Page 125 of To Die For

“I think so, yes.”

“If we do bring all this tumbling down, our own side might be coming for us.”

“I actually relish the fight, sir.”

“Me too, Devine.”

“And if we resign and leave the field to them, sir? Then only the power-hungry assholes without a hint of moral conscience will be left in charge to trample all over the Constitution and the rights of every American.”

“I agree. We’re staying right where we are. Fuck ’em.”

CHAPTER

58

WHEN DEVINE AWOKE THE NEXTmorning, he had a text message on his phone.

Ex parte meeting held with Judge Mehan. You have been installed as Betsy’s temporary guardian beginning immediately. Come by as soon as you can today to be briefed and to take custody. Saxby

He rose, showered, dressed, and noticed the note under his door.

Bookstore again, two o’clock. I’ll find you. GOTT

Well, that was a nice, relaxing way to start the day, thought a still-tired Devine.

He grabbed a cup of coffee and a banana from the hotel lobby market and phoned Saxby on his way over.

“How did you manage to pull that off so fast?” he asked.

“Mehan doesn’t want to put Betsy within fifty miles of her uncle. It was extraordinary relief, for sure, but this is an unusual situation and she stepped up to the plate.”

“Glass already figured that she would. He was waiting for me at my hotel after the hearing. He said that if I let anything happen to Betsy, he’d give me the same a hundred times over and he’d do it personally.”

“Reinforces the judge’s decision, right?”

“But it also shows he wants Betsy to be safe. In fact, he told methat since the FBI only assigned you to protect Betsy, he’s had six of his men watching her all the time.”

“Are you serious?”

“I see no reason for him to lie.”

“Who’s he protecting her from?”

“Probably from whoever killed her parents,” replied Devine.

“But if they wanted to harm her, why not just kill her, too, at the same time? You have any thoughts on that?”

“Yes. I’ll fill you in when I get there.”

Ten minutes later he hustled up to their room and knocked.

Saxby answered the door and ushered him in.

“Where’s Betsy?”

“Still sleeping. She had a rough night. How about you?”

“I might have had it rougher.”

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