cooperate. I’ll admit, it wasn’t the best-laid plan, but what’s done is done.
“We have a situation now, and we need to deal with it. Be thankful you weren’t arrested, Jasmine, and fortunately your injuries aren’t too severe.”
Jasmine Palumbo lightly rubbed her arm through the sling. At least it no longer ached like a rotting tooth with the oxycodone on board. She pulled back her shoulders, ready to accept the ax belonged on her own neck. “Still, I blew it, Athena, it’s all on me. I was watching from my car, on my way around the block, expecting to pick up Craig and Cricket holding up Cummings between them. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Cummings running full-tilt out of the alley, no sign of Craig and Cricket, and I panicked, thought I could head him off. I didn’t see the light turn red, didn’t see the Volvo until it was too late. I was told the woman driving the Volvo is recovering in Washington Memorial, a concussion the worst of her injuries.”
She swallowed. “To make it worse, it wasn’t just any driver, like some student or housewife from Foggy Bottom. No, the woman I hit is FBI Special Agent Lacey Sherlock, the one who topped the media charts several months ago. Believe me, I was public enemy number one to the cops at the Daly Building. They were ready to throw me in solitary and flush the key.”
Athena shook her head, laughed. “Jasmine, regardless of your screwup, it could have been worse. You could be the one in the hospital. Good news is it’s been ruled an accident and you’re not in jail. Nor do they have a way to connect you with Justice Cummings. Of course, we have no way of knowing where Cummings is, and the last word from Artemis is the CIA doesn’t know, either. She’s got people out looking for him. If she finds him first, she’ll make sure he’s brought to us, as originally planned. He’s either badly hurt, or he’s hiding—from everyone, the CIA included. It would be best if we were the ones to find him, people.”
Cricket Washburn said, “We know Cummings has to be hurt. We saw his blood smeared all over the FBI agent’s windshield.” She plowed nervous fingers through her short spikes of blood-red hair. “I don’t know how he was able to move quickly enough to hide from Craig and me, but he managed it. On the opposite street, we saw a few blood spots, but they soon disappeared. We searched the whole neighborhood, but we couldn’t find him.”
Jasmine said, “At least Craig and Cricket had their sunglasses and hats on the whole time. They won’t be identified, even if the police check the cams in the area, try to run facial recognition.”
Craig said, “I’ve tracked down the names of some of the people Cummings knows, but we haven’t found out yet where his wife and children are. No one’s been in his house in Fairfax. Ellie’s there, as you know, waiting for him to show.”
Jasmine said, “If he’s gone to ground, maybe to some cheap motel where he paid with cash, we have almost no hope of finding him. Not unless he goes home to fix himself up, pack some clothes, and take off again. Then Ellie will see him.”
Craig said, “I might be able to access the traffic cams, at least see what direction Cummings went after he was thrown off the hood, but that’s not going to be much help. The truth is, Athena, unlike the CIA, we don’t have the resources to find him.”
“Well, if the CIA finds him first, Artemis will contact me immediately,” Athena said. “In any case, Cummings has no idea who you are or why you chased him. If he surfaces on his own and goes, say, to the police, then it’ll be a different ball game. Oh yes, Artemis has arranged quite a surprise for him at the CIA.”
Jasmine, twisted with guilt, said, “Still, it’s my fault we don’t have Cummings. I’m very sorry, Athena.”
Athena said, “Jasmine, Craig, Cricket, it’s over and done. Let’s review how things stand.” She held up one finger. “Metro knows your name, Jasmine, and that you’re employed at the Bexholt Group. You and I will go over how to handle the police or anyone else who interviews you. I know someone will, given you struck an FBI agent. They might check your background from all the way back in Hannibal, Missouri, to find out