David Baldacci - The Innocent

“That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said so far,” Robie replied.

Blue Man said, “I’m under no misapprehension that our relationship, such as it is, isn’t strained. You have good reason to be skeptical, upset, and mistrustful. If I were in your shoes, I’d be reacting the same way.”

“The second most sensible thing you’ve said so far.”

Blue Man leaned forward. “Let me see if I can make it three for three.” He collected his thoughts. “There are two possible reasons why Agent Wind and her husband were murdered. It either had to do with her, or it had to do with him.”

“You know Jane Wind’s work. Could it be related to her?”

“It’s possible. I can’t say definitively that it’s not. Let’s just say that I’m more interested in what you find out on Rick Wind’s background.”

“Former military. Retired. Owned a pawnshop in a bad section of D.C. Was hung upside down and his tongue was cut out.”

“The last part has me concerned.”

“I’m sure it had him concerned.”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

Robie leaned back. “Vance wondered if it was mob-related. Guy was a snitch and they symbolically cut his tongue out.”

“Is that what you think?”

“No. I’m thinking what you’re probably thinking.”

“You cut off the hands of a thief.”

“And the tongue of a traitor.”

“If it involves the world of Islamic terrorists.”

“If,” said Robie. “But the guy was retired. What could he be involved in?”

“Terrorist cells are rarely obvious, Robie. At least the effective ones.”

“Did he spend time in the Middle East? Could he have been turned and sent here as a ticking time bomb?”

“A time bomb that had a change of heart? Maybe, and yes, he did spend time in both Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Robie thought about some of the missions he’d performed in the Middle East. The most recent one had not technically been there. Khalid bin Talal had been in Morocco when Robie had killed him. But there were many others from the desert that wished the absolute destruction of America. Too many, in fact, to narrow down easily.

“Then why don’t I hit that angle while you work the other side?”

“But if anything occurs to you or you find out something while working with Vance that has to do with Agent Wind?”

“You’ll get it.”

“Then we understand each other.”

The two men rose.

Robie looked at him and said, “Is my place really safe? Because I could use a change of clothes.”

Blue Man managed a rare smile. “Go and change your clothes, Robie. The ones you have on are looking pretty ragged.”

“Well I’m feeling pretty ragged,” admitted Robie.

Robie drove toward his apartment, parked a block away, and made his approach from the rear. He rode a service elevator up, got off, did a protracted observation of the hall, and then moved forward.

He bumped into Annie Lambert as she was coming out of her apartment with her bike. She had on a black skirt, pink parka, hose, and tennis shoes. A knapsack was over one shoulder.

“Late to work?” asked Robie as he approached.

She turned around, initially startled, but then she smiled.

“Doctor’s appointment. Even White House staffers have to take them.”

“Nothing serious?”

“No, just routine stuff.”

He smiled. “So are you running the country into the ground?”

“The opposition would answer that with a big yes. But I think we’re doing okay. Times are hard. Lots of challenges. How about you? Doing okay?”

“I’m fine.”

If she noticed the bandage bulge under his jacket or the rumpled state of his clothes she didn’t mention it.

“Still up for that drink sometime?” he asked. Robie seemed surprised by his own question.

I’m learning a lot about myself this week, he thought.

“Sure. How about tonight? You said you wanted to do it soon.”

“If the president will let you off?”

She grinned. “I think he will. How about eight? W Hotel rooftop bar? The views are great.”

“See you then.”

She left with her bike and Robie walked to his apartment. He had no idea why he had just done that. But he had committed and he would be there at eight. Ordinarily he disliked distractions while he was working. But somehow he was welcoming this one.

In his apartment he still checked his intruder traps even though it seemed his agency could easily circumvent them. Everything looked the same. They could have wired the place, but he had no intention of making any calls from here. In a way he was trapped right here at home.

He changed into fresh clothes and made up a small bag with other items he might need if he didn’t come back here for a while.

He had the urge to check on Julie and pecked her a quick message, asking if that was okay with her.

The text came back seconds later: Come on.

He backtracked his way to her apartment and rode the elevator up. He looked for elements of Blue Man’s security force but didn’t see any. Maybe that was good, he thought.

Maybe.

Julie unlocked the door only after peeping him through the hole. He also was gratified to hear her turning off the security system as well.

He closed and locked the door behind him.

“So you were talking to the bike chick,” she said.

“What?”

She pointed to the telescope. “That thing is powerful. Works great night or day.”

“Yeah, well, it’s supposed to. But I don’t want you using it to snoop on people.”

“I’m just observing my perimeter, like you ordered me to last night.”

“Okay, I guess I deserved that.”

“So your other place is across the street?”

“Yeah.”

“Normally people like to spread out their residences. You know, Paris, London, Hong Kong.”

“I’m not normal.”

“Yeah, that one I figured out on my own. So what have you found out? I’ve been watching the TV. Sounds like it was a real war zone down there last night. You’re lucky you weren’t killed. At least I’m assuming that’s where you got shot. You never got around to telling me about your arm.”

“Luck always plays a part,” he said vaguely.

“They have any leads?”

“None they’re sharing with me.”

“How’s working with the FBI?”

“It’s working.”

“She’s pretty.”

“Who?”

“Agent Vance. She was on the TV talking to reporters. She didn’t mention you.”

“That was a good thing.”

“Where did you sleep last night? I know it wasn’t across the street.” She indicated the scope.

“I slept,” he said. “That’s all you need to know.”

“Uh-huh,” she said. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”

This time Robie almost blinked. Almost. The kid was really getting to him.

“What makes you say that?”

She studied him closely. “Oh, I don’t know. A certain glow. A woman can always tell.”

“Well, you’re wrong. Now I’ve got to get going.”

“When are we going to get going, Robie?”

He stared at her.

“Partners, remember our deal? We find out who killed my parents?”

“I remember. And I’m working on it.”

“I know you are. But I want to work on it too. I gave you that list. What have you done with it so far?”

“Going to run it down.”

“Good,” she said, pulling on her hoodie. “I’m ready to go.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“And I don’t think it’s a good idea me just sitting here on my ass doing nothing except looking through a telescope. So either I go with you or I go on my own. Either way, I’m going.”