The Edge – By: David Baldacci ( Fullaudiobook )

– #The620Man – #MaineMystery – #CIAInvestigation – #CovertOps – #SecretsUncovered
– #MurderMystery – #TravisDevine – #GovernmentSecrets – #SmallTownSecrets – #NationalSecurity
– #Conspiracy – #UndercoverOps – #RuralMaine – #ChameleonAgent – #HighStakes
– #TrustNoOne – #DeadlySecrets – #Intrigue – #Lobsterman – #doublecross
#audiobook #fullaudiobook #audiobooks

Chapter 1 passenger train travel was not known to be particularly dangerous especially in Europe where the machines soared like the wind on rigorously sculpted rails that translated to Silky Smooth rides there were many departures a day between Geneva and Milan operated by several Railway companies one could

Travel early in the morning or later at night the trains ran at a maximum speed of 200 kmph while their passengers napped worked binged shows on streaming platforms or ate and drank in considerable Comfort this particular ride was a Bullet noosed Silver asoro tilt train operated by trenitalia none of the 100 plus

Passengers was contemplating dying today except for one as far as Travis Divine was concerned this ride was fraught with Peril of the kind that would not send you to a hospital but rather a half dozen feet into the cold Earth the source of the danger had nothing to do with the

Train it had been feted out by his well-honed situational awareness which had led him to conclude that his life was in imminent Jeopardy the trip from Geneva to Milan contained beautiful scenery The Soaring snowcapped Swiss Alps the Lush verdant valleys Immaculate aromatic Vineyards two pristine Lakes and the quaint

Picturesque Villages of Europe ladled in between the two venerable cities Divine cared nothing about this as he sat in his first class seat upholstered in brown leather staring at seemingly nothing while actually taking in everything inside the train car and there was a lot to observe Divine checked his watch on some

Trains this trip could take 5 hours in a quarter but he was on an Express ride that would do it in just under 4 he had 90 minutes of that that trip left and maybe that same number of ticks to live Divine would have preferred a packed

Train car but his tight escape from Geneva had not allowed for any latitude on the travel time and this early in the morning there were only three other passengers in the First Class Car the attendants had already been through checking tickets despite this being first class

Food was not served at the seat but there was a dining car between the first and second class sections the attendants were now off somewhere else as the train had settled into the second half of its Journey South alpha bravo and Charlie it was how the former US Army Ranger Divine

Referred to the three other passengers two men one woman not passengers at least not to him adversaries Bogies the enemy the men were sitting together in seats facing each other forward of divine’s position near the front of the car the woman was on the other side of

The aisle two up from him she looked like a student textbooks stacked High a bulky ruck sack and a storage rack behind her she was drawing something in a Sketchbook but Divine had been fooled by people posing as students before the men wore thick overcoats against the climate just outside the

Slender train windows overcoats that could hide a lot Divine had gotten up and gone to the bathroom twice now but only once to relieve himself the other was solely for Recon he had also gotten some food in the dining car and brought it back to his seat each time after returning

Divine had glanced at his gear bag which was behind him on a luggage rack and the third time he saw what he thought he would on his phone he brought up his Train’s Journey saw its exact route its progression and most critically its timing of particular note was the

Simplon tunnel which they would enter after passing through the Swiss town of Brig when they exited the tunnel they would be in Italy the article he was now reading said that the tunnel was 12 mil long and would take the train 8 minutes to pass through the tunnel had opened in

1906 and had given its name to perhaps the most famous train in the world the simplon Orient Express dine wasn’t interested in the history he was focused on the tunnel he texted a high priority message to an interested party and then check his watch he had caught Alpha and Bravo

Staring at him at different times but he had made no reaction these were known in divine’s world as Target glances Charlie who was wearing a Madrid roale ball cap had never looked at him but she had surreptitiously eyed the two men while getting something from her bag her movements were mildly tensed even

Robotic he’d observed she was trying overly hard to appear normal which was causing her anxiety stress activated the sympathetic nervous system the flight fight or freeze part of the body that present day humankind could thank its cavemen ancestors for fear did things to a body physiologically the mind could screw

With you in ways you could hardly imagine in trying to save you its stressor signals could actually kill you with a heart attack or render you incapable of saving yourself or in his case blow a plan to kill someone right out of the water and give the potential victim a chance to

Survive Divine analyzed the situation exactly as he had been trained to do every contingency every weak point the men had never removed their overcoats even though the climate inside was quite comfortable in fact Divine had taken his park off because he had felt warm keeping their hands in their

Pockets in particular was an informed tell of malevolent intent because hands were a necessary accompaniment to a primary weapon usually a gun and they had Target glanced Divine not once but twice finally they had never left their seats as far as he could tell there were no food or drink containers at their

Tables that completed the rule of three for divine a trio of behavior patterns that was out of the ordinary meant you needed to come up with a plan if you wanted to walk away under your own power well I’ve got at least four warning signs here because of what I saw

On my gearbag bag so I need to get my [ __ ] together Divine checked his watch once more and then eyed his bag after he’d gone to the dining car he’d come back to find that the Zipper was three teeth above where he had left it and in just

The right light he had seen the whls of a thumb print on the pole tab a thumb print that was assuredly not his there was nothing in his bag other than clothes and a toiletry kit otherwise he never would have left it unguarded he was also kicking himself for not

Bringing a gun with him on this trip but that would have been problematic for a number of reasons at the Border Station of domod DOA a contingent of the Swiss guard boarded to do a customs check Divine was asked if he had anything to declare and

How much cash he had on his person and he had to show his passport he watched carefully without seeming to as they asked the same of the other three passengers he couldn’t see the passports of the two men but the woman’s appeared to be a post brexit UK blue and gold

Which mimicked the original colors that had been in place on British passports since 1921 later he eyed the window as the train began slowing they pulled into the town of Brig no one got on in first class and no one got off except for the Swiss guard contingent for a moment dine thought

About exiting the train too or telling them of his concerns with the other passengers however he had his plan now and he was sticking to it and he wasn’t trusting anyone right now not even the Swiss guard the opponents he was battling had the resources to buy pretty much anyone and

Anything and these foes of his had great incentive to wish Divine harm working on behalf of the United States Divine had helped foil a ballsy attempt by some powerful if unscrupulous interests to promote Global unrest for Pure profit with the added kicker of overthrowing several governments hostile to the

Players behind this scheme it seemed as long as people lusted for wealth and power this C would just keep happening and one day they might just succeed in taking over the world thought Divine the train glided away from the station the two attendants came through and then seeing no new passengers or

Anything that needed their attention other than Divine handing one of them the trash from his meal they left through the opposite end of the train car to do whatever attendants did when their official work was done the train speed was posted on a digital screen attached to the bulk head

At the front of the car dine watched it rise to 180 km an hour before it started to drop he did the m to kilm calculation in his head to arrive at the length of time the train would be in the simplon tunnel 12 mil is 19 km doing that in 8

Minutes would mean a constant speed of right he looked at the screen again 160 km 153 142 point he put on his Parker and Rose just as the train entered the tunnel now the only real illumination came from the interior car lights Divine stroe up the aisle to the toilet in the connecting

Vestibule as he passed the woman he glanced down at what she was drawing in charcoal okay that makes sense and it’s nice to have at least partial confirmation but the real proof is about to come and it will be unequivocal Divine started to combat breathe inhale for a four count hold for

Four exhale for four and hold for four repeat this would stop his sympathetic nervous system from kicking on wiping out his peripheral vision blowing to [ __ ] his fine motor skills and turning him into a big dumb animal just waiting to be killed he would die one day just

Like everyone else but it would never happened like that he passed by Alpha and Bravo neither of whom looked at him the automatic doors slid open with a hydraulic sigh and divine entered the vestibule the toilet was off to the right just out of ey line of the

Passengers a few moments later the toilet door opened and a few moments later it closed the big men Rose as though tied together by string and headed after Divine as they walked they screwed suppressor cans onto the muzzles of overkilled german-made machine pistols pulled from their Overcoat pockets they

Reached the vest iule where they could hear water running and someone talking inside the toilet they took aim and fired right through the flimsy toilet door the sounds of the suppressed rounds were covered by the enhanced Roar of the train going through the tunnel which was

Why they had waited until now to do the deed they shot in tight patterns high to low and in between followed by crisscrossed streams they were fields of fire that left no room for survival in the confined space with 60 rounds total death of the target was guaranteed while Bravo covered him Alpha

Nudged open the wrecked door just to make sure since their kill contract required it along with an iPhone pick of the corpse texted to their employer however all he saw was an empty toilet with a water tap wedged on and a phone on the floor and leaning against

The wall next to the toilet a podcast was playing on the device at that moment the door to the storage closet opposite the toilet swung open open and caught Bravo at the right Temple having let them empty out their weapons Divine was now the Predator where each man stood divine’s goal was

To claim that ground and the only way to do that was to go through them Divine opened his campaign with twin thumb eye gouges that blinded Bravo Divine next formed a V with his hand the thumb on one side and the four fingers on the other and slammed the hard groove

Of the flesh between them against the man’s throat collapsing his trachea this was followed by twin crushing elbow strikes to the right side of the cervical spine that snapped two of the man’s vertebrae cutting off his brain from the rest of his body he dropped to

The floor out of the fight and also out of life this continuous fluid movement had taken all of four seconds Divine next trapped a stunned Alpha and his machine pistol against the door jam of the toilet as the man tried to slap in a fresh mag Divine made the

Gun fall from his hand by wrenching it downward and then to the side past the joints limits with cartilage cracking torque Alpha should have already reloaded and attempted to shoot Divine but the man’s breathing was ragged as his adrenal glands flooded his bloodstream with cortisol fouling his Mind Body Connection his pupils went

From 2 mm to 9 in less than a breath his peripheral vision was completely blown dine already knew he was going to win this fight because none of that was happening to him his cogn and hence his fighting skills were operating fine Alpha awkwardly swung at Divine and

Caught him a glancing blow on the jaw it was not hard enough to do any real damage and the panicked man had forced himself off balance with the move two punishing elbow slams to the exposed right kidney dropped Alpha to his knees Divine grabbed him by the collar and

Flung him head first against the train wall once and then again the desperate man perhaps sensing his own imminent death pulled a knife and spun around and the blade slashed against divine’s arm but his aim was shaky and thus off and divine’s thick Parker took most of the

Damage okay time to end this and him Divine broke the man’s grip on the knife and it clattered to the floor he then slapped the man’s right ear with such Force the eard drum burst the man seized up presenting his face directly to Divine who used a palm strike on his

Nose hitting him once and then again with the cup of his hand releasing all the kinetic energy from his brwy arm shoulder broad back and thrust hip this streamlined attack delivered massive torque that propelled the nose’s brittly sharp cartilage straight into Alpha’s soft brain tissue he dropped to the

Floor face first just to be certain Divine reached down and broke the man’s neck in the exact way the US Army had taught him Divine dragged both dead men and their weapons into the toilet turned off the water retrieved his phone and wedged the shot riddled door shut fighting wasn’t just knowing certain

Techniques although that was important it was mostly an evolved state of mind without that enhanced hand-to-hand combat skills meant squat because you would be too cowed to employ them and the Very concept of self-defense was a losing proposition pretty much conceding the field and making you a victim in

Waiting you didn’t defend you attacked you didn’t stop someone from hurting or killing you you hurt or you kill them rubbing his bruised jaw and gingerly touching his cut arm which he instinctively knew wasn’t that serious he reentered the train car to see Charlie staring at him what happened she

Exclaimed her eyes a Gog what was that noise all right thought dine this is where the rubber meets the road as he walked toward her Divine glanced for a moment in the train window which reflected the interior because they were still in the simplon tunnel for at least another few minutes he saw

What he needed to see he Shrugged two guys Real mess in the toilet going to be quite a cleanup my goodness is there anything I can do her neck muscles were now relaxed he noted pupils normal breathing the same she was A Cut Above the deceased goons

Back there the vine stopped next to her looked down at the drawing and said yeah you could explain why you’ve been sitting here for over two hours working away and you haven’t added a damn thing to your sketch she half Rose and swung the long bladed knife up from her lap but Divine

Had already seen the weapon in the window reflection he didn’t waste any time on a defensive block he simply clocked her in the jaw lifting her far smaller body off the floor and knocking her against the wall she slumped down into unconsciousness from the force of

His blow and her collision with the wall Divine momentarily pondered whether to finish the job but she was young and might repent from her evil ways he took the knife slid her ball cap down draped her hair around her slender shoulders and propped her up against her seat as though she were merely

Napping he grabbed his gear bag and walked into the dining car and then through the second class carriages until he reached the last car where he slipped her knife into a trash receptacle the train cleared the tunnel and when it slowed and stopped at stza the last station before Milan Divine got

