Laurel barely kept from shaking her head. “You don’t read people as well as you believe if you think Abigail is emotional. She can mimic emotion, and she knows how to manipulate people.”
“Look who’s talking,” Vexler drawled. “From what I understand, you’ve made sure your mother is safely out of the country, somewhere she can’t be subpoenaed in time for Abigail’s trial. So I can’t ask her about being raped by the evil Pastor Caine so many years ago.”
Laurel’s pulse kicked, but she kept her expression calm. “My mother’s on vacation.”
“An extended vacation.” Vexler’s eyes glinted. “Very convenient timing.”
“Convenient for her.” Yes, Laurel had seen the expedited trial request coming from Abigail. She’d protect her mother, no matter what.
Vexler chuckled, the sound low and cold. “You’re a fascinating woman, Agent Snow. Always two steps ahead. But what happens when you’re dragged back? You’ll be testifying in Abigail’s case, after all.”
“I’m only interested in facts,” Laurel said, keeping her emotions in check. “You want my testimony? You’ll get it. Every fact, every detail, and not a word more.”
“Not even for the woman you sent halfway across the world?” Vexler’s smile held no warmth. “It must be comforting, knowing she’s safe. Untouchable.”
“Is there a point to this?”
Vexler rose, his movements fluid. “Just that your determination to protect certain individuals is as strong as mine. And maybe . . . just as misguided.”
“I’m here for the truth,” Laurel replied. “Not your version of it.”
Vexler’s gaze lingered on her, assessing. “You’re going to make this very interesting, Agent Snow.” And then he was gone, leaving the room colder than it had been when she entered earlier.
Walter poked his head in. “Nester just texted. His deep dive on Joley McNalley revealed a teenaged runaway arrested twice in Seattle for prostitution. Nothing else. The kid is from Oregon but has no family around. So there’s no way to confirm or negate Abigail’s big story on the podcast Saturday night.”
“Wonderful,” Laurel muttered.
Walter nodded. “Also, the warrant for Tyler’s apartment just came through. Want to go search?”
“Absolutely. Please ask Nester to draft a warrant for Oakridge Solutions. I’ll type up my affidavit to show cause when we return to the office, and hopefully we can get it signed tonight. We’ll head out there first thing in the morning.”
She was getting closer on this. The vest weighed her down and she lifted her head. “Keep an eye out, Walter.” She could not get him shot. Again.
“Always,” he replied grimly.
Chapter 25
Pulling into the parking lot of her building,Laurel could not wait to get out of the bulletproof vest. The search of Tyler Griggs’s apartment had led to nothing. She had Nester trying to track Tyler’s last week, but there weren’t many CCTV cameras in the smaller town of Elk Hollow. She pulled to a stop to the right of the Staggers Creamery door.
Walter angled his head, looking at the cloudy sky and trees around them. “Hold on, boss. I’m having Nester check the outlying cameras. He says there haven’t been any disturbances, but let’s just make sure.” His phone dinged. “All right. Run from the vehicle into the vestibule. Ready? Go.”
Laurel jumped out and jogged to open the door, not surprised that Walter flanked her back, his gun out and pointed at the trees. “We’d know if a sniper had climbed a tree. Huck and Nester have more cameras out there than we do in all of Seattle.” She moved inside, already reaching for the Velcro beneath her sweater before stopping cold. “Abigail.”
Her half sister leaned against the far wall, scrolling through her phone. “There you are. I’ve been waiting forever.” She cast a glance around the quiet vestibule. “If you’re going to have security on the door, you should at least provide somewhere to sit out here.”
Walter walked in behind Laurel. “Ah, shit,” he muttered beneath his breath.
Laurel strode forward and scanned her ID. The door clicked open. “Come up to my office.”
“Happily,” Abigail said, turning to follow her with a graceful hop.
Since it was after five, Laurel didn’t expect Kate to be at her post, and a quick glance into Nester’s computer hub showed him on the phone with somebody about CCTV. She nodded, waited for a chin jerk from him, and then continued down the hallway toward her office. “Walter, you can take off,” she called back. “I’ll head home with Huck.”
“I’ll wait until you go,” Walter barked, heading into the conference room.
Laurel pulled the Velcro free as she walked into her office, loosening the vest before taking a seat across the rough door she used as a desk. The blinds were closed, but she could hear the rain pattering outside. “What do you need, Abigail?”
Abigail gracefully sat on one of the two white leather chairs and crossed her legs. Back to form today, she wore black slacks, a deep red sweater, and a Van Cleef necklace with matching earrings. Somehow, the red never competed with her natural auburn hair, which fell to her shoulders. Like Laurel’s. “I merely wanted to make sure you were all right after my interview with Rachel Raprenzi. I’m trying to save my life, you know.”
