“Anything on the letters on Pam’s arms?”
“Not that I know of.”
Sean glanced at Michelle and said, “I remember the first time I met Pam. She was really great. Terrific mom. Did you know her at all?”
Sean said this casually but he gazed intently at the other man.
“Never had the pleasure,” Betack said matter-of-factly. “When I said I was coming to pay my respects, it was for the First Lady.”
Sean glanced toward the doorway where Jane Cox passed by, followed by several of her assistants. “She is special.”
“So you two got anything going on this case?”
Michelle spoke up first. “If we did we’d already have let Waters know.”
“Important thing is to get Willa back, screw the credit,” Sean added.
“Nice philosophy,” commented Betack, swallowing the rest of his drink. “And rare in this town.”
“But that includes everybody stepping up to the plate and telling everything they know,” Michelle said pointedly, her gaze dead on Betack.
The man noticed this and shot a glance at Sean and then back at her. “You implying something?”
Sean lowered his voice. “Tuck Dutton saw you meeting with his wife when he was supposed to be out of town.”
“He’s wrong.”
“He described you pretty accurately. And he fingered you at the funeral as the guy.”
“I look like a lot of guys. And why would I be meeting with Pam Dutton?”
“I was hoping you could tell us that.”
“I can’t, because it never happened.”
Sean stared at him for a long moment and then said, “Okay, Tuck was wrong.”
“That’s right. He was wrong. Excuse me.” He stalked off.
Michelle turned to Sean. “How long you figure before he contacts whoever he was working with?”
“Not that long.”
“So we just wait?”
Sean gazed around the room and then stopped as Tuck walked by. “I’m actually tired of waiting.”
CHAPTER 48
WILLA FINISHED the last of her books, replaced it on the stack, sat back on her cot, and stared at the door. When she was reading, she forgot where she was. When she had turned the last page, she realized once more exactly what she was.
A prisoner.
She was never going to see her family again. She could just tell.
She stiffened as the footsteps approached. It was the big man. The old man. She recognized his tread. The door opened a few seconds later and there he was. He shut the door behind him and walked toward her.
“You doing okay, Willa?” He sat down at the table and rested his hands in his lap.