Page 87 of Facing the Enemy

Three samples of handwriting. Two match but nothing is in the database.

I scanned the list. In addition to the maternity home centers, abortion clinics had been notified of potential fraudulent means of convincing young women to give birth for money. Nothing had surfaced there. I read the list backward.

Then I had an idea.

46

Not telling Gage about my plan to expose Peter Florakis made sense, especially when I knew Gage wouldn’t approve. The excuse “Easier to ask forgiveness than permission” fit perfectly. Except our admittance of love meant trust. But if my idea brought the case to a close, he’d thank me later.

I phoned Ethan Mercury on the burner Gage had given him. “This is Risa Jacobs. Are you free to talk?”

“Give me a moment.” I heard footsteps, and he greeted me. “I’m at the office. Professor Jacobs or Agent Jacobs?”

I smiled into the phone. “Presently both. Have you heard from Florakis?”

“Not yet.”

“I’d like to speed things up. Mr. Mercury, what I’m about to propose has a high level of risk involved.”

“Can’t be any worse than what I’ve lived with for the past several months. I told Agent Patterson this, but I’ll do whatever it takes to help make arrests.”

“Okay.” I explained what I had in mind. “I’ll call you on your personal cell that we know is bugged. I’ll arrange for us to meet and state it’s urgent.”

“Got it. Will Agent Patterson be with you?”

“Not sure yet.”If he doesn’t wring my neck.

I made the arrangements with Ethan, and we planned to meet at a Starbucks not far from the FBI office. The coward in me texted Gage.

Meeting Ethan in two hours to draw Florakis out from under his rock. Want to join me? Or do I go solo?

What have you done now? Hold on, I’m calling you.

I laughed. Not sure why, except it felt incredibly good to be my free self.

Right on schedule Gage and I pulled into Starbucks. Gage had picked me up to represent an official FBI interview, and he wore a scowl.

Ethan had parked his car in an isolated area beside a trash dumpster on one side and the curb on the other. While Gage and I walked into Starbucks, a mobile pet-grooming van blocked our view for about twenty seconds. I didn’t trust Florakis, and while we hadn’t seen anyone tampering with Ethan’s vehicle, Gage dashed out after it, but the woman driver had only tossed trash into the dumpster. Still Gage jotted down the plates.

Inside, the heavenly scent of coffee met my nose as I cased out a potential John Smith/Peter Florakis. But no one captured my attention. Our subject didn’t need to show up or send a hit man until he overheard our conversation.

We sat at a table with Ethan where Gage and I had our attention on the door. Now on with my idea. “Thanks for meeting with us, Mr. Mercury.”

“I’m not sure this is a good idea. You’re investigating me for using faulty equipment in my alarms, then you want to meet here. What’s the deal?”

“We have a connection to you and a man who’s wanted in New York as a person of interest in a murder case.”

He snorted. “Agent Jacobs, I don’t run a background check on my clients. You’re wasting your time.”

Gage stepped in. “Mr. Mercury, in view of your business practicesinvestigation and the link to a man we want to apprehend, we have a few questions.”

Ethan huffed. “I’m here, so ask away.”

“You know a man by the name of John Smith,” Gage said. “His real name is Peter Florakis. We’d like his contact info.”

“I have never met a John Smith or Peter Florakis. Try asking Pocahontas.”

I studied Ethan. His snarky attitude gave him a few extra points. “We have video footage of you two together.”