Page 142 of Liar's Point

“We have virtually no doubt that this man is John Krueger,” he added.

“Our CSI confirms that,” Nicole said.

Everyone turned around to look at her.

“She recovered some DNA from inside the car,” she told them. “It comes back to John Krueger of Boulder, Colorado. The hit came in this morning.”

“Previously of Boulder, Colorado,” Driscoll said. “We don’t think he’s there anymore. We’ve been trying to locate him for months.”

“Why?” Emmet asked.

Driscoll glanced at the other agent, and Nicole could tell they were about to get some kind of evasive answer.

“He’s wanted in connection with something we’re investigating,” the guy in the windbreaker said.

“And you are?” Nicole asked.

“Special Agent Raddick.”

“I’m Detective Lawson. Good to meet you. What exactly is it you’re investigating?”

“I’m afraid we can’t—”

“We think he works for Malcom McVoy,” Driscoll said, earning a glare from Raddick. But Driscoll didn’t seem to care, and Nicole’s opinion of Brady’s friend immediately shot up. “Agent Raddick is with our D.C. office. He flew down this morning after John Krueger’s name came up through our facial recognition program.”

Quiet settled over the room as Nicole and everyone else absorbed the gravity of this development. This federal agent had gotten on a plane from Washington? What in the world was this about?

“And what is it McVoy does, precisely?” Brady folded his arms over his chest. “We hear his company works for the Defense Department?”

“We can’t get into details.” Raddick shot a look at Driscoll. “His work for DoD is highly sensitive.”

“Obviously, the concern is that some of his business dealings may be illegal,” Driscoll said.

“And his estranged wife knows about it,” Nicole stated. “That’s why she’s a target?”

Raddick nodded. “Possibly. We’ve been trying to locate her, hoping maybe she can tell us what she knows.”

“Well, she’s missing,” Emmet said. “We think someone grabbed her just outside her workplace this morning. Her car is still there, but she isn’t.”

“When was this?” Raddick asked.

“Twenty minutes ago,” Emmet said. “She was last seen by a co-worker inside the building. But now she’s gone.”

Driscoll cursed. Raddick pulled out his phone and started making a call.

Brady stepped over to Nicole. “You’re sure she’s gone?”

“She’s gone,” Owen said. “Alex has been trying to reach her all morning, and she’s not answering. He circled by his law office again, just in case, but no luck.”

“I have her phone number,” Nicole said. “We should do an emergency ping, see if we can locate her.”

“Do we know that she has her phone with her?” Brady asked.

“No,” Nicole said. “I mean, if she’s been kidnapped, then she probably doesn’t. But it can’t hurt to try.”

***

Everything was blackest black.

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