Off the text he had sent earlier paid dividends when the black sedan picked him up the driver would take Divine the rest of the way to Milan there he would catch a flight back to the United States where another mission surely awaited as he glanced back at the train

Divine wondered whether he had made a mistake in allowing the woman to live the answer wouldn’t be long in coming chapter 2 sitting in a tacky office in a 1960 strip mall in anandale Virginia Emerson Campbell was not a happy man he was a retired army twar and like

Travis Divine Ranger tabbed and scrolled meaning he had graduated from Ranger school and then been accepted into the elite 75th Ranger regiment the Army’s most prestigious and demanding special ops Force his gunmetal gray closely scalped hair and weathered Grim features spoke of a lifetime of discipline and heightened professionalism and perhaps most

Tellingly all the [ __ ] he had seen fighting on behalf of his country through a number of wars and also under the radar operations the public would never know about Divine sat on the other side of the desk and took in the man who several months before had recruited him to serve

In the office of special projects under the massive bureaucratic Dome of Homeland Security special projects thought Divine it sounds like we plan office parties and catian it’s a [ __ ] show Divine the Italian and swiss governments have filed official complaints two dead guys in a shot up train toilet between their

Countries not a good optic it’s a better optic than one dead guy meaning me ID’s on the Corpses Campbell Shrugged Kazakhstan muscle no more no less they’ve killed at least 20 people all wired funds upon proof of the kill no traceable interaction with whoever hired him no way to dig beyond

That which is the whole point glad I denied them the 21st and The woman there was no woman found there said Campbell she must have recovered and high tailed it out of there CCTV working on it though the Italians and swiss are not exactly too Cooperative right now Divine

Shook his head knew I should have taken her out but she was unconscious and no threat to me he caught Campbell studying him I know it was a hard call Divine don’t know what I would have done well I gave you a description maybe your people can run her

Down now let’s focus on your new Mission I don’t get a couple days off said Divine only half jokingly you can rest when you’re dead yeah that’s what they told me in the Army too Campbell said I emailed you the briefing doc pull it up Divine opened the attachment to the

Email on his phone and gazed at the photo of a lovely woman in her late 30s with smooth pale skin blonde hair and deep set intelligent eyes that seemed to Shimmer with unsettling intensity in the midst of all the fine pixels Campbell said that’s Jennifer

Silw well you heard of the silk Wells no but I’m sure I’ll learn everything about them before this is over Curtis silw well was the senior US senator from Maine his great great grandfather made several fortunes shipping fishing real estate agriculture all that wealth is now mostly gone they have the Old

Homestead in Maine but that’s about it he was a Senator he resigned during his third term Alzheimer’s which has gotten progressively worse he was treated at Walter Reed before it became clear there was nothing that could be done he’s currently at a private facility in Virginia awaiting

The end he was treated at Walter Reed because he was a Senator no because he was a soldier he retired from the Marines as a one star before jumping into politics getting married and having a family Campbell shot Divine a scrutinizing glance full disclosure Kurt is one of my best friends we fought

Together in Vietnam he saved my life twice okay so this is personal for me Divine yes sir his wife Claire divorced him right after he won his last reelection between you and me I think she could see what was coming and decided to bail so much for in sickness

And in health where is she now already remarried to some rich guy in DC who isn’t worthy of polishing Kurt’s combat boots so the case prompted divine wanting to push Campbell off the personal Edge and back on to the mission driven one go to page five of your

Briefing Jennifer is the eldest daughter of Curtis and Clare she worked for CIA mostly in field operations though she once served as a liaison to the White House for Central Intelligence she was a quick climber and Incredibly talented and she will be sorely missed Divine scanned page five what

Happened to her someone killed her four days ago up in Maine where she was visiting her old Hometown the man’s voice cracked before he finished speaking Divine lifted his gaze Campbell’s face was flushed and his bottom lip was trembling I held her in my arms when she

Was a baby I was her damn Godfather he Wicked tears away and composed he continued Kurt got started late on his family he was nearly 40 when Jen was born Claire was a lot younger she was still in college when they got married they have any leads on who might have

Killed her none that we know of and our interest Jenny silw well was a valuable asset of this country she was privy to many of our most precious National secrets we need to know if her death was connected to that and whether anyone was able to gain any information that would

Jeopardize our interests her personal laptop has been found at at her home and her government issued phone was there as well but her CIA laptop was not found at her office or her home and neither was her personal phone the geolocators on the devices have been switched off

That’s normally the case for people like Jenny unless she’s in an operational area where orders or Logistics require she keep them on the data is mostly cloud-based now but she might have something on her hard drive or on her phone that is sensitive and we don’t

Want anyone using her to vies to back door into our clouds so I’m heading to where she was killed in Maine yes putam Maine but not yet I want you to talk to Claire first in DC she may know something helpful then you head to Maine the details of Jenny’s death

Are contained in your briefing book pages 8 through 10 Divine read quickly but comprehensively just as the Army had trained him in combat time was not on your side but neither was skipping over something in a briefing that might prove catastrophic later the shooter didn’t police their brass right and technically

The casing was polymer not brass dine looked surprised because he was a polymer casing yes it expands and then contracts in the chamber immediately brass just expands as you well know less degradation on the equipment because the polymer insulates the heat from the chamber and unless heat and friction reduces choke rate

Said Divine referring to the hesitation of the weapon in firing due to those factors the arm’s been slowly moving away from brass hell they’ve been wedded to it since before the Spanish American war so it’s about damn time and the Marines are testing polymer casings for

Their 50 cal M2 machine gun and the Brits are looking at polymer 2 for their 556 mm rounds a good thing too brass adds a lot of weight to your gear pack that’s why they’re making the switch while with smartphones and handheld computers and more weaponry and Optics

The Army carry load is up to about 100 lb now for each Soldier switching from brass to polymer is a coste effective way of lightening the load for the Marines a 48 box pallet of the 50 cal and polymer weighs nearly 700 lb less than brass and there’s even the

Possibility of 3D printing repair parts in the field because the casings are recyclable as he’d been speaking divine had continued to read he looked up it was a 300 Norma mag round yes replied Campbell and the head stamp shows it’s a US military round Army snipers and special ops guys

Chamber the Norma and the Barrett mk22 rifle Divine nodded they switched from the 65 creedmore round after I mustered out but does the Army already use polymer case facings for the 300 Norma no Divine there are tests being run at various Army facilities across the country chambering the Norma and other

Ordinance with a polymer casing but it has not been officially deployed you know how that goes Army needs to shoot a [ __ ] ton of it under every conceivable combat environment before it has any chance of getting approved for Mass deployment who’s the manufacturer Warick Arsenal a small firm out of Georgia so

The question becomes how did a still in testing 300 Norma polymer round produced by a firm in Georgia end up at a crime scene in Maine Campbell said we’ve spoken with the people at War they have checked and rechecked their inventory and found nothing a Miss but to me that’s

Meaningless because they’ve shipped hundreds of thousands of these rounds to Army facilities throughout the country with hundreds of personnel taking part in the testing there is no way that every single round can be accounted for proverbial needle in a Hy stack so someone could have pocketed the polymer

Casing and given it to someone and then it goes through various hands and ends up being used to kill Jenny silw well was it important she was shot with that particular bullet did she have any involvement with its development none and I have no idea if the use of that

Particular bullet is significant or not that’s your job to find out during your investigation by the way the local cops are also working the case you’ll have to team with them and why why would they team with me Campbell took from his desk drawer what looked like a black leather

Wallet and slid it across here’s why dine opened what turned out to be a cred pack complete with shiny badge and examined it he looked up in Surprise I’m a special investigator with Homeland Security seriously your cover is Rock Solid only I’m not a trained investigator Campbell gave Divine a

Drill Sergeant death stair don’t sell yourself short you carried on investigations in the Middle East in addition to your combat duties and you did a pretty damn good job of sleuthing back in New York on the brag cowl case and you’ve done Stellar work with the other assignments I’ve given you now you

Are to find out who killed Jenny and why and determine if any of our national security interests have been compromised and find her laptop and phone well that sounds simple enough said divine dryly R to the challenge Soldier retorted Campbell why don’t the feds have a joint do platoon of Agents

On this Central Intelligence goes scorched earth when one of its own goes down and the FBI too CIA has no jurisdiction on American soil and if we deploy an army of FBI the Press will start to pry and word will get out then our enemies could see us as weakened and

Themselves emboldened Jenny silw well might very well have been killed because of something having absolutely nothing to do with her status with CIA if so we want to go in stealth and stay that way if the facts on the ground allow so right now you divine are the

Army and if my rock solid cover gets blown we never heard of you chapter 3 a light drizzle was falling as Divine pulled through the open Gates of CLA Robards mansion in kalarama in northwest DC it was one of the most expensive areas in the capital city with the

Median price of a home well north of seven figures kalarama Divine had Learned was Greek for beautiful view and it was beautiful if one had the Hefty entrance fee Embassy Row was on nearby Massachusetts Avenue and the Dutch and French ambassadors official residences were in the vicinity along with 30

Foreign embassies Jeff Bezos also had a home nearby that he had laid out 23 million for and then bought bought the place next door for another 5 mil billionaires apparently needed a lot of room or else a healthy buffer from the merely Rich Divine thought at that level it’s just Monopoly money

Anyway the Robards Mansion was substantial Made of Stone and large rustic Timbers with small windows and Cone topped metal turrets the property had wide sloping Lawns and mature trees and plantings no money spared and no detail overlooked to create a display of subdued old money wealth that judiciously managed not to overwhelm

With inflated grandiosity he had phoned ahead so the well-dressed professionall looking woman who answered the door LED Divine directly down a long marble floored Hall to a set of imposing solid oak doors she knocked and a woman’s cultured voice from inside the room said authoritatively come in and So Divine

Stepped into perhaps the lioness’s den Claire Robards was perched regally on a sa in a room that was lined with shelves which were in turn filled with leatherbound books against one wall a small bar was set up was it his imagination or did Robards gaze slide toward it the lady’s light green dress

Was exquisitely tailored to her thin petite frame she had allowed her shoulder-length hair to turn an elegant white she fiddled with a strand of small lustrous pearls and looked everywhere except accepted Divine the woman was clearly uncomfortable with his presence here she wore little makeup and the dark

Circles under her rened eyes spoke of long bouts of crying maybe she thinks if she ignores me her eldest daughter wouldn’t be dead Miss Robards I’m Travis Divine with Homeland Security yes I know Mr Divine she said in a low voice please sit she finally looked at him resignedly

Divine concluded would you like something hot to drink it’s quite chilly today no thank you I’m fine he settled into a wing chair opposite her and I’m very sorry for your loss she twitched at his words and closed her eyes for a moment we all thought Jenny was indomitable a Survivor she had

Survived much until this ugly ugly business she had a stellar career and a brilliant future in serving her country that goddamned job cost my daughter her life she barked then she quickly let the Regal mask slide back down over her features I’m sorry she said in a hushed

Voice no reason to be he glanced around is your husband here Vernon is in Thailand at least I think so business she added with a touch of bitterness apparently for some people business and making money trumps all even the murder of one stepdaughter she glanced at her lap and

Let her fingers intertwine as though she suddenly felt the need to hold on to herself it’s funny Mr Divine what is when I married Kurt he was already a war hero this big strong Marine that no enemy could defeat and he was gone all the time too not to make

Money but to serve his country like Jenny did he survived that and then he got into politics worked his way up and eventually ran for the Senate and won and he was gone all the time again not for the money but to serve and here’s the funny thing she paused and seemed to

Collect herself running her fingers delicately along her expensive pearls the funny thing is for the people left behind the motivation doesn’t matter the result is the same same one is alone I can see that she looked around at the Tastefully decorated room in the luxurious mansion in the pricey sought-after neighborhood with beautiful

Views and in case you’re wondering as so many have no the grass is not always greener I understand that Jenny was not in full agreement with the divorce he said quietly she hated me for it plain and simple Robards dropped her hand to her lap she and apparently everyone else thought I

Left Kurt because of his illness the fact was we had agreed to divorce a year before but these things take time and he had an election coming up so we made the mutual decision to wait he won the race and we went our separate ways then he was diagnosed shortly thereafter and I

Became the thoughtless ex-wife I suppose you could have halted the divorce proceedings noted deine fine I’d already met Vernon and was engaged to him we were waiting for the final decree to announce our impending wedding and the truth was I had given Kurt four Decades of my life and three children he

Had his twin careers and me I hadn’t even started to live my life yet so I decided to move forward and do just that before it was too late Kurt was going to receive the best care regardless she glanced up I suppose you think me heartless too while it may be

Tempting for many judging others has never been a fascination of mine she nodded now how can I help you when was the last time you saw or spoke to your daughter I saw her at an event at the Senate to honor Kurt’s Legacy about 6 months ago was that also the last time

