The Silenced

By the time they reached it, Lara’s landlady, a silver-haired woman named Mrs. Shelley, was there to meet them. She extended a hand to them both, smiling at Meg since they’d met a few times, and introducing herself to Matt Bosworth.

“Lara didn’t say anything to me about breaking her lease or going away,” Mrs. Shelley said. “I do hope that she’s all right—she’s such a lovely young woman!”

“We’re certainly hoping she’s all right, too. But Meg can’t get in touch with her and we’re worried, so thank you for your help,” Matt said.

“Of course! Come on in.”

Mrs. Shelley led them through the main door to the house. Stairs stretched up to the second floor, with hallways leading to the downstairs apartments.

Taking out a ring of keys, Mrs. Shelley looked through them as they walked to Lara’s door.

For a moment, Meg felt as if she couldn’t breathe. She was overwhelmed by the same fear she’d felt when she’d come here yesterday evening, when terrible visions had rushed through her head and she’d been terrified that she’d open the door and find the apartment trashed and Lara in a pool of blood. Or that she’d go into her bedroom and find her with her throat slit.

Mrs. Shelley opened the door.

The living room was neat, as Meg had known it would be. Lara had once told Meg that she wasn’t home enough to really mess the place up.

“Be careful what you touch,” Matt said.

She tried not to glare at him. She knew that!

“We’ll go through the place later,” he said. If he knew how offensive he was being, he gave no sign.

With anxiety dogging her every step, Meg still managed to walk quickly through the living area to the bedroom and the small office beyond.

All the while, she knew that Agent Bosworth was a step behind her. Did he not trust her? Or was he afraid she hadn’t looked carefully—that they might stumble across Lara’s body?

“I guess she’s not here,” Mrs. Shelley called out. She hadn’t moved from the living room.

“Can you tell if she packed up anything at all?” Agent Bosworth asked Meg.

“I don’t think she did. At least, it didn’t seem that way to me last night. But I can’t be one hundred percent sure without looking through her drawers and her closet. I don’t have gloves, so...”

“I do,” he told her before she could finish, taking out two pairs. “We don’t have time for a complete search now, but maybe you can tell if she did pack.”

And find out if her friend’s body had been stuffed in the closet.

Meg pulled on a pair of the gloves and opened the closet door. Lara’s clothing hung there neatly. The black-and-red carry-on Lara took anytime she traveled—her lucky travel bag, as she called it—was on the floor, along with sneakers, sandals and shoes Lara would’ve taken on a trip.

“I don’t believe she packed and left,” Meg said.

“Okay,” he told her. “We’ll pay our visit to Ian Walker and come back for a more thorough search.”

They met Mrs. Shelley in the living room. She seemed relieved that they’d found nothing.

“She must’ve taken a little trip, then,” Mrs. Shelley said, smiling. “If she was really leaving, she would’ve told me.”

“Of course,” Meg assured her.

“We’ll be back this afternoon,” Matt Bosworth said. “We’re going to see if we can dig up any clues as to where she might be.”

Mrs. Shelley nodded and unfastened two keys. “Here you are. The first opens the main door. All the tenants have one. The second is to this door.”

Matt thanked her, not mentioning that Meg already had a key.

“Oh! You might want the security video,” Mrs. Shelley said.

“You have security tapes?”

“There’s a camera just over the entry,” Mrs. Shelley replied. “It’s a wonderful selling point when I need to rent out the units, although that isn’t often. This close to Capitol Hill, I don’t have much trouble landing good tenants. You know DC—once people get into a place they like, they tend to stay for the long haul.”

“I’m going to have an agent come out for the security footage covering the past few days, if you don’t mind.”

“Anything,” Mrs. Shelley said fervently.

They both thanked her and headed back to the car.

“Shouldn’t we be looking at the footage right now?” Meg asked.

“I’m going to have Will retrieve it and then check it out,” he said.

“But...”

“He’s an expert. He’ll know if anyone’s tampered with it.”

