“I believe they’ll hold up to a rigorous check. I’ve never had any trouble.”
“Ever been arrested, brought in for questioning?”
“No, but I’m routinely checked by clients before contract. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, and my fee, my documents and references are thoroughly checked by any new client.”
“That’s good.” Satisfied, he nodded. “That’s good to know. My concern, and it’s just a concern at this point, is this Babbett wouldn’t be working for a client wanting to hire you, but one looking for dirt, for something he can use to discredit you or threaten you.”
“He’d have to be very skilled, and very determined.”
“Maybe we’ll take some precautions.”
“You could intimidate him. You have authority, and weapons. You could confront him, intimidate him and make him leave.”
“Maybe I could, but that’s the sort of thing that would tend to make him more curious once he’s gone. Unless I have a lever.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
“We’re not going to let that happen.”
She hated this new stress, this additional complication that had nothing,nothing,to do with the Volkovs.
“If I’d stayed in the house, not answered the door, or simply given him directions—”
“I don’t think that would’ve made much difference. He’s doing a job. What we’ll do—or you will, as I expect you’re better and quicker—is find out what we can about him. See what kind of man we’re up against here. Meanwhile…I’m going to want to borrow some of your cameras.”
“Why?”
“That precaution. Is it okay if the Bickford Police Department borrows some of your equipment for a day or two?”
“Yes.” She took a key ring out of her pocket. “Borrow what you want.”
“Thanks. I’ll have Ash or Boyd run out and get it, if that’s okay. I need to make a couple calls to set up that precaution.”
“All right. I have to finish the meal.” Hopefully it would settle her nerves. “I don’t want to overcook the vegetables.”
She had to do something, keep doing something, so the panic couldn’t push through. If she performed normal tasks—add fresh thyme and butter to the green beans, drizzle the wine sauce over the chicken, plate them with the roasted potatoes—she could cling to the illusion of normality.
She’d prepared and presented the meal very well, but she could barely force down a few bites.
She had a contingency plan. She always did. All the documents she needed for the next identity were inside her safe room, locked away. Waiting.
But she didn’t want to use them, didn’t want to become someone else again. That meant she’d have to fight to protect who she was now. What she had now.
“If this investigator is very skilled and very determined, it will still take time for him to discredit my documents and history,” she began. “I need more time to plan and organize any sort of contact with Special Agent Garrison.”
“She’s in Chicago?”
“I wanted someone in Chicago, where the Volkovs are based. She would have more incentive, and more access. Her response time would be quicker, once she learned to trust my information.”
“Good thinking.”
“But unless I can formulate an alternative, if I make direct contact, she’d be duty-bound to detain me. If that happens, I don’t believe I’ll have the time or opportunity to clear myself before I’m eliminated.”
He reached over, took both her hands. “You’re not going to be detained, and you’re sure as hell not going to beeliminated. Look at me. Whatever it takes. And I’ve given some thought on alternatives and methods.”
“I’ve considered sending Special Agent Garrison an e-mail on her personal account, telling her who I am, relating the entire story, all the details. I can route it as I do the data I send her, and it wouldn’t be possible to track. But it could leak. If the information I give her gets in the wrong hands, the Volkovs will know I’m not only still alive—”
“Ilya Volkov saw you. They know you’re alive.”
