“Do you want to talk it out? I think you know that you can trust me not to get in your way.”
Yes, Kendra knew that was true. Jessie ran her own Santa Monica private detective agency, and she was doing very well because she was smart as a whip and seemed to have contacts all over Southern California. She was also super discreet and honest, and she had helped Lynch and Kendra many times in extremely close calls.
“You may not want to become involved,” Kendra said ruefully. “It’s not going to improve your relations with the FBI. Griffin will probably be back and asking questions I won’t answer.”
“Actually, that sounds like an intriguing prospect.” Jessie chuckled. “Did I mention he’s not one of my favorite people?”
“I believe you did.” She was still a little uncertain, but it probably couldn’t hurt to just fill Jessie in on the general info Griffin had given her when Olivia had already told her so much. Maybe it would help Kendra clear her head and make those decisions. “But perhaps you’ll see why I might agree with you after I tell you about my little chat with him. It was mostly about Lynch . . .”
Jessie was silent for a moment after Kendra had finished. “He actually suggested to the Justice Department that Lynch might have turned rogue?”
“That’s what he said.” Kendra wrinkled her nose. “He added very quickly that Justice hadn’t believed him. I don’t know if he even believed it himself. I’ve always thought that Griffin was a little jealous of Lynch since he’s become the fair-haired boy with the Justice Department. He might have just thought it was a way to undermine Lynch’s influence.”
“A very dangerous move,” Jessie said. “In the circles Lynch moves in, he could end up dead if they thought he was a traitor.”
“But Justice doesn’t think he’s a traitor. They’re leaning toward victim. Or so they told Griffin. Who knows if there’s not a mole in the Justice Department, too? I have problems trusting politicians.” Kendra glanced at her handbag on the backseat. “Either way, I can see why Lynch might not feel he could trust either of them. Which is probably why he contacted me to go get that package for him.”
“And tried to make the fact that he was doing it as obscure as possible,” Jessie murmured. “He didn’t want them to connect his mission with you if he could find a way around it.”
“That’s right.” She suddenly felt a rush of profound relief as she realized what that meant. “They said he disappeared and were afraid he was a victim. But all this happened after he disappeared from that Scottish airport. So he has to be alive and out there somewhere figuring out a way to handle what’s going on.”
“Excellent reasoning,” Jessie said. “Why do I feel all is suddenly right with your world?”
“Because he’salive.” She drew a deep breath. “I kept telling myself that, but I was kind of stunned. It took you to say the words before they actually made sense. Of course he’s alive and well. He’s Adam Lynch, isn’t he? They’d never be able to put him down. Now all I have to do is to find a way to help him.”
“I’m glad you feel like that. You’re right. Lynch is a remarkable man. But would you find it rude if I asked if you by any chance have a plan of how you’re going to do that?”
“No, but I’ll go back to the condo and think about it and see what I can come up with.”
“Could I suggest that you open that package and see if the contents help you reach a conclusion? I realize that you regard that as Lynch’s private property, but I think it would meet with his approval considering the circumstances. What the hell, right?”
“What the hell, indeed?” Kendra said. “I’m not an idiot. I was hesitating to violate Lynch’s privacy, but everything is changing minute by minute now and I need to know where he is and what he’s doing. The first thing I’ll do when I get back to the condo is see what those seals were guarding for Lynch.”
“And then?”
“I’ll go after him,” she said simply. “I just hope he’ll have lefta clue with George and Matilda of where I can find him.” She was starting her car as she spoke. “Thank you for coming after me, Jessie. It might not seem like it, but you’ve been a big help to me and I appreciate it. I was having a bad time when I was wondering if Lynch was . . .” She broke off and shook her head. “But I was being foolish and it’s good that you brought me to realize it.”
“I didn’t say anything that you weren’t already telling yourself. You’re very welcome if I helped you a little.” She paused. “But I’m not going to let you run away just yet. I think I’ll finish my job and tail you back to your condo. After all, I promised Olivia.”
Kendra frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous. You told me that you’d already walked out on that guard detail with that movie star. Who was it? Jake Brice? You seem to do quite a few jobs with him. Call him and tell him that the emergency wasn’t an emergency and you’ll be right over to keep his fans away from him. Why would you do anything else?”
Jessie shook her head. “No, it wasn’t Brice. He’s in Rome on location. The studio has hired me to guard an up-and-comer who’s starring in their new superhero franchise. They’re afraid Brice won’t do any more of their comic-book movies since he won an Oscar last year.”
“Then go hold the new guy’s hand and show him the ropes. He’ll need someone like you. Just explain to Olivia that there was no need for you to—”
“But there might be a reason,” Jessie said as she got back on her motorcycle. “Don’t tell me how to do my job. I listened to everything you said very carefully and intently. I didn’t like anyof it. Now keep quiet for a few minutes and let me tell you why you’re not going to argue with me about following you home.”
She held up her hand as Kendra opened her lips to speak. “When I parked in the woods near Lynch’s house, I followed my usual procedure: I got off my cycle and took a look around the area to see if there was any disturbance on the grounds or any recent tire tracks. The only cars I saw on the front parking area were yours and a large Lexus sedan, which I later assumed was Griffin’s when I saw him strolling toward the front door.” She paused. “But I was more interested in the tracks I saw in the woods. There were prints of another vehicle that had been stashed in the bushes, and it looked like it had been staked out there all night. I’d say whoever was here yesterday was waiting for Lynch to show. I was thinking by the look of the tire prints it was probably a German or English make.” She added, “And I found several Turkish cigarette butts on the property near the prints. Didn’t you say Lynch was supposed to be working in Denmark, but Griffin told you he had orders to take a jet out of Scotland? The U.K. is a major importer of Turkish cigarettes.”
“Aren’t you reaching?” Kendra asked skeptically. “I realize you’re an expert about tracking down and identifying different makes of cars. But is it likely that someone who was trying to go after a target living here in the States would use a foreign-made rental car instead of a U.S.-made car?”
“Not usually. Unless they were looking for a vehicle that they were familiar with, so that they would be comfortable in an attack situation.”
Kendra was still gazing doubtfully at her, and Jessie smiled as she started to put on her helmet. “Never mind. It’s enoughfor me. That and the fact that I saw a dark blue BMW drive out of the estate a few miles north of Lynch’s place right before you were saying your affectionate farewell to Griffin. My bet is they moved from those woods to find a more distant place and were using binoculars to see what was going on with you and Griffin. Right now they could be up ahead waiting for you. Or they might be parked on the road behind you until that pesky motorcycle rider gets impatient and pulls a good distance ahead of you. Which isn’t going to happen. The chances are that they won’t bother you as long as they see me close to you. The thing about motorcycles is that they’re loud and showy and they attract a hell of a lot of attention. All things that they probably want to avoid.” She fastened her helmet. “Come on, Kendra. Stay close and don’t slow down if you see that car. Got it?”
“Got it.” Kendra started to pull out of the byway back onto the main road.
They were more than halfway back to the condo before Kendra saw the dark blue BMW that Jessie had described. She had almost decided that Jessie had been wrong about any attempt to follow her. She should have known better.
