Page 10 of M for Murder

3

FRIDAY 18TH APRIL 1997

R umours had been circulating the department that the FBI was to be involved with the ‘Body in the sewer’ murder for much of the day. Rebecca had tried not to take it too seriously; rumours often amounted to nothing more than that. Besides, she couldn’t think of any possible interest that the Feds would have in the case. As far as she was aware, this was a standard homicide investigation and, although the police of course wanted to apprehend the killer, it did appear to be a one-off murder, so she was more surprised than anyone when two suited men entered the office late on Friday afternoon.

Vic had been bitching about the Feds being involved ever since the story had started to spread. Rebecca had learned during the last couple of days that he had been forced to work with the FBI on a case down in California five years ago and he made it sound a unpleasant experience. She didn’t doubt that Vic’s main problem though had been that he’d been made to do some actual work.

He was getting coffee when the men entered the office, Rebecca doing paperwork. They didn’t stop to make small talk but headed straight into Captain Krigg’s office.

One of the men looked to be in his mid-fifties, the other closer to her own age and, of the two, the older one seemed the most approachable. Despite the fact that he was dressed in a charcoal suit and tie, Rebecca couldn’t help thinking that he looked a little out of place. His thick, straw-blond hair, ruddy complexion and heavily built frame would be better suited to more casual attire – she could easily picture him driving a rig or working on a farm, dressed in scruffy overalls or loose-fitting denims.

His partner, a tall guy with unruly dark hair, glanced briefly in her direction before entering Krigg’s office, and she took an immediate dislike to him.

She wasn’t sure exactly why. Maybe it was the air of arrogance that he seemed to carry with him in the way he walked, or perhaps it was the way he narrowed his eyes and half smiled, half sneered at her. She kind of hoped that maybe he’d walk into the door or trip on the step on his way in, thinking he needed to be brought down a peg or two.

Unfortunately, he did neither.

Krigg’s door remained closed for the next two hours until eventually Stanley Blake, one of the department’s veterans and also the detective in charge of the ‘Sewer’ murder, was summoned, renewing all suspicions as to why the Feds were there.

Blake was in the room for fifteen minutes, during which time raised voices could be heard. When he left, his face was flushed, and he looked annoyed. He glanced round the room, his dark eyes landing on Vic and Rebecca.

‘Krigg wants to see you two, now.’

He didn’t offer them an explanation as to why, nor stop long enough for them to ask.

Rebecca looked at Vic, eyebrows raised questioningly. The blue in his eyes had turned a stormy grey. Giving an exaggerated sigh, he got up from his chair.

‘Just what I need, to get stuck in the middle of another fucking Federal investigation.’

Rebecca declined to comment. She was curious to know what was going on. Were the two guys with Krigg really FBI? And why did they want to see her and Vic? A sudden thought struck her. Maybe they had screwed up.

Getting up from her desk, she followed Vic into Krigg’s office, her heart beating faster than usual, feeling a mixture of intrigue and apprehension.

Captain Krigg glanced up as they entered. He was a pleasant man, fast approaching retirement, and Rebecca had found him, in her brief time working under him, to be both personally and professionally meticulous. His thick white hair was neatly clipped and combed in a presentable style and the collars of his shirts always looked freshly laundered. His office was never untidy, no matter how busy he was. Paperwork was always in a tray, coffee cups were not allowed unless a coaster was used and the room had a personal feel to it, with pot plants on the window ledge and pictures of his many grandchildren on display.

Right now, the Captain was smiling at them both, but Rebecca noticed it was with no warmth. She guessed the smile was forced: an effort, perhaps, on behalf of the Feds? As Captain Krigg was the only person in the department who seemed to support her joining the force, and the only one who so far had made her feel genuinely welcome, this left her with a strong sense of unease. What was going on?

He raised a hand.

‘Why don’t you both pull up a chair?’ Then turning to the two alleged Federal Agents who were already seated, ‘These are the two officers who found the body, Vic Boaz and Rebecca Angell.’

Rebecca, still feeling apprehensive, took a seat on one of the empty hard-backed chairs in front of the Captain’s desk. She nodded towards the two men and smiled politely. Vic was more forthcoming.

‘Feds, right?’

The older man answered him with a nod and, in a grainy voice, introduced them both.

‘I’m Special Agent Max Sutton and this is my partner, Special Agent Joel Hickok.’

A thin smile formed on Vic’s lips. ‘Hickok hey? Any relation to Wild Bill?’

‘Yeah, he was my great granddaddy,’ the younger man quickly retorted, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Rebecca noticed that he had an East Coast accent. New York, possibly.

Vic raised his eyebrows in mock offence. ‘Hey, buddy, lighten up. I was just kidding around.’

‘Don’t.’

The two of them exchanged a heated glance and Rebecca was glad that Krigg was in the room. She had a feeling that otherwise things might have turned nasty.