Best Laid Plans(23)
“I know I can be a little intense,” Lucy said. “I have a hard time lightening up. I wish I could be more fun like Kenzie or compartmentalize better like Ryan. But I am good at my job. All I want is to be part of this investigation. To contribute and not feel like I can’t say something or ask a question.”
Barry hesitated, then said, “I’m used to working alone,” he said. “When I get a rookie to work with, they usually don’t have much experience in the field. That probably wasn’t fair to you today.”
She hadn’t expected an apology, but she appreciated it. “If I mess up, tell me. I’m still learning.”
Barry turned into the secure FBI parking lot and shut off the car. “Will do. Go home. Relax. I’ll call you tomorrow if anything pops up. Likewise, if Mancini gets back to you about that girl, call me. If it seems best to interview Everett tomorrow instead of Monday, I’ll call you in. Fair?”
She nodded. “Thanks, Barry.”
*
Barry finished briefing Juan Casilla on the case. He hadn’t been lying to Lucy that he didn’t like working weekends. The squad rotated who was on call, and it was his weekend, but he didn’t have to like it. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his job; he did. He liked the authority and power that came with being a federal agent. He was good in the field, and the AUSAs loved him because he gave them prosecutable cases with no potential issues like illegal searches. In fact he worked so well with the AUSAs on cases that Juan usually assigned him to work anything legal. Plus, he did well with public relations. He’d been offered the position of public information officer a few years back, but declined it because it would have meant erratic hours.
He supposed his predilection for a regular eight-to-five schedule was the primary reason SAC Ritz Naygrew had brought in Juan Casilla as the SSA three years ago instead of promoting Barry. For a while, Barry was disgruntled and had considered leaving the Bureau, or at least San Antonio. Especially since Casilla rarely worked weekends because of his large family. Five kids under twelve with another on the way. Yet Juan had a solid management style that Barry respected, firm but flexible.
“What do you think?” Juan asked. “It seems clear that Worthington was murdered.”
“It appears that way, but I’m not going to make assumptions, not until the morgue comes back with the test results. The big hiccup here is how this girl connects with Worthington and Everett, and why she was in both hotel rooms on the same night. Aside from the obvious.”
“But your report indicated that Worthington hadn’t had sex with the girl.”
“Honestly, the whole case seems fishy. It appears that Worthington was set up to look like he was in a compromising position, but we still need to interview his daughter and find this prostitute. And I can’t shake the fact that he made this unscheduled trip to San Antonio and didn’t tell anyone.”
“I’ve fielded two calls from Jolene Hayden—one from her, and one from her husband.”
“I had Zach call her to set up a meeting for Monday morning. Kincaid and I have been going nonstop since before dawn. We’ll miss something if we talk to her tonight. Other than the taxi driver, she may have been the last person to see her father alive. She also may know why he left Dallas for San Antonio, but she wasn’t in town earlier for us to talk to.”
“I agree—talk to her fresh. Zach said she was amicable to meeting Monday morning once she knew that we were serious about the investigation and that we wouldn’t have any results from the coroner until Monday.”
“Is that what you told her?”
“I’m not going to give her the preliminary results over the phone.” Juan leaned forward. “Tread lightly with the congresswoman. That’s why I wanted you on this case, Barry. You understand the sensitivities of a potentially political investigation.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Which brings up Lucy Kincaid.”
“I’ve been watching her closely like you asked,” Barry said. He hadn’t been surprised by Juan’s request, and he didn’t feel guilty about it, either. The only way they could function in the law enforcement role established by Congress was to have good agents under the command of a strong leadership. He’d often assessed rookie agents, especially since joining the San Antonio office.
“She’s focused and has good instincts,” Barry said. “She took my direction, even when I could tell she was frustrated that I wouldn’t let her pursue something or ask questions. Though she’s only been here a few months, she’s already built relationships with local law enforcement, including the deputy coroner, Julie Peters, and SAPD detective Tia Mancini which, honestly, made the crime scene this morning go smoother than I would have expected after we took over the investigation.
“Lucy is like the Energizer Bunny—she doesn’t stop,” Barry continued. “Not in the same way as Kenzie, who simply can’t sit still, but her mind is continually turning over evidence and information. She wanted to continue working tonight, but I sent her home. It’s clear to me that she’s going to burn out quickly. She seems to recognize this in herself, but she doesn’t know how to turn off the job. And—to be honest—I don’t think she wants to turn it off. That would be my number-one concern.”