As they approached the interrogation room, Maya’s heart pounded. If it was a suspect in there that wasn’t related to her, she’d never feel this way, but this was different. Eric was her father. He’d become family and she felt a bond to him.
Maya stood back so the three agents could go in. She closed the door behind them and then went to watch the interview with Josh and Pops.
Kessler pulled out a chair and sat down. Agent Ross stood in the corner and broke the rule of no arm crossing. Maya figured maybe the FBI had different rules. They weren’t out on patrols like she was. His face was hard and tight, bringing out some wrinkles. Agent Bernardo seemed more relaxed. He was the agent who’d worked the bank robberies with Abigail. What did he think about her? And how close had they become during that investigation?
“Let me cut to the chase,” Eric said. “I’ll talk to you, Agent Kessler, but only under one condition.”
“I don’t think you’re in a bargaining position,” Kessler said. “You’re the one in custody.”
“True,” Eric answered. He leaned slightly forward. “But you forget I know the system too. If mycondition isn’t met, I’ll lawyer up and you’ll never get answers.”
“I understand it’s your granddaughter who’s been taken. Don’t you think it’s in your best interest to cooperate?”
“Yes, and that’s the only reason I’ll talk to you. But that’s the thing. I only will talk to you.” Eric sat back and let that sink in. “And I want Maya, Josh and the sheriff back in here too.”
Maya knew Kessler well enough to know he was considering Eric’s stipulation.
“Okay,” Kessler said. He turned around. “You two. Leave.”
“What?” Bernardo said in disbelief. “You begged us to come and now you want us out of here?”
“Yeah,” Ross said, uncrossing his arms. “If you want our help, then let us help.”
“Look, guys,” Kessler said. “We’re wasting time. Let me talk with Eric and then I’ll fill you in, okay?”
“Fine,” Agent Ross muttered.
As Agent Ross left the room in front of Bernardo, he was saying some profanities under his breath—something about Kessler and teaching him everything he knew and now being a know-it-all. Maya stepped out of the way. “He’s serious about a partner on the inside.”
“He is,” Josh said.
“Then we should take him seriously. I know he’s done some crazy things, but he knows Abigail better than anyone and this isn’t a normal case,” Maya said. She glanced around to make sure the other agentshadn’t tried to sneak back in. She understood. She’d be mad too if she was in their shoes. People arrested for crimes didn’t get to dictate the rules. But Eric wasn’t a normal suspect.
“I agree.”
“It’s never boring,” Maya said as they stepped inside the room. She shut the door behind her. Pops stood in the corner. He looked tired and Maya was certain he was. She’d been bummed when he announced a couple months ago that he wanted to retire, but over the past year he’d aged. Now Maya was glad he’d made that decision. She turned her attention to Kessler and Eric who appeared to be in a staring contest.
“Thanks for sending your other two agents out,” Eric said.
“Don’t thank me yet and don’t make me regret that,” Kessler said. “It doesn’t mean that I won’t share what I learn with them. They’re right, I begged them to come help me so that we could find your granddaughter before it’s too late. It’s not like they don’t have a case load of their own.”
“Fair enough. You should know that I only trust you because my daughter does,” Eric said. “If she didn’t, I would have lawyered up.”
“Why are you being so paranoid?”
“Because the information I have could be deadly,” Eric said, leaning in closer to Kessler. “I’m not joking about that. It’s information that could mean the death penalty for Abigail Harper. I know her well enough to know that she may not care if she gets the death penalty. Life in prison doesn’t even scareher. But that’s because she’ll get what she wants the most first.”
“What’s that?” asked Kessler.
“Revenge.”
“Why?”
Eric sat back. “She always thought she was smart and wouldn’t get caught. She thought she was above the law. Everyone was scared of her and she liked it that way. She never did the actual dirty work. That way she could never be completely tied back to any murder. Other crimes maybe, but not that. However, she’s deadly. Don’t underestimate her. There are very few people who ever stood up to her and the ones I know of for sure are all dead.”
Maya clenched her fists knowing her mother was one of those victims. And her grandmother. She’d never be able to hug them or talk to them again because of Abigail. That was something that Maya would never forgive. Or forget. And now this. If it was the last thing Maya did, she would make Abigail pay for her crimes. It wouldn’t bring back Nana and her mother, but it would bring some sense of justice. She thought she’d had that with Abigail in prison. Thinking about the moment Kessler told her that Abigail had escaped, it seemed like the old wounds were instantly ripped back open and the pain was only stronger.
As if feeling her emotion, Kessler glanced her way and then continued, “I know about Maya’s mother and grandmother. Who else?”
