Page 106 of Tightrope

“What annoyed him the most is that you were the one who ran a successful operation. What did he say when you warned him that he might have a double agent working for him?”

“He went from irritated to furious. He only hires gentlemen from the finest, most established families, you understand. Every single one of them is a true patriot, et cetera, et cetera.”

“Not men like us?”

“The problem for Grainger is that our cover is so close to the truth that it is the truth.”

“Mom did warn me about that little perception problem,” Matthias said. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to get rid of the small chills.

“Raina thinks she’s got a lead on the code breaker who used to work for me in the old days,” Luther said after a while. “If the poems in Smith’s notebook turn out to be encrypted, I’m going to have to make a decision.”

“About whether to notify Grainger or the FBI?”

“Or both.”

“If the poems are in code and if you get them deciphered, you may have the information you need to make that decision,” Matthias said.

“Maybe.” Luther paused. “After Grainger calmed down he said something else.”

“What?”

“He asked if I would be willing to undertake additional unofficial investigations for him in the future. Evidently it has occurred to him that he does not have a network of reliable agents stationed out here on the West Coast.”

“How insightful. Was that the question you were responding to when you saidI’ll think about it?”

“Yes.”

“Will you do it? Take care of his West Coast problems?” Matthias said.

“Probably, but only on a case-by-case basis. I will also make it clear that I don’t work for him. I’m an independent contractor.”

“Typical mob boss response. It looks like business will be picking up for Failure Analysis, Incorporated. Congratulations.”

“I’m going to have to recruit some staff,” Luther said. “How do you feel about the title ‘director of field operations’?”

Matthias shook his head. “Thanks, but I’m not management material, Luther. I don’t like to take orders, and I don’t like to be responsible for giving them to others. I prefer to be an independent contractor, too.”

Luther nodded, unsurprised. “Thought you might feel that way. I’m fine with your status as a contractor. Are you going to stay here in Burning Cove?”

“That’s my new plan.”

“Can I assume Miss Vaughn is a major part of that plan?”

“She’s the reason that there actually is a plan.”

“You will be interested to know that Raina called just before you arrived. She heard from a reporter who covered the Abbotsville story six months ago. He told her he talked to a couple of transients who were camping just outside of town that night. They told him they saw a car driving away from the circus grounds in the early-morning hours. They said the vehicle was going hell-for-leather. The time fits with Miss Vaughn’s version of events, but those facts never made it into the police report.”

“The other one,” Matthias said. He tightened one hand into a fist. “The one who wanted to watch.”

“I think so. But you trusted her all along, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

Luther smiled. “I can’t quite see you as an innkeeper, but—”

“The Hidden Beach is Amalie’s business,” Matthias said. “I’m going to start a research and development firm specializing in communications technology. I think there’s a future in that line.”

“Well, now,” Luther said softly.

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