AllFreeNovel
Share Us
21
Satisfied, he reviewed the events of the previous night as he ate a breakfast picked up from a diner a few blocks away.
He’d watched Jefferson Cole’s demise from a dock farther down the river’s edge until his body was taken away. Everyone—from the passersby who’d dived into the frigid water to the EMTs—had failed to save the man. Then after he’d tossed the daughter’s cell phone into the river, he’d pulled his jacket closed against the cold wind before driving away. He’d also slipped the envelope into a mailbox with a late pick up to ensure its arrival this morning.
Number four was finished. The police and the FBI’s so-called behavioral analysts were no match for him, and it was time for his next work of genius. His magnum opus. He smiled. Two more, and then he’d leave the country. He had a place ready where no one knew him. Where he could start over. He would have a new life. And no one would ever come looking for him. He’d make sure of that.
Once the analysts were gone, Terry led Logan, Gorman, and Reinhardt into a small conference room. Cooper and Palmer had left as well, as had the police officer from Georgetown after speaking to Gorman for a few minutes. Once the four men were seated, Terry asked Logan if he already knew Donald Reinhardt.
“I’m not sure we ever spoke, sir,” Logan said to the man. “But you taught interrogation techniques when I was a new recruit. Good to see you again.”
Reinhardt raised one eyebrow and wrinkled his nose as if he were sniffing rancid food. “I don’t remember you. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. You taught a lot of us.”
Reinhardt nodded, then turned his attention back to Terry. “Look, I appreciate your concern for me, but I’m not convinced I need to stay here. I no longer work for the FBI. I’m retired. Those in charge made sure of that. I don’t feel the need to follow your instructions.”
“We’re worried about you,” Terry said. Logan could see signs of the tension Terry was trying to suppress. “Every book page left behind after a death has given us a clue to the next killing. You’re not mentioned by name, but you are referred to on the page we found with Monty Wong’s grandmother. You may be in grave danger.”
“May be?” Reinhardt repeated. “I have a life, and I know how to take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Look, no one’s saying that. We ... we could use your expertise with this. You have a lot of experience that could prove invaluable to us.”
Terry was obviously trying to appeal to Reinhardt’s ego since nothing else seemed to be working.
“So you kick me to the curb, but when you need me, you think you can pull me back?” Reinhardt said. “I don’t think so.”
“You know that’s not true,” Terry said. “We all have to retire at fifty-seven. You weren’t singled out. And you were a great teacher here at the academy. You shared your wisdom with many trainees. You left with our appreciation and esteem. Not many people have the kind of career you’ve had with the FBI.”
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Reinhardt said. His words were sharp and quick, like bullets ripping through a target. “I’ll stay for a while, but if I decide to leave, I’m not asking anyone’s permission.”
“That’s up to you.” Terry turned to Logan. “I want you, Alex, Kaely, and Monty to keep working the profile. See if you can narrow it down any more. We need all the help we can get.”
The door to the room opened, and an agent with a box in his hands stepped inside. “Oh, good,” Terry said. “Craig, you’re confident these will work?”
The agent nodded. “As sure as we can be. We’re certain everyone will be protected.”
Terry looked at Logan. “Since you and the other agents in your unit can’t use your own cell phones, CIRG is giving us these phones for you to use. They have no video or photo apps and no voice mail. No one can call you or text you unless they have one of these phones. You can call out just like a regular phone, but don’t call or text anyone outside of the people who’ve also been issued one of these phones unless it’s an emergency. If you get a call and the name of the caller on the screen isn’t the name of an approved caller, don’t answer it. I really don’t believe that will ever happen. CIRG is confident these phones are secure. No matter how good the UNSUB is at hacking, he can’t get to these.”
If the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group said these phones were safe, Logan was certain they were. CIRG was the best in the country at what they did.
“Remember, landline phones are also available on the first floor,” Terry went on. “But I doubt you’ll need them. Please distribute a phone to all seven agents in your unit and explain what I’ve just told you. They’re labeled. Every phone has the names of the people who can be called listed under Contacts. And tell your team they still need to be on their guard. I don’t want them taking any chances.”
Craig held out the box to Logan, who took out the correct eight phones, including the one for him.
Terry took three more phones from Craig and handed them to Chief Gorman. “Advise your team they need to use these when they’re here, not their regular phones. The same goes for you, Chief. I know it seems like our analysts are the UNSUB’s target, but we shouldn’t take chances. If he knows you’re working with us, you and your detectives are at risk.”
“I understand,” Gorman said.
Craig held out two additional phones. Terry put one in his pocket, but when he offered one to Reinhardt, the man huffed, “You’re not taking my cell phone. That’s ridiculous.”
Terry’s face flushed, but he controlled his temper. “I’m not taking your phone. I would advise you not to use it, though. If you don’t listen to me, you may be putting yourself or a family member in danger.”
He held the phone out to Reinhardt, who hesitated before finally taking it.
“We’ll talk more about this later. Just please turn off your phone for now until we have a better plan. We’re trying to save your life.”
“I’m starting to realize how addicted we are to our phones,” Chief Gorman said. “Not sure that’s a good thing.”
