She held out a file. “This is everything I have on my father’s disappearance.”
Decker took it and said, “Your father was a child when he left Czechoslovakia?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So he personally couldn’t have had enemies when he left there. What about the rest of his family?”
“He rarely spoke about them other than to say they were simple farmers.”
“Did you know your grandparents? Were they politically connected, or wealthy? Were they with the KGB and the Soviets were pissed they fled the country with maybe a bunch of nuclear weapons secrets?”
“They died before I was born, so I never met them. But I’ve seen pictures, though. They were simple farmers. They would have meant nothing to the Soviet leadership.”
Decker glanced at the file. “So, other things being equal, it was probably your father’s enemies in this country that made him disappear.”
“But the Slovakian money?”
“That could mean any number of things, Kasimira. But what I could use from you is a background file on Draymont and Lancer. What they did before coming to Gamma, that sort of thing. Think you can provide that without making us go to court?”
“I think I can manage that.”
“Send it to Agent Andrews so he won’t feel left out.”
“But there’s something else you need to know. My father was terminally ill. He had only months to live. I think that’s why he wanted to go out on his boat. Maybe one last time.”
Decker stared pointedly at her.
“Do you think that’s important?” she said.
“I think everything in a case is important, until it’s proven conclusively not to be.”
“So you’ll let me know what you find out?”
“I’ll let you know what I can, but I will not tell you anything that will jeopardize my investigation. Like someone else already did about the Slovakian money.” He held up the file. “And just so we’re crystal clear: Despite this, I haven’t ruled you out as a suspect.”
He turned and left Kasimira Roe and her chic Miami Beach condo in the sky.
Chapter 32
S?O, NOTHING?” ASKED DECKER.
White eyed him as they stood outside Alice Lancer’s neat little bungalow a half hour north of Miami. He had phoned her and driven directly there from Roe’s condo in the sky.
“In official parlance the term is ‘fuckin’ zip.’ Same at Draymont’s apartment, which is no surprise, since someone had already searched his place.” She looked at the house next door. “But there was something. A neighbor looked out the window and saw a car pull into the driveway. She described two large men getting out of the car and going into the house.”
“When?”
“Right after Lancer disappeared.”
“So they snatched her and came right here?” said Decker.
“Looks like it.”
“And she didn’t see Lancer?”
“No,” replied White. “She might have been drugged and in the trunk for all we know.”
“And the neighbor didn’t call the cops?”
“She had no idea that Lancer had disappeared. But she said she was going to call the cops. Then one of the guys unlocked the door and they went in like they owned the place, so she thought they must be friends of hers.”
“She get the license plate number?”
White shook her head. “But she gave us a description of the car.”
“Well, at least she was more helpful than the other neighbor we talked to. So, had her place been previously searched, too?”
White said, “Not like Draymont’s. But something tells me a search was made. And there was no laptop or desktop computer here.”
“Did the neighbor see them carrying anything out?”
“No, she went out for a walk and didn’t see them leave.”
“Okay, so they’re still a couple steps ahead of us. We have to change that at some point.”
“And what have you been up to, Decker?”
At that moment Andrews walked out of the house.
“I’ll fill you in, but later.”
She glanced over at Andrews. “Okay.”
“Decker,” called out Andrews. “Long time no see.”
“Yeah. I understand not much here.”
Andrews walked up to them. “We’re a day late and a dollar short. But the team is still in there processing. They still might find something useful. How did things go with you?”