David Baldacci - The Innocent

“But they were brainwashing her, programming her the whole time?” said Connors. “For something like this?”

“Apparently for all of her life. There was no guarantee, of course, that she would get a position at the White House. But one can attempt to kill the president in other places as well. Her parents were wealthy and politically active. She was a brilliant student and she was clearly a superb actress. We haven’t interviewed one person who had any inkling she was a ticking time bomb. Not one. She led the perfect life. Was able to interact socially, perform outstandingly at work. There was no flaw, no warning sign. It was as though she was two different people residing in the same body.”

She was, thought Robie. She had to be.

Blue Man paused and looked over at Robie. “She fooled the best we had,” he continued. “She was the most remarkable cell plant in my experience. Sort of a true-life Manchurian candidate, only better.”

Robie asked, “And where are her parents now?”

“Talal didn’t know. Perhaps back in Iran. If so, we can’t touch them.”

“There’s no place we can’t touch,” said Robie sharply. “And there’s a Russian and a Palestinian out there who need to be addressed as well. They were the ones who brought this thing to Talal.”

“I know. We’re working on that.”

The three men fell silent as Robie brooded, Blue Man looked equally pensive, and Connors merely seemed curious.

“There are many ways to hurt people, Robie,” said Blue Man finally. “I know you know that.”

“Yeah,” Robie said brusquely.

“She was trained for this her whole life. And we’re all terrified because she didn’t fit any profile we have. What if there are more Annie Lamberts out there?”

Connors said, “We have to find them and stop them.”

Robie smacked the table with the palm of his hand. “She was the puppet, her life taken from her by her parents. She’s dead and they get to live. Tell me what’s wrong with that picture?”

“She was a cold-blooded killer,” said Blue Man.

“Bullshit! She was what they made her! She never had a chance.”

“You’re not the best person to make that determination.”

“Then who is, some analyst who never even met her? You got an algorithm for that?”

Blue Man said nothing for a few moments. “If it makes you feel better, Khalid bin Talal is no longer among the living.”

Robie said nothing, because this meant nothing to him.

“Then there is the matter of Julie,” said Blue Man.

“I’ve got that covered,” said Robie abruptly. He rose.

“How?”

“I just do.” He looked at Connors. “I owe you, Shane. More than I’ll ever have in the bank.”

“We’re square. Like I said, got me out from behind the desk.”

Robie looked at Blue Man. “There are maybe five men I know who could have made the shots Shane did that night. And two of them are in this room. You might want to keep that in mind.”

“Rules are rules,” said Blue Man.

“No, rules, as we’ve seen, are made to be broken.”

He turned to walk out the door.

“Robie?”

He turned to look at Blue Man, who held up a manila folder. “This was delivered to us by messenger. I believe you received a set too. I think you should take this and do what you want with it. It’s of no use or concern to us.”

Robie took the package, opened it, and glanced at the photos inside. The first one was of him and Lambert on the rooftop bar. The next was of her kissing him in front of the White House. He didn’t look at the rest. He closed the package back up.

“Thanks.”

He walked out the door.

Robie drove.

This time Julie was shotgun.

Vance was in the backseat.

They had mostly recovered from their injuries, though Julie still limped a bit and Vance’s face was still puffy.

“Where are we going?” asked Julie.

“Somewhere you’ve already been,” he replied.

He had explained what he could to her about her parents’ deaths. He had watched her sob, given her tissues. He’d talked with her quietly as her anger grew, peaked, and then faded to more tears. The fourteen-year-old street-hardened kid had finally and fully unraveled in the face of overwhelming misery and grief. But at least she had some closure.

He parked the car and the three got out and walked into the bar.

Jerome Cassidy was waiting for them.

His face was scrubbed pink and he was dressed in what looked to be a new suit with shiny black shoes. His hair had been cut short and lay neatly on his head. From the whiff Robie got, the man had used hairspray to keep some errant strands in place.

“What are we doing here, Will?” asked Julie, as Cassidy came forward to greet them.

Robie and Cassidy had worked out the story beforehand.

Cassidy said, “He brought you here so I could tell you the truth.”

“Truth, what truth?” asked a bewildered-looking Julie.

“I wasn’t just friends with your parents.” He paused, eyed Robie, who gave a bare nod.

“I was your mom’s half brother. That means I’m sort of your uncle. Well, technically I guess I am your uncle.”

“We’re related?” said Julie.

“Yes, we are. And I seem to be the only relations you have left. Now, I know you don’t know me or anything, but I have a little proposition.”

Julie folded her arms across her chest and looked at him suspiciously. “Like what?”

“Like we take some time getting to know each other. See, the reason I was trying to track you all down was because your dad and my sister really helped me out when I was down. I owed them big. Never got a chance to repay that debt.”

“I see where this is going,” said Julie. “You don’t owe me anything.”

“No, Julie, it’s a real debt. They loaned me money. I signed a note. That note was transferable into stock in a company I started with the loan. That company now owns all of my businesses, including this bar. If the note wasn’t repaid by a certain date the loan amount plus accrued interest was transferred into stock. The loan never was repaid and the stock was issued. You’re a forty percent owner in my business, Julie. I’ve got the documents to back it up, if you want to see. I should have told you when I first met you, but I was so surprised to see you, I just didn’t. But I’m a man of my word. And what your parents did for me changed my life. They earned the right to share in the rewards. Well, since they can’t, you should. Because whatever they had now belongs to you. I’m a man of my word and that’s just the way it is.”

He stopped talking and looked at her uncomfortably.

Julie’s suspicious look faded. She glanced at Robie. “Is this really on the up-and-up?”

“We checked out his story. It’s all true. You’ll be able to go to any college you want. You’ll be able to do anything you want.”

She looked back over at Cassidy. “So what does that mean for you and me?”

“Well, it means you can live with me. I can even legally adopt you. Or if you prefer, you have the financial means now to have a guardian appointed until you reach the age of eighteen, and live in your own place. It’s totally up to you.”

“Live with you?”

“Well, it would be flexible. I keep pretty busy, but I’ve got a housekeeper who’s been with me a long time. She’s got a daughter about your age. I think it would work out. But again, it’s up to you.”

“I’ll need to think about it,” said Julie.

“Absolutely. Take all the time you need,” said Cassidy quickly.

Robie said, “Why don’t you start trying to get to know each other right now? I don’t think Mr. Cassidy here dressed up just to talk to you for a few minutes. Would that be okay, Julie? I can come back and pick you up later.”