Page 57 of Obsessed Fox

I wanted my old life back even if it meant I didn't get Hendrix just yet. Because then I wouldn't have so many deaths on my conscience.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Hendrix

I wasn't a fan of having the FBI in my house, but when Special Agent Rogers asked to meet, I couldn't leave Maisie alone. She was still trying to cope with the loss of her brother and it wasn't going well. I’d never seen her so sad and I didn't know what I could do to help. She was a shell of the woman I loved.

"Thank you for meeting me here." I led us to the kitchen table so I could keep an eye on Maisie. She was curled up on the recliner with a blanket wrapped around her. She hadn't even stirred when there was a knock at the door.

"No problem. I wanted to offer my condolences anyway. I was the one who brought Matthew in, so I feel responsible for his death."

"He died a hero, saving one of my best friends."

"I heard. I'm sorry regardless."

I glanced into the living room to see if our discussion was disturbing Maisie. Nothing. Not even a flinch.

"Can you give me a little insight into the case?" For Maisie's sake I wanted to have all the answers. I knew there would come atime when she would want to know what happened. I wanted to be able to give her that information.

"We can't be sure that one of the men your team killed was The New Beginning silent partner. We never had a confirmed identity, and without Matthew, my case has disintegrated."

I expected to hear more venom in the man's voice knowing that twelve years of hard work went down the drain.

"You don't sound that upset about it."

Special Agent Rogers shrugged. "I'm not getting any younger. I didn't want this case to begin with. It was punishment for screwing up in the past. I never expected it to take twelve years and I guess, over time, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I would never solve it. Matthew was great but whoever's behind the organization is better. They keep their circle small."

"And the marshal assigned to Sarah and Olivia?"

I wanted to know if the man was on the take. If so, I would be hunting him down.

Rogers blew out a breath. "He got careless. When my team pulled him in for questioning, he admitted to leaving them alone more often lately, at Sarah's insistence. Nothing malicious but trips to the store, an hour here, an hour there. Apparently Sarah begged for some type of normalcy for her daughter and he felt obligated to give it to her after so long. The marshals thought they were doing a good thing by keeping the same agent all this time, but we know from experience that can cause complacency. I think that's what happened here. Sarah wanted to go to the store alone and he allowed it, thinking it was safe after all this time."

I could see that. Over a decade of things being quiet would cause anyone to become lax in their duties.

"There's another thing I need to discuss with you."

Rogers nodded like he already knew what I was going to say. And clearly he did because he spoke first. "Custody of Olivia. Iread your after-action report. It was Matthew's dying wish that his sister have custody. I'm working on it. It helps that Sarah didn't have any family. She was in the foster care system before she got hooked up with Atlas and his followers. Matthew's parents are the only other living relatives and I can tell you for a fact no judge is going to give them custody. They've only gotten more extreme in their beliefs since their kids left. I wouldn't subject any kid to that mess."

I let out a relieved sigh. I’d been worried there for a minute.

"I'm going to be honest with you though. Get a lawyer. A good one. Maisie's going to have an uphill battle because of her name change and her history, but I'll put in a good word."

That reminded me. "Whatever happened to Atlas's body?"

Rogers suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I got rid of it. I know a guy who does cremations. He was willing to look the other way for me. When Matthew called and said what his sister had done, I knew I needed to do something and fast. I'm not proud of the decision I made but I stand by it. I read the reports about their parents. I know the life they lived growing up. There was no way I was letting her go to prison for an impulsive decision."

Another weight was lifted off my shoulders. Maisie would never need to worry again about that part of her life coming back to haunt her.

"Thank you. I truly mean that. I'm forever in your debt. I know Maisie would be worried about that coming up while she's trying to get custody of Olivia."

"She has nothing to worry about. I'm going to pull every string I have to make sure Olivia comes here. I want that little girl to have a good life. Better than the one I gave her all those years ago when I forced her mother into witness protection. I know the bureau thought it was the best decision at the time, butit always felt wrong to me. No one deserves to live their life in hiding forever."

I couldn't agree more.

"I appreciate you coming out." I stood from my chair and held my hand out. As much as this conversation relieved several of my stresses, I needed to get back to Maisie. For her sake, it was important that I pulled her out of this rut.

Rogers took the hint and rose from his seat as well to shake my hand. I led him to the front door. "I'll keep you posted on Olivia, but in the meantime, get that lawyer. She's in foster care now with a good family but I would rather see her here with you guys."

---