The Serpent's Kiss

66

Mary Linzey had been watching the entire exchange between the woman FBI agent, Matt Gray and Roger Kandling. She had also seen the altercation between Matt Gray and the DHS agent, which was why she’d been questioning Kandling. Kandling hadn’t been willing to be taped, but he had been very willing to give her information as an “informed source.” When the female agent moved away, Kandling conferred momentarily with Gray, then began to walk away.

She hurried after him. “Agent Kandling?”

He turned to her, a small, tight smile on his face. “Yes, Ms. Linzey?”

“Who was that agent, the woman back there?”

Kandling studied her. “Special Agent Jillian Church.”

“She and SAC Gray seemed to be arguing.”

He waited, not responding.

“Were they?” she asked.

“Agent Church has been suspended indefinitely.”

“Why?”

“Insubordination,” he said. Kandling paused. “Colluding with a possible suspect. Improper procedures.”

“Colluding with a possible suspect?” Linzey had her tape recorder clutched in her hand. “And who is the possible suspect?”

Kandling frowned, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Turn off the recorder, please.”

Linzey clicked it off. “What?”

“Agent Church has been working closely with Agent Derek Stillwater. But there have been definite procedural breaches — even laws broken — by the both of them today. It is for these that Agent Church has been suspended.”

Mary Linzey clicked her tape recorder back on, wishing this were on camera. “Is Derek Stillwater a suspect?”

Kandling said, “Agent Derek Stillwater, with the Department of Homeland Security, has been conducting an investigation independently of the Bureau. Some of Agent Stillwater’s actions are questionable at the very least, and may even be illegal. It is under investigation, as is Agent Stillwater, for events today and from the events of last month in Washington, D.C.”

“Is Agent Church also being investigated?”

Kandling said, “Special Agent Jillian Church has been working closely with DHS Agent Derek Stillwater today, and both of them are believed to have conducted themselves in a matter not approved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Justice Department, or the Department of Homeland Security. They are both being investigated for their unprofessional conduct today.”

He turned to walk away, but Linzey said, “One more question.”

Kandling nodded.

“Isn’t it true that Agent Stillwater and Agent Church were the people who called the alarm here at the Greektown Casino?”

“Yes. They did.”

“Is it a false alarm?”

“It appears to be a false alarm,” Kandling said. “And Agents Stillwater and Church will be investigated for this, as well. Their behavior seems self-aggrandizing at the very least. It is possible they are trying to glamorize themselves at this time of crisis.”

She thrust the tape recorder toward him again. “So in the future, if they do something similar?”

Kandling hesitated. “Agents Church and Stillwater are no longer with the investigation into The Serpent and the sarin gas killings in any official capacity. Any statements either agent should make to the media or any other members of law enforcement should be verified with the proper authorities and treated with the highest level of skepticism.” With a curt nod, Kandling turned and slipped into the crowd.