The Last Mile (Amos Decker, #2)(12)

As they climbed out of the car, Bogart buttoned his jacket and said, “ViCAP gave us space in their facility to use. We’ll also be operationally supported by them.”

“ViCAP—Violent Criminal Apprehension Program,” said Jamison.

Bogart nodded as he held the door open for them. “Formed in 1985. They’re a unit dealing with serial murders and other violent crimes usually of a sexual nature. They’re part of the Critical Incident Response Group.”

“Which is in turn part of the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime,” noted Decker.

Bogart nodded again. “We have lots of organizational layers.”

“Maybe too many,” assessed Decker.

“Maybe,” said Bogart curtly.

They walked down a well-lighted corridor.

“So how does what we’re going to do differ from what ViCAP already does?” asked Jamison.

“ViCAP is really a central database that other law enforcement agencies, both state and federal, use to investigate cases in their jurisdictions. There are teams of FBI agents that also investigate cases on the ground, of course. But ours will be one of the first to utilize folks from outside the FBI to be part of such an operational team. It took some finagling and negotiation. I have to say there are some in the Bureau who are not supportive of what we’re doing, and think bringing in outsiders is a mistake. I hope to prove them wrong.”

Decker said, “Playing devil’s advocate, what if we prove them right?”

Bogart shrugged. “Then our funding is cut and we go off and do something else. And my career slams right into the ceiling.”

Jamison said firmly, “Then let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.”

They passed through a security checkpoint and then Bogart used his ID badge to open a door.

“Here we are,” he said gesturing them inside.

Before Decker passed through the doorway he felt the butterflies in his belly that he often had before stepping onto the gridiron. It was an unwieldy combination of nerves, adrenaline, and anticipation.

He had thought those days were long since over.

Obviously not.

Here we go.

He stepped into the room.





CHAPTER

8



DECKER’S GAZE SWEPT the space and took everything in like radar bouncing off hard objects.

Two people were there.

Lisa Davenport was to his right. She was in her late thirties, with light blonde hair cut short, a lean, attractive face, full lips, and sparkling blue eyes. Her body was long and athletic, the hips narrow, the shoulders symmetrically broad.

She smiled at Decker as his gaze passed over her.

Todd Milligan sat across the table from her. He was about six feet tall and a buck-eighty. Like Bogart he was very fit and looked like he could run forever without getting winded. His dark hair was cut military short, his brow naturally furrowed, his light brown eyes intense, his spine assuredly as straight as his striped tie. There was nothing inviting or welcoming about the man. He just looked permanently serious.

In front of each was a thick binder. Decker noted the myriad Post-it notes sticking out from the binder’s sides. Both Davenport and Milligan had evidently come prepared.

Bogart made the introductions and they all sat.

On the wall was a large-screen TV that neatly filled the space. Bogart fired up a laptop that sat in front of him and manipulated some keys. The TV screen came to life and they all focused on it.

Bogart said, “We currently have twenty cases lined up to look at. Of those we will be able to, realistically, focus on only one at a time. I’m going for quality, not quantity. The twenty cases you’ve been given have been whittled down from a far larger number using various internal filters.”

Milligan said in a firm, clear voice, “It seems to me that the Morillo case has a lot of potential. I have some angles for approaching it that I think are rock-solid.”

“Good to hear,” said Bogart. “But I wanted to go through a brief overview of each of the cases so we’re all starting from the same page.”

Milligan’s features tightened just a bit. Decker could tell he was not pleased at what he no doubt saw as a rebuke, though Bogart was actually being perfectly reasonable.

Bogart methodically ran through each case, the highlights of which were shown on the screen.

Decker noted that each of the others followed along in their binders. He saw Milligan glance over at him in mild surprise because Decker had not even cracked open his book. Perhaps Bogart had not told them about Decker’s hyperthymesia. He was following along in his mind, turning the mental page in his head in synch with what Bogart was doing on the screen.

When Bogart was done he looked around the room. “Comments?”

Milligan said, “I still believe the Morillo case is the one to go after, Ross. It offers the best chance of a successful intervention. The case against him isn’t that strong and one critical piece of evidence was for all intents and purposes ignored. It seems to me that there are better suspects out there. And it would be good for your program to get off to a strong start.”

Bogart looked at the others. “Views on that?”

Decker said, “I think we should pass on the Morillo case.”

“Why?” Milligan asked sharply.

“Because it’s extremely likely that he’s guilty.”