Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
My path toward him is a weave in and out pattern through all the red-covered tables. He watches my approach, and I size him up. He’s fifty-something, and much like my father—fit, with dark, salt and pepper hair. Also much like my father, he’s wearing an expensive suit, but director or not, he shouldn’t be able to afford the price tag this one demands. Not on his wage alone, but I won’t judge him on this point quite yet. I have money. I still do this damn job.
Because who I am without it? I wonder who he is beneath the armor of his badge.
Is he a killer?
I reach the table and sit down in front of him.
“Who the fuck are you?” I ask because I like to start things out with a shock and awe moment, and it’s a question that plays to my mental dialogue.
“The name is David Ellis.”
“Boring and unforgettable. Your parents weren’t overly creative now, were they?”
His eyes light with amusement rather than agitation. “If we follow your thought process, I can then assume yours liked strip clubs.”
“Based off all I know of him these past few years, I’m going to say yes, at least on my father’s behalf. Most likely, I am, in fact, named after some hooker obsession. Who the fuck are you?” I repeat.
He reaches into his pocket and sets his badge on the table. “Director Ellis. Does that sound more memorable?”
“Titles only matter until you’re dead, and it’s interesting to me that you’re suddenly reigning king, powerful enough to boot the FBI from investigating their own.”
“It’s a necessary evil in these circumstances. Murphy’s murder is an attack on our nation.”
“Or on a man who was more than his badge, as are you. Much more, in fact.”
“Tell me,” he urges.
I don’t. “Why you?” I ask instead. “Why are you in charge of an FBI investigation and leave the attack on our nation bullshit out.”
“The President trusts me.”
“That only matters to me if your agenda—and his—align with mine.” I don’t give him time to feed me more bullshit. “Procedure says I should be removed from the case.”
“Do you want to be removed from the case?
“No.” That’s all I say. I have no desire to offer anything more.
“What’s your first impression of the kill?”
“Assassination,” I say. “But you know that.”
“Do you have any idea why and by whom?”
“Could be a hit list. Maybe you’re on it.”
“I might be, but you worked for him. It could be you as well, which is why I didn’t want you to walk here, in the open and exposed, but as Murphy reported, you’re stubborn.”
“Seems to me I’m as suspicious as you are of an insider. A black SUV is not where I will die.”
“Yes, well that would suck. I’d like to say I wouldn’t feel the same, but I concede that I would. This is an excellent place to circle back to the question of why you’re on the case. You have an exceptional track record of being targeted and killing your enemy.”
Interesting, I think. “Do you want me to kill the killer?”
“The killer isn’t the singular problem. The person who hired the killer is equally, if not more problematic. Your recent case proves how well you work on a timer.”
He means the case I literally closed tonight. A killer, whose murders were on a timeline that was rapid fire. Every moment lost equaled another brutal, gore-filled killing.
“Back to my question,” he says. “Do you have any idea who did this and why?”
“It could be a case, a personal matter, or any number of things. Such as, the fact that Murphy didn’t exist until five years ago.” I watch him for a reaction, expecting feigned ignorance, but that’s not what I get.
His eyebrow lifts. “You know.”
“I know.”
“It’s not as nefarious as it might seem. He was CIA and managed to get on the wrong side of some Russians, which is not hard to do. He was converted to FBI and fast-tracked up the ranks. You don’t have the clearance needed to view the file, but I’m working on it. In light of this information, I’m certain you understand why I’m involved. He could have been discovered and taken out.”
If he’s telling the truth about Murphy, he offers a logical assumption and an easy answer. Too easy, I think. This is where I could question him about my mother’s connection to Murphy, and it’s oh, so tempting, but in doing so, I could easily place myself on a suspect list and complicate mine and Kane’s life. That would be stupid. I don’t do stupid. “Seems like the CIA would be in charge to me.”
“For all we know, someone within the agency blew his cover.”
“Who do you think had him killed?” I ask, turning his prior question on him.
“I was hoping you’d tell me.”