You spoke to her her gaze fell to her lap no she actually called me recently she said she was heading to putam she grew up there along with our other two children an ancestor of Kurt’s hyam silw well built the family home there it’s quite Gothic and I think extraordinarily

Ugly Kurt kept paying the taxes on it until he became ill he couldn’t part with it apparently he was always a very nostalgic person very much tied to the Past in certain respects did she say why she was going there she said she had some unfinished business what sort of business asked the

Vine sharply she didn’t say and I didn’t ask the vine looked skeptically at her she caught this look and explained our relationship had changed agent Divine she was a grown woman who no longer needed or wanted my advice or counseling but she called you even though you two were estranged must have

Been a reason if there was it’ll uded me okay any guess as to what she was referring to about the unfinished business none and your other children Dak and Alex they still live in the family home any idea why they want to live in an ugly old Gothic house they

Apparently like it there I lived there with the kids while Kurt was in Congress neither one of us wanted the children to be here in the Limelight what do they do Alex is the youngest and an artist and an incredibly talented one who could make a fine

Living if she would ever get an agent I’ve been told by old friends up there that she also teaches art in the public school on a part-time basis she paused and smiled but it was accompanied by a sad Bittersweet expression she said Jenny was The Golden Child brilliant enormously driven lovely

She had it all but Alex was no slouch either she was more beautiful than Jenny and smart too because of her late birthday she was always the youngest in her class then because of her ability she skipped an entire grade in elementary school not even Jenny managed to do that she

Added and your son Dak has a tattoo parlor and some other business interests up there he’s very entrepreneurial I think he wants to make a zillion dollars to show he doesn’t need any of us he was in the Army but discharged can I ask why Dak can tell you if he

Wants could Jenny have been going to see them it’s possible I’ve tried to call both of them but they haven’t gotten back to me were your kids close with one another they used to be but Life Changes people you know yes ma’am but I guess Dak and Alex get along if they live

Together it’s a big house she said simply big enough to feel like one is living alone where and when will the funeral take place there won’t be one in her will Jenny stipulated that she wanted to be cremated and her ashes scattered over the ocean no ceremony no

Fuss I guess she was the sort to plan ahead I just wish she had managed to stay alive until long after I was dead and buried well she had no choice in the matter he pointed out sniffling CLA said Kurt doesn’t even know she’s gone Divine

Noted maybe that’s for the best when was the last time you saw Alex or Dak it’s been several years actually I suppose that qualifies as a stranged she added closing her eyes her features Laden with misery ever since your divorce I suppose the two are intertwined she said dully opening her

Eyes and gazing off he rose well thank you for seeing me if you think of anything else please contact me he handed her his card on which the fresh ink seemed to Glow she reached across took the card and then gripped his hand with surprising strength please find out who

Took her away from me Mr Define please he looked down at her I’ll do my best ma’am I can promise you that chapter 4 the next morning Divine walked into a private care facility in Northern Virginia with Emerson Campbell to visit Curtis silw well CLA still visits him

Every week here said Campbell as he held the door for divine not so heartless then replied Divine drawing a tortured scowl from the other man heartless enough Campbell shot back a nurse LED them to a room in a secure memory care unit the space was small and sparsely furnished and held at

Least for divine a sense of marching in slow motion a wait for the inevitability of death after the nurse left them both men turned their attention to the frail figure in the bed there were no tubes hooked up to him though there was a machine monitoring his vitals he’s

Comfortable in no pain so they tell me they’re going to have to put a feeding tube in soon said Campbell grimly his voice carried a level of distress Divine had never heard before for he’s not eating he doesn’t think to when he’s awake just stares at the

Offered food and then goes back to sleep and when they do get some food in him things get clogged and he has to be aspirated he has a DNR in place and pretty soon they will wind things down they look down at the shrunken sleeping

Patient I remember a 62 220 lb wall of a man added a Hol voiced Campbell leading his men into one hell after another and coming out Victor ious on the other side won every medal and Commendation the Marines offered he should have had a shoulder full of stars but he refused to

Play the necessary games same as you noted Divine he was more deserving replied Campbell to my mind every person who puts on the uniform and picks up a weapon in defense of their country is deserving silk well stirred under the sheet and his eyes opened he looked at

Neither of them his unfocused gaze playing across the ceiling for a few moments before the eyes closed once more he stopped recognizing me months ago said Campbell the doctors say the progression is accelerating no chance of recovery [ __ ] disease Campbell LED Divine out and quietly closed the door behind them

Before facing off with the younger man I brought you here Divine because I wanted you to see a true American hero and he deserves to have his daughter daughter’s murderer brought to Justice you have no confidence in the police up there since it’s a two-person Department with few resources no my

Confidence level is not high and if Jenny’s death is connected to her work at CIA it comes Under the fed’s Umbrella not the locals but you have to Snoop around first and find out something we can hang our jurisdictional hat on so I’m to find the Killer and ascertain if

Any secrets have been stolen if you find the killer we have lots of experts who can help us determine the secrets issue or whether her death was retribution for something having to do with National Security the sister and brother who live up there in the Old Homestead I suppose

They’re suspects I told you Claire informed me Jenny was going up there to finish some old business yes family friends strangers foreigners everyone is a suspect right now and what if the Killer is long gone by now we’ll attack that bridge if we come to it outside the facility Campbell

Shook the younger man’s hand I have no higher priority right now good luck many things tell me you’re going to need it Campbell was driven off in a government SUV Divine stood in the parking lot for a few moments glancing back at the building where a doomed man didn’t even

Know his eldest daughter had not survived him he knew this was personal to Campbell and while Divine had to maintain a professional objectivity he knew a certain element of this mission was Now personal to him as well in his book a dying Warrior deserved no less chapter

5 after a short pinballing flight in high winds the plane thed under the tarmac in Banger M after deplaning Divine grabbed his rental Tahoe and commenced the 2 and 1/2 hour drive east to putam the tiny Hamlet was was located on the rocky Atlantic coast and had

Fewer Souls than the passengers on the United Airlines jumbo jet flight Divine had taken back from Italy the leaves had long since turned color and abandoned their respective trees and bushes divine’s memories of a scorching summer in New York City and a mild fall in Europe had all been

Extinguished by the bitter cold here his cable knit sweater was underwhelming in its warmth Factor he reached makas turned onto Route One and kept going north for a while until he turned off onto another road that took him East toward the world’s second biggest ocean he could

Already smell the Briny air and feel the bite of the punishing wind that kept rocking the Tahoe he looked at a long Inlet the ocean had cut into the rocky Shore and despite the mission he was on the Serene view lent Divine some Calm before the storm Divine glanced at his gear pack

Inside among other things was his Glock 9mm a backup pistol and extra ammo for both as Divine drove he went over in his mind the briefing details Jenny silw well had been an operations officer at CIA her Focus for the past few years had been on the

Middle East before that her area of involvement was the Russian Federation and before that South America A Gifted natural linguist she spoke fluent Spanish Portuguese Russian and polish and through emerging classes she had learned Arabic and farsy before moving on to the Middle East region her job had

Led her to travel all over the world to meet with the human Intel on the ground that she had recruited to work with America and maybe that had placed a wicked bullseye on the back of Jenny silw well because the Russians as well as factions in the Middle East were not

Shy about striking back against perceived enemies the answer to her murder might well lie in Moscow Teran or Damascus rather than than putam Maine he had read both the national and local accounts of the murder the national news had sent Crews up here and broadcast stories for a few days until

They moved on to newer stories that would capture more eyeballs he supposed if the killer were tracked down and arrested the big guns would be back up here to report on it in contrast the local news such that it was had continued to go full bore with the story

Divine could imagine that the unsolved murder of a CIA officer and daughter of a war hero and former US senator who was himself a Scion of a prominent and formerly wealthy main family would be the most newsworthy thing that had ever happened in putam along the way he had passed signs

That said he was on The Bold Coast Scenic byway and it fit the bill as his journey brought him closer to the Gulf of Maine’s Shoreline Divine at intervals saw narrow strips of Sandy and Pebble beaches as well as towering Granite Bluff standing sentury along craggy Coes filled with rock strewn Headlands and

Stout robust Greenery holding purchase on the saltwater slicked Rock wherever it could there were also vast forests that reached to the Horizon and Old Orchards of fruitless trees leading right up to Rocky Cliffs standing firmly next to the water like silent centuries finally a weathered board on a rotting post announced the legal

Boundary of putam and stated its official population to be a few shy of 250 they must be hearty Souls thought Divine the rugged topography and raw weather did not look like it was designed for the faint-hearted he passed a young man in a New England Patriots ski cap riding a

Rusted bicycle that had no seat that was followed by two young women arried mud splattered ATVs puttering along a battered 1980 station wagon slowly passed him going the other way the driver had heavily wrinkled features es and the hanging jows of a Great Dane and

A head topped by fine snowy hair he gave Divine a grim fac once over before he headed on down the road the putam Inn was located on the town’s narrow Main Street the asphalt barely two cars wide dine angled into a parking space and tugged out his

Bags he looked across the street to where a small Harbor nearly encircled by chiseled Granite Bluffs was situated with a slender Outlet to the Gulf of Main’s slice of the ocean there was also what looked to be a man-made break water to give added protection from storms a number of boats

Were docked in slips wethered by the unforgiving elements While others were moored out on the smooth glassy water of the harbor men in heavy work clothing and calf high waterproof boots were laboring on the docks and also on the boats tying up ropes lifting heavy boxes and metal

Cages and scrubbing the grime and Barnacles off raised holes it was a bustle of activity that was probably replicated up and down the coast here The Smiling woman behind the front desk told Divine she was Patricia Kingman the Inn’s owner welcome to putam I’ll apologize in

Advance if our service is not up to Snuff we’re underst staffed that’s why I’m Manning the front desk nobody wants to work anymore they blame it on Co I say it’s just being lazy the X Y and Z Generations or whatever they call themselves no work

Ethic divine who was a member in good standing of the Millennials stayed silent as he signed in and produced his driver’s license and credit card he received his room key one of the oldfashioned kind with a one PB slug of lead attached you can leave that weapon

Here when you go out she quipped eyeing the key with Amusement unless you want to do arm curls I think I’ll keep it with me thanks replied dine who would never leave such an open and easy invitation into his private space flying around kingman’s amused expression vanished as she first looked startled

And then suspicious what are you in town for Mr Divine can’t be pleasure unless you like the inside of a freezer a little business he eyed her steadily I understand you had some trouble recently I guess you can call the murder of a poor young woman trouble

Yes what was her name again Jenny silw well wait wasn’t there a senator by that name from up here Curtis silw well Jenny was his daughter he got sick and had to resign I knew Jenny since she was in pigtails and knee socks smart as a whip

Pretty and nice as can be she worked in Washington DC she glanced carefully around as though there might be someone listening some folks say she was a spy or some such for us do these folks believe she was killed because of that a Stony expression slid down over the woman’s

Features well I can’t see anyone from around here hurting one hair on Jenny’s head everyone loved her well at least one person didn’t thought Divine so she grew up here she nodded at the silk Well’s ancestral home Joselyn point named after hyam silw Well’s wife

He made money hand over fist well over a century ago and built that place any silk Wells left here Alex Jenny’s younger sister and her brother Dak they live at Joselyn point I suppose Jenny came up to visit with them when she was killed Kingman folded her arms over her

Chest and took a symbolic step back I’m I I can’t imagine why I’ve been gabbing so much about the silk WS to a complete stranger you have a nice visit here Mr Divine and just so you know Outsiders aren’t usually welcome here but I would imagine your entire business model

Depends on the exact opposite of that sentiment she Twisted her mouth in displeasure your place is right behind here first Cottage on the right she walked through a blue curtain set behind the front counter Divine grabbed his bags and off he went a stranger in a place that didn’t particularly care for

Them Story of My Life chapter 6 The Cottage was comfortable furnished with a big four poster bed being its Chief feature with a duvet and matching canopy done in seascapes and lobsters a blackened faced wood burning fireplace with a small stack of cedar logs and

Kindling set next to it and a rod iron holder took up much of another wall he put his things away and laid out several Telltale traps in case anyone breached his room while he was away he then sat at a small desk set up by the window and

Looked over the briefing book on his phone Jenny silw well could have certainly made enemies in her line of work but if a foreign government wasn’t behind her death who else would have the motive well that’s what you’re here to find out so let’s get to

It he slipped his Glock into a belt holster locked his door deposited the one PB lead slug key in his pocket climbed into his Tahoe and set off he drove slowly past the harbor and marveled at the beauty of Nature’s rock carving he saw a few boats puttering back in the

Men on them looking blur eyed and exhausted and smoking cigarettes and gulping bottled water even in the cold tough way to make a buck hope they scored big on whatever they were going out for he drove to Joselyn point along the winding Coast Road as dusk set in the

