A Fine Line by Kathy Herman

Author:Kathy Herman [Herman, Kathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56422-1
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2012-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

22

Ellen Jones drove down the interstate, FBI Agent Terri Farber riding in the passenger seat and Agent Michelle Taft seated in back. She wondered how Guy would react to her arriving home hours early—and with two unexpected guests assigned to keep her safe.

“Are you feeling any more relaxed?” Agent Farber said.

“I feel safer,” Ellen said. “Relaxed isn’t a word that comes to mind.”

“We’re not being followed,” Agent Taft said from the backseat. “I’m sure of that.”

Ellen looked in the rearview mirror at the face of Agent Taft. She looked seasoned, her short, moussed hair prematurely salt-and-pepper. Yet she couldn’t be forty.

“How much further to Baxter?” Agent Farber brushed the blond bangs from her forehead and took a sip of water.

Ellen smiled without meaning to.

“Did I say something funny?”

Ellen shook her head. “No, it just reminded me of my boys when we took car trips—always wanting to know if we were there yet. They’re grown now. It’s just Guy and me.”

“Guy’s your husband?” Agent Farber said.

“Yes, if he’s still speaking to me. The attorney side of him is going to be so put out with me I can’t believe it.”

“Well, you took a big chance. The newspaper people I’ve been around act like they’re invincible when it comes to getting a story.”

“I didn’t start out trying to get this story.” Ellen heard the defensive tone in her voice. “The perp, as you refer to him, contacted me. I have no idea how he got my cell number.” Ellen sighed. “But I took the bait—hook, line, and sinker.”

Agent Farber’s cell phone rang and she hit the talk button. “This is Farber. Uh, yes, sir, we left Knoxville a couple of hours ago … Agent Taft’s with me … You did?… And?…” She glanced over at Ellen and then turned her face toward the side window There was a long pause. “You want me to pass that along?… Okay, sir. Thanks.” Agent Farber put the phone back in her pocket.

“What was all that about?” Ellen said.

“Special Agent Ellis said to tell you the three people in Chicago are confirmed dead, each with a clean shot to the head.”

A few seconds passed before Ellen could find her voice. “Then it’s true? H-he actually murdered three people, just because I followed up on the lead? But that’s exactly what he wanted me to do. Why would he do such a despicable thing? Those poor people …” Ellen blinked the stinging from her eyes. “Do you think he killed Richard Boatman and his two bodyguards?”

Agent Farber looked at her questioningly. “Bodyguards?”

“Yes, the two men found shot in Richard’s office building.”

Agent Farber started to say something and then didn’t.

Ellen’s mind was reeling with pieces of the puzzle. Of course, how could I have missed it? “They weren’t bodyguards; they were U.S. marshals! Vincent Risotto alias Richard Boatman was being relocated after his sister died. And somebody got to him before they could get him out of Raleigh. Right?”

“I wouldn’t want to venture a guess,” Agent Farber said, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

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