Marathon by Brian Freeman

Author:Brian Freeman [Freeman, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC022020 Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2017-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

29

Serena found Special Agent Durkin on the pedestrian bridge between the DECC and Canal Park. The FBI agent had a sandwich in her hand, but rather than eating it, she tossed bits of bread into the water, where ducks fought for the prize. It was dark, but streetlights gave the area a yellow glow. The giant ore boat Charles Frederick floated in the channel.

“Agent Maloney said I’d find you here,” Serena said.

“Yeah, I just needed ten minutes to clear my head.” Durkin turned around and leaned against the railing. The lift bridge shimmered in silver a hundred yards away. “You’re Stride’s wife, right?”

“I am.”

Durkin took a quick, obvious glance at her from head to toe. Serena waited for the usual snarky comment about her looks. Even at forty years old, she maintained her showgirl face and body, and most cops assumed that she’d gotten where she was because of her sex appeal. However, Durkin surprised her.

“Sergeant Bei tells me you’re smart. Smarter than Stride. Even smarter than her, too.”

Serena laughed. “Maggie said that? Really?”

“Yeah. She said it made the size of your boobs doubly annoying.”

“Now, that sounds like Maggie,” Serena said.

“I know she’s not one of my fans,” Durkin added.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.”

“Please. Even my own people have started calling me the Gherkin.”

Serena suppressed a smile. “Well, Maggie can be a little sharp-edged. She and I have had our ups and downs over the years, too. The fact is, you’re a Fed, and you stole our investigation. It really doesn’t matter that you grew up in Duluth. She’s going to resent you.”

“I don’t mind sharp-edged. I’m sharp-edged myself. And I really don’t care whether people like me.”

“Still, this has to be a tough case for you,” Serena said.

“Because of my brother?”

Serena nodded.

“Believe me, the best thing I can do for Ron is catch Khan Rashid. The only thing I regret is not drilling a bullet through Rashid’s head before he shot Officer Kenzie. If I face the same opportunity again, I won’t miss.”

“Well, let’s hope we can bring him in without more violence,” Serena said.

Durkin didn’t rush to agree with her. It made Serena wonder whether, in her heart of hearts, Durkin really wanted to arrest Rashid or whether she’d prefer to face him down again, gun to gun. To make up for her mistake. To make up for Ron.

“So what’s on your mind?” Durkin asked.

“Stride tells me you have a photo of Khan Rashid coming out of the Duluth Outdoor Company shop during the marathon.”

“That’s right.”

“But no actual link to the bomb yet?”

“No, if the bomb was his handiwork, he didn’t do the assembly at his house. We’re checking GPS records in his cab to see where he’s been in the last few weeks. Hopefully, that will lead us to his hiding place.”

“Okay.”

Durkin read the hesitation in her voice. “You and Stride don’t sound convinced that we have our man, but the circumstantial evidence is piling up fast.”

“Yes, it looks that way.”

“But?”

“No buts,” Serena said. “I’m just trying to rule a couple of other things out.

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