She fell silent. She knew she’d been letting her emotions take hold.

“Onward to Congressman Walker’s house,” Matt announced.

Meg realized she had no idea where the man lived; that was something Lara had never mentioned.

She quickly found out.

Ian Walker lived in the Sixteenth Street Heights in DC in a grand colonial-style mansion—when he was in the city.

The congressman had been blessed with family money. He’d also known how to play the stock market to improve on his inheritance. She knew that because Lara had talked about him so much. While she and Lara had been friends forever, Meg’s home was really Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Lara’s parents and family were from Richmond, although they also had a home in Harpers Ferry, where they’d spent summers. Meg had worked and lived in Richmond for a few years after she’d graduated from college there; she was still a West Virginia voter.

“Nice neighborhood,” she murmured as they approached the house. “It was his idea for us to come here rather than his office?” she asked.

She didn’t use Agent Bosworth’s name as she spoke to him. In the car, it was only the two of them. She’d noticed that while most law enforcement agents and the instructors she worked with called one another by their surnames, Krewe agents were on a first-name basis. They knew one another well. Or, at least, they seemed to. Matt. She couldn’t bring herself to call this man Matt. He obviously thought he’d been saddled with a neurotic beginner.

She wasn’t a beginner. She’d qualified as a Richmond police officer and now she was officially an FBI agent.

“Yes. Someone on his staff gave you a hard time, but Walker himself seemed concerned about the fact that we were worried. Adam told me that to the best of the congressman’s knowledge, Lara just wanted to move in another direction. That they’d parted on good terms,” Matt said, watching the road. “Be very careful. We’re going in there for help. No accusations, okay?”

“I did make it through the academy!” she told him.

He laughed. “Yes, as you’ve pointed out. And admittedly that’s an accomplishment. But I know plenty of agents with plenty of what you’d call the right stuff—and no social skills. Doesn’t mean they’re not good agents. It just means there are certain places, certain times, they shouldn’t be in the field.”

“My social skills are just fine,” she insisted. She decided not to suggest that he might want to work on his own.

There was a gate, artfully designed, a break in a high wall around the house. Ivy and vines grew along the wall, making it appear that the home was well established and a pleasant addition to the area.

“Capitol police,” Matt murmured.

“Pardon?”

He pointed down the street, and she saw a car with the markings of the Capitol police department. She knew that the department was responsible for a two-hundred-block area around the Capitol, but in reality their reach extended all the way around the globe, if need be. They were responsible for Congress when it was in session, but their responsibility to senators and congressmen, their families and staff, went far beyond that. If a congressman from Utah, for example, was speaking back in his home state, Capitol police might be there to look after his safety. In 1801, when Congress moved from Philadelphia to DC, only one man was assigned by Congress to protect the Capitol building. But in 1828, when a son of John Quincy Adams was attacked in the rotunda, the United States Capitol Police Department was established.

“Maybe the congressman thinks he’s in danger,” Meg suggested.

“Or maybe the patrol car is just doing a drive-by,” Matt said thoughtfully.

“It might have something to do with the death of Garth Hubbard,” Meg said.

“That’s an interesting possibility,” Matt said.

They paused at the gate. When he stated who they were and it rolled open, they drove through to the circular drive.

Three men in suits were standing on the porch.

None of them was Ian Walker.

As they both got out of the car, Matt Bosworth took his ID wallet from his suit pocket; she did the same.

The men seemed to recognize Matt.

And they’d been expecting them.

The three on the porch were a varied trio. One was tall, maybe an inch taller than Matt. He was bald and looked like he might have been a biker in an earlier life. Another one was lean, about a foot shorter, with thick wavy hair and a ready smile. The third was somewhere in between, well built, about six-even and with close-cropped brown hair.

“Welcome,” the shorter man said. “Congressman Walker is waiting for you. I’m Ellery Manheim, his personal assistant. Nathan Oliver here, to my right—” he indicated the large man “—is also with my office, and Joe Brighton—” he gestured at the man to his left “—is Congressman Walker’s campaign and media manager.”

