about her being an accomplice to the shooting of Governor Bledsoe
Thank God, Becca thought, that no one had found out about
Letitia Gordon. She’d bet Detective Gordon would be glad to
trash-talk her.
Every murder Krimakov had committed was brought out and
examined publicly and exhaustively. There was public outrage.
But no one knew where Rebecca Matlock was.
No one knew where or really who Thomas Matlock was, but
the world was coming to believe that he was a dashing, quite romantic
James Bond sort of guy who had kept the world safe from
the Russians and was now being hunted by a former KGB agent
who didn’t hesitate to murder people to draw him out.
Becca wondered aloud later to Adam about what the United
States Marine had said about Thomas on TV. Adam, who was
cleaning his Delta Elite at the kitchen table, said,”It means that this
ass got paid maybe five hundred bucks to say something so the ratings
would spike.”
“The guy said Thomas would never break. What does that mean?”
Adam shrugged. “Who cares? I just hope that Krimakov is
watching. Talk about misdirection. Maybe he’ll come to believe that
Thomas is invincible.” Adam snorted, then buffed the handle of his
pistol. “We couldn’t do it better if we scripted it ourselves.”
“I wonder if Detective Gordon still thinks I’m somehow responsible
for all of it.”
“I think once she makes up her mind, it’d take an avalanche to
change it. Yeah, she still thinks you’re a big part of it. I spoke to Detective
Morales. I could see him shaking his head over the phone.
He’s depressed, but glad you’re safe now.”
“It was the murder of Linda Cartwright that got everybody
going.”
“Yes. She was an innocent. A very nice middle-class woman.
Everyone wants him to fry for what he did to her. Don’t forget that
older woman in Ithaca. Another innocent. Krimakov has a lot to
answer for.”
“Does anyone know yet how Dick McCallum was involved
with him?”
“Yeah. Hatch found out that McCallum’s mother had an extra
fifty thousand bucks in a checking account.”
“That doesn’t seem like so much money if you have to die to get
it. Did she tell the police or Hatch if Dick told her anything?”
Adam shook his head, lifted his gun, looked at a face that needed
a shave in the reflection of the barrel. “Nope. She was upset about
it, but he wouldn’t tell her anything, except to keep the money
quiet, which she did until Hatch tracked her down and got her to
talk.”
“The FBI are coming soon.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry, both Thomas and I will be there.”
She smiled at him. “That’s nice, Adam, but unnecessary. I’m not
a child or helpless, you know. And I do know Mr. Cobb, and poor
Mr. Hawley, who’s got hemorrhoids.”
He grinned up at her. “Nope, it’s Cobb with the hemorrhoids.
Now, you were helpless, don’t try to rewrite the past, and I don’t
care what you say, I’ll be there.”
“I should probably go dig out my Coonan and buff it.”
“I’d just as soon never see that pistol anywhere near you again.”
“Scared you but good, didn’t I?”
Thomas appeared in the kitchen doorway, frowning. “This is
odd, but a man named Tyler McBride called Gaylan Woodhouse’s
office with the message that you, Becca, were to call him immediately.
Nothing more, just that instruction.”
“I don’t understand,” Becca said, “but of course I’ll call him.
What’s going on?”
Adam was on his feet in an instant. “I don’t like this. Why the
hell would McBride call the director of the CIA?”
“I’ll find out, Adam. He’s probably really worried and wants to
make sure I’m okay.”
Adam said, “I don’t want you to call Tyler McBride. I don’t want
him anywhere near you. I’ll call him, find out what the hell he
wants. If he wants reassurance, I’ll give it to him.”
“Look, Adam, you told me he was really scared for me. He just
wants to hear my voice. I’m not going to tell him where I am.
Now, I’m calling him. Let it go.”
“Why don’t you two stop bickering?” Thomas said. “Call the