into your system.”
“Possible,” but then a skeptical look overtook McRyan’s face. “But I’m dubious that’s the case. The call into dispatch didn’t indicate who I was meeting with, merely that I was going to the pub. I could have been going to meet anyone.”
“Probably not a secret you’re on this case.”
“No it’s not, but for someone who is always interested in reaches in logic, this one stretches pretty far. I still think it was something about Montgomery or you.”
There was a light knock on the conference room door. “Interesting conversation you two were having.”
“How much did you hear, Jupe?” Mac asked, turning to face his friend.
“Just a little about being tracked. Sounds fascinating.” Jupiter Jones appeared professionally attired for a computer geek, dressed in a gray University of Minnesota hoodie, weathered blue jeans and black and white Chucky T’s. He strolled over to the closed laptop. “This it?”
“It is.”
“Piece of cake. I’m going to grab another conference room and go to work on this.”
“Take this as well,” Mac handed him the burner phone. “Since you’re so fascinated, see if they were using this burner phone to somehow track Ms. Wire and her friends here, and after you’re done with that I need you to go to work on some photos.”
Mac took a look at his coffee cup, empty, as was Wire’s. “Let’s take five and grab a cup.”
Wire walked with Mac to the break room. The pots were empty so McRyan started brewing a new one and the two of them watched the impromptu news conference unfolding in front of Thomson Campaign Headquarters, with the Judge speaking to the media. Sally stood right behind him.
“This is unusual,” Wire said.
“What is?” Mac asked.
“The Judge going on camera.”
“Really?”
“For all of his political skill and prowess, the man is not a fan of the bright lights. It’s one of the reasons Sebastian ended up taking a lot of the media interviews and shows at night. He loved it and was really good at it. The Judge,” Wire shook her head, “not so much.”
“Dixon’s a throwback,” Mac answered. “He’s an old school political power player who likes backroom deals, handshakes and arm twisting.”
“Exactly, he wasn’t made for this era of nightly political shows and the twenty-four-hour news cycle.”
“New era,” Mac replied. “But he has Governor Thomson within days of the White House.”
“Times change, but politics is politics,” Wire replied in kind. “And when it comes to politics, the Judge is the Gold Standard.”
* * *
There was no podium or even a stand of microphones. Judge Dixon was kicking this one old school. He stood in front of the cameras, his hands in his trench coat pockets, his tie loose at the neck. It could have been a press conference of thirty years ago. Judge Dixon looked worn, tired, sad and pissed off all at the same time. It was an iconic image.
“It is my sad duty to report that Sebastian McCormick was brutally murdered in his St. Paul home tonight. He was shot two times in the chest. His death is a tragedy to his family and to those of us on this campaign who worked closely with him every day. Sebastian was a fine young man, wonderful student and good friend. We will all miss him terribly.”
“Judge, can you tell us what happened?” CNN asked.
“I don’t know all what happened. I do know that a man came in the back door of his home and shot him. The killer also shot another man who was visiting Sebastian. That man was shot in the head. This was a cold and calculated murder.”
“Who is the other man?” CNN pressed.
“The St. Paul Police Department will have to release his name once his family has been contacted. I will not do that.”
“But you know who it is?” Local Channel Seven asked.
“I do.”
“Does this have anything to do with the death of Jason Stroudt of The Congressional Page who we are now learning was found murdered here in St. Paul two days ago?” ABC News inquired, making a leap that was dead on.
“I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“So you’re saying yes?”
“I think my answer speaks for itself.”
“Judge, we’re hearing you were involved in a shooting in downtown St. Paul not long after McCormick was murdered. Is that true?” Fox News inquired.
“It is. I was going to meet up with St. Paul Police Detective Michael McRyan outside of McRyan’s Pub. Detective McRyan is one of the detectives investigating Sebastian’s murder and he needed to speak with me. A panel van