Page 35 of Now or Never
Jax shifted in his seat. “They probably did. Or ensured it was destroyed.”
Agent Herron shrugged.
Jax glanced at Kenna. “Given what I told you about the cemetery, you figure that’s right?”
She nodded, remembering what he’d told her about the Buzard killed in the silo in Phoenix. Kenna didn’t want to consider the life and demise of her murderous lookalike.
Other women in her position—six months pregnant—were taking classes, painting a room in their house, and putting together a crib. Having a baby shower and receiving gifts. Kenna figured most people didn’t need all of the things they amassed that were supposed to make having a newborn easier. There were a few essentials, but they could get by on a whole lot less than baby fever dictated. Although that was really only because it wouldn’t all fit in the RV.
She tuned back into the conversation Jax and Agent Herron were having.
“…outside the bar.” Jax waited for the fed to respond.
Agent Herron nodded, brushing back the dark whisps of hair at her temple. Giving herself time to think, or come up with a story. “I haven’t seen my family in months. That’s not a sob story. I don’t need your sympathy.”
“Because you believe you got yourself into this mess?”
“Either way, me being away doing my job is safer for Henry and the kids.”
“So you toe the line?”
Agent Herron shrugged. “I’m complying. For now, at least. What that looks like long term, I don’t know. Why they chose me out of all the FBI agents in the country, I have no idea.” She lifted one hand. “But my family is safe, and if I see a way to get out of this, I’ll take it.”
“They’re still sending you orders?”
“The last one came through my boss at the Phoenix office.” She winced a little saying that.
Jax shifted in his seat, not quite a shrug, but close. “I don’t regret walking away. The FBI I left wasn’t the one I joined years ago. And I have more important work to do.” He reached over and held Kenna’s hand.
“Going freelance?” Herron said. “Being a PI?”
As if Jax was going to openly admit they were working to take down the organization who had their boot on Herron’s family. Whatever they chose to do was family business, not information to be shared with people they didn’t trust.
“Working with Kenna,” Jax said. “What can you tell us about the bombing investigation?”
Agent Herron eyed them both. “Can I ask what your interest is in this?”
Kenna wasn’t about to reveal that either. “Most likely the same reason you were suddenly assigned to this taskforce.”
Herron didn’t like that answer, but said, “The powers that be figure it’s cut-and-dried. We’re finalizing the evidence collection. And later today, we’ll probably release the scene. It’s over.”
Kenna eyed her. “Because you’ve arrested all the suspects you uncovered—what?—hours after you assembled here?”
“The responding agents were thorough, so we had a lot to work with. I read the file on the plane on the way here, and the work was exemplary.” Apparently, Agent Herron didn’t seem to see anything amiss with that. “It was clear from the outset who was responsible for the attempt on President Blazevic’s life.”
“So you rounded them all up, and now it’s ‘case closed’?” Kenna couldn’t keep the tone from her words.
“You have evidence that we’re incorrect?” Agent Herron stared at her. “Because from what we’ve gathered, it’s overwhelming that Hann, Anthony & Associates were responsible.”
“Convince me,” Kenna shot back. It was a little impetuous, challenging a fed like that when Kenna and Jax had no right to the information, but she hoped that Herron’s innate sense of justice would win out.
“Itisfast,” the agent admitted, “but the responding feds took statements and everyone described the same suspects watching the explosion.”
Kenna wasn’t convinced that was indication the truth was to be had. Witness testimony rarely ever matched. For a group to all say the same thing? Seemed suspicious to her.
Herron continued, “We backed that up with footage from surrounding businesses, and reports from President Blazevic that he was being followed since he landed in the US. They even went so far as to harass him.”
Kenna bit her lip.
