The Sixth Man

CHAPTER 36

CARLA DUKES PULLED her car into her garage around nine o’clock. She unlocked the door that led into the kitchen, put her bag down, and stood in front of the alarm code pad, her finger poised to hit the appropriate buttons. It took her a moment to realize that there was no high-pitched squeal from the alarm system telling her that she had to disarm it before the delay ran out.

That was because the alarm wasn’t on.

She whirled around.

Sean stood there, the butt of his gun visible at the waist.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Dukes demanded.

“I need to talk to you.”

“You broke into my house.”

“No I didn’t. The door was open.”

“Bullshit. I lock everything up before I leave and then arm the system.”

“You must’ve forgotten. As you can see, the alarm system is off.”

“Then you turned it off.”

“I said, you said.”

“You’re in my house. I’m calling the police.” She eyed his gun.

He looked at where she was looking. “It’s a Beretta nine mil. Standard issue for the FBI, ironically enough.”

She slid her cell phone from her purse. “Good, why don’t we call them to come over and collect it and you?”

Before she could hit even one button, Sean said, “Would Agent Murdock want to know you’re working for someone else?”

“All right. I am with the FBI. And therefore I can arrest you right now. But instead I’ll give you five seconds to get the hell out of here.”

Sean didn’t move. He just looked at her, a tight smile edging across his features. “Just so you understand, Carla, the next minute or so will determine whether you end up in a federal prison or not.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You just made a big mistake.”

“I’m warning you.”

“You’re not FBI. You’re not even close to being FBI. So if anybody’s going to call the Feds I think that’ll be me.” He took out his phone and poised his finger over the numbers. She watched him dumbly. “But maybe you want to talk first,” he said.

“Maybe,” she said nervously.

Sean reached out and slipped the cell phone from her hand, and set it down on the kitchen counter.

“I think you want the FBI to believe you’re working with them. You’re certainly going through the motions. You have Murdock convinced. But he didn’t put you into play at Cutter’s Rock.”

“Look, I told you I’m with the FBI.”

“Then show me your creds.”

“I’m undercover. I don’t carry them.”

“Where’s your Beretta?”

“In my bedroom.”

Sean shook his head. “SOP for FBI undercover is to get into the part. Your office is barren. Not even one fake family picture on your desk.” He pointed to his gun. “And FYI, the FBI doesn’t use the Beretta. They carry either Glocks or Sigs.”

Dukes said nothing.

“So someone else put you at Cutter’s. Which means your loyalties lie elsewhere. The FBI really frowns on being played for chumps.”

“I was assigned to work at Cutter’s Rock. I have a long career in federal correctional institutions.”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re here temporarily. You haven’t even bothered to move into your office. And this place is a rental. With a six-month lease.”

“You’ve been spying on me?” she said.

“I’m an investigator. I spent a productive afternoon digging up stuff on you. And I’m not the only one.”

Dukes paled at this statement. “What do you mean?”

“I mean there are lots of people interested in you, Carla. You didn’t think you could just waltz right into this, play both sides, and think no one would notice? That kind of naïveté could get you killed.”

“These are not people to play around with.”

“Believe me, I get that message loud and clear.”

“Then you know I can tell you nothing. Please leave. Now.”

“I’ll just subpoena you for the court case.”

“What court case?”

“Edgar Roy? Six bodies? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Edgar Roy is the only reason you’re at Cutter’s Rock, Carla. And since I represent Roy it’s my ethical duty to try to have him exonerated. In order to do that, I have to muddy the waters. It’s called reasonable doubt.”

“You’re a fool.”

“Are you any less of one?”

“Get out.”

“By the way, Murdock already knows the truth about you.”

“That’s impossi–” She caught herself too late.

“Say what you will about the FBI, they do tend to get the right answer.”

“I need you to leave. Now.”

He turned to the door. “One more thing – the Bureau has a tap on your phone and your e-mail.”

“Why warn me about that?”

“In the hopes that you come to your senses and want to make a deal with me instead of them.” He let that sink in. “Carla? Are you getting any of this?”

“I’ll… I’ll think about it.”

“Fine. Just don’t take too long.”

Sean walked down the street and climbed into the Land Cruiser he had earlier parked there. He started the engine and sped off. After he was out of sight of Dukes’s house, Michelle, who’d been hiding in the back of the truck, climbed into the passenger seat.

“Everything go okay?” asked Sean.

“Easy. She should watch the garage door come all the way down before she goes in the house. I was able to sneak in behind her.”

Sean checked his watch. “Okay, I spooked her about her phone and e-mail. Now she has only one avenue of communication.”

“Face-to-face. But if she believes she can’t communicate via phone or e-mail how will Dukes arrange a meeting?”

“Coded text, probably. Innocuous on its face, it’ll set up a time at a prearranged place.” He stared down at the electronic tracking device cradled in her hand. “What’s the range on that?”

“Couple of miles. Plenty for our purposes, even in the great wilds of Maine.”

“Where’d you put the bug?”

“On the underside of the rear windshield wiper mechanism. Nobody ever looks there. Then I just climbed out the garage window. I’m actually getting good at that.”

“So now we wait,” said Sean.

“I don’t think it’ll be for long.” She eyed the device more closely. “Looks like she’s already on the move. Boy, you really did scare her.”

“I had my lawyer hat on. We naturally scare the crap out of everybody.”