Playing Dead_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [77]
Mitch let that dig slide. “Megan, there’s something here. I can’t prove it yet, but—”
She put up her hand to silence him. He hated when she did that. “Hard evidence, Mitch. I’m not going to go to bat for you without something solid. Not again.”
He nodded. “Full disclosure,” he said, glancing at Steve. “I befriended Claire O’Brien.”
Meg stared at him, her jaw tightly shut. “Against my direct orders?”
“Yes, ma’am. I agreed to house-sit for Nolan while he’s teaching at Quantico, and I ran into her by accident.” Small lie. “I took the opportunity when I saw it.”
Steve interjected. “Mitch informed me of the encounter and felt that he could learn more from Ms. O’Brien by working undercover than I was getting out of her during my periodic visits. I told him as long as he kept me in the loop, I thought it was a good idea. It’s my case,” Steve added.
Meg stared at the ceiling. Mitch recognized the posture. Frustration, but with a fatalistic what can I do about it demeanor. She turned her ice-green glare at Steve. “You knew I wanted Mitch off this case.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Agent Donovan, what do you think about the Maddox homicide? Does it relate to Thomas O’Brien in any way?”
“Based on our interviews to date,” Steve said carefully, “it appears that in the course of researching Thomas O’Brien’s trial, Maddox uncovered information that was damning to someone. It was during his private investigation that he disappeared. Whether directly or indirectly, whatever Maddox uncovered is related to O’Brien. And the fact that none of his research—his notes, his computer, his books—is anywhere to be found is another tip-off that there’s something important in those documents. He swallowed a flash drive. That suggests that he knew he was being followed and feared he’d be assaulted for what was on the computer chip, and he had no other place to hide it.
“We have his phone records and he called a bar in Isleton the night he disappeared. Based on where his car was found in the river, we believe he did in fact reach his destination. We’re heading there tonight to see if anyone remembers him, and if he met with anyone.”
Meg had her hands on her desk. Authority suited her, Mitch realized. Even though she was a stickler for rules, she understood investigations. She was one of the best in the field because her instincts were so sharp. But she never admitted she had good instincts; she said it was a combination of intelligence and experience. But to Mitch, intelligence plus experience equaled old-fashioned street smarts.
“Follow the trail as long as it’ll keep you moving. But we’re not here to exonerate a convicted felon. We are here to apprehend him. And as far as the Maddox homicide is concerned, we are assisting the sheriff’s department. Keep them in the loop. These are two separate cases until you find evidence that they are connected, and you’ll treat them as such, understand?”
“Absolutely,” Steve said.
She turned to Mitch. “Does Claire know where her father is hiding?”
“No. But I think she’s heard from him recently,” Mitch answered truthfully. “I suspect it was written communication, but I have no proof.”
“Push her.”
“She doesn’t know I’m an agent—”
“I meant Donovan. You already screwed us on getting her for an accessory. She could pull out that you befriended her under false pretenses and didn’t identify yourself as a federal agent. But I’m not interested in the daughter. I have some sympathy in this case. I just want O’Brien back in prison. And”—she added before Mitch could interject—“I’ll keep him in our custody as long as I legally can.” She made another note on her legal pad.
“I appreciate that.”
“One more thing,” Meg said and swiveled her chair. She picked up a remote and turned on the television behind her.
On the screen was a grainy black-and-white security feed.
“The tape from Redding came in,” Steve said.
“Exactly. There’s not a lot here, but I’ve watched it twice and there’s no mistake. It’s O’Brien.”
They watched as a white, full-size American pickup