Too Far Gone

50

Alexa parked on Broad Street and hurried toward the front of the headquarters building. She was approaching the glass front entrance when someone yelled out her name. She turned to see Veronica Malouf carrying a briefcase hugged to her chest as though it were a baby in distress and she was trying to get it to the emergency room.

“Ms. Malouf,” Alexa said. “I tried to call you a few minutes ago to see what you’d come up with.”

“I couldn’t leave because Dr. Whitfield was closing the office early. So nonessential personnel could evacuate and I had to finish up. My phone battery was dead and I forgot my car charger, which I couldn’t find when I went home for these. Sorry.”

“The files I asked for?”

Veronica ignored the question. “They’re the ones you want. Call if you have any questions.”

Alexa took the valise and said, “If I have any questions, you’re going to answer them in person. After you.”

“But I need to get packed.”

They rode the elevator up in silence. Manseur looked from the papers he was reading as Alexa and Veronica walked into his office. “Agent Keen. Ms. Malouf,” he said.

“Veronica has something for us,” Alexa said, hanging her heavy purse on a chair.

“I hope you brought us a recent picture of Sibby Danielson.”

Veronica Malouf shook her head. “There isn’t one. I looked.”

“Let’s have a look at what you do have,” he said.