come you’re not helping Kaulcrick find the money.”
“Have you noticed any changes in the assistant director in the last twenty-four hours?”
“I haven’t noticed any changes other than he’s let it become a little more obvious that he has an ego.”
“Well, you’re right, he does have an ego, and usually he’s pretty good at keeping it in check until after he delivers the coup de grâce. But I think he’s getting tired of trying to navigate through your vapor trail. He knows that you and I are working together, so I’m sure I’ll be the last to know anything that might give you an advantage.”
He smiled at her. “Then I guess we’d better find the money ourselves.”
“Why am I suddenly getting the feeling that you don’t think that money is in locker number fourteen?”
“Human nature is to be lazy,” Vail said. “I’m always suspicious of things that seem too easy.”
“And, of course, you’d never bother Kaulcrick with your suspicions.”
“I have already told him, and everyone else, that the biggest obstacle in this case is distraction. They listen, nod their heads in agreement, and then go running after the first shiny object.”
“Funny how, once again, that leaves you all alone to do what you want.”
“There is one basic tenet of metaphysics that guided my career as an agent: If they’re there, they ain’t here.”
“Ever think that may be why your FBI career was only three years long?”
“I only think how great those three years were.”
After another fifteen minutes, Vail pulled up to the house that the day before had been overrun with law enforcement personnel and now stood deserted. The only reminder was the yellow and black tape that crisscrossed the front door. Kate said, “I know this is a stupid question, but did you notify anyone in officialdom that we were coming out here?”
“You’re right, that was a stupid question.” He got out and went to the trunk, lifting out the pry bar. “But I got Mr. Halligan’s permission, if that helps. Come on, let’s take a walk around first.”
They started on the east side of the structure. “The front-room window has no bars on it,” Vail said. He inspected the construction on either side, running his hand along the siding. “There were bars, but they were removed. You can see where the holes have been repaired. Looks fairly recent, too.”
Kate stepped closer. “Why would anyone do that?”
“Yet another good question. Here’s another one: why have bars on all the other doors and windows but take them off of this one?” Vail walked to the back of the house and after checking the wrought-iron gate protecting the back door asked, “Where did you take cover back here, behind the Dumpster?”
“Yes.” She pointed at the bin twenty yards off the northeast corner of the house. Vail went over and stood behind it. “It provides perfect cover. It’s also the ideal position for watching the rear door and the east side of the house at the same time. Exactly what we needed at the time.” Vail walked around the Dumpster, inspecting it. “I was at the front of the house, so that leaves just the window on the west wall of the house. Let’s take a look at that.”
“What exactly are we looking for?” Kate said.
“I don’t exactly know.”
When they got to the other side, Vail seemed more interested in the ancient wooden fence that surrounded the industrial property than in the house or the bars on the bedroom window. Kate tugged on them. “These seem to be in good shape.”
Vail was still inspecting the wooden fence that surrounded the auto scrap yard. “It’s not more than ten feet from the house to this fence,” he said to no one in particular. Finally he walked over to the window. He took the bars in both hands and jerked on them with his entire weight. They moved about a half inch. He pushed and pulled, moving them back and forth several times. “They shouldn’t do that.” He took a couple of steps back. “These are newer than the others.” Again he grabbed them, and now using all his strength he tried to pull them out of the wall, but they would move only the same fraction of an inch. Vail leaned in and inspected the bars where they were anchored into the siding.
“Meaning what?” Kate asked.
“I’m not sure yet. Let’s go inside.”
“Yet” was one of those little signs Kate had learned to pick up on with Vail. It meant that he probably knew what