The Innocent

“Okay. And I will,” she said. “So my burglar theory and separate shooter theory looks sound. I can’t see how the guy in the apartment last night could have known about the shooter over here.”

You’re right, I didn’t, thought Robie.

Vance continued. “But now the question becomes, why kill Wind? What was she working on for your people? I’ll need to know that.”

“I’ll check with my folks. But it could be something she stumbled onto,” said Robie.

“Stumbled onto? How does that make sense?”

“Not saying it does. Only saying it has to be considered. Just because she worked for DCIS doesn’t mean that was the reason she was killed.”

“Okay, but forgive me if I take as my working hypothesis that her death was related to her work.”

Robie said, “That’s your prerogative. Has her ex been notified?”

“In the process. Her son is with Social Services for now.”

“What’s her former husband do?”

“You don’t know?” she said in surprise.

“Not without looking at the file, no. I was just assigned to this case, Agent Vance. Cut me a little slack.”

“Okay, sorry. Rick Wind. He’s retired military but he has another job. We’re in the process of tracking him down now.”

“In the process of tracking him down? He’d have to have seen the news. He should’ve called you by now.”

“Believe me, Robie, I thought of that.”

“You have his home address?”

“Maryland. My agents have already been there. It’s empty.”

“You said he has a job. Where does he work?”

“He owns a pawnshop in northeast D.C. Bladensburg Road. Place called the Premium Pawnshop. Not the greatest part of town, but then you don’t usually find pawnshops next to the Ritz, do you?”

“Premium Pawnshop? Catchy. Anybody tried to reach him there?”

“No one’s there either. All locked up.”

“So where is the guy?”

“If I knew that I would’ve told you.”

“If he’s not at home, and he’s not at work, and he hasn’t called the police, then there are only a few possibilities.”

“He either doesn’t watch TV, listen to the radio, or have any friends. Or he killed his soon-to-be ex-wife and kid and is on the run. Or else he’s dead too.”

“That’s right. But you really think the guy killed his ex and kid using a sniper rifle? Domestic issues like that are usually face-to-face.”

“Well, he was former military. And they were getting divorced.”

“So it was not amicable?”

“I don’t know. I’m making inquiries. Maybe you can help on that score. She’s with your agency after all.”

He ignored this. “Jane Wind have any family in the area that you know of?”

She looked at him quizzically. “Are you sure you two are from the same agency?”

“It’s a big agency.”

“Not that big. FBI dwarfs it.”

“FBI dwarfs pretty much everybody. So, family in the area?”

“None. Neither apparently does her hubby. At least that we can find. But I’ve been working this case for less than eight hours.”

Robie said, “Have you searched his home and the pawnshop?”

“Home, yes. Nothing that helped us. Pawnshop next. You care to tag along?”

“Absolutely.”

CHAPTER 28

The Bucars pulled up in front of the Premium Pawnshop and Robie and Vance stepped from one, while two other FBI agents climbed out of their vehicle. There were bars across the front door and windows of the pawnshop. The door had three serious locks. The businesses next to it were gutted, with blackened plywood nailed against their fronts. Trash littered the streets and Robie spotted a couple of druggies stumbling along.

Vance sent the other two agents to check the rear of the building while she and Robie approached the front. She shaded her eyes and peered inside. “Can’t see anything.”

“Can you knock down the door or do you need a warrant?”

“Rick Wind’s house was less problematic. We suspected he might be hurt. This place is obviously closed.”

“He could be inside, hurt or dead,” said Robie, joining her at the front of the shop and peering between the bars into the darkened interior. “That should be enough.”

“And if we find evidence he committed the crime and his defense lawyer gets it thrown out because our search was determined to be unlawful under the Fourth Amendment?”

“I guess that’s why you FBI agents get the big bucks.”

“And the big career derailment.”

“How about I kick open the door and search the place?”

“Still have the same evidentiary problem.”

“Yeah, but it’ll be my career that’s derailed, not yours.”

“I’m here with you.”

“I’ll tell them I did it all on my own, against your express instructions.”

He examined the door and the framing around it. “Steel on steel. Tough stuff. But there’s always a way.”

“What kind of Fed are you?” she asked, her eyebrows hiked.

“Not the career-kissing type obviously. Stay here.”

“Robie, you can’t just-”

He drew his pistol, fired three times, and the trio of locks fell out onto the sidewalk.

“Holy shit!” exclaimed Vance as she jumped back. They heard running feet, as the other two agents were no doubt coming to find out what had happened.

“An alarm will probably go off,” said Robie calmly. “You might want to call the cops and tell them not to bother.” Before she could say anything, he opened the door and stepped inside.