Crime Time

"How will you answer him?" Betsy asked as we drove home to Surry.

"I honestly don't have a clue," I said as we pulled into our drive.

I needed time to formulate a response to Detective Jackson's questions but I wished I had some idea of the extent of what he knew or had deduced. I considered calling Howie and learn what he'd told the detective before I blurted out something that totally contradicted what my former partner in crime had related. Perhaps being forthright was the best course of action. After all, Jackson was a member of the law enforcement community and perhaps he would be amenable to letting us retain our anonymity, realizing the greater benefit to goals.

Whenever I considered such a course of action even hinting about what we're doing, I tended to temporarily forget the magnitude of Howie's gift. The million dollar reward, when it was available, certainly presented a temptation. However, it paled in the face of other attainable rewards given the unbelievable uniqueness of Howie's power. Anyone who even identified him would immediately attain national prominence just by doing so. How could I go on believing no one would succumb to such temptation?

With my mind harried with Jackson's summons, I'd temporarily forgotten my call to Daniel Brennan. My cell phone rang, amid the confusion of Betsy and Molly leaving to walk Bumpus. Our dog spotted a rabbit crossing his driveway and lurched forward to give chase, tangling me in his leach as I answered.

"Sorry for the delay," he said. "I really was out fishing. I've been doing a lot of fishing, of both kinds this week."

I'm sure Brennen was confused by my sharp response and background noise but once girls and dog had left we settled down to business. I reported the license plate number to him.

"I'll run it form here while we talk. What's happening?" It took me several minutes to respond.

The former FBI agent was appalled over the attack by Owen Bryce and his subsequent death. He agreed that Bryce must have located us by way of Julie's entry in the million dollar contest. He cautioned me that Bryce might not be our only threat. I agreed and mentioned the timing of the power shut off at Howie's house after he'd left town. When I informed him we were terminating our operation, he said he'd have suggested it if we hadn't already done so.

"Any chance you might start up again later, if we're assured all the threats are eliminated?" he asked. I told him a vital part of our group had already availed themselves of the alias names and gone underground.