The Secret Friend

69

'Are you praying to God to help you find Hannah?' Malcolm Fletcher asked.

Darby reached inside her coat pocket and undid the strap of her shoulder holster as she looked around the church. The pews were empty, the walls with their stained-glass depictions of the stations of the cross covered in shadows.

'I didn't think I'd hear from you again, Special Agent Fletcher.'

'That was a long time ago.'

'Jonathan Hale told us everything.'

'A clever lie,' Fletcher said.

'I know what you're doing. I know why you're here.'

'Aren't you going to ask me about Detective Bryson?'

'You're admitting you killed him?'

'I did you a favour. Who knows what sorts of schemes he was planning? You might want to check your evidence locker.'

'Why didn't you just tell me?'

'I wanted Timmy to deliver a message and decided to send it air mail.' Fletcher laughed, a deep, guttural sound that made her feel cold all over. 'Aren't you glad he's dead?'

'I don't think he deserved to suffer.'

'Another lie. That's part of the reason you're at church now, isn't it? You wanted to lay down your guilt at the altar and beg the Almighty for mercy. I forget how much you Catholics enjoy the rack. Did He decide to end his insufferable reign of silence and answer your prayers?'

'I'm still waiting.'

'Don't you know your god deals in silence and ash?'

'We identified the remains.'

'I'm sure Tina Sanders is relieved. She's been praying for this moment for a long time.'

'She still won't speak to us.'

'I wonder why.'

'Let's talk about Sam Dingle.'

'I'm afraid I'm going to have to end this conversation. I don't entirely trust the phone. You never know who might be listening in. Oh, and Darby?'

'Yes?'

'Despite what you've read or heard about me, I have no intention of harming you now or anytime in the future. Hannah is in excellent hands. I hope you find her soon. Goodbye, Darby.'

Click.

Darby was standing outside the church, looking around the streets when her phone rang again. It was one of the surveillance technicians.

'We couldn't trace his call,' the tech said. 'If he calls again, just keep him talking. At some point he'll slip and we'll find him.'

'Don't bet on it,' Darby said.