Page 143 of False Flag

Crash was on her short list of people who had participated in the Truther attacks. Was it possible she’d been seated next to the man who’d attacked her?

If so, he’d absolutely known who she was that night, and she felt horrifically naïve for never having considered the possibility.

Bile rose even as a shiver slithered down her spine. She felt itchy and dirty and violated.

Walt Costner had known. And he’d probably felt downright gleeful at her cluelessness.

An hour later, she entered Heron House. She went to Gerard’s office and knocked on the closed door. “He’s not here,” Dahlia said from behind her.

Staci let out a screech of surprise and whirled around. “You scared the crap out of me! I didn’t hear you on the stairs.”

She shrugged. “I was in the kitchen.” She held up a bag of ground coffee. “We’re out in the basement.”

Staci stared at the bag with longing. The parts of the internet that she could access had strong feelings about microwaving tea, and she’d never made it back to the kitchen to find a kettle.

But coffee would be safe if she and Dahlia drank from the same pot. “I’d kill for a cup if you’re making some.”

“Sure.” She nodded to the kitchen. “Gerard’s gone, so we can make it up here.”

“He’s gone? Where did he go?”

She followed Dahlia into the large kitchen filled with modern appliances, including an espresso machine that looked more complicated than a fighter jet’s cockpit. Far too complex for a woman who didn’t even know how to make tea.

Staci filled the carafe with tap water while Dahlia measured out the grounds. “Gerard and the others left on the dive boat right after recording today’s surprise announcement.”

“Everyone? The expedition team and the film crew?”

She nodded.

“Security?”

Dahlia shook her head. “No. At least a skeleton crew is still here.”

For several reasons, Beau would be on the crew left behind, not the least of which because as a felon, he was in Canada illegally. He wouldn’t dare risk leaving, which was a bummer.

She’d be making eggs for every meal for the foreseeable future.

“Yesterday, Gerard said Jake was coming back and we’d be filming today.”

“I don’t know anything about Jake, but filming today is definitely canceled.”

Staci filled the coffee maker reservoir and hit the switch. She leaned back against the counter and faced Dahlia. “I saw the video. Is Gerard going to Whidbey Island for the protest?”

“He’s coming back tonight. He wanted me to tell you you’ll be filming tomorrow.”

Yeah, Gerard probably didn’t want to be anywhere near the event when things went down. But that he didn’t want her on Whidbey was a surprise. “That guy he interviewed today—Walt Costner—you know him?”

She shrugged. “He’s active in the forums. Goes by the screen name Micky M.”

This didn’t surprise her. She wouldn’t expect him to use the same screen name on the public forums as he did on the Truther chats. “Because he’s Walt, I presume?”

“I mean, it’s better than Goofy?”

“Does he really live in Washington State? I’m pretty sure I met him at the fundraiser in DC last December. Seems odd he’d be there.”

Dahlia shrugged. “Sorry. I try to avoid interacting with the superfans. They can be a bit…intense.” Then she paused and said, “But they had to do a few takes for the interview. He messed up some town names. Puh-yall-up or something.”

“Puyallup,” Staci said, pronouncing it correctly: Pugh-Al-up. “I lived in Washington for a few years as a kid. I don’t remember much, but I do remember the Puyallup Fair. No local would get that one wrong. Why lie?”