Crush - Alan Jacobson [87]
“I can’t just leave. We—”
“Karen, you’re not doing anyone any good. For some reason, the killer seems to be playing off you. We remove you from the equation, maybe things will quiet down. I’ll ask the San Ramon RA to send over an agent to monitor the situation and act as liaison.”
He can’t do this. They’ll never catch this asshole. But is Gifford right? Am I just serving to stir him up? Who am I to think I’m the only one who can catch this killer?
“Karen, you hear me?”
“I—yes, I hear you.”
“Good. Now you leave Timothy Nance alone and keep your ears clean till your flight leaves.” And he hung up.
Vail stood there, her cell still pressed against her ear, eyes closed, drained of emotion and energy and, well, numb. She lowered her arm, put her phone away, and turned to walk down the hall.
“Everything okay?”
Dixon’s voice. Vail looked up, saw Dixon, Brix, and Owens staring at her.
“Yeah, I just—I could use some coffee. Since sleep isn’t coming any time soon, I need caffeine.” She nodded down the corridor. “Are we going to meet with Nance?”
Brix shook his head. “He’s going to lawyer up as soon as we start questioning him.”
Vail nodded. “The congressman has already used some juice, trying to get us to back off.”
“That’s pretty strong juice,” Owens said.
Vail folded her arms across her chest. “Damage control, is all it is. If his district director is dirty, Church is dirty by association. This is a man who has designs on running for governor. Any kind of association with an attempted murder could cause serious problems for those ambitions.”
Owens was shaking his head. “We should let this lie low. We’ve got Walton Silva. Maybe that’s enough for now.”
“If Nance was a conspirator in trying to kill you, would nailing only one of them be enough? Because that’s what happened here, Sheriff. Nance and Silva and, yes, your stepson, tried to fry me alive.”
Owens shaded red, then stepped forward. “I’ve had just about enough of you!”
Dixon and Brix moved together, cutting off Owens’s path toward Vail, who had staggered back.
Owens extended an arm through the blockade and pointed at Vail. “Their only crime was that they didn’t succeed.”
Vail recovered and stepped forward herself, daring Owens to come at her again. “You want to clear Scott’s name, Sheriff? Question Nance, see what he says. Maybe Silva’s lying. Maybe Scott had nothing to do with it.” She desperately wanted to face Nance, see what he gave up. And better the order come from Owens, which would insulate her.
Owens shrugged off Dixon and Brix. “Scott wouldn’t have anything to do with this. He’s innocent—and now he’s dead. For all I know, you’re the one who shot him.”
“C’mon now,” Dixon said. “I’ve spent an awful lot of time with Karen these past few days and I can tell you, that’s just not what she’s about.”
Owens turned away, strode a few paces down the hall. Wiped at his face, then placed both hands on his hips. Without turning around, he said, “Go. See if he’ll talk to you.”
BRIX WALKED INTO the task force conference room, followed by Vail and Dixon. They took their seats around the table. Nance, in his requisite dark suit, white shirt, and maroon tie, was already there, pacing in front of the whiteboard.
“Mind telling me what this is about?”
Vail looked at him, trying to get a read on his demeanor and body language. Was he, in fact, a conspirator in trying to kill her?
“Do you know a Walton Silva?” Vail asked.
Nance advanced on her, walked just a bit too close for normal speaking distance. He put both hands on his hips and looked down at her. “You know I know him, Agent Vail, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Brix held up a hand. “Okay, Tim. You know him. We did know that. Question is, how well do you know him?”
“Look, don’t insult me. Just come out and ask what you want to ask.”
Vail glanced at Brix, who nodded. She said, “Did you conspire with Scott Fuller and Walton Silva to set the