Page 20 of Max's Mission

Gallagher’s eyebrow shot up. “Are you a lawyer too? Because that was some sort of doublespeak.”

Max chuckled. “No. I’m just a business owner.”

“And?” The agent rolled a hand. “What am I going to find out about you when I run your name?”

A hardness settled over Max’s features, turning his eyes a steely blue. Margot didn’t see it often. He was usually good-humored and a bit silly. But when pushed, the warrior side of his personality peeked out. She quite liked that his seriousness lurked underneath his fun-loving personality. Life with Max around was fun, but she knew that when the tables turned, she could count on him.

“I’m former Air Force. And I have some… influential friends.”

“Such as?”

“Why does it matter?”

Agent Gallagher lifted a shoulder.

Max stared at him, staying quiet. Margot wondered why Max didn’t answer and why the agent wanted to know.

Finally, Gallagher broke the staring contest. He smiled and sat back. “Well, unless either of you have other questions, we’re done here.”

“You didn’t answer mine,” Max said. “Can we see Tad’s car and its contents?”

Gallagher exchanged another look with Sorenson.

The detective aimed a shrug at the agent. “It’s up to you. The car’s in your jurisdiction. I don’t have a problem with it. He’s right. She might find meaning in something we dismissed.”

The agent pursed his mouth, then nodded. “All right. How about this afternoon? Around three o’clock? The car’s at our facility in Bismarck. I can email directions to Dr. Gaultier.”

“That’s fine with me,” Margot said. She looked at Max, who nodded.

“Great.” Gallagher pushed away from the table to stand. “Until this afternoon, then.”

Max stood, offering him a tight smile. “Make sure you do your research on me before you come. You know, so you can pepper me with more questions that don’t have anything to do with your investigation.”

Oh my.

Margot turned away to hide her smile as a deep frown came over Gallagher’s face. It probably wasn’t wise to bait a federal agent, but Max was right. His background wouldn’t help them solve this case.

“I’ll do that.” Gallagher drummed his fingers once on the folder in front of him, his mouth tight. Picking up his notepad and pen, he spun on his heel and headed for the exit, Sorenson right behind him. They paused at the door and glanced back expectantly.

Max held out a hand to her. Margot took it, letting him help her from the chair, and didn’t let go as they walked toward the men.

With a nod, Max led her past them and into the hall. Silence reigned as they were led to the lobby.

Sorenson pushed a button on the wall, and the door buzzed, letting them out. “Have a safe trip to Bismarck.”

“Thank you,” Margot muttered.

Max pulled her through the doorway. Once outside, he glanced at her. “I guess we’re taking a road trip.”

“Apparently.” She reached for the zipper on her jacket, steeling herself against the icebox they’d walked into. “But we’re going coat shopping first.”

Eight

Agent Gallagher met them at the door when they arrived at the FBI facility in Bismarck. Minutes after walking through the front doors, they were deep in the bowels of the building and going through a heavy steel door into a large warehouse that housed nothing but cars. Most of them were intact, looking like they were just waiting for someone to come drive them away. But others were chunks of shredded metal and twisted frames. Some were filthy, like they’d been exposed to the elements for an extended period of time. Margot couldn’t help but wonder the stories behind some of the cars. What heinous crimes had been committed and who’d been hurt for these vehicles to end up in an FBI warehouse?

The agent wound through the aisles of cars and stopped in front of an older-model black Honda sedan. He held out a hand. “This is it.”

Margot tipped her head, studying it. At least it was intact.

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