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Walsh glanced at Mason, then headed his way. Mason had done his homework on Leland Walsh. His firm took no prisoners when it came to courtroom battles. He was accustomed to winning and to having those around him do as he asked without question. Though Mason had never met him before, he knew his sort. The sort who thought he ruledhis slice of the world. Anyone who blocked his path was to be removed by whatever means necessary.
“Agent Cross.” Walsh approached Mason’s position and extended his hand.
“Mr.Walsh.” Mason shook his hand, then gestured to the stool next to him. “Please join me. I’ll order you a drink.”
Walsh slid onto the stool. “Bourbon. Neat.”
Mason nodded to the bartender and placed the order. When the bourbon had arrived, he kicked off the conversation by reaffirming what he’d already said after the task force briefing. “I am genuinely sorry for your loss.”
Walsh nodded. “So am I. So am I.” He downed his drink. “But there’s one thing I recognized in Asher.” He turned to Mason. “Whatever he decided to do in life, he was not going to be stopped. Unfortunately, this attitude may have been the death of him.”
Mason hummed a note of understanding. “I have a daughter exactly like that. There’s no changing her mind once it’s made up.” He gestured to the empty glass. “Would you care for another?”
Walsh placed his hand over his glass. “I’m not going to waste your time, Agent Cross. I want this investigation into my son’s murder over as quickly as possible.”
Mason stared into his own glass, considered throwing back the contents but decided to hold off for a bit. Where had he heard this before? Just further indication of how jumpy everyone had grown. “I can assure you I’m doing all within my power for a speedy closure.”
“I saw the medical examiner’s report. I do not want that information to become public knowledge. My wife is already devastated. I don’t want her hurt further by learning about the cocaine.”
Strange. Mason had expected the man to insist his son would never be involved with drugs. Perhaps he had overestimated the man’s grief. Or perhaps his need to protect the family’s reputation simply outweighed the grief. “It’s possible the report could come into evidenceif there’s a trial. I have no control over what the district attorney does with evidence. However, I don’t expect a trial.”
“Both the mayor and the chief of police have assured me,” Walsh pointed out, “that you will take care of the situation. I appreciate your personal assurance as well.”
Why was Mason not surprised? Of course the powers that be had provided assurances. “I’ll do what I can,” Mason allowed.
“Thanks for the drink.”
Walsh slid off the stool and walked out.
Mason prided himself on keeping his finger on the pulse of the goings-on in his home turf. He was beginning to suspect he had missed something here.
Something bigger than he’d expected.
21
Session Three
Three Years Ago
After the usual steps to prepare for the regression therapy, Dr.Holden begins.
“Sadie, this is session three. In our last session we went back to October 31. There was a party with a special guest attending. Can we discuss this night further?”
Silence.
“Unless we move forward, we’ll never get to the memories you’ve lost.”
“Something was wrong that night.”
Her voice sounds too soft and too small. Sadie is hard and cold and far fiercer ... like her father. But this is her voice. No mistake.
“Explain how you mean. Wrong in what way?”
“I felt strange. Like I was on a bad trip. Someone must have put something in my drink. At one point I had to leave my glass on the nearest table and brace myself so I didn’t fall. The room whirled around and grew dim.”
“Did you collapse?”
Silence.
