“Well, I’m not really sure what this is about. They just said they wanted to talk to me about her and that they were only going to be in town today. It seems a bit weird to me.”
“Yeah, me too. And, Ben still hasn’t called me back yet, so I don’t know if he had anything to do with this or not.”
Silence filled the space behind my comment for several heartbeats. I made my steady back-and-forth trek two more times and started on a third before the quiet was once again disturbed by my wife.
“Maybe it’s because I’m prettier than you,” she quipped.
“What?”
She grinned. “Maybe they asked for me because I’m prettier than you.”
“Uh-huh, very funny.”
She feigned a pout. “Well, I am.”
“While I’m inclined to agree with you, I’m also reasonably sure that’s not one of the qualifying criteria… Besides, this is no time for joking, Felicity.”
“Who says I’m joking?”
I held up my hand and thumbed my wedding ring. “Me, because I’ve known you for a long time. Besides, that comment was so far out in left field it had to be a joke.”
She nodded agreement, adopting a slightly more serious tone. “True… But I’m just trying to get you to lighten up. You’re starting to make me nervous.”
“Sorry, but there’s not much I can do about that right now.”
“Actually, yes there is. You could stop pacing and sit down. That would be a start.”
I ignored the comment and continued my twenty-mile hike in a ten-foot space.
Her voice suddenly took on the quality of soft concern. “So, how is your head doing, then?”
“Same old ache,” I replied with a shrug. “Much better than last night though.”
“And your neck?”
I reached up and absently touched the spot that had been the source of the bleeding, and it felt perfectly normal. “Not even a twinge,” I told her then added, “Thankfully. I really don’t need the distraction at the moment.”
“What’s gotten into you then?” she asked. “Something definitely has you wound up.”
“I don’t honestly know,” I replied with a sigh, and I was telling the truth. “Just having all this with Annalise come back to the forefront maybe.”
“It’s been there all along, Row.”
“I know, I know. But we’ve been able to put it behind us a bit… Or, pretend we have, at least.”
“ Cac capaill. Don’t lie.”
“What makes you think I’m lying?”
“Because you’ve never put it behind you and you know it,” she said. “So do I.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“I am? Well then why have you been obsessing over my necklace ever since that night?”
I feigned innocence with a forced chuckle and said, “I haven’t.”
“ Thug tu d'eitheach.”
“Seriously, honey,” I appealed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” she replied then clucked her tongue. “Why don’t you show me what’s in your jacket pocket that has your hand so occupied then?”
I stopped pacing again and looked at her. She caught me flat-footed with the comment, and denying her observation wasn’t going to do me any good. My right hand was stuffed into the pocket, and I had been fidgeting with the small jar ever since we arrived. It had been completely subconscious on my part, but she had certainly noticed it. Still, I wondered how she knew what it was.
“So, you’ve been going through my jacket?” I asked, trying to turn the table.
She shook her head. “No. I was right behind you going through the metal detectors downstairs when you had to empty your pockets, remember? I’m not blind, you know.”
I hung my head and sighed at my attack of stupidity then looked back at my wife and muttered, “Duh.”
“That’s what I was thinking, but I wasn’t going to say it.”
I pulled the jar out and looked at it. “I’m kind of surprised they let me bring it in, actually.”
“I guess you were convincing enough not to make them suspicious.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I replied as I stuffed it back into my pocket. “So, you pretty much just played me just now to see what I’d say?”
She shrugged and said, “Yes.”
“Any conclusions?”
“That you’re predictable.”
“Great…” I huffed then said, “Okay, so what makes you think I didn’t bring it along just because of the meeting?”
She didn’t say a word. Instead, she mimicked my earlier action by holding up her hand and thumbing her wedding ring as she smiled.
“Touche,” I said. “Guess I should have known.”
“Yes, you should have…” she agreed. “So would you like to tell me why you’re still so fixated on that?”
“I already told you. I’m sure it has something to do with Miranda and her connection to you.”
“I know. But you still haven’t told me exactly why you think that.”
“Well, actually, I can’t. Not yet, anyway.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“A little of both I guess.”
“Well, if it’s because you’re worrying about me you can stop. I’m fine.”
“If it’s just the same to you I think I’ll worry anyway.”
“Why? I said I’m fine.”
“I know you are,” I said, pausing for a moment then adding, “Now…” I spoke the word with emphasis, not to belittle, but to remind her that I knew all too well what it had taken for her to be able to say that and actually believe it. I followed the punctuated acknowledgement by saying, “And, whatever it takes, I plan for you to stay that way.”
“You’re being overprotective again,” she grumbled.
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
“No. It’s a matter of fact.”
“So sue me.”
“If I do I’ll win,” she jibed, playfulness once again edging out her annoyance.
She apparently wasn’t going to give up trying to lighten the mood, so I caved and tried to play along. “If you win then I guess I’ll just be at your mercy.”
She shot me a disarming grin and said, “Aren’t you always?”
While I was a far cry from being at ease, I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly and return the smile. “Yeah, you have a point, I usually am.”
