Page 38 of Reckoning (FBI Thriller 26)

She did. “I was sure it was a man yesterday, Dillon, Mr. Dart Gun. But today it was a woman who shot Joy with one and took her uniform. Most guys wouldn’t fit in it. So are there two people? Or was I wrong? I guess whoever shot me could have been a woman. Kennedy Center security and Metro officers are looking for a woman. Whatever she was planning, Joy Trader finding her put a stop to it. I hope none of this ends up online or in the news. That’s the last thing Molly and Ramsey need.”

Savich said, “Ben has asked his people and security at Kennedy Center to keep it under their hats, so all digits crossed.”

“Maybe that will give them a little time, at least get them through Emma’s performance tonight. I think most kids would fold down, but not Emma. I have no doubt she’ll insist on performing and I don’t blame her. I’d want to perform too. She’s worked too hard on her Chopin numbers to suddenly have no payoff. She’ll play.”

“I agree. Ramsey told me they spoke to Emma about canceling her performance tonight and taking her to Mason Lord’s compound in Chicago immediately, and she gave a flat refusal.”

As they left the ER, Sherlock said, “I think Emma feels she has to perform. She made a promise and will keep it. Still, for Ramsey and Molly, this has turned into a nightmare. Emma was well guarded today and the people who want Emma failed, but that won’t stop them from trying again. And we still don’t know who they are or why they’re doing this.”

Savich said, “There’s not much time left before Emma’s on her way to Chicago. The question is if they try again here, what will they do?”

They continued to discuss the case while they walked to the parking lot and got in Savich’s Porsche. As he started up the car, his cell phone belted out Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.”

Savich passed his cell to Sherlock. “Ben? Dillon’s driving. What’s happened?”

“I’ve got some news for you, Sherlock, about the cars in the Kennedy Center parking lot. No luck there, but my people didn’t stop. They checked all the cars parked on surrounding streets. They spotted a rental car, found out it was rented by somebody out of Nevada.” He paused a moment, and she could see his grin. “We got a name.”