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Authors: David Baldacci
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course. I know it is. I… I can get continuances. And bring work with me. The legal community down here knows and respects Mr. Bergin. They’ll understand.”
“I’m sure they will. And can you bring with you whatever files Ted had on the case?”
“Absolutely.”
Sean checked his watch. “You can catch a seven o’clock evening flight to Portland from Dulles. Think you can make that?”
“I think so, yes. I can get things organized here and then drive really fast.”
“I’ll make the reservations and e-mail you the details. We’ll pick you up at the airport in Portland.”
“Mr. King?”
“Just make it Sean.”
“Sean, um, should I be scared?”
Sean looked over at Michelle before answering. “We’ll stick to you like glue.”
“I guess that means yes.”
“It’s never a bad thing to be scared, Megan.”
“I’ll see you in Portland,” she said in a shaky voice.
Sean clicked off and filled Michelle in on his conversation with the young lawyer.
Michelle nodded. “So she had two conversations with the guy and Roy never came up. Obviously Bergin was playing this really close to the vest. Maybe he realized there was some danger involved here and wanted to keep Riley out of it.”
“That actually sounds like Ted. Chivalrous to the last.”
Michelle said, “So what do you think about Riley?”
“I think it’ll be a miracle if she’s actually on the plane.”
“If she
weren’t
scared that would be telling, too. In a bad way.”
“I know. I’m sure she’s smart and a good lawyer, or else Ted wouldn’t have brought her on. But this is a hell of a situation to throw a baby attorney into.”
“Well, we just need any info she has and what she can tell us about Bergin’s discussions about the case. I don’t think anyone really expects her to step into the man’s shoes and try this sucker.”
“Problem is, if another counsel comes in we’ll find ourselves off the case.”
“Not if we work hard now and make ourselves invaluable to said counsel.” Michelle’s expression changed. “Who was paying Bergin’s bill? If Edgar Roy can’t even talk, someone else had to hire Bergin.”
“That’s a good question. It should be in the files.”
“Did Roy have money?”
“Well, he had the farm and he had a government job.”
“But probably not rolling in cash.”
“Probably not.”
They walked back toward the inn.
The breeze off the water was chilly, and Michelle dug her hands into her jacket. “So until we leave to get Megan in Portland, what’s on the agenda?”
“How about a ride over to Gray’s Lodge?”
“To Bergin’s room? You know Agent Murdock will have that locked down tight.”
“But we might run into our friend Eric Dobkin of the Maine State Police.”
“You really think he’ll be our inside guy on this?”
“Never hurts to ask. And if I’m reading Murdock right, he’s probably pissed off the entire Maine constabulary by now.”
“We still don’t know if Bergin met with Roy yesterday.”
“And we also don’t know where he was headed last night.”
“It would be great to get a list of all his phone calls and e-mails.”
“Wouldn’t it?” agreed Sean.
“But Murdock has all that.”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“All we can do is try.”
“Crossing the FBI? Not a smart career move,” she said.
“Finesse is the key.”
“Finesse is not my strong suit.”
“Which is why I’ll be handling that end of the equation.”
“Opposites attract.”
He smacked her on the arm. “Apparently so.”
CHAPTER
10
A WALL OF COPS and Feds enveloped Gray’s Lodge. Guests had been interrogated and their rooms searched. And then they’d been told to get other lodgings but not to leave the area. Posing as tourists, Sean and Michelle, by a bit of luck and deduction, happened on the lodge owners, a husband and wife in their sixties, who were visibly upset by what had happened.
“Damndest thing,” said the
“I’m sure they will. And can you bring with you whatever files Ted had on the case?”
“Absolutely.”
Sean checked his watch. “You can catch a seven o’clock evening flight to Portland from Dulles. Think you can make that?”
“I think so, yes. I can get things organized here and then drive really fast.”
“I’ll make the reservations and e-mail you the details. We’ll pick you up at the airport in Portland.”
“Mr. King?”
“Just make it Sean.”
“Sean, um, should I be scared?”
Sean looked over at Michelle before answering. “We’ll stick to you like glue.”
“I guess that means yes.”
“It’s never a bad thing to be scared, Megan.”
“I’ll see you in Portland,” she said in a shaky voice.
Sean clicked off and filled Michelle in on his conversation with the young lawyer.
Michelle nodded. “So she had two conversations with the guy and Roy never came up. Obviously Bergin was playing this really close to the vest. Maybe he realized there was some danger involved here and wanted to keep Riley out of it.”
“That actually sounds like Ted. Chivalrous to the last.”
Michelle said, “So what do you think about Riley?”
“I think it’ll be a miracle if she’s actually on the plane.”
“If she
weren’t
scared that would be telling, too. In a bad way.”
“I know. I’m sure she’s smart and a good lawyer, or else Ted wouldn’t have brought her on. But this is a hell of a situation to throw a baby attorney into.”
“Well, we just need any info she has and what she can tell us about Bergin’s discussions about the case. I don’t think anyone really expects her to step into the man’s shoes and try this sucker.”
“Problem is, if another counsel comes in we’ll find ourselves off the case.”
“Not if we work hard now and make ourselves invaluable to said counsel.” Michelle’s expression changed. “Who was paying Bergin’s bill? If Edgar Roy can’t even talk, someone else had to hire Bergin.”
“That’s a good question. It should be in the files.”
“Did Roy have money?”
“Well, he had the farm and he had a government job.”
“But probably not rolling in cash.”
“Probably not.”
They walked back toward the inn.
The breeze off the water was chilly, and Michelle dug her hands into her jacket. “So until we leave to get Megan in Portland, what’s on the agenda?”
“How about a ride over to Gray’s Lodge?”
“To Bergin’s room? You know Agent Murdock will have that locked down tight.”
“But we might run into our friend Eric Dobkin of the Maine State Police.”
“You really think he’ll be our inside guy on this?”
“Never hurts to ask. And if I’m reading Murdock right, he’s probably pissed off the entire Maine constabulary by now.”
“We still don’t know if Bergin met with Roy yesterday.”
“And we also don’t know where he was headed last night.”
“It would be great to get a list of all his phone calls and e-mails.”
“Wouldn’t it?” agreed Sean.
“But Murdock has all that.”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“All we can do is try.”
“Crossing the FBI? Not a smart career move,” she said.
“Finesse is the key.”
“Finesse is not my strong suit.”
“Which is why I’ll be handling that end of the equation.”
“Opposites attract.”
He smacked her on the arm. “Apparently so.”
CHAPTER
10
A WALL OF COPS and Feds enveloped Gray’s Lodge. Guests had been interrogated and their rooms searched. And then they’d been told to get other lodgings but not to leave the area. Posing as tourists, Sean and Michelle, by a bit of luck and deduction, happened on the lodge owners, a husband and wife in their sixties, who were visibly upset by what had happened.
“Damndest thing,” said the
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