“What do you mean?”
“We know from Mrs. Lin that he was controlling. Obsessive. I don’t have anything against accountants, but that’s not how we typically describe them, unless maybe we’re talking about taxes.”
“I’m not following you, Faith.” Sabrina wasn’t unkind, but she wasn’t one to sugarcoat her questions. “Anyone can be anything at any time. Some of the worst psychopaths in our history have had normal jobs, and no one suspected them of any criminal involvement.”
“I know, but what if in this case, the mild-mannered accountant is a cover?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. Something Mrs. Lin said about how on top of things Mi Cha’s parents were. How protective and prepared. Those aren’t people who don’t notice that their daughter hasn’t come home. And those aren’t the kind of people who don’t raise all kinds of drama over it. They should have been talking to the embassy and anyone they could find.” Faith waited for Sabrina to poke holes in her theory.
“I see your point.”
Faith slumped in her seat in relief. If Sabrina could see it, then Faith wasn’t completely reaching.
“I know you’re already looking for David Lee and Park MiCha’s father, but while you’re trying to locate them, could you also do some digging into who they really are? Something isn’t adding up.”
Sabrina’s only response was a flurry of keystrokes Faith could hear over the line. She waited. Waited some more. Was she writing a book?
“Done. I have a contact in Seoul. Outside of state department parameters. He owes me big-time, and he’ll get back to me quickly. I’ll be in touch.” Sabrina disconnected the call, and Faith was left staring at her phone.
“Thanks,” she said to thin air.
29
IT WAS4:12 P.M.,and despite his earlier bravado, Luke was relieved when their airplane landed safely on an airstrip north of Raleigh.
And more relieved when they got word the second plane had touched down on a different airstrip to the east.
Now, to get everyone back to the hotel.
The funeral had been ... depressing. No funeral was a comedy festival, but not all funerals were so full of despair. Jared’s funeral had held so little hope. His ex-wife had shown up long enough to cause a scene. His parents had been broken. Too much like Thad’s parents had been at his funeral. And what could he say to comfort them? He couldn’t tell them they’d found the killer. Couldn’t tell them they knew why Jared had died. Couldn’t promise them justice.
“We have to do this again on Wednesday?” Zane grumbled at the window as they drove back into Raleigh.
“It will be worse.” Jacob ran a hand over his bald head. “Kids.”
Kids. Michael’s kids. Guilt cascaded through Luke when he realized he hadn’t seen the kids or Karen. Then he rememberedhe’d been busy trying to stay alive—and not bring his big, targeted backside anywhere near them.
He turned his phone back on, and it worked. Finally. The team who had volunteered to help with security had been good but aggressive. They’d insisted on no electronic communication in case a phone had been hijacked. It wasn’t a bad idea, but it was weird to be on this side of a protective detail. If Luke survived to make it to a long-term detail assignment, he’d have to remember this feeling.
He shot a text to Faith first thing. He’d promised.
On the ground.
He’d been hoping for a warm welcome or relief or maybe tears. What he got was a terse order.
Get to your office. ASAP.
Followed by another.
Check your phone.
Well, wasn’t that cozy. Maybe she hadn’t been worried after all.
Text alerts echoed around the car as his, Zane’s, and Jacob’s phones all reconnected to the outside world. Luke had expected a few texts, but this was more than a few. He scanned the list. Then stopped and read more slowly. Then checked his email. “We need to go to our office. Not the hotel.”
“Okay.” Jacob didn’t question it. While he directed their driver to change course, Luke showed his phone to Zane. When Jacob was finished, Luke told him. “Sabrina found video footage of David Lee.”
