“And pay,” I say. “A full-time salary.”
“He doesn’t need the money, but yes, and pay.”
“Then I’ll get him to work. If we can find some lower-level connections to the devil, maybe we can get them talking.”
“Interesting,” he says. “And you have my attention. I’m shocked that you’ve decided to take down the devil without a gun.”
“I never said anything about my plan to take anyone down. I simply stated what I, a well-behaved agent, has in mind.”
He snorts and says, “Well behaved, my ass.” He offers no chance for my rebuttal. “I have a few Russian connections. I’ll see what I can do.” He pauses and adds, “Careful, Agent Love. Watch your back. And Kane’s.”
He hangs up.
I let the phone settle in my lap and then sit there, the realization hitting me.
I’ve been thinking this killer wanted me on this case to ride the tails of the press following my involvement in the Umbrella Man case. But right now, I’m thinking of the woman who came to our house, pretending to be a sous chef and used the second victim’s name. I’m thinking of Kane’s chopper last night. Andrew’s words come back to me. “What about Kane?” he challenges. “Is he in the revenge circle?”
Maybe for once, my dumbass brother got something right.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jay and I enter the diner and, as planned, he heads to the back, where he plans to keep watch and stuff his face with a burger. Apparently, he didn’t have so much as a slice of strawberry pie today. Andrew waves me over to a corner table not too far from Jay. I’m about to head in that direction and order my own burger when Judith, the pretty young new hostess, motions me to her. “Lilah, this was left for you.” She shoves an unmarked envelope at me.
I frown and accept it. “Who’s it from?”
“It was just lying here on the hostess stand,” she explains, shoving long blonde hair behind her ear.
Junior is clearly getting bolder, I think. “When?” I ask.
“A few minutes ago.”
“Do you have cameras in the diner?” I ask.
“Definitely not and I know that because I heard the owner arguing with his wife over the cost of installing them. He was for them. She was against them.”
I don’t comment. I just can’t do stupid on an empty stomach and the hostess wasn’t the one who was stupid, anyway. “No one saw anyone at the hostess stand?”
“No,” she says. “Sorry. I asked around. It seemed logical we find out. You are an FBI agent and it’s a little weird.”
Now we have a smart one. “Let me know if you find out anything before I leave.”
She quickly agrees and I head toward my brother’s table only to hear, “Lilah.” Then a little more insistently shouted, “Lilah!”
It’s not the hostess.
But the voice is oh too familiar and I grind my teeth as I pause and turn to find Alexandra, my ex-best friend, approaching. “I’m so pleased I ran into you,” she exclaims, halting breathlessly in front of me, quite agile in her three-inch heels and snug pencil skirt she’s paired with a black silk blouse and jacket. All she’s missing to finish off her pristine outfit is a button that reads “Traitor, bitch, and liar,” or maybe even better, one that says, “I drugged my best friend’s drink so she could be raped and killed because the Society told me to.”
I want to slap her every time I see her, but so far, I’ve contained my carnal desires. For now, I blow her off. “I’m in a business meeting with Andrew and then I’m out of here.”
And of course, she ignores the kick to the curb. “I heard about Kane’s chopper,” she says and almost, just almost touches me, which would be a mistake. She hesitates and pulls her hand back. “My God, I’m so sorry. You know, when I lost Eddie—”
“I didn’t lose Kane,” I say coldly. “And I’m not going to, Alexandra. Feel free to spread the word.”
“I ah—right. I need to talk to you about the Emma Wells and Rip Vaughn cases. Can we sit a moment?”
“No. There’s nothing to talk about right now. And the first twenty-four hours of a homicide are the most critical. I’ll call you when I’m ready.” I turn away.
“The DA has pressure on this. He wants to do a press conference.”
I face her again. “I just did this with the Umbrella Man case. Are we really doing this bullshit again? Too much press works against the case.”
“Silence freaks out the public.”
“There’s no danger to the general public, but if I tell you why I know that and you blab about it on the news, I’m fucked. This case is fucked. The next potential victim is fucked right into the grave. But then, you don’t care who dies if it suits your agenda, now do you, Alexandra?”