was discovered this morning. She is—was—also an employee of the Bexholt Group. You must find that odd, if not downright suspicious. Have you worked with Bexholt?”
Of course he knew they had. She said easily, “Certainly. They’re a respected communications firm dealing mostly in the private sector, but there are occasional government contracts as well, including projects with the CIA. Why are you telling me this?”
Maitland shrugged. “Thought it might be of interest to you.”
Farriger waited silently until they’d filed out of her office.
Lance came in to see her standing at her large window, staring out at the hills. “It rained very hard last night,” she said, not turning.
“Yes, it did,” Lance said. He knew this mood, she was thinking, barely aware he was even there, and that meant the problem with Justice Cummings had escalated.
He walked up behind her, laid his hand lightly on her arm. “Is there anything I can do?”
She did turn now. “You have already helped immeasurably, Lance.” She nodded toward the door. “See that I’m not disturbed.”
Once her office door was closed, she picked up her cell phone and punched speed dial.
“Athena?”
50
* * *
GAFFER'S RIDGE
EAGLE'S NEST
FRIDAY, NOON
Rafer Bodine faced his mother across the dining room table, his roast beef sandwich between them. His wrist was in a cast, but it still hurt in spite of the three aspirin. The doctor had said he didn’t need anything stronger, even for the headaches, the idiot.
Normally he loved the horseradish his mother smeared on the roast beef, but today he didn’t notice. He was too scared and too angry at himself for being such a screwup. Without thought, he took another bite, chewed, wishing there were something he could do to stop the madness, to stop that FBI agent, Hammersmith, but he couldn’t think of anything.
Cyndia said, “Rafer, tell me you believe me, tell me you understand I had no choice but to hurt that FBI agent, to teach them all a lesson.”
Rafer stared at his mother. She was concerned about what he thought, about anything? “Pa said you shouldn’t have attacked her like that, with your gift. He said showing off your powers, and to the FBI, wasn’t smart.” He put down his sandwich, wondering if he’d said too much, looked at the cast on his wrist, winced.
Cyndia sighed, tapped her fingertips on the table. “I suppose your father is right. I should have showed some restraint. But, Rafer, they made me really mad, with all their poking and prodding, and their ridiculous arrogance—their disrespect.” She shrugged, then added, her voice as indifferent as her shrug, “Well, no matter, it’s over and done with.”
He wished he could dismiss the things he’d done like she could. Over and done and forget it. It was only an afterthought. Instead, Rafer felt so guilty, he couldn’t hold it in. “I’m sorry, Ma, look what I’ve brought down on you. But that journalist, she scared me so bad, I panicked.”
Cyndia laid her hand lightly on Rafer’s cast, pressed in just a bit until he winced. He didn’t pull away, didn’t say a word. He understood her need to correct him, and he accepted it. She said, her voice gentle and as cold as the mountains in winter, “I’ve told you and told you, never panic, Rafer. But you did, even though there was no reason to. You should have asked yourself what could DeSilva do?”
“She could have gone to see Uncle Booker.”
She began tapping her fingers again and arched an eyebrow. “Yes. Now picture that. What would she tell him? That she dumpster-dived into your brain and heard you thinking about those girls? Rafer, can you imagine DeSilva claiming she heard your thoughts? Yes, I see you realize how ridiculous she’d sound. Now, Mr. Jobs assured your father and me there won’t be any charges since there’s no evidence. Your word against hers, that’s it.” She took his hand. “You know your uncle Booker called me right away and explained everything. We made certain to clear out all the evidence from your cottage that could possibly tie you to that woman. So everything is all right. The FBI forensic team didn’t find a thing. I don’t want you to worry about this—incident—anymore, Rafer. But you must learn to stay calm and think rationally before you act. Better yet, if something unexpected happens in the future, call me before you act.”
Rafer looked down at his half-eaten sandwich, looked quickly away. No matter what she said, there was no getting around the fact he