My shirt clung to me, and humidity weighed the air. I reached the clearing and took in the view of the water. Sun shimmered on the surface, making shifting shadows of darkness and light. Ducks flapped their wings as they landed. The mosquitoes and horseflies buzzed. I inhaled, but it smelled like decomposing things.
“Jason?” Dom called behind me.
“Oh, hi,” I said, startled, then remembered about the cameras.
“I spoke with my boss, and it’s confirmed. They’re putting a surveillance team on your mother-in-law’s nursing home and Melissa’s street, for the foreseeable future.”
I forced a smile. “That’s great, thank you.”
“And we’re arranging a way to pay severance to your employees. We’ll have to work out the details.”
I forced another smile. “Thank you again.”
Dom cocked his head. “What’s the matter? I thought you’d be happy.”
“Lucinda’s pissed I told you she was on Facebook. You didn’t tell your boss, did you?”
“Yes, and he says no-go on the message to Melissa.”
“That’s a bad call. Did you tell him she’s not going to quit?”
“Yes, I tried. In fact, he told me she reported your family as missing to the locals.”
“Oh no.” My chest went tight. “Now what happens? What do the police do?”
“Nothing.”
“Do they know we’re with you?”
“Yes, but only at the highest level.”
“Did you make my argument?”
“Yes, that’s why I got protection.”
“Can I talk to him?” I asked, on impulse. “You just talked to him, right? Let’s call him now. What did you say his name was? Gremmie?”
“No, he doesn’t know we call him Gremmie. Richard Volkov.” Dom slid his phone from his pocket, pressed speed dial, and said into it, “Hey, I’m here with Jason Bennett. You got a sec to talk to him? Thanks. I’ll put you on speaker.” Dom pressed the speaker button. “Richard, I have Jason Bennett.”
I didn’t hesitate. “So you’re Dom’s boss?”
“Yes.” Special Agent Volkov cleared his throat. “Please accept my condolences. We know this is a difficult time for you and your wife. We appreciate your cooperation and—”
“Thank you, but why is it so hard to find Milo?”
“The investigative team is working around the clock on—”
“Then I want to talk directly to them.”
“Mr. Bennett, first let me say we’ve had a major development in your case. We learned that Milo has fled the country. We believe he’s in Mexico.”
“Wait, what?” I couldn’t process it fast enough. “He got away?”
“No, we don’t look at it that way. We will apprehend him there and bring him to justice. We have extradition with Mexico.”
“That’s still away. He got away.” I fought for emotional control. “How did he get to Mexico? How did that happen?”
“We’re as disappointed as you, but—”
“Disappointed? Is that what you think I am?” Try furious! I felt my jaw clench. “He cannot get away with killing my daughter.”
“He won’t. We’re liaising with DEA, DHS, and the Mexican authorities. This case is our top priority.”
“How do you know he’s in Mexico?”
“I can’t divulge that.”
“Where in Mexico?”
“I can’t divulge that, either.”
“Is he connected with drugs there, like a cartel?” I couldn’t believe I was saying the words. I didn’t know anything about drug cartels. It was like a TV show.
“We can’t divulge that information, either.”
“He’s not Mexican, is he?”
“No.”
“How did he get there? Did he fly?”
“We don’t believe so.”
“When did this happen?” I looked at Dom, who hadn’t said a word about this on our run. “Why am I just hearing this now?”
“We were just informed. I just told Dom.”
Dom nodded, sympathetic. “I was about to tell you.”
At least Dom hadn’t kept it from me. “I want you to keep me posted, both of you. I want to know everything as soon as you know it. Getting blindsided makes it worse.”
Special Agent Volkov said, “Dom will keep you apprised.”
“Good, and I really think you should get a message to my wife’s best friend Melissa. You have to give her an explanation.”
“It’s not procedure.”
“You’re making a mistake. Like I told Dom, we’re a family, we have friends, and you have to deal with that.”
“I’ll take it under advisement.”
I tried to collect my thoughts. “Do you think Milo’s leaving has to do with our house fire and my office?”
“We don’t believe he set either fire, if that’s what you’re asking. You have my apologies. We did not anticipate they would do that.”
You should have, I thought but didn’t say, like Lucinda would have. “Do you know who set the fire?”
“Not at this juncture.”
“It has to be someone who works with Milo and Big George, right?”
“We have reason to believe it’s someone within GVO.”
“Who? What are their names?”
“I can’t divulge that.”
I wanted to ask him if it was the BMW driver, but I didn’t want to get Dom in trouble, since he had shown us the video he wasn’t supposed to. I knew that Special Agent Volkov wouldn’t have confirmed or denied anything anyway. “How’s our house, have you seen it?”
“Not personally.”
“I assume the fire is out?”
“I understand it is, as of early this morning.”
“How much damage was done?”
“I’m told it will have to be torn down.”
I felt a deep pang. “Do you have agents there now?”
“Yes. We’re salvaging the contents.”
“Then I have a request, from my son. There were some things in his room, small cedar boxes with the cremains of pets. Obviously it’s not about the pets.”
“Dom mentioned your son’s issues to me.”
I glanced at Dom. My son’s issues were now known to the FBI. Suddenly I understood what had bothered Lucinda. “If you have an agent on the scene, can I speak with him?”
“Yes. I’ll tell him who to call.”
* * *
—
It turned out that one Special Agent Devi Gupta was at the house, and she FaceTimed me on Dom’s phone so I could see for myself. The sight broke my heart, and my only consolation was that Lucinda was spared. Anything she could imagine wasn’t as bad as it was. Seeing it made it real, and reality was awful.
Our house was charred and smoldering. The support beams were still standing, but the living room and family room were mostly gone. I could see clear to the fireplace in the family room, its bricks blackened. The blaze had ravaged the fa?ade on the second floor, marring its white clapboard with smudges that streaked upward from the windows. The roof was open in ragged patches. Grayish smoke drifted upward, hazing the sky.