David Baldacci - Simple Genius

Michelle watched as Viggie’s shoulders slumped. Not sure how to interpret that body cue Michelle plunged on. “If he was afraid of someone or kept secrets from people, it would really help us to know who. All we’re trying to do is help.”

“People who say they want to help, they have other reasons why.”

“Not us, Viggie, believe me.”

Viggie wheeled around and stared at her. “Are you being paid to help?”

The question caught Michelle off-guard, but she sensed lying to the girl would not be a good thing. “It’s my job to help people. It’s how I make my living.”

“So you do get paid. That’s why you’re spending time with me. You wouldn’t want to be around me except for that. I bet you’d just want to hang out with your real friends.”

“Viggie, I don’t have many real friends. In fact, other than Sean, I can’t say I have any.”

“I bet that’s not true.”

“Why, do you think everyone has lots of friends except you? And there are other children at Babbage Town, at the school.”

“None of them like me. Everybody thinks I’m weird.”

“Everyone is odd in a way. If you ever took a ride in my truck, you’d know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a trash pit that I can’t seem to get rid of no matter how hard I try.”

Viggie stared at her. “That’s why they brought that Mr. Barnes down. Because I’m weird.”

Michelle swallowed with great difficulty. “Actually, Mr. Barnes is also helping me. To get over some problems I have… from when I was a little girl.”

“He is?” Michelle nodded. “You promise? You aren’t just saying it.”

“I promise. Poor guy, I kept getting up and walking out on him when he was asking me questions, trying to make me better.”

In a hushed voice Viggie said, “I did that too. Why did you walk out?”

Michelle hesitated. It wasn’t because she didn’t know the answer to the question. It was just hard to say it. “Because I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?” Viggie said breathlessly as she stared at Michelle.

“Afraid he was getting too close to the truth and I couldn’t handle it.”

Viggie picked up her paddle. She said in a very small voice, “Me too.”

“See, I don’t really remember what happened to me. That’s why he wants to hypnotize me, to help me remember.”

“Are you going to let him?”

“I don’t know, what do you think?”

“You want my opinion?”

“Sure. You’re really smart. So should I or shouldn’t I? I mean I guess I could just keep on going and never find out what it is. Sometimes the truth is not so great.”

“I think you should let him do it,” Viggie said decisively.“Really? Why?”

“It’s always better to know, isn’t it?”

Michelle didn’t answer right away. “I think you’re right. It is better to know.”

“Can we go back now?” Viggie asked, sliding her paddle into the water.

“Sure. I hope this was fun for you.”

Viggie nodded but didn’t say anything. As they turned around and paddled away a man limped out of the woods on the Camp Peary side. Ian Whitfield lowered his binoculars but his gaze stayed on the small two-person craft. He’d been alerted to their presence by one of his men. He pulled a phone from his belt holder and punched in a number. His features were grim as he spoke. A few minutes later his aide, Six-Pack, joined him.

Whitfield said, “Ex-Secret Service? Both her and Sean King?”

“That’s right. Michelle Maxwell, down to investigate Turing and Rivest on behalf of the Babbage Town folks.”

Whitfield said, “Turing’s daughter was in the kayak.”

“What do you want to do about it, sir?”

Whitfield didn’t answer the question. He just stood there staring through the chain link fence out at the water. Finally he turned to Six-Pack. “Sometimes it’s a thankless damn job, son.” Whitfield turned and limped into the forest.

Back at the boathouse Michelle and Viggie put the kayak and gear away. As they walked back to Babbage Town Viggie placed her hand in Michelle’s and squeezed. “I hope Mr. Barnes can help you remember stuff,” she said.

“Thanks, Viggie. I appreciate your helping me decide.”

When they got back to the cottage Viggie ran to her piano and started playing. When she finished performing the song she looked up at Michelle. “I like you, Michelle.”

“I like you too, Viggie.”

Viggie jumped up from the piano and raced up the stairs. At the top of the landing she paused and turned. “Codes and blood,” she screamed and then ran down the hall to her room, leaving a stunned Michelle downstairs.

SEAN HAD ARRANGED for a rental car in Williamsburg and drove back to Babbage Town after dinner with Valerie. He crossed the bridge over the York and was passing Gloucester Point when the car that had been following him all evening caught up and forced him off the road. Before Sean could get out a man was at the driver’s window.

“Get out of the car,” he screamed at Sean, waving his ID.

FBI Special Agent Mike Ventris wasn’t exactly exuding the warm fuzzies.

“Can I ask what this is in reference to?” Sean said politely.

“Shut the hell up and get in my car! Now!”

Sean followed him back to his federal-issued cruiser. He climbed in the passenger side while Ventris ducked in the driver’s seat. When the doors slammed shut Ventris turned to him and snapped, “What do you think you’re doing, you idiot?”

Sean said calmly, “I was driving back to Babbage Town when you ran me off the road. Is it time for your wheels refresher course at the Bureau or do you just do that for kicks?”

“Knock off the wise-ass crap. First, you went to see Ian Whitfield.”

“Actually he summoned me and Sheriff Hayes.”

“And after that you met his wife at a bar.”

“No, we just ran into each other.”

“And you just had dinner with her.”

“Not a crime, at least that I’m aware of.”

“What exactly is your relationship with Valerie Messaline?”

“We were drawn together by a common love of a good Mojito.”

Ventris shoved a finger against Sean’s chest. “I am this far from arresting your ass.”

“Can I ask the charge?”

“I can lock you up for forty-eight hours no questions asked. In the meantime I can probably find something that’ll stick.”

“I’m down here working, just like you. Trying to find out who killed Monk Turing and Len Rivest. Remember the little competition I mentioned?”

“And I told you to stay out of my way.”

“I wasn’t aware that Valerie Messaline constituted being in your way.”

“She has no involvement in this case and neither does Ian Whitfield. The man has more important things to worry about than a dipshit PI poking around where he shouldn’t.”

Sean looked at him in disbelief. “Since when is the Bureau the CIA’s lapdog?”

“I’m telling you for your own good to back off. There are far more important issues here than a couple of murders.”

“Care to share?”

“Get out of my car. And if we have to meet again, you really won’t like it.”

Sean climbed out of the vehicle and then tapped on the window. “By the way, any news on the ‘gas leak’ at the morgue?”

Ventris almost ran over Sean’s foot as the car roared off.

Despite the smart-ass attitude he’d taken with Ventris, Sean wasn’t smiling as he trudged back to his car. He was getting in deeper by the second and so far nothing made any sense at all. As he drove back to Babbage Town Sean knew what he had to do next.

“You can’t be serious, Sean,” Horatio said. The three of them were standing next to Michelle’s truck and Horatio’s Harley, which were parked along a dirt road about a mile from Babbage Town.