Allison Brennan - Stalked

She turned and saw Laughlin.

She glared at him but didn’t say anything. An anger she was unfamiliar with bubbled up, and she worked on containing it.

He stepped close to her, his body only inches away, and said in a low voice, “You may have cut corners to get here, but there’s no way I’ll let you graduate if you don’t perform.”

She clenched her jaw. He was deliberately goading her, just like he’d been silently doing since she’d arrived on campus.

“I don’t know what your problem is with me, Agent Laughlin. I don’t think it’s fair that you’re basing your opinion of me on your problems with my sister-in-law.”

“And what exactly did Kate tell you?”

“Nothing. I can read between the lines.”

He smiled, and that irritated Lucy more. “You think you know everything, don’t you?”

She stared at him. “I know a lot more than you think.”

“Watch yourself, Kincaid.”

It was a threat, over and above what would be called for in this situation, and Lucy’s stomach clenched as she realized maybe she didn’t know what was happening, maybe there was something bigger going on.

Laughlin turned to go and thought he had the upper hand. Lucy said, “There’s a time and place for everything, Agent Laughlin. I will figure out exactly why you hate me.”

Lucy thought he was going to continue walking away, but he stopped and faced her again. “Do you want to know why you shouldn’t be here?” He stepped closer. “Because people like you, people who cut corners, who become martyrs, who think they are somehow owed something, get killed or get their partner killed. Don’t ever forget it. You’re the weak link.”

He walked quickly away and Lucy stared after him. She should be upset, but she was more confused than angry.

Laughlin was projecting. She hadn’t seen it before because she’d been certain he and Kate had an unpleasant past. And that may have contributed to it, but the reason why Laughlin had it out for Kate, and for her, was because he had lost someone he cared about-and blamed them.

This definitely wasn’t about her or Kate, not exclusively. Sean hadn’t found out everything she needed to know.

It was time to call in a favor.

*

Lucy tracked Noah down in Tony’s office, shutting the door behind her.

“I set up my laptop in the corner for you to access the personnel records,” Noah said without looking up. He had his own stack of paperwork.

She sat down and looked at the list of names in the folder. The new agents who were cleared were crossed off. She crossed off Oz, Gordon, and the other three guys who’d been watching movies until late Saturday.

Noah said, “Sounds like you’ve been busy.”

“Hit a lot of birds with one stone,” she replied. She pulled up “Reva Penrose” and started reading. She was looking primarily for inconsistencies-things in her official record that didn’t match what she’d said. Background checks were extensive but not perfect. The further back, the easier to hide potential problems.

She stopped for a minute and looked over at Noah. “Do you know Agent Laughlin well?”

“I don’t know him at all, other than he’s one of your field counselors. I met him briefly this morning at a staff meeting.”

“I need to find out if he lost a partner on the job.”

Now Noah looked up. “Why?”

“Something he said to me today.”

“You have to give me something more.”

“He has a problem with me, because Hans pulled strings. He’s the one who told me about it. And he doesn’t like Kate. I thought he had an issue because he knew Kate’s former fiance, who was killed in the line of duty. Some people blamed Kate and her partner for the ambush. But I think he’s projecting his own pain and guilt, blaming us for whatever his partner did.”

Noah leaned back in his chair. “If I find out, how are you going to use it?”

“I don’t know. But his attitude is only going to get worse until he confronts why he has this animosity.”

“What did he do to you?”

She looked back at Reva’s file. “Nothing.”

“Lucy.”

Noah didn’t have to ask. But Lucy didn’t want to complain, especially now that she was beginning to understand the source of Laughlin’s struggle.

“He’s been watching me closely-closer than my peers. I think because I’m managing under the scrutiny, he’s challenging me. That’s why he told me that Hans got me in, for example.”

“But that’s not the only thing he’s said.”

She shook her head. “It’s not important what; it’s important why.”

“I’ll find out.” He went back to his files. “Chief O’Neal hasn’t been able to clear Laughlin. He has insomnia and walks around campus at all hours of the night. He used his card key to access the dorms at three oh five Sunday morning. But this isn’t unusual for him.”

“Motive?” Lucy pondered the situation. “I don’t see Laughlin as sabotaging the scaffolding and then when Hans is down hitting him over the head with a rock.”

“Until we know for certain, be careful with him.”

Noah’s phone rang. “It’s Suzanne,” he told Lucy. “Suzanne, I have you on speaker. Lucy’s here.”

“Hey, Luce, I gotta make this quick. I know what Agent Presidio did with the notebook he took from Weber’s place. He mailed it from the airport to the analyst who is transcribing all of Weber’s shorthand. With a note.”

“Read it,” Lucy said.

“‘Ms. North’-that’s the analyst,” Suzanne explained. “‘Please transcribe this notebook as soon as possible. Weber wrote about another missing girl, but I don’t understand her shorthand. Call me when you get this.’”

“That’s it?” Lucy asked.

“That’s it. North is working on it right now. I’ll e-mail you the file when she’s done.”

“Would Weber’s assistant know about that case?” Noah asked.

“I’ll ask. But why would Presidio care about a completely different case?”

“Maybe he saw a connection. Or,” Lucy said, “he was in Newark at the time. He said something was lurking on the edge of his memory.”

“I hate when that happens,” Suzanne said. “Noah, did you get my report on Theissen’s case being reopened as a homicide investigation?”

“I did. Thanks for copying me into it.”

“It’s part of the bigger picture here. I just wish I could see it, because nothing makes sense.”

Lucy glanced at her watch. “Noah, if you don’t leave now, you’re going to be late for your first class.”

He sighed. “This is the part I’m not looking forward to at all.” He said to Suzanne, “I have to go. Keep me in the loop.” He hung up and his phone immediately vibrated. With an odd expression, he answered, “Hello, Rogan.”

Sean was calling Noah? Had he found Peter McMahon?

Noah did a lot of listening, then said, “Call me if you learn anything.” He hung up. “Sean has a lead on Peter McMahon in Syracuse. He’s already there.”

Syracuse, New York

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”

Syracuse police detective Charlie Mead had agreed to meet Sean at a Starbucks near the police station. Mead looked younger than Sean thought he’d be considering his distinguished record. He’d been a rookie six years ago when Peter Gray filed a police report for vandalism. Now, Mead was a detective on the sex crimes squad, two years younger than Sean but with a seasoned air that made Sean think more of Noah Armstrong.

“It’s not everyone who’s willing to fly a couple hours for a copy of a police report.”

“Faster than mail, and no one would fax it to me. Apparently, you are the gatekeeper of all things about Peter Gray.” He handed Mead his business card.