David Baldacci - Zero Day

“Okay. What else do you know about them?”

“Did a quick and dirty while you were playing biohazard boy. I didn’t know them personally, but it’s a small town. He went to Virginia Tech. He started up a business in Virginia that failed. Went through a series of jobs pretty quickly. He’d been a machinist here for years, but got laid off a while back. He’s been working at a chemical supply store on the western edge of town for about a year.”

“Chemicals? So he’d know his way around the equipment for a meth lab. And he might also be sticking his hand into the inventory if he is in the drug business. Any scuttlebutt that he was involved with drugs?”

“Not that I could find out. But that basically means he was never charged with any drug-related crimes. He was clean on our books.”

“Which means he might’ve been smart enough to not get caught. Or his meth business was a recent start-up. Like you said, hard times, trying to stretch the paycheck. And Bitner?”

“She worked in an office at the local Trent Mining and Exploration operation.”

Puller studied her. “So our mining mogul pops up again.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Cole said slowly, not meeting his gaze.

“That a problem?” he asked.

She eyed him coolly. “The way you say it you must think there is.”

“This Trent guy obviously has a lot of local pull.”

“No problems there, Puller, trust me.”

“Good. What did she do in the office?”

“Clerical and some related stuff, as far as I know. We’ll check it out more thoroughly.”

“So they both worked and had a meth lab on the side and lived together to save money and they still lived in a ratty house? Didn’t think the cost of living was that high around here.”

“Yeah, well, neither are the wages.”

Their food came and, ravenous, they plunged into their meals. Puller had two more cups of coffee.

“How are you going to be able to sleep?” asked Cole as he lifted the third cup to his mouth.

“My physiology is a little backwards. The more caffeine I consume the better I sleep.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Actually, the Army just teaches you to sleep when you need it. I’ll need it tonight, so I’ll sleep just fine.”

“Well, I know I can use it too. Only got a couple hours sack time.” She eyed him with a mock angry expression. “Thanks to you, Romeo.”

“Won’t happen again.”

“Famous last words.”

“Are the bodies being transported?”

“Already there.”

“You said Deputy Wellman was married?”

She nodded. “Sheriff Lindemann has been to see Larry’s wife. I’ll go tomorrow. I don’t know Angie that well, but she’ll need as much support as possible. I guess she’s a wreck. I would be.”

“She have family in the area?”

“Larry has. Angie moved here from southwest Virginia.”

“Why?”

She scowled. “I know it seems like people would just be moving out of here, not the other way.”

“Didn’t mean that. And you told me that people were trying to get out. I’m just trying to figure out the landscape.”

“Larry went to community college over in Virginia. It’s not that far as the crow flies. That’s where they met. He came back here and she joined him.”

“What about you?”

She set her glass of iced tea back down. “What about me?”

“I know you have a brother here and your dad’s dead. Anybody else in the area?”

He glanced at her hand. No wedding band. But maybe she didn’t wear one on the job. And maybe she was still on the job.

“Not married,” she said, catching this glance. “Both my parents are dead. My sister lives here too. What about you?”

“I have no family in the area.”

“You know that’s not what I meant, smartass.”

“Father and brother.”

“Are they in the military?”

“They were.”

“So they’re civilians now?”

“You could say that.” Puller put some cash down on the table. “What time do you want to meet tomorrow?”

She stared at the money. “How about 0700 again. Juliet.”

“I’ll be there at 0600. Any chance I can get the Reynoldses’ laptop and briefcase tonight?”

“It’s technically evidence.”

“It technically is. But I can tell you that there are folks back in D.C., and not just the ones in uniform, who are very anxious to have those items back.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No. As I alluded to before, I don’t want you inadvertently to do something that’ll get you in trouble later. I can tell you that anything not classified and having to do with the investigation will be turned over to you.”

“As determined by who?”

“The appropriate parties.”

“I’d like to determine that for myself.”

“Fine. Do you have Top Secret or SCI clearance?”

She moved a strand of hair from her face and glowered at him. “I don’t even know what SCI means.”

“Sensitive Compartmented Information. It’s a bitch to get. On top of that the DoD has SAPs, or special access program clearances. Reynolds was fully charged with TS/SCI and SAPs for his compartment and program areas. Consequently, if you try and access the laptop or check the colonel’s briefcase without proper authorization you could be charged with treason. I don’t want that to happen and I know you don’t. I realize all these acronyms probably sound stupid, but people in the government arena take them very seriously. And the consequences of running afoul of these parameters, even by accident, are pretty severe. It’s just a big headache you don’t need, Cole.”

“Strange world you operate in.”

“No disagreement on that.”

All around them the good folks of Drake were shooting curious glances in their direction. Two suits in particular were taking a special interest. As was a table of four beefy guys outfitted in corduroy pants and short-sleeved shirts that showed off their burly arms. One had on a Havoline cap. Another wore a dusty cowboy hat with a sharp crease on the right side. A third quietly drank his beer and studied the air in front of him. The fourth, smaller than the rest, but still weighing in at about two-ten, watched Puller and Cole via a large mirror on the wall.

Cole moved her gaze to look at the cash. “The police station is only-”

“Three minutes from here, like everything else.”

“Actually it’s about eight.”

“Can I get the stuff?”

“Can I trust you?”

“I can’t make that decision for you.”

“So maybe I can.” She put some dollars down to pay for her share of the meal.

“I think my cash covered them both with a tip,” said Puller.

“I don’t like owing people.” She rose. “Let’s go.”

Puller left his money right where it was and followed her out as the town of Drake continued to stare.

They walked down the street. The few people there stared at Puller and his blue jacket with the gold CID lettering. It didn’t faze him. He was used to being the outsider. He only showed up in towns like this when something bad had happened. Nerves were tight. People were often dead by violent means. A stranger snooping around just added to the misery, the suspicion. Puller could deal with all that, but he also knew there was at least one killer out there, probably more. And something told him they were still here. Maybe a mere three-minute walk away from here, like everything else. Except the police station.

Cole nodded to some of the passersby, and said hello to one old woman using a walker to slowly amble along. The woman said in an admonishing tone, “Young lady, you haven’t been to church in a while.”

“Yes, Mrs. Baffle. I’ll do better.”