Equal parts grim and picturesque landscape assumed patches of pulsing Darkness shouldered with sections still lit by the fading son Divine pulled out his military grade Optics and took a look set far off the road on an otherwise deserted stretch of land the home’s backdrop was the Black Rock strewn craggy Coastline that the

Atlantic pummeled unceasingly Divine had seen pictures of the home but it hadn’t done the place Justice the building itself looked like every haunted house you had seen in movies or on TV Grim Stark joyless it’s stood like a defiant remembrance of a far more somber and unforgiving

Era constructed of rough hee Timbers and rugged dark stone that was probably locally quarried Joselyn Point possessed the tall looming face of a hunk of marble statuary with a wooden railed widows walk at its Zenith multiple turrets both cone and square shaped all topped by slate roofs fouled by the

Elements stuck out here and there from the home’s facade like Wayward strands of hair the exterior was covered with Nature’s makeup chunks of moss and patches of lyen which evidently flourished in The Damp Briny air he saw other buildings dotting the large property some looked abandoned others were falling down but still

Others looked reasonably habitable maybe these were old servants quarters he thought for when people actually had them on properties like this the grounds had been allowed to mostly go to ruin the Hefty rod iron Gates that had once been attached to Stout Stone pedestals emblazened with

The letter j on one and the letter P on the other were both Hanging On To Life by a single rusted hinge each the place had innumerable Windows all small gleaming and Mullan like the eyes of a spider with little ability to capture much sunlight but only to

Reflect it back the large wooden door that was the main entrance to the place was battered and sullied by weather straggly leafless trees stood next to the house their bare limbs caressing the crudded walls with every passing Breeze Divine lowered his Optics as the sun fell rapidly into the pocket of the

Western sky darkening clouds scuttered overhead as the northeasterly breeze stiffened as he continued to watch a light came on in a second floor window Divine once more lifted his Optics to his eyes the range and Clarity on this piece of surveillance equipment was impressive for what it had cost the

Government he knew it should be 20 minutes later as the darkness deepened someone appeared at the lighted window and divine was quick to focus his device on the person Alexandra Alex silw well had blonde hair piled on top of her head with a few tendrils slipping down to bookend her elegantly chiseled features

Her eyes were full of intensity or at least it seemed to him that they were divine noted all of these things secondarily chiefly he was riveted by the fact that she wore no clothes embarrassed he lowered his Optics but kept his unated Gaze on her though he couldn’t make out the finer details

Now does she know she’s being watched his was the only car out here and she could obviously see it and its lights was she being defiant giving the Curious a show or did she not think anyone would be watching the house with the Optics Divine was using yeah that might be yet thought

Ashamed Divine I’m a Peeping Tom with NextGen Hardware he waited until the room went dark once more before driving off as he headed along the whipsawing coast Road he wondered what Alex and Dak thought about the violent end of their older siblings life he also wondered

Whether one of them had killed her or knew who had Dak had been in the Army where he had obviously received extensive weapons instruction to Divine would have to find out why the Army and Dak silw well had parted company the Army didn’t give up its recruits easily they didn’t have

Nearly enough volunteers to fill the ranks which had caused them to overlook things that in the not too distant past would have resulted in outright dismissal he stopped and sent off a text to Campbell asking for these details as he drove North to his pre-arranged meeting with the local cops

Divine thought back to the woman at the window of an ancient house that had long outlived its useful life and was aging with little Grace and yet two young people still resided there this case might turn out to be even more complicated than he had thought he checked his watch hit the gas

And sped up time to go look at the body of a woman who should not be dead chapter 7 Divine had seen violent death in multiple countries and had caused some some of them in his role as a soldier in certain respects he had grown desensitized to it once you’d seen a

Human being shot up blown up or hacked to Pieces what was one more they all bled and died pretty much the same he pulled into the parking lot of a funeral home named Bing and Sons a police cruiser was parked near the front door putam Police Department was

Emblazened on the Cruiser’s side door along with a picture of an eagle The Majestic Birds claws clenched an arrow shaft its expression one of fierce determination the building looked to be originally 1950s construction it had obviously been remodeled and expanded Divine noted with two relatively new wings and what looked to be a

Crematorium with a long chimney stack housed in a separate building in the rear he trudged across the asphalt feeling the biting wind every step of the way as it pushed against him before he could tug on the door it opened revealing a woman in a police police officer’s uniform and cap who was

Standing just inside no doubt she had been waiting for divine she was in her 30s shortish and thickly built and to divine’s eye looked like she pumped some serious gem iron she had on a long sleeved shirt but no coat or jacket the brown hair was clipped back a Smith and Wesson 44

Magnum revolver rested in her holster he didn’t know the police still carried revolvers but whatever she shot with that bazooka would not be getting back up ever you Travis Divine with Homeland Security she said shortly I am let me see your ID she demanded he showed her

And you he said Sergeant Wendy fuss Chiefs with franois in the body this way they began walking down the hall franois Dr franois Guam she’s the medical examiner for this area her grandfather and his brother started this Funeral Home passed it down to their sons now her brother Fred Bing runs it

But franois works here too in addition to being the local doctor busy lady so did Dr Guam perform the autopsy she stopped and turned to him you [ __ ] me I don’t know what you mean the fact is there was a pissing contest between your folks and ours they

Brought someone up from DC to do the postmortem over in Augusta at the ocme the office of Chief medical examiner Dr Guam assisted because the chief medical examiner for Maine insisted Jenny was killed here making it our jurisdiction not federal are the people from DC still

Here no they flew in on a government jet did the postmortem and flew right back out showed me how my tax dollars are being spent she looked Divine up and down in a disgusted Manner and now you’re here to do the job we’re already doing I was hoping we could collaborate

Sure you do feds are all the same think you’re better than the locals have you had much experience with the federal government the IRS that was enough to last me the rest of my days she picked up her pace and divine followed he noticed that she was pigeon

Toed and her left shoulder hung a bit lower than her right her gun belt squeaked as she walked as did her rubber sold shoes over the soft lolium that could give away your position and get you killed but Divine did not think fuss would be receptive to such Federal

Criticism right now she reached a door down a short Hall pushed it open and motioned divine inside fuss put out a blocking hand as he started to cross the threshold you seen a dead body before she asked in a brusk tone don’t want you puking on my shoes are passing

Out I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you said Divine tightly two people were waiting in an interior room off the one they had entered they were standing next to a metal gurnie with a sheet over the body the room held the potent smells of death and

Chemicals Divine was introduced to Chief of Police Richard Wayne Harper who was quick to tell Divine that he went by Richard not rich or dick or chief will do just fine he quipped though the look he gave Divine held no humor he was in his late 40s ponchy and

Around 510 but he seemed light on his feet and moved with the nimbleness of a far younger man his hair was thick and the original Brown was mixed liberally with gray he wore no gun but he did have a metal baton and a holder on his belt

His thick fingers hovered near it at all times he seemed to exude electrical pulses of confidence with every breath franois gam was also in her 40s an inch taller than Harper and athletically lean with auburn hair pulled back at her nape and secured with a band her eyes active

And intelligent scanned Divine from behind tortoise shell glasses strung on a synthetic cord her white lab coat only partially obscured her dark blue jacket and slacks she looked to No Nonsense and proved it by saying ready to get to it agent Divine I thought the autopsy was done in

Austa it was we transported Jenny’s remains back here so that you could examine them okay let’s do it she lifted the sheet off silk well former CIA Ops officer and now a murder victim Divine ran his gaze down the woman’s body he thought for a moment of the woman’s sister standing un clothed

At the window there the similarity ended Alex silw well did not have a large exit wound in the back of her head that had removed a chunk of her brain along with her life the small blackened and crusty entry wound dead center of the forehead didn’t seem lethal enough to have killed

Her Divine had seen far worse mortal injuries but looking at the remains of the woman affected him more than he thought it would he stealed himself to forget about the person and focus on the crime but it was never easy not as a soldier and not now chapter

8 Jenny silw well had similar features to her younger sister a long slender nose broad smooth forehead classic jawline he couldn’t see the color of her eyes because they were closed in response to divine’s query gam said they were light blue bordering on Gray she said this was a distant gunshot

Wound the abrasion collar was typical meaning there was no deformity of the bullet before entry into the body a contact wound would look much different with triangular-shaped tears in the skin and evidence of searing along with soot deposits and there was no indication of soot seared skin or gunpowder tach

Tattooing on the body you’ll usually get soot with close range wounds of half a foot or less now tattooing of the skin with powder grains is pathon neonic of intermediate range gunshot wounds it’s burned into the skin so it can’t be removed that’s why I ruled out an

Intermediate range gunshot there was no bullet wipe on her clothing since the bullet did not pass through any of that she looked up at Divine that’s residue from the surface of the bullet itself that ends up on the clothing I understand she was immersed in saltwater even if there was bullet

Wipe it probably would not have survived along with any soot but there wouldn’t have been soot with a distant gunshot wound and water would not have impacted any tattooing gam pointed to silw Well’s forehead there you can see what’s referred to as the Comet Tail it usually shows the direction of the bullet’s

Flight from left to right the minimal presence of the tail here demonstrates the entry was pretty much straight on she turned Jenny’s head to the side to show the exit wound people assume the exit wound is always larger than the entry but it’s a fallacy to determine

Entry and exit wounds based on the sizes of the holes and abrasion collars soot and tattooing are not associated with Exit Wounds as you can see her abrasion collar clearly shows the entry came in the front the exit wound is gaping which speaks to the transfer of energy through

The frontal bone of the skull then passing through the soft brain tissue and exiting out the ocial bone skull fragments were propelled through the wound track which also widened the exit wound her death would have been instantaneous she added in a less professorial tone she would have been dead before she knew

It death would have been instantaneous she would have been dead before she knew it Divine had heard those phrases many times and though he knew the physiology behind it he had never really believed it he had come close to death several times and each time it was like the

Brain sped up as though not to miss a second of its imminent demise even for a millisecond or less I think you know that it’s over that it’s the end of you he said I suppose the talk screens haven’t come back yet good Lord no and they won’t for a while along

With the blood workup I know how fast they do it on TV get a talkx and DNA report back by the second commercial break but the real world moves a lot slower I guess we don’t have the budget Hollywood does what else can you tell me her

Stomach was empty and the preim blood work and examination of her tissue suggested nothing unusual in her system but the talk screens will be far more definitive all talk screens in Maine go to a private accredited lab in Pennsylvania for analysis but I understand these are going to a federal

Lab for testing so the turnaround might be faster we also had two MD over from the medical examiner office to help in the investigation volunteered Harper they’ve gone back to Augusta now MDI said Divine Medico legal death investigator they’re part of the ocme there are only three in

The entire state but this case was important enough to get two of them here but all in all we didn’t make much progress said Harper he glanced at Divine and his look was not friendly guess that’s why they sent you in I think it’ll take more than one person to

Solve this said Divine diplomatically Harper said hell we have fewer than 30 homicides a year in the whole damn State and now I got two of them in a short period a time two said Divine hit and run interjected fuss not connected to this did you autopsy

That one too ask Divine looking at Guam the deputy me did the actual workup but I assisted it was a suspicious death and chief Harper immediately reported it to the ocme there was no question a full autopsy would be done under the circumstances don’t they autopsy all of

Them hardly around 15,000 Mayers die every year the vast majority by accident we’re an outdoorsy independent people and that comes with risks next highest cause of death is natural then suicide underdetermined and homicide is in last place thank God but the autopsy rates are going up 6% in 2000 11% the next

Year and 15% of total deaths last year received the full workup what’s driving the increase drug overdoses specifically that fentanyl sh [ __ ] growled Harper gam nodded it’s blowing up the OC’s budget full autopsy and full talk and blood workups are not cheap they’re building a new ocme

Facility in austa with more capacity but it’ll be a while before it’s online we used to only fully autopsy for those cases necessary for criminal prosecution or unexpected deaths in people under 55 or where there’s a public safety concern like an infectious disease but now because of the fentanyl crisis the

Decision has been made to fully autopsy all deant under age 30 if there’s any question as to the cause of death but with say a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the Head we’re not going to autopsy Jenny was otherwise in remarkable physical shape probably would have lived to be a

100 time of death asked dine as he watched Harper and fuss watch him between 9 and 11:00 p.m. on the night she was found you’re comfortable with that window the deputy Emy was and I concurred your signed off on it too it’s not just based on forensics but also the

Time window from when she was last seen alive and then found dead I understand a military ammo casing was found at the scene Harper answered a federal round you think one of her own killed her when Divine looked at her the man’s expression was mocking and

Divine had to fight back the urge to voice his displeasure at the comment early days yet replied Divine can you describe more fully the damage you saw in the wound track it was substantial defin substantial she looked a bit put out by this query I’m not trying to be a jerk

Said Divine but a 300 Norma Magnum round is a high velocity ordinance with a heavy load it’ll drop large game with no problem you doubt the casing we found matches the bullet that hit her said Harper since the actual round was not found I’m just dotting the eyes and

