A low murmur went around the table. Nobody liked the idea of a perp getting out early because somebody had slipped up.
Anyway, theyre looking into Joey for us, but the immediate word was that hes been doing an impression of a model citizen, working at his parents meat market and reporting to his parole officer on schedule.
Phillips made a complicated sound that expressed doubt at Joeys turnaround and skepticism at his apparent alibi.
Keep after them. The two weve got on ice were low-level muscle. Maybe they were doing Joey a favor. He looked around the table. Anything else need following up on?
Micah didnt particularly want to bring up this subject, but better it come from him than from someone else. Yes. How did the shooters locate Jade Summers? And why did they bother coming after her?
I dont know why, but I can guess how. Mac sounded pleased that he had something to contribute. I was going over the report from Ruby Maxwells apartment. Inside her Bible they found a newspaper photo and article, announcing the appointment of Jade Summers as head of the White Rock Library.
So they saw that when they tossed the apartment, Phillips said. Maybe werent sure they had the right twin, and went after the other one.
That meant he hadnt led them to her door, at least. That must be it, he said. Theres still the matter of how they found Ruby.
Mac shook his head. We could look til were old and gray and never know that for sure, but Im betting she was in touch with one of her old friends. We all know thats usually what happens.
Well keep following up on it, in any event. Phillips sounded ready to be finished. What are you working on right now, McGraw?
Im still checking out Jade Summerss background.
Phillips closed the folder in front of him. Have Mac help you with that. I want you to call your brother.
That jolted him to attention. Why my brother?
Hes the big expert on organized crime, isnt he? That memo he sent about the Martino familywell, on the surface it seems unlikely theres any connection, but he should be consulted. You call him. Phillips smiled thinly. Do you good to stay in touch with your kin. All right, people, lets get moving on this.
Chairs scraped, fragments of conversation floated past his attention. He didnt heed them. Call your brother.
Okay, no reason not to give Jackson a call. It had been a while. Usually his information about his half brother was funneled through his mother. Jackson always maintained a good relationship with his stepmother.
Back at his desk he checked through the information that had come through in the past hour, looked again at the file on Ruby, and finally faced the fact that he was putting off the inevitable. And that he was probably being unfair to his brother. Just because Jacksons status with the Bureau was nearly legendary, it didnt follow that he looked down on his little brothers efforts.
It just felt that way. Between his fathers reputation and his big brothers, there was way too much to live up to in the McGraw family.
He reached for the phone and called the Bureaus Chicago field office.
Special Agent McGraw was in. Micah. Jacksons deep voice was crisp, as always when he was on duty, which was most of the time. Whats with a Mob hit in the wilds of Montana?
You know about that already. He wasnt surprised. Jackson kept himself informed about anything having to do with organized crime.
I know about Ruby Maxwell. I didnt know you were involved, though.
Id settled her in Witness Protection. I was her contact. He didnt need to say more. Jackson would fill in the blanks.
Rough. I hear you caught the shooters already.
Not me, he wanted to say. A county sheriff and a handy utility pole caught them.
Ones dead, the other ones not talking. The strange thing is that they immediately went after Rubys twin sister, Jade Summers, who has no Mob connection in what seems a blameless life.
Jackson grunted. Nobodys life is blameless. Does she know why they came after her?
Not that shes saying. Were keeping an eye on her, obviously. Even weirder, the shooters didnt seem to know for sure who they were after.
It sounds like they werent the brightest bulbs in the pack. What do you want from me?
Theres no obvious connection with the Martino family, but my chief figured youd want to know.
There was silence on the line for a moment, but he could hear the scratch of Jacksons pen. He had a quick, vivid image of Jackson in his fifth-floor office, looking out at the city that had been his home for most of his lifea life that hed dedicated to eradicating the smear of Mob activity.
Okay, Jackson said. Well look into it on this end. Keep me posted, right?
