Page 62 of The First Gentleman

The whole way there, she turns the case over and over in her mind. So many questions. So many loose ends.

So manydeadends.

When she checked the files on Suzanne Bonanno’s disappearance the morning after her remains were found, both in Seabrook and at the FBI office in Bedford, she got the same answer: The files were missing, maybe misplaced. It happens with cold cases. But in two different offices? And why would somebody be moving bones after seventeen years anyway? If you want to hide the crime, why not just leave the bones buried forever?

She parks her unmarked Chevrolet Impala in front of Felicia’splace and sits there for a few moments, observing and absorbing. Run-down trailer homes. Small, scrubby lawns. Narrow lanes. A far cry from Gillette Stadium.

Gagnon walks up the trailer’s steps, knocks, and raises her badge when a woman opens the door. “Felicia Bonanno? I’m Detective Sergeant Gagnon, New Hampshire State Police. I need to talk with you about your daughter Suzanne.”

The middle-aged woman gasps, then buckles at the knees. Gagnon catches her before she can fall. Felicia looks up, her eyes filled with tears. “You found Suzanne. You found my daughter.”

“Yes, Mrs. Bonanno. We did.”

“Where have you been?” Felicia wails.“Where have you been for seventeen years?”

CHAPTER

56

The White House

Cole Wright sits alone in his East Wing office. He’s decided, to borrow a phrase from his football days, that it’s time to call an audible.

Cole presses the intercom buzzer. His assistant, Jason Rollins, instantly enters the office, legal pad in hand.

“Listen carefully,” says Cole. “Cancel all my appointments for the rest of the day. Contact the White House travel office and the military liaison. I want a plane ready to go within the hour. Half-day trip. Quick turnaround. Tell Lambert I want a minimal detail, and make sure he’s on the flight with me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“One more thing,” says Cole. “And this is the tricky part. I don’t want one word, onesyllable,of this to get to the West Wing, especially to the president or Pearce. This is between you, me, Lambert, and the flight crew. My wife is tied up in meetings on the Hill all afternoon anyway. I should be back before she’s done.”

“Understood, sir,” says Rollins. “Destination?”

“Hanover, New Hampshire.”

CHAPTER

57

Outside Boston

The meeting with O’Halloran was a bust. The former detective had done an about-face. He’d previously been one of Garrett’s top sources, but now he seemed to be warning him off the investigation. “This case is bigger than you, Garrett. It’s bigger than both you and your partner. Watch out.”

Garrett’s on the road when a black Suburban roars past, then pulls in front of him. Garrett hits the brakes, then his horn. “Asshole!”

He signals to move into the left lane, but when he checks his side-view mirror, he sees another Suburban moving up next to him. He’s boxed in.

The Suburbans slow down gradually. They’re working as a unit, forcing Garrett to ease onto the shoulder and stop his car. Why the double-teaming? His heart is pounding. Is it Romero’s crew again? Maybe he decided the last message wasn’t strong enough. Maybe this time there won’t be a warning shot.

A rap comes at the window. A professionally dressed womansignals for Garrett to lower it. “Mr. Wilson, I’m Special Agent Leanne Keil, Secret Service.”

Secret Service?Garrett places both hands on the wheel. No sudden movements. “Why are you stopping me? What did I do?”

“Hold on. Don’t move. Somebody wants to talk to you.”

Keil pulls a cell phone in a heavy-duty case from her inside breast pocket. She taps a code, then puts the phone to her ear. “Yes, sir. We have him.” She hands the phone to Garrett. The screen is blank except for the time. “Hello, this is Garrett Wilson.”

“Hi, Garrett. This is Cole Wright.”

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