“Which the cops couldn’t find.”
“Why would the killer care what her mother thought of Sara?”
“I don’t know,” admitted Devine.
“Hey, maybe she broke up with the guy she was seeing. He was the father and she ended the pregnancy because she didn’t want to carry his baby.”
“I found out that Sara had artificial insemination. She used a sperm donor.”
“But then why terminate the pregnancy?”
Devine shook his head. “No idea.”
They began searching the office. They found nothing helpful there and headed upstairs.
“We have separate bedrooms,” Montgomery told him. “Brad’s is at the end of the hall. It’s about as big as my apartment.”
They went inside the chamber, which was really a suite with multiple rooms and every rich-guy toy one could hope for: two fireplaces, enormous TVs, a full bar, a sitting area, a spa with steam room, sauna, and whirlpool, a massage room, and a bathtub nearly large enough to do laps in, with a walk-in shower next to it that looked like a Roman grotto. And five classic pinball machines along with a pool table.
“Who could sleep in here?” he said. “Too many distractions.” Devine looked at the bed that was about the size of his room. “How do two people find each other on that?”
“Brad never had a problem finding me, I can assure you.”
“Don’t go there, Michelle. I do not want to hear it.”
After a fruitless search, they perched on the bed and gazed out the floor-to-ceiling tinted windows.
“So, what now?” asked Montgomery.
“The penthouse is a no-go. Area 51 the same. So I’m not sure what now.”
Devine’s phone buzzed. It was Campbell.
“We need to talk right away.”
“Where are you?” asked Devine.
“The first place we met.”
“I can be there in thirty minutes.” He glanced at Montgomery. “Mind if I bring along someone?”
“Who?”
Devine told him.
“That is not a good idea, Devine. We have no idea if she’s working for Cowl and just stringing you along.”
Devine looked at Montgomery. “I’ve trusted her with my life, and she came through. She’s had plenty of opportunities to throw me to the dogs and she hasn’t. I’ve told her a lot. And if she had ratted me out to Cowl, I wouldn’t be around.”
“This is highly unusual, Devine.”
“You recruited me, sir. I’m not a trained spy or intel officer. I’m flying by the seat of my pants. But in the Middle East I spent years reading people, trying to decide if they were trustworthy or would betray me when the opportunity arose. And I got damn good at it. So I’m just asking you to trust me on this. Soldier to soldier.”
“See you in thirty.”
Montgomery stared at him fearfully. “Y-you . . . you’re a spy?”
“I don’t know what I am, really.”
“Who the hell was that?”
“You’re about to find out.”
CHAPTER
66
“A RETIRED GENERAL?” SAID MONTGOMERY after Devine finished explaining where they were going as they climbed on the bike and sped off.
“Yeah.”
“And you work for him?”
“It’s complicated.”
“You really weren’t at Cowl for the money. I knew it,” she added in a self-satisfied tone.
“It’s complicated,” he repeated.
“Not from where I’m sitting.” She hugged him more tightly. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Okay. And thanks, I guess.”
They reached the strip mall and Devine knocked on the door. It opened and they were admitted. A man in a suit led the way and ushered them in to see Campbell. He rose from behind his desk and extended a hand to Montgomery.
“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Montgomery. Let me get the technicalities out of the way. You breathe one word of this to anyone, you’ll be spending the next twenty years in a federal prison, are we clear?”
Montgomery gave Devine a dubious look. “Pretty damn clear,” she replied.
“Sit.”
“What’s so important we had to meet this fast?” asked Devine.
“Certain lawmakers in Washington have gotten wind of what we’re doing and are seeking to put the kibosh on our mission.”
“Why the hell would they do that?” said Devine. “Enemies of this country are—” He broke off and eyed Campbell.