Page 29 of Deadly Forever

“I see,” MacIntosh said, shaking his head. “That’s a tragic situation all around.”

“It definitely is,” James agreed. “I shot one of the teenagers. He had a gun pointed at Mandy and … well … I didn’t know he was a teenager at the time. He was wearing a mask. That wouldn’t have stopped me, mind you, but I’m interested in finding motives.”

“I understand that,” MacIntosh said, bobbing his head. “Am I right in assuming that’s why you’re here?”

Mandy balked. “I missed you.”

“I miss you, too,” MacIntosh said, chuckling. “I can still tell you have a purpose, my dear. It’s quite all right. Tell me what’s going on.”

“One of the kids who attacked the mall has a sealed file we haven’t been able to access,” James explained, taking over for his uncomfortable wife. “Dakota Landers. We don’t know that it has anything to do with what happened, but his father came to visit yesterday and I asked him about the file. He claimed no knowledge of it.”

“That would be highly unlikely,” MacIntosh said. “If the boy got in enough trouble to warrant a sealed file … and he was a minor … his parents would have to know about the situation.”

“That’s exactly what I think, too,” James admitted, bobbing his head. “The father was being purposely evasive. I’m sure of it. What do you think?”

“Are you asking me to open it?”

Mandy immediately started shaking her head. “Not if you’re uncomfortable with it. We can look in other places if you don’t want to do it. We totally understand and promise there will be no hard feelings no matter what you decide.”

MacIntosh steepled his fingers as he studied the couple in front of him. He thought of Mandy as something of a daughter, and he’d grown incredibly fond of her husband. He couldn’t tell them no. “I won’t be a judge for much longer anyway,” he said, tapping on his keyboard. “We might as well look and see what we can find. It’s not as if this will somehow leak out and ruin my reelection chances.”

“Thank you,” James said. “I just want to know why they did it.”

“I don’t blame you,” MacIntosh said. “Heck, for all we know, the sealed file might be nothing more than public intoxication or shoplifting.”

“I understand that,” James said. “We just need to know if it’s something that can be used for a clue.”

“Oh, well … .” MacIntosh made a face as he stared at his screen. “It’s definitely something that can be used for a clue.”

“What is it?”

MacIntosh made a clucking sound as he studied his computer screen. “Oh, my. This is going to change everything. I can’t believe no one has picked up this angle yet. This is just … disturbing.”