“Okay then… So, since you agree, what do you say when we get home we put that to the test?”
“Just so I’m sure I’m not misunderstanding, was that a proposition?” I asked.
“Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all.” I shook my head. “It’s been awhile, you know… What with everything that happened… And… Well, I guess I just wasn’t expecting it. Especially here…”
“I know,” she replied and shot me a sheepish grin. “But the mood just came on me a little while ago…”
“Don’t get mad at me for asking this, but since this seems a little sudden I just need to know… You aren’t experiencing any kind of identity crisis right now, are you?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “No. I’m still me. You don’t have to worry.”
“Okay, that’s good to know. So, what sort of test did you have in mind?”
There was a familiar fire in her eyes that told me she was already getting herself worked up the more she thought about it. “Well, I was just thinking that I already cleared my schedule, so if this meeting only takes a couple of hours we’ll have plenty of time to explore a few things.”
“Okay, so by things you mean…” I let my voice trail off.
“Yes, by things I mean we could…”
Before she could even start into what was certain to be a far more detailed description of her ideas for the afternoon activities, she was interrupted by the sound of the conference room door swinging open. I already had a good inkling of where she was headed since we had discussed it before. Under the circumstances, I
didn’t know whether to be slightly relieved or greatly disappointed by the untimely intrusion. But, given that our carnal activities had been nonexistent since Miranda’s interference, I had to admit I was leaning toward the latter. Besides, making her happy was my prime concern, so in effect I was already well on my way to the role she wanted me to play.
Oddly enough, whatever had triggered her amorous mood must have been contagious. Because, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to forget about this meeting and make a beeline for home, immediately if not sooner.
CHAPTER 14:
Abandoning the libidinous thoughts that were forming in my head, I turned to see a man and a woman following the door in as it pivoted along its arc. They were roughly in their early fifties although the man might have been younger or even older, I couldn’t be sure. His features were just nondescript enough to leave you wondering. They were both dressed business casual, carrying briefcases and, not surprisingly, sporting FBI ID’s.
While there was nothing in particular about either one of them that I could readily identify as setting me off, I felt my body tense of its own accord. All I could say for sure is that the moment they entered, the exact same sharp chill I had felt earlier once again ran along my spine, and my ethereal defenses came up automatically.
“Sorry we’re running a bit behind,” the woman greeted me, extending her hand as she spoke. “You must be Mister Gant. I’m Doctor Ellie Jante.”
“Nice to meet you, Doctor Jante,” I said, taking her hand.
“And this is Agent Douglas Hanley,” she offered, nodding toward her partner.
While I was almost certain I didn’t need to worry about any sort of paranormal threat from the pair, taking notice of the briefcases, I wondered for a moment if I might need to put in a quick call to our attorney just in case the danger was something mundane. However, I had learned better than to second-guess my intuition. What I felt wasn’t a corporeal kind of chill. There was something far more ethereal and sinister connected to my sense of alarm, and it was a good bet her name was Miranda.
“Are you okay, Mister Gant,” Agent Hanley asked, apparently noticing my distant introspection as he shook my hand.
“Fine,” I said, nodding as I quickly formulated a lie. “I’m just preoccupied with something from work is all.”
“Oh yeah, I know how that goes,” he replied with a grin. Whether or not he actually believed me I wasn’t sure.
I shot a quick glance over to Felicity who had already stood up and was making her way around the end of the table. I could tell by the look on her face that she was sensing the same thing I was and that her own defenses were up in force. Simply knowing that allowed me to relax somewhat, but I still wasn’t about to drop my guard where she was concerned. And, while she was usually much better at masking her expressions than me, I had the distinct feeling she was suddenly very relieved that I was here with her rather than letting her go it alone as she had earlier suggested.
“And obviously you would be Miz O’Brien. It’s nice to meet you,” Doctor Jante said, making a half turn toward my wife and reaching to shake her hand. “I spoke with you on the phone this morning. Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us on such short notice.”
“It’s no problem,” my wife answered. “Although I’ll admit I’m at a bit of a loss about why you would want to speak to me.”
“We’re just doing some information gathering,” Hanley explained. “Doctor Jante and I are with the BAU out of Quantico. That’s the Behavioral…”
“…Analysis Unit,” I finished for him.
“Exactly,” he replied with a slight grimace creasing his face. “So you’ve heard of us.”
“It’s hard not to.”
“Yes, these days I suppose you’re correct. But please, don’t buy into the fiction you see on that television show.”
“What television show?” I asked.
He gave me a sideways glance, raised an eyebrow as if he was trying to determine whether or not I was yanking his chain, then smiled and said, “Well, any of them actually, but I was specifically referring to…” His voice trailed off as he cut the explanation short and shook his head while muttering, “Never mind…” Then he reached past me to shake Felicity’s hand. “Miz O’Brien.”
“Now that the introductions are over, is there anything you need before we get started? Restroom break? Something to drink? Coffee? Bottled water?” Doctor Jante asked.
“I’m fine,” Felicity replied.