Meg had heard about the three of them from Lara. As they shook hands all around, Meg thought of the things she’d heard Lara say about these men—many of which had made her laugh. Ellery Manheim was the one in charge of day-to-day matters, since Walker was usually absorbed with bigger concerns. “Ellery’s fine,” Lara had told her, “as long as it’s not raining. The man has more hair products than I’ve owned in my whole life!”

Lara had liked Joe Brighton and called him an interesting man. Brighton had been a marine before going into media. “He could spin it so that a polar explorer would buy an icebox, no word of a lie!” Lara had said.

And about the huge guy, Nathan Oliver, Lara’s comment had been, “He’s okay, too. Except if you were to crash into the guy, you’d probably have to be hospitalized. I think he’s made of steel—or maybe rock. He’d crumble if he cracked a smile. He’s called an assistant, but I suspect he’s really a bodyguard.”

Meg thought she recognized the men, at least vaguely. They hovered around the congressman whenever he spoke in public.

“Come in, come in, please,” Ellery Manheim told them. “Congressman Walker is waiting in the den. I understand you’ve come to see us about Lara Mayhew?”

“Yes,” Matt said. Meg realized he didn’t intend to say anything more until they were actually with the congressman.

If Manheim had hoped Matt was going to discuss why they were there, he didn’t reveal any sign of it. He just said, “Lara is a phenomenal young woman. Her work for Congressman Walker was exceptional.”

They were led through a mudroom to a grand foyer and, from there, to a large office off to the side; it seemed to stretch the length of the house, which must have been seven or eight thousand square feet in size.

Matt glanced at her as they moved along. To her surprise, he offered her a wry smile and whispered, “And this is just his Capitol home. Can you imagine his spread in Virginia?”

Her lips twitched slightly. He was already stepping forward to shake Congressman Walker’s hand.

“I understand there’s some concern about Lara Mayhew,” Walker said after introductions had gone around. Meg noticed that Matt referred to her as Agent Murray—and made no reference to her friendship with Lara.

“Yes, she left friends and family a few very cryptic messages, and no one’s been able to reach her,” Matt said.

Congressman Walker directed them to comfortable leather seating in the center of the long office. Meg saw that his men had followed them in, but didn’t sit. “Lara was with us at Capitol Hill until very late the night before last,” Walker said. “And normally, she’d be here now. She was wonderful! But I’m afraid she resigned her position that night. Maybe the hours of the job got to her,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t blame her. She was young and probably wanted more of a life than she had working with me.”

“You’re planning a run for the presidency?” Matt asked.

“Considering it,” Walker responded.

“Congressman,” Ellery Manheim said, clearing his throat.

Walker grinned. Meg observed that he was a handsome and dignified man, wearing his years very well for a man of sixty-plus. He had retained a full head of steel-gray hair; his eyes were a deep brown and set in a nicely sculpted face. He was extremely fit; Lara had told her he could run on his treadmill and dictate notes or discuss a promotional or communications issue at the same time. Today, he was casually dressed in a light blue pullover and jeans.

He had an easy smile that made him a man to trust.

“Why were you working so late?” Matt asked.

“The evening got away from us.” Walker let out a soft sigh. “You can’t imagine the volume of letters I receive, the needs of my constituents. Couple that with studying the quantity of bills that are always on the agenda—and sorting out what’s tacked onto what and whether the value of passing a particular bill outweighs the problems. Then, of course, there’s reelection—and deciding if I should throw my hat in the ring. Work never stops,” he said.

“No, it never does!” That pronouncement came from a woman who swept into the room. She was slim and tiny and kept her hair tinted blonde, and, like the congressman, she carried her age well. She didn’t appear to be the recipient of hours of cosmetic work, and the smile lines that crinkled around her mouth and eyes only enhanced her natural beauty.

“Work, work, work!” she said, grinning as she approached the newcomers.