Crossing the te’s he looked expectantly at gam I would say that a high velocity round was indeed used the kinetic energy was substantial as was the exit wound where as I already showed you there was a large amount of bone and tissue extruded from the wound

The bullet was not a dumb Dum because there was no evidence of mushrooming in the wound track it went pretty much straight through her head and out the rear then maybe a full metal jacketed or ball round as the military often refers to it said Divine it’s certainly possible what do

That matter asked fuss she looked genuinely curious Divine said most NATO military forces only use FMJ or full metal jacketed ammo because of a hag convention International treaty signed well over a century ago they banned the use of expanding bullets even though fmjs have a greater risk of hitting

Unintended targets mushrooms tend to stay in the body that’s why cops all around the world use dumb Dum ammo because they put the Target down with little risk of doing damage to non-targets Guam interjected but the tumbling effect does catastrophic damage to the Target Divine continued the US

Never ratified the treaty but they’ve followed it mostly however the Army now uses hollow points in some of their ammo chains sidearms and the like the heg treaty only applies to wartime but let’s face it the landscape of War has changed it’s more like urban and rural street

Fighting rather than big armies going at each other over far-flung isolated ground Harper looked at Guam so just to be clear Jenny was not shot by a dum dum but by something that would include this 300 Norma round correct cor I believe I already said that Harper looked triumphantly at

Divine satisfied for now did she see anyone while she was up here her sister or brother we don’t know said Harper least ways about Alex and Dak you haven’t spoken to them after all this time said Divine he might not be an experienced investigator but he knew the importance of collecting statements from

Persons of Interest as quickly as possible because memories rap ly faded or became distorted or stories could be made up practiced and falsely corroborated they’re grieving replied fuss we’ll talk to him at the appropriate time it’s how we do things up here dine glanced at Guam who was

Staring at him as though awaiting his response to this professional slap okay did you manage to talk to anyone else who wasn’t grieving Divine asked his eye rising and uncomfortably so file it back Travis you have to work with these these folks a few people saw her around

Nothing more than hello replied Harper curtly where was she staying Joselyn point no said Harper putting him in same place as you didn’t you know that fuss looked like she might start laughing small town thought Divine everybody knows everybody else’s business even The Outsiders so she spoke to the owner sure

She’s known Pat for years nothing of any note though meaning their conversation just hi how you doing nothing about why she was up here did she say whether silw well appeared nervous or out of sorts no nothing like that she visited up here pretty much every year said fuss did you

Find anything relevant when you searched her room he asked fuss said we haven’t searched it before Divine could comment on that she added we secured it taped it off and waited waited for you to show up because that’s what we were ordered to do from the get-go by your folks Harper

Didn’t look happy about this and divine could hardly blame him and now he somewhat understood their unfriendly Behavior toward him so any idea why silw well was in town he was holding back what CLA silw well had told him that Jenny was coming here to settle some unfinished

Business no idea yet but like you said early days added fuss while yam covered the body and then turned away to line up some instruments on a metal table however Divine could see from the woman’s tensed manner that she was intently listening to every word tell me

About Earl Palmer the man who found the body fuss and Harper exchanged a quick glance that Divine couldn’t readily interpret and Guam’s shoulders had stiffened and then immediately relaxed when Palmer’s name had been mentioned Harper took a moment to clear his throat while fuss looked away

Clearly she was going to let her boss handle this one Earls lived here his whole life retired lobsterman and a damn fine one his wife Alberta died recently and it rocked him to his core he salt to the Earth and his wife was too okay how

Did he happen to discover the body she died between 9 and 11: at night but I understand that he called the police at 1:45 in the morning what was he doing out at that hour hell lobstermen like Dairy Farmers don’t really sleep scoffed fuss with a forced grin attacked on even

Retired ones she hastily added when she saw Divine was about to interject granted but how did he find the body I was told it was in an isolated Place Harper said Earl likes to walk the shoreline ever since birdie that was what everybody called Alberta died he can’t sleep just drives around

Or goes out and walks he likes to hear the ocean he spent enough of his life on it to where it’s in his DNA dine slowly nodded and decided he was going to get no farther on this did Jenny have a rental car yep offered fuss

Was it found near the crime scene did she drive it there no it’s back at the putam in White twoo Honda you might have seen it New York plates Divine had seen such a car there so like the room have you not searched it yet those were our instructions said

Harper sharply Federal instructions did anyone see her the night she died asked Divine Dr Guam mentioned a Time window Pat Kingman saw her walk out of the Inn around 7:30 said fuss she didn’t see which way she went how far from there was she found 3.2 miles I clocked it in

The car answered fuss weather that night raining like cats and dogs answered fuss Divine shifted his Focus to Guam anything anything else I should know signs of a struggle defensive wounds skin of an as salent under her nails any other forensic evidence at all no just the

Casing are you still looking for the round fuss said it was heading toward the ocean after it left Jenny’s body long gone by now don’t you think Divine glanced at her and noted the condescending expression he had seen that look sometimes on Superior officers of his the ones who had been several degrees

Removed moved from the actual conditions on the ground but thought they knew better he hadn’t liked it then and he didn’t like it now any luck on tracking down the person she was with whoo now who said she was with anyone exclaimed Harper I doubt she walked over 3 miles

In the pouring rain to where she was killed and she obviously didn’t drive herself a wide-eyed Harper said hell you think she drove over there with someone well it’s our job to find that out right so let’s go to the crime scene when Divine looked at Guam she was

Giving him a tiny smile he returned it I’ll take any support I can get right now thought Divine it was like he was back in Afghanistan looking for a friendly face and I never found many let’s hope I do better on American soil chapter n a light drizzle with was falling as

Divine followed the pair in the muddy cruiser with a bent front rambar Divine knew they would learn little at the crime scene in the darkness but he needed to get a feel for its structures its parameters and possibilities he had been writing telling Campbell that he was not a

Trained investigator but the old General had also been correct in informing dine not to sell himself short in that regard he had solved the mystery in New York but he’d had help and he’d also allowed himself to get shot with his own gun that still hurt his

Pride in the Middle East he had done countless Battlefield assessments the Army documented everything battle assessment methodologies collateral damage assessment Munitions Effectiveness reack recommendation methodologies post campaign operations actions in this regard they were looking for the smallest Clues and telltale signs as to why a combat operation had

Not gone according to plan or why damage was above expectations or how an IED had been able to get close enough to kill its intended target so his mind was trained to see certain things sometimes things went sideways just due to shitty luck Divine knew when many people were gathered in close

Quarters trying their best to kill one another there wasn’t a report or methodology in the world that could cover all the possible contingencies or outcomes humans under threat of death were just too unpredictable some turned into cow cards and others into Heroes and still others into both Divine had on numerous occasions

Successfully interrogated people he thought were allies and those he knew to be enemies and found out Vital Information in most of those cases he had not done it with Brute Force though on occasion he had wanted to as he stared into smug Expressions projecting unearned superiority they were the

Hardened countenances of people who would do absolutely nothing to help you and absolutely anything thing to do the opposite to you he hoped whatever Talent he possessed for this sort of work was enough for this case Campbell seemed to have faith in him Justified or not he

Looked over and there stood Josel and point like a lighthouse on the coast only with very little light to offer offshore a collection of blackened clouds was gathering and perhaps pondering whether to come on to land and Pummel the puny scattering of humans who dwelled there a few minutes later the

Cruiser pulled off to the side of the road Road rubber gripping mud and stopped Divine slipped his Tahoe in behind and got out so she died not that far from her Old Homestead the wind seemed fiercer at this point he didn’t know if it was due to the approaching storm or some weird

Topographical feature at this spot but as he walked up to join the two officers of the law Divine thought this was a perfectly maob backdrop for violent death it was essentially Edgar Allen po esque in its deep sense of potentially Sinister Intrigue he stood there for a few

Moments and gave a sweeping gaze across the landscape taking in all points that seemed to him of Interest fuss held one powerful light and she produced another from the cruiser and handed it to Divine he used it to illuminate a stand of scrub Pines off to the left there was

Also an open field of grass and wild plants that seemed to thrive even in the Stark chill another stand of deciduous trees was of to the far right their trunks and naked branches registering as shadows in the dark thick Burly bushes were everywhere with many of them also bereft of

Leaves dine had been to main before on training exercises with the Rangers he knew it held the highest percentage of wooded land of any state at nearly 90% And he had become something of an amateur horticulturist so as to determine the types of trees and bushes for suitable concealment while being

Shot at or attempting to sneak up on an enemy as well as what one could safely eat when one’s own food ran out and which bark and herbs and flowers were viable for treating wounds when there was no more medicine at hand thus he knew the main state tree was the eastern

White pine several of which he could see here now the state flower was the white pine cone he eyed his two companions who were staring resolutely at him time to turn from botany to homicide where was she found he asked they led him along a broad rded

Path through the trees and kept going until they reached the end of land more than a dozen feet below there was nothing except a shelf of blackened and eroded rocks and boulders that acted as a natural seaw wall against the pounding surf it was close to high tide now and

Hard spray from the incoming water meeting this immovable boundary of stone nearly reached them where they stood fuss shown her light on one spot and held it right about there she said the body had fallen from here to there after Jenny was shot explained Harper Divine looked at where they were

All standing and then down at the Rocks you’re sure that’s what happened she was shot and then fell down there pretty damn sure yeah I mean what else said Harper how was the body facing Harper looked at fuss who said best as I can remember head to land land

And feet out to the ocean she could have flipped over on her way down since she was shot from the front best as you can remember didn’t somebody take pictures didn’t the feds go over it before the body was moved fuss barked hell we couldn’t leave her there tide was coming

In and there was a storm she would have been washed out to see if we waited another minute but you have pictures before she was moved look Divine you weren’t here okay said fuss the water was all over Jenny when we got here you heard doc gam time of death was between

9: and 11:00 we didn’t get here until after 2: in the morning we had to move fast real fast and we’re not CSI we got one ambulance and two volunteer EMTs in putam I called in everybody I could including some men I knew from the county with climbing experience to go

Down there and help bring her up before they got here we put a rope around Jenny to keep her from getting swept out we all got soaked to the skin and the water was so cold it damn well burned we had to use a truck with a winch to bring her

Up but we did our best to make sure we did as little damage to the body as possible we didn’t have hours or days to plan this out we had minutes she ended with a bark her posture all defensive and annoyed okay okay said Divine I get

It where was the casing found they led him back to a spot that lined up with where Jenny had been shot and gone over the edge Divine gauged it to be a little over 300 or so yards from where Jenny had purportedly been shot there was a

Cleft in the tree line here with an unobstructed sight line to the edge of the bluff on his voicing this opinion on the distance fuss told him it’s 321 yards I measured it myself dine worked the sight line and trajectory in his head while officers could not become snipers in the Army

Dine had supervised several teams of snipers and spotters he was intimately familiar with the weapons and ammo used the physiological processes involved and the ballistic calculations that went into ending the life of another human being over substantial distances using a long barreled rifle and scope and he came away with the conclusion that

Things were not making sense you’re sure this is the spot he asked fuss said angrily I marked it myself we did have the time to work the scene up here that was where the casing was found and I’ll swear to that in court Divine knew they were upset that the feds were looking

Over their shoulders and controlling the investigation and the processing of the evidence but was there something else behind F’s look of vitriol any evidence of robbery none she had two rings and a necklace and a fancy watch a brightling said fuss her tone less aggressive now we got it all back

In the evidence room along with her other things purse wallet I imagine they’re back in her room if you give the okay we can search it finally said Harper tomorrow morning work for you you said Divine 9:00 I’ll bring the coffee saw a place close to the end main Brew

How’s that sound sure that works said Harper in a friendlier tone acknowledging this Olive Branch offered by Divine we both take it black I suppose with the weather there were no Footprints tire tracks we looked said fuss but it was a quagmire by then truck

We used to wincher up got stuck had to get a tow truck to pull it out we weren’t getting any Trace from that mess Divine looked back at the cliff where Jenny had allegedly gone over so how did Palmer find her body he would have had

To go right up to the edge and then look down Harper said Earl told me he was out walking late that night he couldn’t sleep out walking in the pouring rain fuss interjected Earl Palmer had nothing to do with what happened to Jenny Divine kept his Gaze on Harper never said he

Did I’m just trying to understand the situation I have superiors I have to report to and they’ll be asking me very pointed questions like I’m asking you Harper and fuss exchanged a glance a worried one Harper said he was a lobsterman foul weather means nothing to

Him and I told you he lost his wife he probably didn’t even know what he was doing just wandering aimlessly did he walk from his house or drive he walked and he happened to come over to this spot and just stared out at the ocean a place he spent most of his

Life and then he looked down and saw her and called 911 so it was just a coincidence that he picked this spot out of all the others around here to go and take a look at the water and happened to glance down and find a body each word that came out of

