“The students have been officially identified as Emil Salhi and Jamal Talbi, both from Algeria,” Raine said. “I will turn over the correspondence and proof that Jack Foster hired them. Both men confessed to Shabina in my presence. Stella Harrison-Rossi, Harlow Frye, Zahra Metcalf and Vienna Mortenson were also present.”
“State your name for the record, please,” Len Jenkins said.
“I’m Raine O’Mallory.”
“Jack sent several items from Saudi Arabia to Salhi and Talbi. Specifically, flowers, two live birds and a number of other items,” Shabina continued.
Decker broke in. “We’ve prepared a list of the items.”
“The men sacrificed the birds to get feathers to leave at my workplace and home. They had taken a box with some of the items on a secluded trail where I go to film the nest of a mated pair of California condors. That trail is closed to all park visitors, but Jack told them it would be a good place to put some of these items. According to the two men, they heard voices coming toward them, and, thinking it was me bringing someone with me, they hastily shoved the box of items in the brush and took off. When they went back, they couldn’t find the box. They thought they just didn’t remember where they’d put it until the items showed up on an altar at a murder scene.”
Shabina fell silent. The agents didn’t have to believe a word she said, but she didn’t see how they could spin it and make her a suspect again. In any case, she felt protected with Decker, Raine and Rainier right there.
“As you can imagine, I am very upset that these men took part in a scheme to essentially push my wife into a PTSD episode,” Rainier said. “They are here on student visas. I asked my boss to pull some strings and have their visas revoked. There is plenty of reason to do so.”
“Are you telling us these men may be leaving the country soon?” Rob Howard asked.
“I’ve attempted to explain to my husband that these men come from a different culture. It is ingrained in them that women obey their fathers, brothers, and husbands. I wasn’t doing as my father requested, so in their eyes, I am a disrespectful daughter. Myfather, according to the way those men were raised, had every right to do whatever it took to get his errant daughter to comply with his demands. Jack, however, was not raised in that culture, and he knows better.”
Len Jenkins regarded her with shrewd eyes. At another time in her life, he might have intimidated her with his direct stare, but she was married to Rainier Ashcroft. No one could give a more penetrating, unsettling look than Rainier. His stare was laser sharp and seemed to lay bare one’s deepest secrets.
“You don’t want these men to be deported,” Jenkins guessed.
Shabina shrugged. “Being deported could very well bring disgrace to their families. They need the education to help their tribe. I didn’t give you the information to exact revenge. I believe you need it to help solve the murders. Whoever is committing these crimes must be stopped.”
Jenkins looked over the list of items carefully and then handed it to his partner. “That kid at the hot springs doesn’t fit with the others. The ME doesn’t believe it’s a copycat. I don’t either, but he doesn’t fit.”
“Yeah, it put the entire murder spree out of focus,” Howard added.
“Age isn’t the same with any of the victims,” Raine said. “They don’t look alike. They aren’t in the same profession. A couple of them had girlfriends. They came from various backgrounds.” There was speculation in her voice.
She looked up at the two agents when silence met her conjecture. “I’m sorry. I have a fancy title, but essentially, I’m an analyst. I can’t help myself. When there’s a puzzle, my brain won’t rest until it’s solved.”
“She has a reputation at the CIA and with the military,” Decker said. “I wouldn’t dismiss any ideas she has.”
Jenkins arched an eyebrow. “Do you have ideas?”
“Not yet,” Raine admitted. “But one or two hypotheses are forming.”
“Are we finished, gentlemen?” Decker asked.
“Just one or two more questions,” Howard said.
The one or two questions turned into an additional forty minutes. In that time, Shabina realized the two men didn’t altogether trust Rafferty. Just because they had breakfast or lunch with him, didn’t mean the three men were friends. She managed to put in a question or two of her own, and their answers led her to believe they thought Rafferty was deliberately steering them in a wrong direction—namely, trying to implicate her. After witnessing Bale, Rafferty’s nephew, and the sheriff’s reaction to the encounter, they were less than satisfied with having to work with him. Naturally, they didn’t voice their opinions aloud, but a few things they said led her to believe they weren’t sharing their findings with Rafferty. Twice Jenkins apologized to her for not intervening when Bale had been so rude.
“My husband handled the situation,” Shabina assured them. “I don’t know why I fell apart. I’m used to the way Bale makes scenes. I’m sorry you were uncomfortable in the café. We do strive to give our customers the best experience to start off their day. Hearing Bale spew his toxic opinion of me and the food I serve doesn’t make for a great start.”
Both men looked to Rainier. “Rafferty wanted us to see where you were during the times of each of the murders.”
Shabina tried to stay relaxed, realizing the agents had introduced casual, informal conversation that had nothing to do with the murders to make them believe they were no longer interested in them as suspects.
“I’m aware,” Rainier replied easily. “The minute you ran me,red flags went up everywhere, and I was informed. No doubt you talked to the head of my department.”
His fingers tightened around her hand when Shabina made a move to rub her thigh. She blinked up at him. Rainier hadn’t changed expression, but when he looked down at her, his shrewd eyes softened momentarily.
“Everything you do seems to be classified. Blom assured us you were nowhere near Yosemite at the time of the murders.”
“There you have it, gentlemen,” Decker said, closing his briefcase. “We’re done here. If you need to speak with either of my clients again, contact me, and I’ll set up an appointment.” He sent Rainier a look that told him not to say another word.
