Helpless

Chapter 56

Rainy was back at work in Boston. She was getting ready to leave for the day. Her report on the James Mann investigation for the USAO was nearly complete. It was detailed and heinous, a report on the darkest of hearts. She would be glad to be done with it. But she had more reports like this to write, and more investigations to conclude.

This was the job in the cyber crimes squad. It never got easier.

Rainy’s work in Shilo was basically over. She’d interviewed all ten girls from Shilo High School whose pictures were found on computers belonging to James Mann and Tom Hawkins. The four new girls she’d interviewed lied to her as well. They’d sent their pictures to somebody, but Rainy couldn’t prove it. From the subpoenaed phone records all Rainy could ascertain was that they didn’t text or call Tom Hawkins. Several had texted and called Tanner Farnsworth, as they had lots of different boys from Shilo High School.

Rainy even got three of the girls to agree to consent to searches of their phones. But she found nothing useful. The sent messages were mostly texts. The pictures attached were of friends and parties. Nothing lewd. Nothing lascivious.

Nothing illegal.

The girls had probably deleted those images long ago. Rainy had already put in preservation requests with their cell phone carriers. A search of those servers was a dead end, too. The girls had sent thousands of text messages since her request went into effect. They’d sent hundreds of pictures as well, but the only alarms in those images were underage drinking, some pot smoking, and lots of cigarettes. It was the business of their parents, not the FBI.

Tanner Farnsworth remained uncooperative throughout her investigation. Meanwhile, Tom Hawkins and James Mann were both going to be found guilty of crimes by a jury of their peers.

A small failed battery was enough to convince both Rainy and Carter that Hawkins was probably innocent. They’d brought their finding to the D.A. and Shilo PD, who had thanked them for the information. Rainy could tell they weren’t going to drop the charges against Hawkins. But at least Marvin Pressman had some new ammunition to use for Hawkins’s defense.

Rainy wished she could stop thinking about Tom Hawkins, but he’d wormed his way into her consciousness, where he seemed destined to remain.

“Any plans tonight, Miles?” Carter asked.

“Does attempting to revive my spider plants count as a plan?”

“A certain-to-fail one, but yes, it counts.”

Rainy’s desk phone rang. She answered it. “Hello. This is Agent Miles. How can I help you?”

“Rainy Miles, my name is James Mann. I believe you arrested me.”

Rainy cupped the phone’s receiver and mouthed the words “James Mann” to Carter. Carter naturally took interest.

Were your ears ringing? she thought.

“Mr. Mann,” Rainy said. “I can’t speak with you unless I have permission from your defense counsel. I’m afraid we have to end this communication immediately until that permission is granted.”

Rainy hung up the phone after Mann gave her a number where he could be reached. In State court, prosecuting attorneys were barred from speaking with a defendent without prior approval. The McDade Act subjected Rainy to the same professional standards.

Hours later, Rainy called James Mann.

“We’re able to speak freely,” Rainy said, having procured the necessary permissions. “So tell me, what can I do for you?”

“I’d like you to come over to my apartment,” Mann said.

“Why would you like me to do that?” asked Rainy.

“I have something I want to show you.”

“And what would that be?” Rainy asked.

“Evidence that’s going to prove I’m not guilty of any crimes.”