Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(57)

“And he wanted to see you.”

“Probably. I’d been under over a year and a half by then. We’d only seen each other four times since I’d gone undercover, but I still wanted to jump him right there on that table in the diner.”

Maryse smiled. “You two were good together.”

“I’d like to think so.”

“So did he get killed investigating the kidnappings?”

“No. That’s the worst part of the whole thing. A drunk driver hit his taxi on the way home from the airport. That cheap, greasy dinner in a rundown café was the last time I got to spend with him.”

Maryse placed her hand on Raissa’s arm. “I am so sorry.”

“One of life’s ironies, right? He spent every day of his life putting himself at risk, and everything was cut short by a drunk. What a waste.”

Maryse nodded.

“It just makes you think twice, you know? About how no matter what, you’re never really safe. And then with our job, we were at risk even more than regular people. Makes you think hard about getting involved again.”

“If Sabine could take that risk, then you can, too.”

Raissa sighed. “Fortunately, I don’t have to think about it. I can’t say for certain how Zach feels, but I seriously doubt he’s mentally picking out matching luggage. I’m a temporary distraction during a temporary situation, and soon I’ll be gone. No risk at all.” She picked up another folder and started to read.

“Your parents…were they still alive when you went into the FBI?”

“No. My dad died when I was eight. He was a fighter pilot and died in a training accident testing new aircraft. My mother passed my last year of college. Congestive heart failure. It ran in her family, and after my dad died, she never really took care of herself. She just sorta faded away.”

“That sucks, but at least you have some good memories.” Maryse stared down at the folder in her hands.

“I do,” Raissa said, her heart going out to her friend. Maryse had never known her mother. She’d died when Maryse was too young to remember her. So, despite all the regrets and blame Raissa might fling at her mother, Maryse was right—there were still years of good memories she could draw on.

Maryse looked up at Raissa, her brow scrunched in thought. “What about the parents?”

“I just told you about my parents.”

“No, sorry. Not your parents, the girls’. Maybe it’s the parents who have something in common.”

Raissa thought about all the families. “Well, they all live in different states. Until now, there were no political affiliations.”

“Professions?”

Raissa slowly shook her head. “All your basic blue-collar type work. A mechanic, a fireman, a fisherman…I can’t see how that has anything to do with—”

Maryse waved a hand. “Before. What about before they were firemen and fishermen and all that?”

Raissa picked up a file and scanned the history. “All I’ve got here is a couple of years before the kidnappings. I don’t know that anyone went back further, as kidnappers rarely need that long to plan. Why? What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know. I mean, it’s not likely they met in college, given the professions, but what about the military? Did anyone ever ask them if they knew the other families?”

Raissa stared at Maryse. “I don’t think so. There’s no record of it, anyway.”

Maryse frowned. “I suppose we’d go directly to jail if you hacked the military, right?

Raissa smiled. “Oh, yeah, but don’t worry, I’ve got a better idea.”

“What’s that?”

“The Social Security Administration.” Raissa reached for a spare laptop and Mildred’s car keys.

Maryse sighed. “Yeah, much safer.”

“Actually, it is. They have simply horrible security.”

“There’s a pleasant thought.” Maryse placed a hand on Raissa’s arm. “Let’s try it my way first.”

“Your way? Maryse, you’ve been holding out on me?”

Maryse grabbed one of the spare laptops and plopped back on the bed. “Hardly,” she said, and started typing. “Give me the father of the first girl.”

Raissa picked up the file and read the name.

Maryse tapped on the keyboard, hit enter, scrolled a bit, and clicked the mouse. She looked up at Raissa with a triumphant smile and turned the laptop toward her.

Raissa leaned over and stared in amazement. “Facebook? Your big investigative trick is Facebook?”

Maryse nodded and tapped the screen. “Look at the history. He’s listed everyplace he ever worked, including his military service. When his wife got pregnant, they were stationed in North Carolina.” Maryse turned the laptop around and waved a hand at Raissa. “Give me another name.”

Raissa grinned and picked up the file. The young dog had just taught the old dog a new trick. She’d opened the file to read off the name when the computer next to her started beeping.

Maryse looked up in alarm. “What is it?”

“It’s the bug in Sonny’s house.” Raissa tapped some keys on the keyboard and Sonny’s voice boomed out of the laptop.