Daylight

Chapter 33

Puller emailed Lindsey Axilrod’s home address to Pine. In it he also verified that Axilrod had not shown up for work that morning. She and Blum drove over to the small bungalow situated in a quiet neighborhood about five miles from Fort Dix.

“No car in the driveway,” observed Blum.

“Front door closed. No lights on that I can see, though it is daylight. No one lurking in the bushes.”

They pulled to a stop at the curb, got out, and walked up to the front door. Pine rapped on the wood and waited. No answer. She rapped harder, with the same result.

Pine eyed the doorbell. “She has a doorbell with a camera, so she’s probably watching us right now from wherever she is.” They walked to the backyard, where there were two listing and rusted poles set in concrete and the remnants of a rotted clothesline, which was hanging down to the ground. A wooden and shingled utility shed sat back against the fence.

Pine walked over to it and peered in one of the windows. “No dead bodies hanging from the rafters. Just a lawn mower and some gardening tools.”

“What do we do now?” asked Blum.

“I’d really like to get into her house.”

“But without a search warrant we have no legal standing to do so. And if you’re thinking about breaking and entering again, I would advise against it.”

“Maybe I can do something that would allow us legal entry then.”

She made a call and said, “I’m FBI Special Agent Atlee Pine. I was supposed to meet with a woman named Lindsey Axilrod about a matter I’m investigating. She did not show up for work today and we’re at her home now. She is not responding to my knocks. I’d like you to do a welfare check on her because I’m worried that something might have happened to her.” Pine gave the address and put her phone away and looked at Blum.

Five minutes later a cruiser pulled up in front of the house and two uniforms climbed out. One was in his forties, overweight with a flushed face and a bored look. The other was about a decade younger, tall and thin with a runner’s build, who looked far more animated than his partner at having been called in by the Bureau.

“You the FBI agent?” said the older cop. His name tag read DONNELLY, and he looked like a man going through the motions until his pension kicked in.

Pine produced her badge and creds and introduced Blum.

The younger cop, who had excitedly identified himself as Officer Brent Tatum, said, “What were you investigating with the lady who lives here?”

“Not something I can disclose, really, but I can tell you that she was a potential witness for something critical to national security that was going on at her place of work.”

“Which was where, exactly?” asked Donnelly.

“Fort Dix.”

“But that’s military.”

“I’m working the case with Army CID.”

Donnelly rubbed his chin and shot a glance at the house. “Locked?”

“Yes. She has a doorbell camera, but she didn’t respond, which she could have even if she wasn’t here.”

“We better check this out, Dan,” said Tatum.

His partner didn’t seem inclined to do so, but he hitched up his gun belt and led the way up the walk. He knocked on the door and got no answer. Then he bent down to the doorbell and said, “Ms. Axilrod, are you here?”

“Hello, who is that?”

Donnelly straightened, shot a look at Pine, and said, “Officer Donnelly with the Trenton Police Department. Is this Ms. Axilrod?”

“Yes it is. What do you want?”

“We have an FBI agent here, Agent Pine, who said she was supposed to meet with you.”

“Oh, I think I remember that. But I was called out of town on a family emergency. I’ll have to get back to her when I return.”

Pine strode past Donnelly and said, “Axilrod, I need to know where you are, right now.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’m at the hospital with my mother. I’ll call you later.”

“Axilrod!” barked Pine, but the door camera remained silent.

“Well, that’s that, she’s got a family emergency,” said Donnelly. “She’ll call you when she gets back, like she said. You sure she didn’t say anything from the camera when you knocked earlier?”

Pine gave him an incredulous look and he said quickly, “Well, least she’s okay. Have a good day.”

They got back into their cruiser and pulled off, leaving Pine and Blum standing there.

Pine leaned down to the camera and said, “Hey, Lindsey, I’m really looking forward to seeing you again. And next time you send somebody to kill me, better make it a girl. The guys keep coming up short. And just so you know, however long it takes, one day I’m going to put my cuffs on you and read you your rights. And you’re going to get a lifetime supply of prison food.”

They walked back to the car and got in.

“Can we trace her from that door camera? It must be tied to her phone.”

“Yes. If I could get a warrant. But I’m not even officially working this case. Puller could try, but by the time he gets a warrant it’ll be too late.”

Her phone rang.

“Jack?” said Pine. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” said Lineberry. “There’s talk of letting me go home tomorrow or the next day. But I was calling because I came up with an old contact for you. His name is Douglas Bennett. He’s in his early seventies now and lives in Annapolis.”

“What was his involvement?” she asked.

“He was my handler.”

“So he was with the CIA then? As were you? You were never clear on that.”

“And I’m not admitting to anything now, Atlee. But Doug was intimately involved and knew both your parents, and he actually met you and your sister. You wouldn’t remember that, of course. He’s long since retired and spends his days sailing, taking long walks with his prized Labradoodles, Finnegan and Guinness, and puttering around his garden.”

“Is he married?”

“He was. Joan died two years ago. A car accident. He lives alone now, except for his dogs, his books, his boat, and his memories.”

“So you kept in touch all these years?”

“Yes. He’s a good man. A good friend.”

Pine, who was already in a bad mood because of Axilrod, barked, “Which means you should have thought of him off the top of your head when I asked you for old contacts, but you said you had to think about it.”

“The fact is, I had no idea if Doug would talk to you. I wasn’t going to give you his name until I cleared it with him.”

“So he’s agreed to meet?” Pine said in a calmer tone.

“We wouldn’t be having this discussion if he hadn’t. I’ll text you his address.”

“And how much does he know of my situation?”

“Some. I thought I’d leave it to you to explain the bulk of it.”

“Okay, Jack, thanks. And sorry for snapping at you. It hasn’t been a great twenty-four hours for me.”

“Good luck.”

He clicked off, leaving Pine lost in thought.

“Well?” asked Blum.

Pine glanced up. “Looks like we’re heading to Annapolis.”