“Nothing for me,” I added.
“Excellent. Then why don’t we all have a seat, and we can get down to business,” she suggested.
“So, we’re it? Just us four?” I asked, shooting her a puzzled look.
“I’m sorry, were you expecting someone else?” she asked, wearing her own confused expression.
“I just…” I started, paused, then furrowed my brow and asked, “I mean… Aren’t we going to talk to Annalise Devereaux?”
“No,” she replied, shaking her head.
“But, isn’t that what you told Felicity this is about?” I asked, glancing over at my wife. “Annalise?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “This is certainly about Devereaux, but we won’t be talking directly to her. She isn’t even being held in Saint Louis. What made you think that?”
Out of frustration I found myself preparing to ask if they had received a call from Ben but stopped before the first syllable was spoken. Obviously they hadn’t, and they were here for something other than what I originally hoped. Besides, they had never actually told Felicity that we would be speaking to Annalise, just about her. Now, the reason they hadn’t asked for me was becoming clearer, but what they wanted with my wife remained a deepening mystery. In that instant I decided it would be prudent not to show my hand just yet-especially if my friend was still trying to pull strings for me. Because, as slim as my chances of getting that meeting with Annalise already were, running off at the mouth now could possibly erase even that.
I wasn’t sure if my moment of indecision made me pause too long or not, but by way of answer I splayed my hands out in front of me and said, “Sorry. I guess I must have just misunderstood.”
“That’s all right,” Doctor Jante replied, cocking one eyebrow upward as she spoke.
I could tell by her expression that she had just mentally logged an observation about me. Without a doubt I was being profiled, and she wasn’t being the least bit secretive about it. I wasn’t so sure I liked being under the microscope all of a sudden, but then given the situation and my verbal misstep, I suppose I knew it was to be expected.
“Actually,” Agent Hanley began, directing himself at Felicity, “The reason we asked you here is that we’ve been conducting an ongoing criminal investigative analysis of Devereaux in order to compile information for our serial offenders database. It’s simply part of the standard procedure to interview relatives, victims, friends, co-workers, and so on whenever possible. It allows for a much broader and more detailed picture.”
“So you’re just getting all that out of the way before sitting down with Annalise herself,” I said, nodding to indicate I now understood where this was going-or so I thought.
“Actually, we’ve already been conducting one-on-one interviews with Devereaux for over a week now,” he replied.
I screwed up my face with a puzzled expression and asked, “How are you able to get away with that? She hasn’t even been convicted yet. Isn’t her attorney objecting to that?”
“Oh, he objects all right,” he replied. “But she requested the meetings with us herself.”
“She did?”
He shrugged. “I know, it doesn’t seem to make sense, and we’re sure she has a hidden agenda. But it’s an opportunity we simply cannot afford to pass up.”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
“So, I guess you’re killing two birds with me then,” Felicity offered. “Victim and relative all rolled into one.”
“You are definitel
y a somewhat unique case,” Doctor Jante agreed, giving her head a slight nod. “What with being her half sister, and…” She allowed her voice to trail off and left the second observation unspoken.
“ Unique is one way to describe it,” my wife replied. “But I prefer thinking of it as DNA being a fekking saigh.”
“I’m sorry, a what?” Jante said.
“It’s Gaelic,” I offered. “Just think copulating female dog and you’ve pretty much got it.”
“Copul… Ahh, okay, I see.”
“Yes… Well, obviously we have copies of the case files and are very familiar with the situation,” Special Agent Hanley interjected. “Your arrest for the homicides was unfortunate.”
Felicity snorted and rolled her eyes. “Unique… Unfortunate… Unintended… No offense, Agent Hanley, but I think I’ve heard all of the UN words from the bureaucratic handbook already. You might want to try a different page.”
Her voice tone was cold, and it was obvious to everyone in the room that a nerve had been struck.
“Miz O’Brien, I really didn’t mean to offend you…”
She held up her hands and shook her head. “I’m sorry… Really…” She took in a deep breath and sighed heavily before she continued. “I know it isn’t your fault. My apologies. It just isn’t a very pleasant memory.”
“We certainly understand,” Hanley replied.
Felicity looked over at me, and I knew from the quick flash in her eyes that what she really wanted to tell him was that he had just fed her yet another of the overused UN words. Instead, she simply nodded and said, “Thank you.”
Doctor Jante looked my way and said, “Mister Gant, we’re mainly interested in speaking with your wife at this point, so if you have something else you need to do…”
I gave her a curt nod. “No offense, Doctor Jante, but is that just a polite way of asking me to leave?”
Before she could answer, Felicity interjected, “I’d really rather he stayed, then.”
“That’s fine. It’s really no problem, either way,” she reassured us both then motioned to the conference table. “Shall we?”
After some shuffling of the chairs, the doctor took a position at the end of the table. Felicity was already seated diagonally next to her at the corner with me on her left, and Special Agent Hanley took a place directly across from us. Given that they waited for us to choose places first, I had a feeling it was a strategically calculated move on their part.
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