Smoke and Mirrors

81

Alexa was in the guest bathroom washing her face when her cell phone rang. She went into the bedroom, took it out of her purse, and saw on the readout that it was Assistant FBI Director Hayden Hatcher.

“Keen,” she answered.

“Hatcher here,” Hayden Hatcher said. “I went by your office yesterday afternoon and found out that you were on personal leave until next week.”

“That’s right, sir. I’m taking care of a few personal matters.”

“Might I ask where you are?”

“Tunica, Mississippi.” Alexa was certain he had known where she was before he asked, and she knew he had the means to easily discover that she’d flown to Memphis the day before.

“Is there anything about your trip that might be of interest to us?” he asked.

Alexa was not going to lie to a superior officer. “There have been two additional murders in Tunica that may be connected to a piece of land a casino wants for an expanded operation. The sheriff is presently investigating. It is possible that the family who owns the land where the first murder took place, as well as the land the casino needs, may be in continuing danger. I’m here merely to give moral support to the family. That’s all I know at the present.”

Hatcher asked, “Would that casino be the Roundtable?”

“Yes, sir, it would.”

“Do you suspect anyone associated with that casino or RRI of being involved in any of the three murders?”

“There’s no direct evidence, just circumstances that point in that direction. It appears as though the local casino manager might be involved.”

“So he is probably acting on his own volition. The owner of RRI, Kurt Klein, is an influential individual. Are you familiar with his name?”

“I am.”

“According to our information, Mr. Klein is in Tunica, staying at the Roundtable casino. This is very delicate, Alexa. Kurt Klein is a good friend of our state department. The Klein family, and their friends, are very influential and are often quite helpful to our interests around the world.”

“There is no evidence that Klein is involved, or knows anything about what has been going on here.”

“If any Federal statutes have been violated by people working for the casino, it will have to be handled very carefully. Would you be more comfortable if I sent some agents to protect the Gardner family?”

“No, sir. I don’t believe that is necessary at the present.” Alexa knew that she had not mentioned the Gardners by name. “It seems unlikely this man would dare harm them, since Winter Massey told him he suspected him of involvement.”

“I know this is not an official FBI matter at the present, but I expect you to keep me posted on this, Agent Keen. I cannot overstress the fact that you are not, under any circumstances, to take any unauthorized action against or involving Mr. Klein. Is that perfectly clear?”

“It is clear.”

“You are a valuable asset to the Bureau,” Hatcher said. “Let’s keep it that way. Does the sheriff have a case against this manager?”

“Not at the present. Jacob Gardner, the landowner’s ex-husband, had information crucial to that investigation, but unfortunately he was killed before the sheriff could convince him to cooperate.”

“I’ll alert the Memphis field office that if you need help, they will offer any necessary assistance. I want you to explain to Mr. Massey that we are watching over his shoulder. I think it would be wise if you make certain this doesn’t become an international incident.”

“I understand.”

“I know you have a good relationship with the director, and I want you to know that I have spoken with him about this. He told me that he has faith in your loyalty to the Bureau, and in your ability to handle yourself appropriately.”

Alexa hung up and reached to pick up her coat from the bed. She felt a bulge in the pocket and pulled out a thick wad of cash held together with a rubber band. Thumbing the edge, she saw that the folded currency was comprised entirely of one-hundred-dollar bills. It took her a few seconds to realize that Jason Parr must have put it there when he’d hugged her in the casino parking lot. There were several thousand dollars in the bundle, and there was no way she could keep it.

Alexa left the room to go downstairs and tell Winter about Hatcher’s call.