First Family

CHAPTER 47

A RECEPTION was held for the people attending the funeral. Not at the White House, but at Blair House, right across the street. It was actually four houses connected together and at about seventy thousand square feet was larger than the White House. Normally the residence was used by visiting foreign heads of state and other high-ranking VIPs. Harry Truman and his family had even stayed there in the 1950s when the White House had been stripped down to its support beams and totally rebuilt. But today it would be a place for people to gather and remember Pam Dutton, have a few drinks and nibble on some food prepared by the world-class White House kitchen chefs.

Sean and Michelle passed through the metal detector, walked under the long awning, were wanded at the front door, and then entered the house. They had both been here before on high-level dignitary protection during their years at the Service. However, this was the first time they had seen the place in a nonworking capacity. They accepted drinks from a waiter and hugged a corner, watching and waiting. The president arrived with Jane, and then Tuck and the kids followed them in.

"There he is," said Michelle.

Sean nodded as Aaron Betack entered the room and scoped it out grid by grid as every agent who had ever worked for the Service instinctively did, retired or not. It was simply a habit you never forgot. Or else couldn't break.

"How do you want to do this?" she asked.

"He can't exactly fire us for grilling him."

"But should we tip our hand that we know about his seeing Pam?"

"That's the big question. Let's circle around it with him and see if the answer falls out of his mouth."

They waited until Betack had broken away from another group and walked into an adjoining room.

"Hey, Aaron," said Sean as he and Michelle came in behind him.

Betack nodded at them but said nothing.

Sean eyed the glass in the other man's hand. "Not working today?"

"Just paying my respects."

"Sad day," said Michelle.

Betack clinked the ice cubes in his glass and nodded, biting down on a cracker. "Shitty day all around, actually."

"More than the funeral, you mean?" said Sean.

"Nothing on the girl. First Lady's not happy."

"But FBI's still working leads. We just saw Waters. He didn't strike me as a guy who gives up easily."

Betack drew closer. "Best detective in the world needs to have a lead of some kind."

"Can't argue with that."

"So no more communications from the kidnappers?" asked Michelle.

"Not since the bowl and spoon."

"Odd," commented Sean.

"Everything about this sucker is odd," Betack said strangely.

"But it was also really well planned. If Michelle and I hadn't shown up at the house unexpectedly, we'd know even less. So you think they'd be in regular communication."

Betack shrugged. "It is what it is."

"Anything on the letters on Pam's arms?"

"Not that I know of."

Sean glanced at Michelle and said, "I remember the first time I met Pam. She was really great. Terrific mom. Did you know her at all?"

Sean said this casually but he gazed intently at the other man.

"Never had the pleasure," Betack said matter-of-factly. "When I said I was coming to pay my respects, it was for the First Lady."

Sean glanced toward the doorway where Jane Cox passed by, followed by several of her assistants. "She is special."

"So you two got anything going on this case?"

Michelle spoke up first. "If we did we'd already have let Waters know."

"Important thing is to get Willa back, screw the credit," Sean added.

"Nice philosophy," commented Betack, swallowing the rest of his drink. "And rare in this town."

"But that includes everybody stepping up to the plate and telling everything they know," Michelle said pointedly, her gaze dead on Betack.

The man noticed this and shot a glance at Sean and then back at her. "You implying something?"

Sean lowered his voice. "Tuck Dutton saw you meeting with his wife when he was supposed to be out of town."

"He's wrong."

"He described you pretty accurately. And he fingered you at the funeral as the guy."

"I look like a lot of guys. And why would I be meeting with Pam Dutton?"

"I was hoping you could tell us that."

"I can't, because it never happened."

Sean stared at him for a long moment and then said, "Okay, Tuck was wrong."

"That's right. He was wrong. Excuse me." He stalked off.

Michelle turned to Sean. "How long you figure before he contacts whoever he was working with?"

"Not that long."

"So we just wait?"

Sean gazed around the room and then stopped as Tuck walked by. "I'm actually tired of waiting."