First to Die

Chapter82

I GOT THEM TOGETHER on an hour's notice. "Cleveland's ready to indict," I told them. Then I dropped the bombshell about the book Always a Bridesmaid. "You've got to find it," Jill declared. "It's the one link we can tie in to all three crimes. Given that it was unpublished, it's as good as exclusive knowledge of the killings. It might even parallel the actual crimes. You find that book, Lindsay, we put Jenks behind bars. Forever!" "How? Joanna Wade mentioned a prior agent, and I went to see him. Noda. He said check out the office of copyrights. Where is that?" Cindy shook her head. "Washington, I think." "That'll take days, or more. We don't have days." I turned to Jill. "Maybe it's time for a search warrant. Blow in on Jenks. We need the gun and the book. And we need them now." "We do that," Jill said nervously, "we might bungle this whole investigation." "Anyone know about this yet?" she asked. I shook my head. "Just the first team- you guys. But when Mercer finds out, he'll want to jump in with everything he has. Cameras, microphones, the FBI waiting in the wings." "If we're wrong, Jenks'll sue our ass," Jill said. "I don't even want to think about it." "And Cleveland'll be waiting," said Claire. "Make us look like a bunch of fools." Finally, Jill sighed. "All right… I'm with you, Lindsay. If you can't think of another way." I looked at all three of them to make certain we were unanimous. Suddenly, Cindy burst in. "Can you give me another twenty-four hours?" I looked at her. "I don't know. Why?" "Just until tomorrow. And I need Jenks's Social Security number." I shook my head. "You heard what I said about McBride. Anyway, for what?" She had that same look as the other night, when she burst into my apartment- holding the photo of Jenks and Kathy Kogut, the third bride. "Just give me until tomorrow morning." Then she got up and left.