Page 43

CHAPTER 43

O KAY, I DID NOT SEE that coming.”

Walker had come into the kitchen to see Devine in the sweatpants and a T-shirt he’d slept in making coffee.

He turned to her. “Slept like a bear in hibernation and then woke up feeling really good. Those muscle relaxants are something else. Haven’t felt this loose since graduation night at West Point, and that required copious amounts of alcohol.”

“I’m sure,” she said, smiling.

Walker started prepping the meal while he poured out two cups of coffee, handed her one, and sat on a bar stool at the kitchen island. He watched her work away making the breakfast. “You from here?”

“No, Pennsylvania. I come from a family of cops. I love the outdoors, hiking, snow skiing, kayaking, and it doesn’t get better than here for that. How about you?”

“I went to West Point for two reasons. I wanted to serve my country and I wanted to piss off my old man. For him, money dictates one’s self-worth, which is not my life philosophy. I made captain and then got out.”

“I thought West Pointers made it their career?”

“Not always.”

“Then you went to work for DHS?”

“No, after that, I got my MBA and went to work on Wall Street for a while.”

“But I thought you said—”

Devine interrupted, “I hated Wall Street. It was just sort of me paying penance.”

“For what?” she asked curiously.

“Old news, not worth revisiting.”

“Okay, then tell me more about Betsy Odom.”

He did, including the girl’s past, the struggles of her parents, and her dilemma with her uncle’s wanting to adopt her.

“But you said she’s under the protection of the FBI. Why?”

“She’s Danny Glass’s only living relative. Her mom and dad might have told her stuff about him. He’s the defendant in a big RICO case. They’re probably hedging their bets.”

“Pretty rough for the kid.”

“Yeah. Someone murdered her parents, and the prime suspect wants to adopt her. And she’s been poor her whole life and now she can be rich.”

“I don’t think I’d be able to work that one out and I’m not twelve,” noted Walker.

“She’s mature beyond those years, at least in some ways. In other ways, she’s just a scared little kid.”

“So what do you think comes out of the meeting with Glass?” asked Walker.

“He’s obviously hell-bent on becoming her guardian. And he probably wants to make sure Betsy is on the same page so there are no surprises.”

“But if he is this global criminal, why does he want that sort of responsibility?”

Devine said, “Glass strikes me as a transactional guy. So what value does his niece have for him?”

“Does she know something about him, like you mentioned? Or is she some sort of savant who can predict the stock market or horse races? Is she a whiz at hacking?”

“She’s a smart kid. But I’ve seen no signs of anything like that.”

“If he killed her parents to get custody of her, there has to be a reason.”

“I’ve been thinking of nothing else since I got to town. Although…” began Devine.

“Although what?”

“It’ll sound a little crazy, but I’ve seen him around her. He… well, he genuinely seems to love her, if a guy like that can love anyone. And I previously suggested to Braddock that maybe Glass knows who killed his sister and brother-in-law, and is trying to protect Betsy.”

“If he knows who murdered them, why not go to the police?”

“No clue,” replied Devine.

“So does he have a shot at becoming her guardian even with the RICO prosecution?”

“He hasn’t been proven guilty of anything. And three of the DOJ’s witnesses against him have been murdered.”

“On his orders?” she asked.

“Presumably, but it’s not like there’s proof of that. The guy has an ankle monitor, so he wasn’t personally involved, but he has plenty of muscle to do the job.”

“Anyone looking into those murders?”

“I’m sure there are,” he replied.

“Can you get me the names of the witnesses?”

He looked at her in surprise. “Why?”

“I’d like to dig into it, too.”

“I can,” he said.

“Thanks.”

After they had finished eating, Walker said, “You better shower and change, and I’ll do the same. I’ll drive us over in my car.”

As Devine walked off, he prayed that today would go better than yesterday had.