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> The Buick Man observed this and said, “That’s what you get for trying to strangle Maxwell instead of simply shooting her. Didn’t you ever consider that a Secret Service agent might be armed?”
“I like my victims to know my presence. It’s just my way.”
“While working for me you’ll subvert your ways to mine. You’re lucky the bullet just nicked you.”
“I suppose you would have just left me to die if the bullet had done serious damage?”
“No. I would have shot you and put you out of your misery.”
Simmons stared at his companion for a long moment. “I bet you would have.”
“Yes, I would have.”
“Well, we got the gun back, that’s the important thing.”
Buick Man stopped working and looked at him steadily. “Maxwell frightens you, doesn’t she?”
“I’m not afraid of any man, much less a woman.”
“She almost killed you. In fact, it’s only by sheer luck that you escaped.”
“I won’t miss next time.”
“See that you don’t. Because if you do miss, I certainly won’t miss you.”
CHAPTER
47
THE FOLLOWING MORNING the group split up. Joan went off to Dobson, Tyler, the Philadelphia law firm where Bruno had worked, and also to interview Bruno’s political staff. Parks set off too, though he didn’t tell the others he was going to report in to the task force back in Washington.
Before they all parted, Michelle pulled Joan aside.
“You were part of Ritter’s detail. What do you recall about Scott?”
“Not much. I was a recent transfer to Ritter’s detail. I didn’t know him all that well. And after the assassination we were all reassigned pretty much immediately.”
“Recent transfer? Did you ask for it?” She stared pointedly at the other woman.
“Most things in life worth having are rarely handed to you. You have to go after them.” Michelle involuntarily glanced at King, who was talking to Parks. Joan smiled. “I see you follow my logic precisely. One piece of advice while you’re out sleuthing with Sean: he has a terrific nose for investigative work but can be impetuous at times. Follow his lead but watch over him too.”
“Not to worry,” said Michelle, and she started to walk away.
“Oh, and Michelle, I was very serious when I implied these people we’re looking for don’t care whether you live or die. So while you’re covering Sean’s back, don’t forget to watch your own. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. I can see that Sean is quite fond of having you around.”
Michelle turned back around. “Well, some of us are lucky, aren’t we?”
As Joan was driving off in her car, she placed a call to her office staff.
“I need all the background on and present whereabouts of Robert C. Scott, former Secret Service agent and detail leader for Clyde Ritter in 1996, and also on a man named Doug Denby, who was Ritter’s chief of staff. And I need it ASAP.”
King and Maxwell drove to Richmond to see Kate Ramsey, who’d returned to VCU and agreed to meet with them. The Center for Public Policy was on Franklin Street in the heart of Virginia Commonwealth University’s downtown campus. The center was located in a beautifully refurbished brownstone. The street was filled with such houses, which represented the old wealth of a bygone era in Virginia’s capital city.
Kate Ramsey met them in the reception area and led them back to a private office that was filled with books and papers, posters detailing various protests and other activities as well as music posters and assorted sports equipment befitting a youthful scholar.
Looking at the clutter, King whispered to Michelle that she must be feeling right at home and caught an elbow in the ribs.
Kate Ramsey was of medium height and had the build of a runner, with tight, lean muscles. Four different pairs of jogging shoes in the corner of her office confirmed this observation. Her hair was blond and tied back in a ponytail. Her clothes were college standard issue: faded jeans, sneakers and an Abercrombie & Fitch short-sleeved shirt. She seemed poised beyond her years and regarded them both with a very frank expression as she sat across from them at her desk.
