Echo (2010) by Mcdevitt Jack

Author:Mcdevitt, Jack [Jack, Mcdevitt,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Published: 2011-01-14T19:11:11.187000+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

Guilt is never a reasoned response. It is rather a piece of programing that may or may not have justification. And it is probably most damaging to the innocent.

—Timothy Zhin-Po, Night Thoughts

Alex was furious when he heard.

When he gets angry, he doesn’t start throwing things, like most guys. He gets very quiet, and his eyes focus on something, on a chair or on a clock or on something in the display case, and they proceed to burn a hole through it. As he listened to my description of events, he was locked in on a table lamp. When I’d finished, he sat unmoving for several minutes. Finally: “Didn’t the police have a barricade set up?”

“Yes, they did.”

“How’d you get past it?” His voice was unemotional, level, calm. Which told me everything I needed to know.

“They let me go through.”

“The police did?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“They just did.”

We were in his office in back. He was still watching the lamp. “Did you call Fenn?”

“No.”

“Chase?” The eyes finally swung in my direction.

“The police called him.”

“And he got you through?”

“Yes.”

He pressed his fingertips to his brow. He looked genuinely in pain. “Jacob, see if you can get through to Inspector Redfield.”

“Wait,” I said.

“What?” His voice was icy.

“I don’t want you to do this. Create a problem with him, and you embarrass me.”

“Chase, the woman is dead.”

“And it’s my fault, right?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“What were you saying, then?” I think I was edging toward hysteria. Because I knew it was true. She probably would have jumped anyway, but if I’d listened to Fenn and kept my distance, it might have had a different end.

“Alex.” Jacob sounded nervous. “Did you wish me to put the call through?”

Alex ignored the question. “I was saying that Rachel died, apparently as a result of the investigation Rainbow was conducting. That’s my responsibility, not yours. It’s just that Redfield should have recognized what anyone from here meant to her. That there was an inherent danger in reminding her of why she was out there. He knew better, but he told you to go ahead anyhow. Damn.”

“Well,” I said, “do what you want. That’s how you’ll handle it anyhow.” I looked at him and had trouble bringing him into focus. “I’ve had enough, Alex. I’m going home.”

“That’s probably a good idea, Chase.” His voice had softened. “Get away from it for a while.”

“Yeah. Take a taxi.” I got up. “Anything else?”

“No. See you tomorrow. If you feel you need more time—”

“What are we going to do now about the tablet?”

He got up, and we walked along the carpeted corridor toward my office. “I still have a couple of ideas.”

“You mean we’re still going to pursue this business?”

“Yes.” He didn’t look surprised that I was offering resistance. “Chase, it’s more important now than ever.”

“Why?”

“Because whatever it was she was hiding, whatever happened to her, was so significant she couldn’t face it. She must have known that even if we pulled off, somebody else would take up the trail. The tablet has had too much exposure.”

“Alex, I promised her I’d give it up.

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