Divine’s mouth sounded more unbelievable to him than the previous one coincidences like that do happen Divine said fuss maybe in novels thought divine but not ever in real life they parted company with the agreement to meet up at the Inn the following morning as Divine drove back into town

He stopped and quickly pulled over to the curb Dak silw well whom he recognized from the photo in his briefing book had just walked into a bar called the Hops chapter 10 dine had been in countless watering holes in many countries during his military career they pretty much all

Looked and functioned the same although there had been one in South Korea that had been a little out there over their torsos The Waitresses had worn crisscrossed ammo belts with orange flavored tequila shots instead of bullets in the cartridge pouches and that was pretty much all they had on the

Hops was Far More formulaic in its offerings a scattering of tables and chairs a small scuffed parket Dance Floor a tiny raised stage for live music empty now and a long bar with wooden stools a big mirror rows of Terrace liquor bottles and six beers on

Tap a Janice Joplin song was playing on an old-fashioned jukebox and the late singer’s one-of-a-kind voice resonated over them like thunder across a flowered Meadow although the singer had died over two decades before he was born one of divine’s Father’s friends had introduced him to rock and roll performers from

That era Joplin had quickly become one of his favorite vocalists he had often listened to her songs during combat deployments overseas much to the amusement of his fellow soldiers who were far more into musicians from their own generation oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes

Benz the bar was mostly full and divine could imagine it was probably the only such establishment in town set off in a small wing of the building were two pool tables where men and women were smacking the balls around and Performing the flirty maybe something later ritual that such social environments

Inspired a well-used Terminator pinball machine was being played by a blonde woman in her mid-30s dressed in tight jeans and a loose black blouse that enticingly displayed her ample cleavage nearby two young men in their early 20s were enjoying a furious match of Foosball all the while eyeballing the

Blonde with equal parts lust and Youthful hope Dak silw well was easy to spot with his height and heft divine knew all the man’s vitals from viewing his armor file he was 6’4 and looked to be carrying about 230 lb he had on jeans muddy boots and a leather jacket Divine watched as

He shed the jacket and hung it on a wall Peg underneath he had on a white muscle shirt that showed off his impressive biceps and delts as well as a sculpted back his lats and romboid muscles heavily chiseled both arms were fully tatted as were the tops of his pecs the

Image of an emerald green snake wrapped around his thick veined neck Dak claimed a stool and lifted a finger at one of the women working behind the bar the young woman poured out a Ying Ling from one of the Taps and carried it over to him Dak waved and nodded to several

People who performed the same gesture back a regular thought Divine an old man next to Dak paid his bill hopped off his stool threw on his coat and was gone his thirst evidently satiated Divine sat down on the vacated stool and motion to The Other Woman

Working the bar she was in her 40s with Sandy hair and a wiry Physique in the mirror he could see the edge of her smartphone sticking out of one rear pocket and the top of a purple Vape out of the other Yingling on draft he said she nodded poured and delivered it five

Bucks Divine slipped her a 10 and told her to keep it Dak sipped his beer staring straight ahead but Divine knew this game and had glanced twice in in the mirror to see dak’s pupils swivel in his Direction in fact everyone in the place pretty much had shot looks at The

Outsider in their midst before dine had sat down he had seen in the mirror’s reflection that Dak had said something to the old man right before he so readily jumped up leaving the stool empty if divine’s lip reading was right it was something like beat it Joe somebody wants your

Seat Divine sipped his beer and contemplated his next move tactics and strategies rolled through his head like they had during combat on unforgiving terrain with a Wy opponent who was doing the same thing he finally said I’m sure you know who I am probably when Patricia Kingman started making the phone rounds

About the Stranger in Town and then maybe a heads up from the local constabulary Dak didn’t turn his head but both men were now eyeing each other in the mirror Divine watched as the other man’s muscles tensed divine’s muscles did nothing there was no reason to too yet and the other man’s

Respiration had noticeably elevated while div Vines had actually slowed Dak silw well had obviously forgotten some or all of what the Army had painstakingly taught him or maybe he’d never taken it seriously in the first place perhaps that was why they had parted company his phone buzzed he eased

It from his pocket and read the text that Campbell had just sent PFC Dax silw well OT that Army speak for other than honorable this meant that Dak had done something bad but not egregious enough for a punitive consequence such as a court Marshal and prison confinement under the uniform code of military

Justice that also meant Dak couldn’t rejoin the Army and had forfeited most if not all of his military benefits Campbell had not indicated the reason for the OT but Divine knew most of them by heart violence against military personnel or a civilian adultery drug or alcohol abuse and a security

Violation anything more serious in the OT would not have been possible so which one are you Dak the man finally stirred but only to order another beer when it came Dak broke the silence Travis Divine Homeland Security and I know why you’re here Divine said I’m sorry for your loss Dak

Turned to him perhaps to gauge to Vine’s level of sincerity without the mirrored buffer Jenny didn’t deserve to go out that way she was a good person she have enemies that you know of you’d know better than me considering what she did for a living that would require a

Stranger in town anyone see anything like that Dak shook his head clearly thinking this through I haven’t you’d have to ask around everyone picked up on me really fast just thought it would have worked through the grapevine if another Outsider had passed through Dak Shrugged don’t know what to tell you

Literally or is something else getting played out here you see your sister or talk to her while she was here DC took longer than necessary to answer this simple question I didn’t even know she was in town it was a shock when we found out she was

Dead we as in you and your sister asked Divine Dak nodded and sipped his beer did Jenny see or talk to your sister while she was here not that she mentioned you’d have to ask her I plan to you know Earl Palmer sure a good man he found Jenny’s body I understand he

Just recently lost his wife likes to wander at night lucky for us otherwise Jenny might have gotten washed out to see when can I have a more formal interview with you and your sister of course doesn’t this count as my formal interview afraid not I work six days a

Week 10 to 8 my tattoo shops around the corner inkw get it yeah clever small town keep you that busy I’ve built a rep lots of folks from jonesport Maas and Cutler and I have clients from all over New England even Canada nice replied Divine he ran his

Gaze over Divine you got tats you look the sort none voluntarily but I’ve got a real Wicked one around my ankle and calf picked it up in the Middle East on the biting end of an IED Dax shot him a funny look army or Marine the former you couldn’t have pulled the full

Ride you’re way too young decided to do something else with my life Dak drained his beer yeah me too a pulse throbbed in the man’s Temple he knows that I know about the otth we can grab some breakfast or late dinner your call and my treat I’m not usually an early

Riser dinner then I only do organic they got a place here for that asked Divine doubtfully yeah it’s a place called only real food I’m an investor they get customers from all over Maine aristic piscataquis Waldo kbec York Canada too just like my tat shop it’s no coincidence I push all my investments

With my clients congrats so 9:00 tomorrow night I guess I’d like a more definitive reply okay nine it is the restaurant is two blocks south of here take a left on hyam silw well Street seriously named after the man who was born and grew up here

And made all that money less than 300 people now what happened it’s always been a toy town but outside the Town Line is our version of the burps where we have nearly 4,000 people and your sister where can I see her she’s usually home I need her phone number I’d like to set

Something up Dak gave it to him but added she doesn’t usually answer particularly if she doesn’t know who’s calling he handed Dak a card here’s my number then you can tell her to answer when I call Alex doesn’t follow orders and usually not advice either I’m persistent I understand she’s

Quite an artist says who so she’s not a good artist no she’s good better than good actually but her taste is uh eclectic and she only Parts with a piece when she really needs the money big house you think she’d really need the money a lot I do well at the

Tattoo parlor and I make good money off my investments okay I’m not in hrum silk Wells league but give me time I saw your father Divine told him now came the first hint of strong emotion on dak’s expressive face he’s not doing well you’re in the loop on all that Dak

Nodded I’ve been down to see him go as often as I can he say anything to you he wasn’t really awake they say he doesn’t have long a warrior deserves a better exit said Divine Dak tapped his surprisingly delicate fingers against his empty beer mug they also looked to have been

Manicured dine looked down at his own ragged ones and frowned yeah you’d think so wouldn’t you you disagree his military days were pretty much over when I came along but then he got into politics he wasn’t around much Divine decided to go there but you suit it up ore the army

Green Dak item yeah it was a lot of fun he dropped some cash for the beers and Rose I’m beat got to get going you need a lift nah got my Harley love that thing Divine watched him every step of the way he was seriously thinking of following

Him home when he spotted three large men pool sticks in hand staring dead at him when Divine left so did they the sounds of what might have been dax’s Harley soared off into the night leaving him alone with his three new main besties wonderful way to end a long unproductive day chapter

11 the body will not go where the mind has not been that was why most people were victims Divine knew they could not imagine themselves grievously injuring or killing someone else for any reason even in order to save their own lives so they wasted time in tempting to flee or

In pleading for Mercy to men who had none to give show a picture of someone attacking someone else and ask for a reaction and 99% of the people will say they would be in fear of their life if that happened to them the other 1% the criminal element have a different

Reaction they will say I’d hit them harder this was because they never saw themselves as the victim only the Predator their minds have been there and so their bodies were ready ready willing and able to go there too yet all humans were built to be Predators sharp strong teeth forward

Eyes that were far more efficient for hunting opposable thumbs and most of all the best brain of any animal and we all possess a latent Primal ability to fight to the death theine walked toward his Tahoe even as he heard the men follow when he reached

It he turned and faced them they looked angry and puffed up that was all he needed to know both of their intent and their being afraid of him the ones Divine always worried about were not the giant red-faced screamers they were secretly [ __ ] their pants it was the quiet stone-faced scrawny

Guys that would suddenly gut you with a shiv or pop a bullet into your brain and walk not run away disappearing into the night to do it again when someone else was stupid enough to underestimate them his senses did the preliminary calculation and ran it through the combat computer under his skull walking

Away from a fight if you could do so safely was usually the best answer looking at the three men Divine knew that was not going to be an option unless he did something creative and he didn’t want to fight them not because he knew he would lose it was because he was

Certain he would win and didn’t want to unnecessarily injure them and he was also wondering why they had decided to come after him in the first place can I help you he said the biggest one said yeah dude you can get out of town that’

Be a good start he looked at his friends and grinned sorry I have a job to do and it can’t be done remotely then we got us a problem or more to the point you do said the same man Divine glanced up and down the street not another living Soul other

Than the bar the storefronts were dark the Roar of the incoming tide along the harbor was really the only sound other than the men’s Collective breathing they were all big and strong and pumped full of alcohol and who knew what else two of them were in short sleeves despite the chilly weather he

Looked at the drug tracks on their beefy arms and came up with a plan he pointed at the man who had spoken I know you don’t I the man in his late 40s and taller than Divine by about 3 in and outweighing him by 30 lb looked

Taken AB I don’t know you he snarled you need to think again said Divine he opened his jacket to show his Glock the men saw it and the dynamic instantly changed he took out his cred pack with the badge and held it up for all to see Homeland Security but you

Already knew that you talked to us about a domestic terrorist Network operating up here and selling drugs to fund their operations I never forget a face we did the briefing over in Banger so nobody would know the man looked apoplectic I never talked to no [ __ ]

Feds Divine watched as the other two men glanced suspiciously at their comrade what’s your name asked dine I don’t need to tell you a damn thing that’s okay it’ll be in our files but from what I remember you were a big help so thanks we nailed some local badasses because of

You the man suddenly realized his friends were staring at him and not in a good way he’s lying I didn’t do any of that [ __ ] you know that you know me Divine was not going to give up precious ground well that’s why we recruit people like you you’re on the inside and you

Know everybody’s business you’re lying the man roared Divine touched the butt of his gun just as a reminder that it was there and had the means to kill all three of them with hardly any effort on his part now again what can I do for you

No scrap that I don’t have the time any of you see Jenny silk well before she died the men looked at one another ostensibly flumed by another abrupt change in the direction of the conversation we don’t know nothing about that said the second man shorter than his friend but thicker the drug tracks

On his left arm looked like the measles swollen nasty and painful I’m not accusing you of having anything to do with her death but I need to find out why she was here and who she might have met and spoken with did you know her the

Men seemed reluctant to say one way or another until the third fellow spoke up he was younger than the other two late 30s at most I went to high school with her I played football and she ran track and did gymnastics and she was smart too

Graduated top in the class she was the what do you call it valedictorian yeah so what was your take on her asked Divine she everybody loved Jenny me included he glanced at his companions clearly embarrassed at this Frank admission did you see her when she was

Last up here he nodded saw her on the street I waved to her and she waved back call me by my name though I’ve changed some gotten fat and lost most of my hair but she remembered me this was obviously a point of Pride with the man did she seem

Okay yeah I mean I think so she comes up from time to time but that was the first I’d seen her in a few years she comes to visit her brother and sister he wiped his nose I guess so I don’t really know I’m not really tight with the family

