Dreaming Death (Krewe of Hunters #32) - Heather Graham Page 0,80

the fact that so very many agents and officers were working the case that made her ask the question. They had so many of the people of interest under surveillance or protection. “The killer does seem very bold,” Keenan said. “All we can do is keep looking and hope we’re getting close enough that he’s getting nervous.”

Stacey really hoped that was the case.

“Is Smith in his office today? I take it we know, with agents watching Smith and his wife.”

“Smith has not left his home yet,” Keenan said. “Not since we got in the car, at any rate. Congress is on hiatus. That leaves him a clear schedule. He’s probably calling all his buddies, one by one, warning them that they might have been on one of Billie’s lists that could become public, or making sure that they know that his name came up because of a picture—and thus he was falsely maligned and worthy of their sympathy. Then there’s his campaign ads. Next one could be a damned hard one for him.”

“It’s strange,” Stacey murmured.

“What, in particular? Since all this is strange.”

“Cindy Hardy and her husband wound up in a bitter divorce because of Billie Bingham. But no matter what Smith did—with Billie or another woman—Sandra Smith is not going to let go of her position. But what do you think she’ll feel if he is forced to resign or if he’s voted out of office?”

“People react to circumstances differently,” Keenan said. “We can go at Battle-Ax Agnes Merkle and find out what she thinks on that count.”

It was evident, when they reached the suite of offices and opened the door to Congressman Smith’s office, that Agnes Merkle wasn’t just surprised to see them: she was alarmed.

She stared at them as if they were twin demons brought up from hell, spewing fire and brimstone with each step they took.

But she folded her hands on the desk in front of her, glaring at them.

“He isn’t here.”

“Oh, we believe you,” Stacey said pleasantly.

“We’ve come to speak with you,” Keenan added.

“For what? What do you want? Haven’t you done enough? Colin is a good man—a really good man. And you’re dragging him right through the mud. Well, you might just discover that all your horrid questioning and harassing of that man will get you nowhere. He has very loyal constituents.”

Stacey smiled. “We’re here to help him.”

“Yes, he’s been very cooperative with us.”

Agnes looked at them skeptically.

Stacey glanced at Keenan, her pleasant smile deepening. “He hasn’t been back to the office since he came down to help the FBI, has he?”

“But he’s contacted you, of course. Seriously, a wife is a man’s love. But a secretary is truly the most important person in his life.”

“I have my place,” Agnes said primly.

“He’s brokenhearted. Just brokenhearted. You see, he did care about both Billie and one of the younger women who was killed. He cared for her a great deal. And he wants to help us catch whoever is doing these terrible things.”

She arched a brow, doubting them.

“We need to know if he was telling you the truth. He said that he’d talked to you about Billie. She was making some waves. And he said that she needed to be taken care of, and that he was talking to you when he said it.”

“Oh, no! You think that he meant that I should do something to her?” the woman gasped in dismay.

“No, no, of course not,” Keenan said. “We don’t believe you capable of such a terrible thing.”

“I should hope not!”

“But what did he mean?” Stacey asked.

“He told you that he called me to talk about Billie? You’re not just making this up?” she asked warily.

“I can’t believe he hasn’t spoken to you since we had him at the office,” Keenan said, shaking his head.

“Because it’s true—you make his world go around,” Stacey said earnestly.

Agnes looked down at her desk for a minute.

“We’re trying to clear things up,” Keenan said. “Congressman Smith is trying to help us, but he admitted to making use of Billie’s services. We’re not interested in who is sleeping with who. All we want to do is solve these murders—and stop others. We’d hate to see you become involved—”

“Your good name out there,” Stacey put in.

“—when all you’ve done is be a good secretary,” Keenan finished.

“Oh, good Lord!” Agnes Merkle said, her words explosive. “Money! Billie was a money-grubbing monster. I never saw what any of them... Well, men are fools. Sorry, Special Agent Wallace, but men are fools,” she snapped.