don’t want any chatter about any of this.”
“I don’t chatter.” She was getting edgier by the minute. “Any of what?Talkto me. What’s happening to Lynch? Is it some political bullshit?”
“No.” Then he shrugged. “He’s disappeared. We can’t locate him.”
“What?” She stared at him, stunned. “And you think he’s gone rogue?”
“It was one explanation I suggested. But Justice didn’t buy it. They said they had complete faith in Lynch.” He added sourly, “You’d think they’d pay attention to my thoughts on the subject since they asked for my help. But they wouldn’t even talk about his mission to me. They’d only say that the case he’s working on is extremely sensitive and important and that we have to find a way to get him back.”
“Get him back?” She felt a chill go through her. “You’re really sincere about him disappearing?”
“I’d hardly joke about an act that’s a national crime,” he said sarcastically. “Now, do you know anything that would help us? Have you talked to Lynch lately?”
“He phoned me several days ago.”
“And?”
“It was just casual conversation. I did most of the talking about my younger clients, the children. Though he seemed to be in a good mood. He was joking.” She took a step closer to Griffin. “This is all crazy,” she said harshly. “Why on earth do you think something might have happened to him? This is Adam Lynch we’re talking about.”
“I told you that I wasn’t certain he was a victim. That’s a call for guys at the Department of Justice.They’reworried he might be a victim.” His gaze was raking her face. “But if it will convince you that we’re serious about this, I’ll tell you what we know about his disappearance. A few days ago, Lynch had contact with Ted Cambry, a special agent assigned by the Justice Department to travel to the U.K. and pick up Lynch and some precious cargo.”
“What ‘precious cargo’?”
“No idea. Again, I haven’t been looped in on it. Anyway, he and Lynch spoke, and Lynch told him he had some details to wrap up. They agreed to meet at a small airstrip in Scotland four days ago. Lynch was to be flown back to the U.S. on a private jet to be debriefed, but he was a no-show. Naturally, Agent Cambry was worried and conducted a thorough search, but none of the airport personnel had seen or heard from him. Considering the sensitivity I mentioned, Justice has sent a crack team to meet with Cambry in London and they’ve pulled out all the stops to locate him.” He smiled mockingly. “Including reaching out to a woman with whom Lynch has been known to have a long and very personal relationship. You have more in common with Adam Lynch than you probably think. You’re both extremelyhardheaded, but you’re good enough that law-enforcement agencies are still lining up to engage your services. You’ve worked several cases together, yet you tell me that you know nothing about Lynch’s current business. I find that . . . unusual.”
“Too bad. Neither of us answers to you, Griffin. And I’m quite sure that Lynch wouldn’t appreciate Justice interfering or questioning any of the details of his personal life, either. Now, do you have any other questions?”
“Not at the moment. But I do have to warn you that I might want to bring you in again for interrogation if I see cause.”
“That’s your privilege. Just see that you don’t abuse it or I’ll sue your pants off.”
“I’m sure you would. But you’re sure you can’t help me?”
She wasn’t about to tell him anything about the package she’d slipped into her handbag. If Lynch had wanted Griffin or one of the agents from Justice to have it, he would have given it to them. Who knew if he trusted them? He lived in a world that was one tightrope after another. Better to hold on to it until she could hand it over to him personally. She forced herself not to look down at her handbag. “I’ve told you that I don’t know anything about Lynch’s latest case. That’s the truth. But if you find out anything more about his disappearance, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know right away.”
“I’ll consider it,” Griffin said.
“Now go home, Griffin. Your daughter and grandchild are visiting from out of town.”