Right. He waited, wondering if his brother would say anything personal, not sure he wanted him to.
Take care of yourself, kid. Jacksons voice was gruff. Call your mother.
That brought a reluctant grin. I do.
Well, call more often. Stay in touch. He clicked off.
Micah hung up the receiver slowly, letting the smile fade from his face. Jackson hadnt said anything about the fact that someone under Micahs care had been killed. But it was a sure bet hed been thinking it.
Stop trying to live up to a legend, he reminded himself. Youll never do it.
Micah McGraw had told her virtually nothing about her sisters death. Jade sat at the computer in the quiet of the county library, frowning at the screen. She wanted to look up details about the funeral service for Ruby, and she didnt even know where to start.
Would McGraw have told her more if their conversation hadnt been interrupted by those two hoods? Somehow she didnt think so. He was the epitome of a law enforcement professional. Shed been glad of that when hed protected her during those terrifying moments she hadnt known if each breath would be her last.
But now that the fear had subsided, she found she resented everything about the manhis iron control, his snapped questions, his air of doubt at everything shed said.
And most of all, she resented the fact that hed left her completely in the dark about her sisters life and death. Where had Ruby been living during her time in Montana? What had she done? Had she made friends, enjoyed life, learned to laugh again? Or had she been living in fear?
The fear would have been justified.
She bit her lip. This was ridiculous. She was a librarian. She knew how to research. If the U.S. Marshal Service, in the person of Deputy Marshal McGraw, wouldnt confide in her the details of her own sisters death, shed find out for herself.
Fingers flying, she started combing through the records of Montana newspapers. Somewhere there had to be something. Knowing the Witness Protection Programs passion for secrecy, theyd have clamped down on publicity, but they couldnt cover every base. Someone would be planning a funeral for Ruby, no matter what name theyd insisted she use.
Finally she found it. Ruby Maxwell. She leaned closer as if that would get her nearer to her sister.
There was no article about a murder, no hint that Rubys death had been anything remarkable. Just a brief notice that funeral services would be held tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church, Brownsville, Montana.
There was no article about a murder, no hint that Rubys death had been anything remarkable. Just a brief notice that funeral services would be held tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church, Brownsville, Montana.
She stared at the listing, her throat tight. Then she clicked on a site that would give her directions. It would be a long drive. Shed have to get an early start.
Going somewhere?
The words sent her spinning in her chair. Micah McGraw stood behind her, so close that her knees brushed his pant legs when her chair swiveled. She hadnt heard a thing to indicate that anyone was in the library. The man must move like a cat.
I beg your pardon? She tried to sound cool and collected, but her pulse skittered. If he knew she planned to attend her sisters funeral, she didnt doubt his reaction.
I couldnt help but notice the Web site. You do realize that we need to know where you are at all His voice trailed off as he looked more closely at the directions on the screen.
Then he switched his gaze to her, his face uncomfortably close. Brownsville. You told me you didnt know where your sister lived. Funny. I was actually on the verge of believing you.
She felt her cheeks warm. I did not know where Ruby lived. I told you the truth.
He flicked a glance at the computer. Then how did you find out about Brownsville?
Im a librarian. I know how to do research. You people may have kept any report of Rubys murder out of the papers, but you missed the funeral announcement.
You had to know where to look.
She blew out an exasperated breath at his stubbornness and pushed her chair away from the desk. And away from him.
Go ahead, check for yourself. Page back through my search. Youll see exactly how I got there. It took me over an hour to find the answer you could have given me in a minute if you werent so wedded to your secrecy.
He didnt take her word for it. He leaned over the computer and hit the back arrow, flipping backward through the pages shed searched on her way to finding out about Rubys funeral.
Finally he stopped, apparently satisfied, eyeing her.
Maybe I am wedded to secrecy, as you say. But you of all people ought to know how important it is.
Ruby is dead. Her throat closed on the words, and she had to fight to say more. It doesnt matter now who knows where she was.
