Page 47 of Flash Freeze

“Hold it there,” broke in Booker’s lawyer. “We’ve already struck a deal, and murder charges aren’t on the table. My client had nothing to do with the bomb or any murder and was completely unaware of it until this minute.”

Athena drew Booker’s attention. “Who is Nexus?”

He let out a grave sigh, turning his palms upward. “I don’t know, but I suspect he or she works at the plant, or at least for a vendor that regularly provides service. Otherwise, how would they have access to my office or the products?”

“Who are these buyers and what do they want with your chemicals?” Bach pressed.

Booker sagged, exhaustion dragging at his features. “I have no idea. Nexus found people who wanted our materials under the table.”

“Didn’t it occur to you these could be criminals, gangs, foreign actors, or even terrorists?” Athena snapped. “Why else would they be willing to pay so much to avoid a paper trail? First, you skim from the till. Then you climb into bed with a criminal broker selling your products to nefarious buyers for illegal purposes. And now four people are dead, and a distinguished firefighter’s reputation is ruined. Was it worth it?”

Booker slid his hands back to his lap and lowered his head. “I guess not.”

Chapter 22

Feeling as if she’d been stood up for the prom, Athena returned to her office with Detective Bach in tow, acting as though she were the queen of the ball. “Not as helpful as I’d have liked, but progress, at least.” She frowned at Agents Ice and Hernandez’s empty desks. “Where’d they go?”

“To track down and bring in Whitmore’s security guard, Tyrell Jensen, with the parking ticket,” Howard answered.

“Good. Now listen.” She swept a serious gaze around her team. “It’s almost six o’clock, and this weather front will arrive soon. If you have any way to get to the office tomorrow, go home. If you want to stay over and didn’t bring an overnight bag, go get one. Plan for food too. I doubt there’ll be takeout tomorrow, and the deli across the street is sure to be closed. I don’t live far, so I’ll be staying late. Agent Ice offered to give me a lift in the morning if I can’t get my car out of the parking garage.”

“I have a four-wheel drive too,” Bach said, and glanced at Shoops. Athena really wanted to roll her eyes. Did that man hit on anyone who breathed? Still, his vehicle would come in handy if they needed to take another drive out to Redstone Ranch. Her nose crinkled subconsciously at the thought.

“Maybe you could pick me up in the morning?” Karen asked hopefully. “I have a little Volkswagen.”

“Sure, no problem,” he smiled.

“I planned to stay here overnight,” Paulson said. “My wife packed me a bag and a lunch, but I’d like to order dinner before places start closing.”

“Who else is staying?” Athena asked.

“My clan is gathering at Gran’s place,” Campbell said. “They’re expecting me, but I’m sure I’ll make it back in tomorrow.”

Howard said, “I have quite a commute, so if I could run home and gather some stuff, I’ll come back and sleep on the couch to keep Agent Paulson company.”

“OK. Paulson, order food. The rest of you, go batten down the hatches. If Ice and Hernandez find Jensen, I’ll have him held overnight, and we can grill him in the morning.”

Tension and relief mingled in the room as agents got up to leave. Athena approached Paulson’s station.

“That was a painstakingly long interview,” he commented.

“Tell me about it,” Athena muttered. “Did you find anything else?”

“Bits and pieces, but not enough to tell a story,” he said.

“Are you going to bunk in the crib?”

“Yeah, eventually.”

“And will your wife be alright by herself in the storm?” Athena’s expression softened as her gaze met the older agent’s.

“Our son is coming to stay over with her,” he said with a confident smile. “We have a wood-burning fireplace and lots of logs.”

Athena nodded, satisfied he had everything in hand.

After enjoying a meal with Paulson and poring over the case files again, Athena headed out. An icy wind bit through her light blazer, but no precipitation yet. The weather report called for it to hit in earnest around midnight. Her apartment was so unwelcoming that she wished she’d stayed at the FBI building. Not Flash’s loft. She thought about the texture of the brick wall, the warmth of Flash’s bed, Snuffles curling up by her feet after tongue-washing her face.

It’s too far to drive over there this late, she thought, and Flash is on call. It would be embarrassing to call Travis to come rescue me if my car got stuck in a snowdrift.