Simple Genius

Sean climbed out of the vehicle and then tapped on the window. “By the way, any news on the ‘gas leak’ at the morgue?”

Ventris almost ran over Sean’s foot as the car roared off.

Despite the smart-ass attitude he’d taken with Ventris, Sean wasn’t smiling as he trudged back to his car. He was getting in deeper by the second and so far nothing made any sense at all. As he drove back to Babbage Town Sean knew what he had to do next.

“You can’t be serious, Sean,” Horatio said. The three of them were standing next to Michelle’s truck and Horatio’s Harley, which were parked along a dirt road about a mile from Babbage Town.

“Monk Turing went over the fence at Camp Peary and look what happened to him,” Horatio continued.

“Trust me, I don’t want to go over that fence, but I’m running out of options,” Sean replied evenly.

Michelle leaned back against her truck and studied her partner. “When do you propose we do it?”

Horatio gaped at her. “You’re planning on going with this nutcase?”

Sean looked at Michelle. “I go alone.”

“Don’t even bother. You go, I go.”

“If we get caught we are up shit’s creek,” he told her. “I mean really up.”

“You’re never boring; I have to give you that,” she replied.

“Will you two listen to what you’re saying,” Horatio pleaded. “This is the CIA for God’s sake. You could be executed for treason.”

“We’ll go on Saturday,” Sean said in answer to Michelle’s previous question. “If we don’t get a break in the case by then.”

She said, “The next scheduled flight?” He nodded.

“I don’t know if you noticed on the map in South Freeman’s office, but the -”

She finished for him, “The runway is on the other side of the line of trees where they found Monk’s body. So we’re doing a recon on the flight?”

“At the very least it’ll be interesting to see who or what gets off the damn plane.”

“Okay, you are really freaking me out here, Sean,” Horatio said. He added, “You know I can’t let you two do this.”

Sean turned on him. “If you don’t want us to go over the fence then you come up with a way for us to get to the truth. You’re big on the truth, aren’t you? You’ve been working with Viggie and Michelle trying to do that, right?”

“That’s different.”

“It’s not different to me. Three men have been killed. Every instinct I have tells me Camp Peary is at the center of it. Someone from there tried to kill me. I can’t walk away from that.”

“Then take it to the authorities.”

“Sheriff Hayes would have a coronary if he knew what we were planning. Ventris would just shoot me and pretend his gun went off accidentally. I filled Hayes in on my dinner with Valerie and my little encounter with Ventris, but that’s it. I let you in on this because I trust you. And I’d never do anything to screw you.”

“What’re you talking about?” Horatio asked nervously.

“If we get caught the cops will try to round up whoever they think’s involved with us. That means you. So here’s your chance to go home, right now. Michelle and I will swear you knew nothing about it.”

Horatio leaned against the truck. “Well, I have to say, most felons I’ve worked with aren’t nearly as considerate.”

“And if we get through this and get back home, you can still see Michelle.” Sean looked at his partner. “If she wants to,” he hastily added.

Michelle remained quiet.

“And if I choose to stay?” Horatio asked.

“There’s no problem if we don’t get caught. If we do, the cops might start nosing around if you’re still around. I can’t guarantee you won’t become a target.”

“If you do get caught I can help build a great insanity defense for you both.”

Sean smiled. “It’s nice to have options.”

Horatio said, “But you’re risking your life, Sean.”

“So? I’ve spent most of my adult life doing that.”

Michelle added, “After a while, it sort of becomes instinctual, you know?”

Horatio watched as the two exchanged a very knowing look that only came between two people who’d put life and limb on the line on a regular basis. “Viggie knows something. Codes and blood. If we can just find out what it means, it might crack everything wide open without you two going over that damn fence.”

“Any good investigator follows up multiple leads because most don’t pan out. It’s a simple numbers game. But right now my focus is on the plot of land across the river.”

“In the meantime,” Michelle said, “I can take a run at Champ.”

Sean said, “And I can talk to Alicia too.”

“What’s the weather forecast for Saturday night?” Michelle asked.

“Cool and overcast.”

“We have time to prep at least. We’ll need some things.”

“I’ve already called in for them.”

“So Joan didn’t ask questions?”

“I didn’t use Joan, because I don’t trust her, at least not with this.”

“I don’t want to hear any more of this,” Horatio said, pretending to cover his ears. “I’m already an accessory before the fact as it is.”

“Not to worry. Like I said, if we’re caught we won’t rat you out.” He grinned. “Unless we can cut a better deal by selling your ass down the river.”

“What I did to deserve friends like you I don’t know.”