Long Road to Mercy (Atlee Pine, #1)(74)

Fabrikant silently clapped his hands together. “Impressive. I like how your mind works.”

Pine inserted the flash drive and brought up the screen where the password was asked for.

“Do you think it’s the same password?” asked Blum.

“Doubtful, but I’ll try. We might get lucky.”

She typed in “Soze Keyser is Verbal,” and nothing happened.

“Okay, that’s a no go.”

Fabrikant said, “Do you know for a fact that what’s on the flash drive is related to your case?”

“Priest went to great lengths to hide it, so other things being equal, yes, I’m pretty sure it is.”

She hit some more keys, and a list of the files on Priest’s computer came up. “Is it okay if I print out the list of his files? I can go over them in more detail later.”

“Certainly. But just the file list, not the files themselves. I can’t allow you to take Ben’s work product without his permission.”

“Well, I hope he’ll make it back one day to give his permission.”

“Is it really that serious?”

“With this Sung Nam Chung involved, what do you think?”

Pine printed out the file list and exited out of the computer.

Fabrikant escorted them to the building entrance. Before he closed the door, he handed her his card. “All my contact numbers are on there. If something comes up, or you need some help, don’t hesitate.”

“Thanks,” said Pine, taking the card.

As they walked down the street to the parking garage, Blum said, “Why don’t you profile Priest again? That might help us figure out the password.”

“I can try,” said Pine. “But if it’s just in his head, we’re not going to get it.”

“Glass half full.”

“Right.”

“What did you think of the people back there?”

“Either they are what they appear to be, or they’re a front for some weird shit going on.”

“They wouldn’t have helped us if they were bad people.”

“Depends on your definitions of help and bad.”

“True.”

They reached the Kia and climbed in.

Pine pulled out into traffic and turned left. As they drove along, she glanced in her mirror. “Here we go.”

“What?”

“We picked up a tail.”

“I wonder who.”

“Come on, Carol. You don’t need three guesses. The Society for Good is on our ass. Jeez, you wouldn’t think they’d be so obvious.”

“And what are you going to do about it? Lose them?”

“Not quite.”

“Why not?”

“I’d like some answers.”

Blum sat back in her seat. “Well, you always know just the right way to ask.”





Chapter

40



THE MAN FOLLOWING Pine and Blum turned down another road, keeping them in sight in the traffic.

The Kia made another left, then a right, and the man barely made a traffic light as he continued to follow them.

Then he lost the Kia for about a minute but then picked it back up again.

A few seconds later he watched as the Kia parallel-parked in an open space.

The man looked behind him and found a free spot. He backed up and pulled into it. He put the car in park and waited.

As he watched, Blum got out of the car.

The man checked his watch and settled back into his seat.

This lasted for only a moment before the passenger door was wrenched open and a gun was pointing at him.

Pine climbed into the seat and said, “I thought we’d just cut to the chase.”

The man looked from her to Blum, who was looking at him through the driver’s side window.

She waved at Pine and then climbed into the rear seat.

The man was the same one who had answered the door at the Society for Good and escorted them back to Fabrikant’s office.

“You can’t do this,” he said. “It’s illegal.”

Pine held out her badge. “This gives me the right to stop anyone acting suspiciously.”

“I wasn’t acting suspiciously.”

“Then what were you doing?” demanded Pine.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“I know Ben.”

Pine lowered her gun. “I’m listening. But first, what’s your name?”

“Will Candler.”

“Okay, Will, let’s hear it.”

Candler cleared his throat and gripped the steering wheel so tight, his knuckles shook. “He was into something. Something really dangerous.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Pine shot back. “And make it quick.”

“Ben was at the office one night late a while back. He looked so agitated that I asked him what was wrong.”

“And what did he say?” asked Blum.

“At first, he sort of blew me off. Said everything was fine, blah, blah. But I persisted. I told him I might be able to help. I’ve been in DC a long time. I’ve worked in a couple of administrations. I’ve got contacts. Plus, I’ve served in capacities all over the world.”