The Innocent

“Yeah, that one I figured out on my own. So what have you found out? I’ve been watching the TV. Sounds like it was a real war zone down there last night. You’re lucky you weren’t killed. At least I’m assuming that’s where you got shot. You never got around to telling me about your arm.”

“Luck always plays a part,” he said vaguely.

“They have any leads?”

“None they’re sharing with me.”

“How’s working with the FBI?”

“It’s working.”

“She’s pretty.”

“Who?”

“Agent Vance. She was on the TV talking to reporters. She didn’t mention you.”

“That was a good thing.”

“Where did you sleep last night? I know it wasn’t across the street.” She indicated the scope.

“I slept,” he said. “That’s all you need to know.”

“Uh-huh,” she said. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”

This time Robie almost blinked. Almost. The kid was really getting to him.

“What makes you say that?”

She studied him closely. “Oh, I don’t know. A certain glow. A woman can always tell.”

“Well, you’re wrong. Now I’ve got to get going.”

“When are we going to get going, Robie?”

He stared at her.

“Partners, remember our deal? We find out who killed my parents?”

“I remember. And I’m working on it.”

“I know you are. But I want to work on it too. I gave you that list. What have you done with it so far?”

“Going to run it down.”

“Good,” she said, pulling on her hoodie. “I’m ready to go.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“And I don’t think it’s a good idea me just sitting here on my ass doing nothing except looking through a telescope. So either I go with you or I go on my own. Either way, I’m going.”

Robie sighed and opened the door for her. “But you let me handle the questions,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she answered.

Liar, thought Robie.

CHAPTER 40

They sat in Robie’s rental and watched her parents’ duplex.

Julie squirmed a bit and said, “Exactly how is this getting us anywhere?”

“We’re seeing if anyone interesting shows up. I’ll give it another half hour and we’ll move on.”

“This is busy work, right? You’re trying to make me so bored I’ll quit and go back and sit at the apartment, right?”

“Are you always so skeptical of everyone?”

“Pretty much, yeah. And are you telling me you’re not skeptical?”

“Within reason.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Forget it.”

He looked out his window and watched as a stray cat skittered down the sidewalk. A few drops of rain started to fall and the animal picked up its pace, disappearing down an alley.

“How long had your parents lived here?”

“About two years. Longest we lived anywhere.”

He glanced over at her. “So give me the short version of your life.”

“Not much to tell.”

“It might help the investigation.”

“I just remembered something. Something my mom said when the guy with the gun was there.”

“What?”

“When the guy started to come after me my mom said, ‘She doesn’t know anything.’ ”

Robie sat up straighter and his grip tightened on the wheel. “How did you forget to tell me that?”

“I don’t know. Just being back here and seeing the house made me think of it.”

“She told the guy that you didn’t know know anything,” said Robie. “Which implies that your mom did know something. And before you said the guy asked your dad what he knew.”

“I see where you’re going with this. So now somebody thinks I know it too, despite what my mom said. But if the guy who was after me died in the explosion?”

“Doesn’t matter. He would have communicated to whomever he was working for.”

“Maybe he was a loner?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“He wasn’t the type. I can tell. And besides, someone removed your parents’ bodies and blew up that bus. And it wasn’t him. He wouldn’t have had time or the opportunity.”

“Why would they blow up the bus? If they were trying to kill me, I wasn’t on it.”

“But they might not have known that. Let’s say someone fired an incendiary round into the tank on the side opposite from the door. The windows on the bus were tinted. They might not have known we had gotten off the bus. They were making sure of things just in case their guy on the scene failed, which he did.”

“Do you think they still believe I’m dead?”

“Doubtful. These people apparently have a lot of resources. We have to assume they know you’re alive.”

Julie looked out the window. “What could my parents have gotten into?”

“Let’s track their days a little bit and see if anything comes up.”

“Where to first?”

“The diner where your mom worked. Give me directions.”

Using Julie as the navigator, Robie drove over to the diner, which was only a short distance away. He pulled the Volvo to a stop at the curb about a block down and on the other side of the street from the diner.

He cut the engine. “They know you there, right?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“So I’m not sure it’s smart for you to be seen there.”

“So I just sit in the car by myself? That was not part of the deal.”

“The plan is ever-evolving depending on conditions on the ground.”

He reached into the backseat and pulled out the bag he’d taken from his apartment. He slid out a pair of binoculars.