SIXTY-SEVEN

SIXTY-SEVEN

FRANCIS BLAIR PICKS UP the evidence bag, the sealed brown bag containing David Bowers's clothes. "I'll rush a DNA test on this," he says. "In the meantime, no mention of the FBI, okay?"

"Got it," Kyle says. "Not even to Marcie?"

Blair rubs his neck. He meant what he said— Kyle's a smart guy. Putting together what he put together about Silas Renfrow and Michael Cagnina — that was good police work.

But Kyle's not all the way there. He asked the question a moment ago: What does Cagnina want? Why didn't he just kill David and walk away?

There's an answer to that. But Kyle doesn't know the answer.

Kyle doesn't know about the money.

The real question is, does Marcie? Or did David keep it from her?

"What are your thoughts, Kyle? Is Marcie in on this with David or not?"

"God, I …" Kyle shakes his head, frowns. "I've known her my whole life. I just don't see her being a criminal. But maybe I'm too close to it. Maybe I see the girl I grew up with and can't see the person she's become."

Well, that's an awfully honest self-assessment. This guy's as straight as they come.

Blair puts his hand on Kyle's shoulder. "This is important, Kyle. This is for all the marbles. How we handle Marcie depends on whether she's a victim or a coconspirator. So? Did Marcie know David's real identity all this time?"

"I … I …" Kyle wipes at his mouth. "I told her my suspicion earlier today. I told her point-blank that I thought her husband was Silas. At first she laughed. Then she got more serious about it." He poses a hand in the air, trying to find the right words. "I just can't believe she was making that reaction up. I don't think she knew. All this time they were married, I think she thought her husband was just plain old David Bowers."

"Okay, well —"

"Plus," Kyle adds, "plus I just can't believe that Marcie would ever marry a fugitive who killed dozens of people as a hitman for Michael Cagnina. And raise a family with that man? I don't see it." He takes a deep breath and gives a presumptive nod. "More I think about it — Blair, I'm convinced she didn't have any idea."

That's how Blair figures it, too. But better to hear it from a reliable source.

Now he can plot his next move.

"We have to protect her," says Kyle. "We have to protect that family."

Blair looks at Kyle and nods. "Sure, but low-key."

"Low-key?" Kyle doesn't seem to like that idea. "Keeping the FBI out of it, sure, I get that. But I'm not going to be low-key about protecting people in this town. Marcie Bowers and her kids aren't going to be used as bait for some mobster, no matter how badly you want to catch him."

It's like Sergeant Janowski is reading his mind.

Blair raises his hands. "I wouldn't dream of it," he says.