Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

D EVINE PARKED ACROSS THE STREET from the steak house and felt the large, pulpy lump on the back of his head where the man had clobbered him with the butt of his gun. His fingers came away bloody. He grabbed his go-bag from the rear of the Toyota and pulled out a medical kit. He used it to clean the wound and then applied some antibiotic before smoothing down his hair. He checked that his clothes were relatively clean and mostly blood- and glass-shard-free and then crossed over to the restaurant. Whether Mercedes King was here or not might tell him a great deal. Devine figured it was all about the efficiency of the enemy lines of communication.

He walked in and was greeted by a young woman dressed all in black. He mentioned the mayor’s name and she escorted him to the rear. So at least the dinner reservation had been made. If the mayor was involved in what had just happened to him, she may well be hedging her bets.

The place was quiet, with only a few patrons hovering over their meals and wine.

The woman said, “I’ll show Mayor King back when she arrives.”

He sat down and checked his watch. Five minutes past eight.

Okay.

He picked up the menu and his gaze flitted aimlessly down the entrées. He would have been hungry, but for almost dying a violent death and having a pounding headache from the blow to his skull.

“Agent Devine?”

He looked up to see Mercedes King hurrying over to him. She had changed clothes and now wore a black pleated skirt and a white blouse under a short lavender jacket. She seemed out of breath.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Some unexpected constituent business. I’m usually quite punctual.”

“No problem,” he said, studying her closely. Her refusal to look at him maybe told Devine all he needed to know. Like she was talking to a man who was supposed to be dead, and she was mightily confused and disturbed by the fact that he wasn’t.

She slipped into the chair across from him and said, “So, how was the rest of your day?”

“So-so. Nice little town you have here. But once you get outside the official limits, it gets really isolated really fast. People could do anything to someone out there and no one would know it,” he added.

“Really? I guess I never thought about it like that. I love it here,” she added, swiping a hand through her hair as if for emphasis.

Sure you do , thought Devine. Out here in the boonies married to a man nearly three decades older than you with the personality of a turnip.

“Would you like some wine? I could use a glass,” she added hoarsely.

“You pick, I’m not much of a connoisseur.”

She held up her hand and the waitress shot over like she’d been propelled from a cannon. King ordered two glasses of red.

“So what’s good on the menu?” he asked the mayor.

“The filet. Six-ounce, at least that’s what I usually get. Good protein and I’m watching my figure. It’s different for men. Not that you have to worry about that.” She shot him a look that Devine couldn’t initially decode. Flirting maybe? But clearly for her own purposes.

“How long have you been mayor?”

“This is my first term. I’m up for reelection next year.”

“And you married the chief when?”

She picked up her menu and ran her gaze down it. “A while back,” she replied before glancing up at him. She set the menu down. “Can I be frank?” she asked, as though to cut off any other personal questions he might have been readying.

“Sure. I was planning to be.”

“It’s why I wanted to have a private meeting with you.” She leaned forward conspiratorially, while Devine stayed pencil straight.

“What happened to the Odoms was terrible. That it occurred within the confines of Ricketts makes it my husband’s responsibility, and he takes that responsibility very seriously.”

“Good for him.”

Her expression changed as she studied him. “You look… different.”

“So do you, but you’ve changed clothes. What was the constituent business?”

“What?”

“The constituent business that made you late?”

“Just a gripe about something that people think a politician can control.”

“You were being frank?” he prompted.

Their wines arrived and she took a sip before answering. “It is not a good look for the federal government to be in town investigating. It’s making poor Eric think he did something wrong, or is not up to the job.”

Devine didn’t touch his wine. “ Did he do something wrong?”

She frowned. “What exactly are you implying?”

“I’m just asking a question. It’s been my experience that guilty people worry, and innocent people believe everything will work out just fine, because they have nothing to hide.”

“Eric has nothing to hide, I can assure you,” she said coldly. She flipped her luxurious hair from one shoulder to the other, as though to add physical action to her blunt words.

“Well, in answer to your statement, the federal government signs my paycheck so I go where they send me. I don’t have any control over that. And when I get to a place, I’m expected to do my job.”

“But what is the problem here that requires your attention? Two people died of a drug overdose. I don’t see why that’s a federal issue. Lots of people, unfortunately, die that way.”

“But when two people who ‘die that way’ are tied to someone named Danny Glass, then the feds get interested.”

“Danny who?”

He gave her a long stare before continuing. “Or Daniel Glass, as Doris Chandler told me. Glass also requested that the Odoms’ remains be cremated.”

“How was this Glass person able to do that?” she asked, her expression one of benign curiosity.

“He’s next of kin, Alice Odom’s brother.”

“Oh, okay, so what’s the problem?”

“Are you still holding to the position that you don’t know who Danny Glass is?”

“Should I?” she replied coolly.

“Probably, but who am I to judge? He’s been accused of being a world-class criminal and is currently the target of a federal RICO criminal prosecution in Seattle. It’s gotten a lot of juice in the media.”

She took another swallow of her wine and said, “I’m afraid I don’t know much about a global criminal. I’m just the mayor of a small town and keep my full attention here.”

“That government center must have cost millions to build. And all that military-grade police equipment. Another big price tag.”

“Those vehicles were purchased with generous support from DHS, which is your agency, correct? They did the same thing with lots of localities after 9/11.”

“The equipment I saw is nowhere near twenty-plus years old. Or even ten years old.”

“We’ve updated, again with generous government subsidies. And Eric is highly respected in the law enforcement community, so we get those sorts of perks from the state as well.”

Apparently, he’s not so respected in the eyes of the other state law enforcement agencies , thought Devine as he recalled what Braddock had told him about Eric King.

“And the building?”

“Just good old-fashioned taxes.”

“Didn’t think the tax base here was that big.”

“You know, I’m suddenly not hungry and I have unfinished business to attend to.” She rose and looked down at him. “I hope you enjoy the night here in Ricketts, Agent Devine. And best of luck wherever it is you end up.”

Like a grave, you mean? thought Devine.

She added, “I passed your car coming in here. I recognized it from earlier at the government building. The glass is shattered and there’s what looks to be holes in the driver’s side door.”

“Just a road rage incident.”

“My goodness, you must report that to the police.”

“Maybe I’ll take it up directly with your husband.”

Devine watched as she headed off. Her hips and buttocks did not sway as before. The woman just walked like she owned the place.

And apparently she does. The whole place.

He took out his phone and snapped a picture of King’s face in the reflection of the mirror she was walking toward. Devine figured it might come in handy at some point.

He next gripped the stem of her glass, poured her wine into his, carefully wrapped it in a cloth napkin, and walked out.