Maybe not. His tone softened. Im sorry. You could have asked me about the funeral.
Would you have answered?
That gave him pause. I dont know. It sounded honest. If my chief said it was okay, I would have. You deserve to know that.
Some of her annoyance at him drained away. Thank you.
He jerked a nod toward the computer. Those directions. Youre not planning on going to the funeral, are you?
I am. She planted her hands on the arms of her chair, shoving it back as she stood. I am going to my sisters funeral tomorrow.
Jade He shook his head. It was the first time hed called her by her first name, and it startled her. You cant do that.
Yes, I can. And Im going to.
He glared, and she had the sense that he was counting to ten. Stop and think about this. Ruby knew people in that townpeople who had no idea she had a twin sister. If you walk in there cold, theyre going to think shes come back from the dead.
Her heart winced at the words. She hadnt thought about that, and the idea added an extra layer of hurt. Im sorry about that, but it doesnt change my mind. Whether it makes people talk or not, Im going to my sisters funeral.
Have you forgotten that the shooters were after you, too? His anger rushed toward her in waves. It would be better to stay as far away as possible from your connection to Ruby. Im sure my boss would say the same.
Those men are out of commission now. She had to steady herself, because remembering was like revisiting a nightmare. And they already knew about my connection to Ruby.
He frowned, those level brows drawn down over his dark eyes. Even so, we ought to play it safe. We dont know why those two were after you. Or even why they were after Ruby.
What do you know? And what, if anything, are you willing to tell me? Surely by this time you must have found out something.
A curtain seemed to draw across his eyes. I cant discuss that with you.
No, of course not. Anger lent strength to her words. You dont want me to know a thing. You dont even want me to say goodbye to my sister. Her heart twisted. Well, Im going to Rubys funeral, and the only way you can stop me is to arrest me.
His silence, lasted for the space of a long breath. And then
If thats how you want it.
You Surely he wasnt really going to arrest her.
If youre that determined to go, youll go. But Im going with you.
I dont want you.
I dont doubt that. His words held a determination that told her arguing would do her no good at all. But thats the offer. Either I go with you tomorrow, or I really will detain you.
She was astounded at the strength of her desire to throw something at him. She didnt do things like that. Ruby was the one who gave in to impulse, not her.
And if she did, hed probably arrest her for assaulting a federal officer. Then shed never get to the funeral.
All right. She bit off the words. Have it your way.
I intend to, he said, and it was as much a threat as a promise.
The sun rose slowly, almost reluctantly, bathing miles of snowy emptiness with a cold, clear light. Jade glanced across the front seats of the truck at Micah. Hed picked her up in the predawn darkness, and theyd driven for miles without a word between them.
Her first impression of his vehicle had been right on target. The truck was an older model, but spotless inside.
Micah had shed his parka, revealing a woolly V-neck layered over a dress shirt and tie. The chocolate-brown of the sweater echoed the color of his eyes. He drove quickly and competently, managing the occasional patch of black ice or drifted snow without incident.
A twinge of guilt pricked her into breaking the silence. You must have had to get up in the middle of the night.
He shrugged. No big deal. He shot her a cautious look, as if wondering whether it was safe to talk after the way shed responded to him yesterday. Im sorry for forcing my presence on you. I do know youd rather be alone, but it might not be safe.
Do you honestly think someone is after me? Even now, she found the events of the past few days incredible, still felt half convinced that shed wake and discover it all a bizarre nightmare.
Probably not, but its better to take precautions.
She didnt know whether to be reassured by that or not. But he was wrong about one thing. I know I didnt want you to come. But Im glad Im not alone today.
Theres not much anyone else can do when youre burying a loved one, but its still better to have people around. When He let that trail off.
She twisted in the seat to see him better. When what?
He hesitated for a moment. I was going to say that when my father died, I dont know how Id have coped without my mother and brother.