While Justice Sleeps(56)

“Can you meet me in Georgetown right away?” She gave him the location, checking over her shoulder for signs of pursuit. Her breath stuttered as she bodily pushed past the knots of tourists and neighbors crowding the streets. “If you can come as soon as possible, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Sure…yes. Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not.” She shouldered past a phalanx of walkers, avoiding a collision with a nanny and a stroller. “Noah, don’t tell anyone where you’re going, please.”

“Should I call the police?”

“Don’t talk to anyone. Just come.” Disconnecting the line, she entered the teeming coffee shop and scanned the area for a table. A corner nook with a settee and a chair had been abandoned by its previous occupants, who’d left behind a familiar brown pastry bag and a wad of discarded napkins. Her legs gave way, and she sank onto the sofa.

Calling Jared and Noah posed risks, but she saw no alternative. Both men had information she desperately required. Trust cost more than self-reliance, but she’d been boxed into a corner. Justice Wynn had left her with no clear allies except for his son and his lawyer.

She barely knew Jared Wynn, but he possessed computer skills she might be able to use. For his part, Noah understood Justice Wynn’s machinations as well as anyone. At the very least, he might be useful in keeping her out of federal prison before she figured out Justice Wynn’s strategy.

Too nervous to sit, Avery made her way to the counter. “Iced white chocolate mocha Frappuccino. Grande.” The drilling at the base of her skull sharpened, and she amended, “Actually, make it a venti. With extra whip.”

As a barista rang up her order, she wondered who else might have had access to the house. Perhaps they hadn’t followed her. Maybe they were already inside. Waiting.

    “Can I have your name, please?”

“Celeste,” she whispered as the name popped into her head.

“Ma’am?”

Avery blinked. “What?”

“I asked for your name, but I didn’t hear what you said.” He held up a cardboard cup and a marker. “Can you spell Selst for me?”

“Selst? Oh—no. It’s Avery. Sorry about that.”

The teenager stared at her oddly, then scribbled the name on the cardboard and passed her the receipt. “She’ll call when your order’s up. Have a good day.”

Avery moved out of the way and rubbed at the lump on her head. “Too late,” she muttered.

Chimes tinkled to admit a new patron. She glanced up, and her eyes widened in dismay. Special Agent Robert Lee stood in the entrance, looking around.

She considered ducking into the women’s bathroom until he left. But she refused to run. Puffing out a breath, she crossed the store. She stopped in front of him and cocked her chin. “Agent Lee.”

“Ms. Keene, are you alone?”

“You probably already know the answer.”

“I assume you came here to meet someone.” Shaded eyes scanned the Starbucks. “He stand you up?”

“Who?”

“Jared Wynn.”

“Iced white mocha!” yelled the barista.

“That’s my order. Excuse me.” Avery turned, only to have Lee take her arm. She looked down at his grip, then lifted her eyes to meet his. “Am I under arrest?”

Lee shook his head, but his hold remained firm. “I must speak with you.”

“If you want to ask me about more than the weather, I’d advise you to get a warrant.” With disdain, she peeled his fingers away. For a second, she considered whether he could be her assailant, but dismissed the idea. The FBI wouldn’t have needed to bash her over the head. They’d simply give themselves a warrant to go inside.

As she turned away, she stopped. Agent Lee might know who did. “How long have you been following me?”

    He flicked his gaze over her shoulder. “I have no obligation to disclose that information, Ms. Keene. As you well know.”

“That’s right, you don’t. However, if you expect me to be even the slightest bit cooperative, it wouldn’t hurt to answer.” She heard her order called a second time. “Take that table over there.”

She walked slowly to the counter, found her drink, and took a deep draft. The first shot of caffeine hit her veins with the precision of an IV. She returned to Agent Lee, his stolid face unchanged. “I assume you tracked me from the Court to Lowry Kihneman and from there to the justice’s house.”

“I’m not following you, Ms. Keene.” He extended his hand, indicating the seat she’d staked out. “We had an alert placed on the alarm system at Justice Wynn’s house. The security company called as soon as you logged in.”

“But you didn’t have a unit there?”

“No. Why?”

That meant no one to identify her assailants. He had no idea about the burglary. She shifted to watch him. “What do you want?”

“You left the house in a big hurry…almost a panic.” He waited for a reaction. “What’s going on?”

Her headache flared painfully at the mention, but she said, “I came, I saw, I left.”

He sighed. “Let’s try this another way. Tell me what you found inside the house.”