Matt instantly rose; Meg did, too. “My wife, Kendra,” Congressman Walker said. “Kendra, special agents Bosworth and Murray, FBI.”

“FBI?” Kendra repeated, shaking their hands.

“They’re here about Lara,” Walker said.

“Lara? She’s an amazing girl,” Kendra said. “If she’s in any kind of trouble...”

“No trouble, my dear,” Walker said quickly. “She’s missing.”

“Missing? She was working with you all the other night!” Kendra said. She frowned, playing with a little silver pendant of the Washington Memorial she wore around her neck. “But didn’t you tell me she was moving on—that she felt she wasn’t really cut out for politics?”

“Yes, dear,” Walker murmured.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” Kendra declared. “Ellery, could you ask Ginger to bring a coffee and tea service in here? You people are so consumed with work that you forget good manners!”

Ellery disappeared out the door as bidden.

Kendra sat, motioning for Matt and Meg and the congressman to do so again. “Born and raised in Virginia by old-school parents,” Kendra told them. “And while many aspects of Southern history might be regrettable, Southern hospitality is not one of them. Why didn’t you offer these hardworking agents some form of sustenance, Ian?”

“My dear, we hadn’t gotten that far!” Walker protested. He looked at her as if he still adored her and the gaze she gave him in return said the same thing. Meg knew they’d been married for nearly thirty years. Their devotion was admirable.

If it was real.

“We’re fine,” Matt assured her. “And I’m from Virginia myself.”

“I hope you voted for me,” Walker said.

“Yes, actually, I did,” Matt said.

“And you, Ms. Murray? I’m sorry, I mean Agent Murray?” Walker asked.

Meg saw that he was studying her closely.

She’d never met him. Between their schedules, she and Lara had only managed to get together for a few brief breakfasts and dinners. While Lara had talked about her job and the people she worked with, she’d never had a chance to bring Meg to a fund-raiser or any other event where she might’ve gotten to know Walker. Yet he seemed to know her. Or know about her.

She forced a smile. “West Virginia,” she told him. “But if I was registered in Virginia, I’m sure I would’ve voted for you.”

A young woman in a polo shirt and chinos walked in, bearing a silver tray laden with a teapot, an urn, finger sandwiches, cream and sugar and serving utensils.

“Thanks, Ginger,” Kendra Walker said.

“My pleasure, Mrs. Walker. The children are being dropped off soon. Shall I watch them in the playroom until you’re ready?”

“Yes, please.”

When Ginger left, Kendra asked, “Coffee, tea?”

“Coffee, please,” Matt said. “Just black.”

“Same for me, thanks,” Meg said.

“Congressman,” Matt began, “Lara Mayhew called a friend after she left you the night before last. In her message she said she had to leave.”

Meg thought the congressman would appear baffled, that he would claim he had no idea why.

If he’d done something to her, he would know she hadn’t been found yet. Or would he? Had he left her body lying somewhere they wouldn’t easily find it?

But he shook his head sadly. “I was sorry, sorry because I knew I was losing one of my best employees. But there was an issue that I’ve determined to deal with in one way, and Lara was opposed to my position.”

“What was your position?” Meg asked.

“It had to do with a health issue, but you realize that committees manage to tack all kinds of add-ons to a bill to get other members to vote for it. Once a bill reaches a vote, it might contain a lot of extra provisions, many of which have nothing to do with the original bill,” Ian Walker explained. “Lara’s opinion was that we should nix the whole bill. After Hubbard died, I was trying to rework it on my own, but others became involved, too. Lara was an idealist. None of us want to admit it, but we aren’t capable of creating an ideal world. Or an ideal bill. Not when government requires compromise.”

He seemed earnest. And it was plausible.

“Garth Hubbard was a remarkable man. I believe he would have made an exceptional president,” Kendra said in a sorrowful voice. Her fingers tightened around her necklace as she added, “Such a tragic loss.”

“I thought there was some question about his death,” Matt said. “Weren’t there accusations flying around that either the far left or the far right had done him in?”

