Termination Orders(43)

“Why, yes, as far as I know. When you’re married to a man, Mr. Baird, you do tend to know these things.”

“I’m sure, Mrs. Morgan,” said Pace. “Now, has your husband attempted to contact you in the past two days?”

“He called me, if that’s what you’re asking. He left me a message this morning telling me he might be away for a few more days. Do you want to hear it? It’s right—”

“That won’t be necessary, Mrs. Morgan,” said Baird.

“Could you tell me what this is all about?”

“We can’t reveal too much,” said Pace. “This is an ongoing investigation. But your husband might have key information about a murder case. Our chief suspect is a client of his, you see.”

“Oh, dear,” she said. “I hope it’s not anyone I know. I couldn’t bear to think I knew a murderer.”

“Do you know of any way we can contact him?” asked Baird.

“Not if you’ve already tried his cell phone. You can leave a card if you’d like, and I’ll have him call you as soon as he’s available.”

The two men looked at each other and then back at her. “Actually, ma’am,” said Pace, “we’re going to need you to come with us.”

“Excuse me?” she asked, feigning outrage, her increasing alarm showing through her façade.

“You heard us, ma’am. Just cooperate, and everything will be fine.”

Jenny looked at the men, not knowing how to respond. At that moment, Alex walked into the foyer with her backpack, holding Neika on a leash.

“Were you going somewhere, miss?” said Baird.

“Who are these people, Mom?” she said. Neika was straining gently at her leash, growling under her breath at the two strangers in her territory.

“Ma’am. Come with us now, please,” said Pace. “You, too, miss,” he said to Alex.

“Me?” asked Alex. “What is this? Mom, what’s going on?”

“She’s not going,” said Jenny. “If you need me to go, I’ll go, but she stays.”

“It’s for her own safety, ma’am,” said Pace.

“Mom?” insisted Alex.

“We’re not asking, Mrs. Morgan,” said Baird.

“Okay,” said Jenny. “We’ll come. Alex, darling, these gentlemen are from the FBI. We’re going to go with them so they can ask us a few questions about your father.”

“What about Dad?” asked Alex. “What about what you told me five minutes ago—”

“Alex, it’s okay. We should cooperate with them.” She turned to the two men. “Let me just grab my purse.”

Pace nodded in assent, and Alex just stood there with a perplexed look on her face. Jenny picked up her purse and walked back toward them. As she drew within an arm’s length of them, she slipped her hand into her purse and clutched the rubber handle of her stun gun.

She flicked the switch and jabbed Baird with the twin electrodes; he fell backward with a startled yelp. She turned to do the same to Pace, but before she could, he grabbed her arm and twisted it. The stun gun zapped ineffectually in the air and fell to the floor. Neika was now snarling and tugging at the leash. Alex let go.

Barking and growling savagely, Neika bounded toward Pace, knocking him onto his back. Jenny looked at Alex and shouted, “Garage!” Both of them dashed for the door, and Jenny grabbed the keys from the kitchen on the way. Alex followed her into the garage.

“Mom, your car isn’t in here!”

“We’re not taking my car.”

Jenny pulled the tarp off a hulking shape on the opposite side of the garage to reveal her husband’s classic 1967 Pontiac GTO. As Alex clicked the button to open the garage door, Jenny got into the driver’s seat. She turned the ignition, and the muscle car rumbled to life.

“Neika!” Alex cried out, and a couple of seconds later the German shepherd came galloping from the kitchen. She jumped in through Alex’s open door and onto the backseat.

As the outside door rattled open, Jenny looked toward the kitchen and saw Pace storm into the garage, his suit jacket ripped wide from Neika’s attack. She looked back at the garage door, just open enough now for them to make it out. Jenny stepped on the gas pedal, and they lurched forward and stalled.

“Mom, can you even drive this thing?” Alex exclaimed.

Jenny turned the key. In the rearview mirror, she saw Pace draw a gun.

“We’ll see.” She stepped on the gas pedal, and the GTO roared down the driveway past her SUV and onto the street.

The wheel was a lot stiffer than she was used to, but, man, the thing could go! They tore down the road, soon leaving their street and the unmarked white van behind, and headed for I-93. They didn’t speak for several minutes, sitting quietly except for their heavy breathing, the atmosphere in the car laden with tension, fear, and exhilaration. Even Neika panted restlessly in the backseat. After a few minutes, Alex broke the silence.