Divine eyed the tats on the other two men you guys know Alex or Dak looks like you both got Inked by him the smaller of them said yeah dude’s an artist and fair with his prices he ever talk about Jenny the one looked at the other

No not really said the man Divine had accused of being an informant he scowled and added here she was a fed you know her sister she’s an artist too Alex is different said the same man goes to the beat of her own drummer said the other gorgeous gal but hell don’t know why

She’s still here she could go out to LA or somewhere and make a hell of a lot of money or marry some rich dude and fly around in a private jet said the man Divine had accused now I’ll live in some spooky old house in the middle of [ __ ]

Nowhere so why do you think she never did that asked Divine the man Shrugged like I said she’s different I don’t think she cares about money and [ __ ] like that when was the last time you saw her maybe six months ago when she rode her bike into town motorbike no pedal bike

You speak to her no she don’t like to interact with folks keeps to herself don’t mess with nobody okay what do you know about Earl Palmer he found the body they all looked at one another again the man he’d accused of being an informant answered good man old school but he’s hurting bad

Just lost his wife then Define Jenny [ __ ] man talk about bad luck where exactly does he live I’ll just need to get his statement the man told him and added little cottage way off the road white with green shutters can’t miss it only place around there I understand he was a

Lobsterman one of the best said the same man and I should know I’m one too damn hard work for not much money and the lobsters they’re going awall say it’s climate change warming water and they’re heading north all I know is my money got

Cut in half had to get a second job most days I come off the boat all tired as hell and go right to work at another gig then you needed that beer in the Hop observed Divine the man grinned damn sure did Divine looked at the other men

And just so you know I made up the stuff about him working with the feds why the hell did you do that barked the man he’d accused because I could sense you three might want to do me physical harm and I didn’t want to pull my gun on you and

Start shooting so Ed that to diffuse the situation what do you think did I make the right call yeah you did the man now looked sheepish we’re pretty much just being drunk and stupid theine said any particular reason why you decided to have a beef with me

Other than the drunk and stupid part the men looked at one another again the first man said NOP that’s about it uhhuh said dine who didn’t believe this well I appreciate the to help if you think of anything else he handed each of them his card

With his cell phone number then the man who had gone to school with Jenny said I can’t think of no reason why somebody want to hurt her well it’s my job to find out and I’m pretty good at my job I hope chapter 12 Divine headed back to the in but then

Decided to take a detour following the directions he’d been given he had no difficulty in finding the turnoff and mailbox with the name Palmer he didn’t pull up directly to the house but got out and walked along the winding Gravel drive until he reached the cottage which seemed to sit orphaned

From the rest of putam there was a cluster of duded service Berry trees next to the small cottage Divine could see no lights on in the house but the same ancient station wagon he had seen when first heading into town was parked in front next to a

Rugged old Ford F-150 with a the rear winch he tried to recall the details of the man in the vehicle from earlier fine snowy white hair leathery Skin Deep set eyes jowly features and a pained expression mixed with disinterest now that Divine knew of the man’s loss he decided that Palmer had

Looked like a bereaved person aimless disconnected he could see such a man wandering late at night but to wander through a forest path all the way over to the exact spot where Jenny silw Well’s body lay Divine was not buying it and the police seemed to be going to

Great pains to throw off any suspicion of Palmer and Dak and the fellow lobstermen from the bar had sung the man’s praises and voiced sympathy for his personal loss without questioning the veracity of the man’s account of finding Jenny silw Well’s body the two vehicles were unlocked he

Saw right away that in the station wagon the gas and brake pedals had been modified to allow them both to be worked via hand control controls mounted on the steering column why he didn’t know then he saw extra hand grips that had been bolted to the car’s interior just above

The window frame and another one mounted on the dash he turned around walked back to the Tahoe and drove past Joselyn Point once more as he did so he spotted a Harley with a helmetless Dack asri it pull into the drive and head up to the house that

Was interesting because Dak should have been home a while ago unless he had stopped somewhere first and maybe his conversation with Divine had prompted that detour the questions kept piling up and divine hadn’t been here even half a day he parked in front of the inn and walked into the reception area where

Kingman was tidying up the front counter she gave him a piercing unfriendly look you should have told me who you were she admonished you’re probably right he said in a disarming tone now that you know is there anything you can tell me I already told Chief

Harper all that I know I’d appreciate it if you could take a minute and tell me that way there’s no buffer between accounts and you might remember something else I’m just trying to find out what happened to Jenny she sighed as her frostiness melted away would you like some hot chocolate I

Sure would I’m not used to the cold yet she put a hand on her hip and merked young man this isn’t cold this is mildly chilly come with me she led him through the curtain and divine found himself in a comfortable apartment set up while Kingman busied

Herself with cups cocoa and a new looking electric hot water kettle he looked around some logs sat unburned in a Stone Hearth while the furniture was clearly old it all looked comfortable knickknacks abounded on tables and shelves and the vast array of photos on on one wall seemed to indicate that

Kingman had a great many grandchildren nice looking Crew He said she looked up to see what he was referring to and smiled eight and Counting oldest one is 10 wish my Wilbur could be around to see him I didn’t know you were a widow it’s been years now

Wilbur was a lobsterman there was an accident out at Sea and the boat went down and took Wilbur with it I’m really sorry thank you it was just horribly bad luck sometimes there is nothing you can do despite the best of intentions and no one’s perfect Lord knows I’m not you’re

Messing up all my preconceived notions of federal folks he smiled you met many just on TV well there was Jenny but she was one of us no matter where she moved to or what she did they sat in rocking chairs in front of the fireplace and drank their hot

Chocolate it really is so sad said Kingman suddenly tearing up I never thought Jenny would be the last person I thought this would happen to she pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes she stared over at Divine she was such a good person seems

To be the consensus of everyone I spoke with do you think it has to do with the work she was doing what do you know about that just dribs and drabs I heard over the years and I had a cousin who worked doing something for the Department of Defense whenever I asked

Him what he did he said it’s better if you don’t know you’d never sleep again scary in answer to your question I don’t know who killed her or why just because she died here does not mean that anybody local had anything to do with it God I

Would hope not I understand and he saw Jenny on the night she died Kingman looked even more depressed if I had known what was going to happen I would have held on to her with both arms tell me about it did she look normal anything you can

Remember she passed by the office and I saw her out the window this is from the back path you understand the one leading to The Cottages right it was about A4 to 8 I remember glancing at the clock I thought she might be going to get some dinner

She was dressed in jeans and a big Parker her hair was in a ponytail and I remembered thinking I hadn’t seen her wear it like that for a long time she seemed fine if a little focused I guess she never looked around just kept looking straight ahead but

Then she was always focused even as a little girl and you didn’t see her after that didn’t hear a car come by maybe she was getting a ride with someone because her car was left here I had the TV on so I don’t think I would

Have heard that and that was the last time I saw her she concluded miserably Divine absorbed this and said I ran into Dak silw well tonight he’s a reserved guy but he seemed shaken up by what happened I’m sure he was so they were close him and Jenny and

Alex she took time to sip her drink set the mug down placed her hands in her lap and looked at her I suppose you need to know this for your investigation I read where most murders are committed by people you know friends and family unfortunately yes they were all

Close growing up saw that for myself Dak was all sports all the time big and strong that boy was lettered in everything thought he was going to be playing professional football or baseball but it didn’t work out guess that’s a pipe dream for most Jenny was the oldest and The Golden Child

Everything she touched smart as all get out kind too pretty we all knew she was destined to do something special and Alex Alex is the youngest and is drop dead gorgeous and I don’t use that term lightly not as smart as Jenny at least in some ways she could draw anything

From an early age I mean really really talented the family wanted her to go away to a really great art school UCLA Chicago or Virginia Commonwealth in Richmond she got accepted to them all but she didn’t go no she didn’t any idea why Kingman sighed and in that release

Divine sensed a whole bundle of regrets not for Kingman personally or the silk Wells either but maybe for the whole town of putam Alex used to be outgoing prankish fun full of ambition sort of like in that way but then it was like the light turned off and she became withdrawn

Moody scared to live what happened she hesitated seemingly debating within herself I don’t really know you really don’t know what happened to cause that big a change in her it was many years ago and whatever it was the family made sure it was all hushed up Divine

Wondered why cla’s silk will had not mentioned this so she and DX stayed here in the Old Homestead she nodded absently Dak was in the Army for a while and then he wasn’t I don’t know why no one ever said she gave him a curious look but Divine merely

Shrugged then he came back here learned to be a tattoo artist and it became his passion opened his shop and does really well then he invested in some other businesses around town I think he likes to be a big fish in a teeny Pond and we fit that

Bill I guess he and Alex get along living together I don’t know how much they actually interact I thought in small towns gossip moves faster than Jets she laughed softly it it does but not for every single aspect of someone’s life Alex ever come into town Divine knew what the man outside

The bar had told him about Alex riding her bike into town but not interacting however he wanted to hear kingman’s perspective very rarely and then it’s just to get something she needs and then the girl runs back to her hidey-hole hidey-hole interesting choice of words seems like a waste of a promising

Life I agree with you she settled her attention fully on Divine maybe you can put that on your list to find out if you do it’ll be a good thing for all of us that she came to Puttin them maybe not for everyone thought Divine as he finished his hot chocolate chapter

13 after leaving Kingman in her little apartment Divine passed by the cottage where Jenny silw well had been staying he had already seen her Rental Car in the front parking area awaiting a thorough processing Divine hop to find her laptop and phone in there or her Cottage the lights in the cottage were

Off and there was police tape across the only entrance he stood there in the cold air his hands stuffed in his pockets and stared at the little building which seemed to be a duplicate of the one he was staying in he wondered what Jenny silk well had been thinking on her last

Night on Earth not realizing that it would be so unfinished business that can mean a lot of different things he also wondered whether he should break into the cottage and her car to see if her electronic devices were inside that would piss off the local cops but National Security would

Trump all that yet if the items had been in there the enemies of this country if they had killed Jenny silw well surely would have already retrieved them then he heard a noise his hand went automatically to his Glock he moved forward and then around the side of the

Cottage he took one hand off the Glock reached into his coat pocket and produced a small flashlight with a high-intensity focused beam setting he clicked it on held it just above his Glock while keeping both hands on the weapon and kept moving forward toward the Sounds in three more steps he saw the

Source of the noise the woman was perched on her hunches on the ground and she was sobbing ma’am are you okay when his beam found and held on her features Divine sucked in a quick breath as he recognized her get that [ __ ] light out of my face barked Alex silw well

Divine killed the light and simply stood there gaping his mind was worrying trying to process all this he looked around to see if a window on Jenny’s Cottage had been broken or any other sign that her sister had intruded into what was potentially a treasure Trove of possible evidence in a murder

Investigation he saw nothing of the kind are you all right he asked again she Rose Alex was tall about 5’8 and lean who are you exactly she asked in a calmer tone Travis Divine Right the man they sent to find out about Jenny and you’re her sister how

Brilliant you are they must have been thrilled when you became a detective or whatever it is you actually do Divine pulled his creds and flashed the light on them Homeland Security right anybody can print a card and make a badge I can make them for you

How many more do you need what are you doing here Alex silw well was beautiful but there was such misery in the woman’s features that her looks became a secondary consideration with each rapid breath of hers visible air was propelled into the sky divine’s breaths were less rapid but

Not by much she had done to him what the two assassins on the Geneva train and the three drunk idiots back at the bar had failed to do thrown him off his game my sister yes by everyone’s accounts she was a wonderful person I’m sorry for your loss not everyone’s account Mr Divine

You haven’t talked to me yet and with that stunning statement she pushed past him and stroe off Divine knew he he should have gone after her but he didn’t at least not right away when the paralysis that had gripped him finally reeded he turned and raced

Back down the path once he reached the main street he gazed up and down it he hadn’t heard a car start up and then he recalled being told she had a bicycle he trudged off to his Cottage where he checked to make sure none of the traps he had laid had been Disturbed

They were all still in place he stripped down to his SK and stared into the bathroom mirror Divine traced the graphic surgical scar along his shoulder where the Glock round had impacted he had a similar wound on his other shoulder from a sniper round fired at him in the Middle East that had

Penetrated a defect in his body armor the araqi could have finished off the immobilized Divine with a head shot but Divine supposed it had been his lucky day though he hadn’t really felt all that lucky while he’d been airlifted out nearly unconscious and bleeding like a

[ __ ] he eyed his calf where the IED had said Hello by leaving its Bomb Pattern Forever More on his flesh will the fourth time punch a ticket for good Divine maybe he stretched and then grimaced as his Lim achd from the effort he lay down on yet another strange bed and stared up

At the ceiling he was most definitely a ceiling sterer where he could watch the imagined frames of his life and his Myriad mistakes troop by this was his version of very cheap therapy like many military folks he found it difficult to talk to people about anything much less his