“When a political figure dies suddenly and unexpectedly, there’s always a conspiracy theory,” Walker said with a wave of his hand. “I loved Garth like a brother. But he had high blood pressure all his life. He told me once that his doctor had said he’d probably die of something heart-related sooner rather than later. He did. Massive heart attack. Better now, I suppose, than if he’d made the presidency.” Walker seemed to reflect for a minute, then said, “Lara was disheartened by his death. I suppose she just didn’t have enough faith in me.”

“Oh, darling, don’t say that!” Kendra slipped an arm around his shoulders. “Lara is such a lovely girl. I honestly believe she maintains complete faith in you. She was overwhelmed by all the bureaucracy and red tape that goes with government.”

She’d been so polite. Now she looked at Matt and Meg as if they were ogres who had come to threaten a loved one. “Is there anything else? I wish we could help you with Lara. She was a cherished member of our team. But she chose to leave. She said she was going home. But she didn’t let us know what her plans were. She wasn’t particularly happy when she left, and I have to admit, although I love the girl, she doesn’t belong here if she can’t be a team player.”

So much for Southern hospitality. Kendra was suddenly all but breathing fire.

“What I need to know is where and when you saw her last,” Matt said pleasantly, as if he hadn’t heard the venom and dismissal in her words.

“I saw her a few days ago,” Kendra replied.

“The night before last, we were all at my office,” Walker said. “My staff and me, not my family.” He smiled at his wife. “Our discussions went on for hours, and she left really late. Like two or three in the morning.” He looked sheepish for a moment. “I wasn’t aware of the time. She was determined to leave. There’s constant security around the Capitol all the time, though. I’m sure she’s fine—and that she did just what she said she was going to do. Go home.”

He spoke earnestly, and Meg couldn’t help believing that Walker genuinely cared about Lara—and that he’d been sorry to see her go.

But what exactly had upset her friend so much?

Matt Bosworth was getting to his feet, and she stood, too. She might have been a solid—even kick-ass—cadet, but he was the appointed agent and she was the new-grad tagalong. If he had risen, they were leaving. Both of them.

“What had been tacked onto the bill that upset Lara?” she asked.

“Oh, it had to do with equal rights in the health bill,” he said vaguely. “It’s all quite lengthy and complicated to explain, Agent Murray.”

She found that an unsatisfactory and, yes, condescending response, but it was time to go.

Matt took her arm. “Well, thank you for your assistance with this matter, and, Mrs. Walker, thank you for your hospitality. We may need to talk to you again. I’m grateful that you’re as concerned about Lara Mayhew as we are.”

“Of course!” Walker said, nodding solemnly. “We cared deeply about Lara. Call me anytime.”

“Yes, of course,” Kendra echoed, but her voice was a little more brittle. “If we can help in any way, call on us anytime.”

Ellery Manheim suddenly made a shocked noise.

They all turned to look at him. He quickly hid whatever emotion had accompanied his thought and resumed speaking.

“I heard they discovered a woman the other day... A woman who’d been murdered. Like the one they found about a month ago,” he said. “My God, you don’t think that could be Lara, do you?”

“It wasn’t Ms. Mayhew,” Matt informed him.

“No?” Kendra Walker asked. She seemed relieved.

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes,” Matt said, giving no more information.

“Lara’s fingerprints would be in the system. She was bonded, of course,” Congressman Walker said.

“Thank God!” Ellery Manheim said, and he sounded sincere.

There was a rush of laughter and footsteps pounding toward the room. Two little girls dashed in. They were both blonde and thin and full of energy, one about five and the other perhaps eight.

“Grammy, Gramps!” they called.

The kids pushed past Nathan Oliver and Joe Brighton to reach the congressman and his wife.

Kendra scooped up the smaller one and Congressman Walker picked up the older girl, whirling her around. Ginger ran in after the girls.

“I’m sorry!” Ginger said, breathless. “They got past me. They wanted to see you right away.”

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.