Inner feelings whatever the hell those actually were the world used to be divided into black and white for divine good guys versus bad guys this demarcation used to be true and unassailable and easy to differentiate now now Divine relied on himself only thus his long-standing grueling early morning workouts and the sealing

Analysis of his past actions he needed to make sure that he could survive anything he trusted only his finely honed military instincts that had told him to turn left instead of right to duck it just the right time to wait beside a door just a second longer so

The shotgun blast could blow through it without killing him two other faces appeared on the ceiling of his thoughts as they often did Captain Kenneth Hawkins and lieutenant Roy blankin ship he had served with both men who were also now both dead Hawkins had murdered blanken

Ship and made it look like suicide his motive was as old as time he coveted blankin ship’s pretty wife with whom he was having an affair Army CID had cluster [ __ ] the case hamstrung by military politics and Hawkins had gotten away clean that was until a suspicious Divine who had

Previously learned of the affair from blankin ship had tried his best to get C to take another look when he was stonewalled divine had resorted to a personal accounting he had lured Hawkins out into the Afghanistan mountains and a furious fight had ensued dine had not meant to kill the

Man but he had died anyway and then Emerson Campbell had come along with all the evidence to put Divine away in the Army prison out in lenworth Kansas but the man had given Divine a choice prison or this his therapy session over he closed his eyes and like the Army had taught

Him fell asleep within a minute chapter 14 divine’s phone alarm kicked off at 5:00 a.m. he pulled on sweatpants Stout Court shoes and a thick hoodie then jogged out into the dark and empty Main Street and turned left he stopped at the harbor for a minute and watched some boats heading

Out men were lifting metal cages and large wooden boxes on the dock and hefting some of them into boats cleated to slips he also saw other men in small dingies motoring or rowing out to the moed boats the day apparently started early for those who labored on the

Waters under the lights that illuminated the area he recognized the man who had confronted him outside the bar and divine had falsely accused of being an informant he was in the stern of a good-sized boat that was making its way out of the harbor he looked like he was

Not yet over his boozing from the previous night divine continued on he had already noted the square of dormant grass and leafless trees about A4 mile down where the small main business area ended he reached it and did a quick 20-minute hit or high-intensity interval training routine to get his heart

Pumping and his blood flowing this was followed by push-ups pull-ups on a tree limb squats lunges Jacks and isometric holds where his body shook from the effort of holding statue-like poses for less than a minute this was followed by more core work followed by even more intense slower body exercises

Which every Army grunt knew was where real strength came from he did wind Sprints forward and then backward because allout charges were often followed by the same level of Retreats and you never wanted to look away from whoever was shooting at you his breathing was always precisely timed

And measured to sink with his body and effort he finished with army low crawls on the wet grass that led to high kickers and then an exhaustive set of burpees he slowly cooled down letting his heart rate and breathing normalize before heading back it was nearly 6:30

When he stepped into the shower back at his Cottage he dried off changed into a fresh set of clothes and headed out out the Inn served a continental breakfast but as he had mentioned to Harper and fuss Divine had spotted a breakfast restaurant Main Brew down the street he

Wanted some time to think before he met up with the local police and he wanted to go over again what he had learned and not learned so far a short walk through windy cold brought him to the blue painted door of the restaurant it was pretty full at a

Little after 7: the place looked like it had been recently rent OV at the clusters of tables and chairs in the middle of the sturdy wood composite floor and the red vinyl booths that ringed the perimeter looked new the counter was long and had deli style refrigerated glass fronted cabinets that

Were filled with all sorts of meats salads sandwiches and other prepared foods two waitresses were working the tables at the counter a third young woman was taking care of the half dozen customers seated there on bolted in whirly stools the the place was definitely bustling Divine observed but

There might not be many places to get breakfast in town either the sign on a metal stand at the entrance said to seat yourself So Divine did at a booth at the very end of one wall and farthest from the kitchen a young waitress hurried over with a laminated menu that was clipped

To a wooden board what can I get you to drink she asked coffee black and a big glass of water no ice coming up she hurried off while Divine looked at the menu there were some healthier selections like avocado toast and stone cut oatmeal with fruit but he decided to

Opt for an old favorite with one modification thrown into the mix when she brought the coffee which was piping hot and smelled wonderful he ordered the lobsterman’s breakfast which basically covered all major food groups with a piece of fried cod the one modification thrown in she left the menu behind after he

Gave his order and he ran his gaze down it the owner was Annie Palmer Divine did a double take at the name Palmer was a pretty common surname but in a town with fewer than 300 people could she be related to Earl he took out his phone and Googled

The restaurant on the website he saw a photo of a smiling young woman he glanced up to see the same woman working the breakfast counter Annie Palmer was in her late 20s with dark hair brown eyes and of medium height the woman didn’t seem to be

Carrying an ounce of fat on her but with her job he assumed she never stopped moving there was no mention of any connection to Earl in the online materials but there wouldn’t necessarily be either his breakfast arrived and it was as good as the coffee he was surprised

How much he liked the combo of fried cods scrambled eggs and bacon and thick pieces of buttered toast he he took his time eating and watching everyone around him without seeming to do so he caught several people staring at him and making no pains to disguise it he thought back

To his encounters with Dak and later his sister Alex seemed truly brokenhearted about her siblings death but then what had her parting comment been about did she mean that not everyone thought Jenny was a good person maybe including her these musings were interrupted by someone coming over and sitting across

From him Annie Palmer tucked a strand of hair back into place behind her ear and slid him a fresh cup of coffee she had also brought one for herself up close he could see the smattering of freckles over her cheeks and nose she sat down across from

Him Divine glanced over to see that the counter crowd had mostly dissipated in fact the place only had a few tables still occupied he eyed his watch he’d been here nearly 50 minutes it had felt like 5 Seconds thanks he said does the boss usually make table

Calls she smiled and it was warm and genuine and the woman looked like she was used to doing it the boss does everything that she needs to do to keep this place afloat well it looks to me like you have Fair Winds and following seas in Maine that can change in a

Heartbeat I suppose you’re young to be running your own business but then what do I know I’ll be 30 in 2 years but some days I feel a lot older don’t we all small talk over she took a sip of her coffee and gave him a serious stare her

Freckles seemed to enlarge with the change in demeanor Jenny yes she looked down but not before Divine could see her lips tremble it was a shock said Palmer lifting her chin to look at him I’m sure I guess you’re working with Chief Harper and Wendy I am they’re good people but

Probably not very experienced in this sort of thing we we don’t have many murders in putam thank God but they know all the local angles which all need to learn too so you think it was someone from putam who killed her the query was blunt and divine could sense that Palmer

Craved a blunt response but he could not give it I don’t know I’ve been here less than 24 hours I haven’t even gotten the lay of the land yet I heard you haven’t let the grass grow under your feet really hit the ground running that’s my job but

Going fast is not always good one might jump to conclusions that later turn out to be wrong I avoid that if I can I’m Travis Divine by the way but you probably already knew that and I’m Annie Palmer but you obviously already knew that I owned the this place he held up

His phone not much privacy anymore no there’s not her face flushed and he wasn’t sure why so any relation to Earl he’s my grandfather and your parents house fire 15 years ago neither one of them made it out alive I’m very sorry I was away at summer

Camp Palmer put a hand to her mouth and in spite of obviously trying hard not to she briefly teared up I’m sorry said Divine handing her a napkin from the holder on the table I didn’t mean for you to recall painful memories it’s okay she wiped her eyes

And let out a long cleansing breath then birdie that’s my grandmother died a few weeks ago always thought Gramps would go first he did too I’m sure that is so incredibly hard for both you and your grandfather he paused I understand that he found Jenny’s

Body she had to know that he knew this thought Divine but she still looked troubled by his query he just stumbled on it I mean what else right it was terrible dine assumed his poker face and just nodded I suppose he recognized Jenny yes yes he did

I mean he’d known Jenny her whole life Divine thought about the distance from the edge of the bluff down to the Rock shelf where Jenny’s body lay in the darkness partially covered in water and mentally shook his head in disbelief at what she had said and there was something

Else when I was by his place I saw that your grandfather has special pedal controls on his station wagon and some extra handholds yes he has bad arthritis and some spine issues he had neck surgery that didn’t turn out too well he can’t really use his legs and feet to work the

Gas and break but he can do it with his hands he’s still pretty strong in the upper body the hand holds let him pull himself out of the car but he doesn’t drive much anymore unless he has to or he’s in a stubborn mood and he can’t

Drive his truck anymore too hard to get in and out mostly he just walks slowly so were you friends with the silk Wells yes they were the most famous family here she attempted a smile we didn’t move in the same Social Circles to the extent putam has any but Alex isn’t that

Much older than I am we used to hang out some growing up she’s an amazing artist but you didn’t see or talk to Jenny on her last trip here no I didn’t even know she was in town she’s been described as a really good person before answering Palmer took a sip of

Coffee yes yes she was outgoing and friendly not like her sister then you said you know Alex Palmer scrunched up her nose for a moment before saying bluntly if anyone says they really know Alex you know what I would say what that they’re lying to themselves that might have been her most

Honest statement yet thought Divine interesting why do you say that she Shrugged she never really lets anyone get close and Dak what about him good person I’m probably not the one to ask she Rose got cleanup Duty now the Glamorous Life of a small business owner I’d like to chat again if that’s

Okay she looked around at the Four Walls of the place and her expression was not exactly one of unbridled Joy well you know where to find me pretty much every waking moment he glanced at her hand and saw no ring there husband kids he knew this question was not particularly appropriate but criminal

Investigations seldom were have a good day Mr Divine putam was getting more interesting and puzzling by the minute chapter 15 Divine handed a cup of coffee to Harper and one to fuss when they arrived to search Jenny silw Well’s Cottage he’d purchased the drinks before he’d left main

Brew they thanked him and then looked dumbstruck when he told him that he had discovered Alex silw well sobbing outside her sister’s Cottage last night what was she doing here asked fuss she didn’t say I guess she was upset about what had happened to her sister

Harper took a drink of his coffee and nodded I suppose that makes sense she might have also wanted to get into the cottage offered Divine he wanted to see how the officers responded to that possibility fuss cocked her head at him what to get a Keepsake or something you

Mean or something said Divine delicately you mean attempting to knowingly procure evidence from a homicide victim’s last known place of residence before it was processed by law enforcement said Harper like he was speaking in open court and striving to be absolutely precise with his language yes was divine’s simple

Response it was locked and covered with police tape she wouldn’t have known that until she got here pointed out Divine and how did she know this was Jenny’s Cottage had they met here beforehand Harper waved this query off small town she would have heard from someone maybe Pat told her how did she

Appear other than the crying asked fuss did you speak to her he gave a shorthand account of their conversation leaving out Alex’s comment about her perhaps not so wonderful sister but he did tell them how she had put him in his place yeah that sounds like Alex

Proclaimed fuss Harper said shall we get to the search do you have the keys to a rental asked deine they were in in the cottage I made a quick check before I secured it replied Harper they did the rental vehicle first it had a new car smell and there was not

A single thing of Jenny’s in it and they pulled up the liner in the trunk looked under the car in the wheel wells and under the floorboards and seats and even in the engine compartment and tailpipe what’s that inside said Harper toine was grateful to get out of the

Cold the chief cut the police tape and unlocked the door with the one lb slug key Divine asked if the key had been found on Jenny’s body no said Harper but Pat gave me this master key well let’s get to it they found a small carry-on roller

Next to the bed it contained only clothes and a pair of sneakers the bathroom had her toiletry bag with some of the items laid out neatly on the sink she had been here only the one day arriving early so the bed had not been slept in there was no

Briefcase they did find her purse with her wallet in it but no laptop or phone you have the clothes she was found in asked deine back in the evidence Locker at the station said fuss got a list on you she pulled out her phone and clicked through some screens she held it

Out to him he read off Parker jeans sweater boots socks underwear he looked up personal effects just the two rings necklace and the brightling watch I mentioned before and now that we found her purse and wallet here we can definitely rule out robbery what about a phone everyone carries a

Phone we found no phone on her person said fuss so since it’s not here presumably someone took it or it got washed away when she fell under the Rocks said Harper like we told you by the time we got there she was damn near floating Divine didn’t buy this but

Didn’t comment Harper looked around well there’s nothing much here we’ll bag and tag what is you don’t want to call in a forensics team said Divine the closest one I know of that’s any good is at least two hours away fuss pointed out and this is not the crime scene if we

Had found something obvious blood or signs of a struggle for example we would call them in but this isn’t the big city Divine no CSI here resources are limited and police budgets are tiny we can’t snap our fingers and these folks suddenly appear even for a priority case

Like this everyone’s busy and they already sent extra people out on it that much crime around here you’d be surprised it’s just spread over a wide area there are fewer and fewer jobs fentanyl uses through the roof people are just fed up with being crapped on and everyone around here has guns lots

Of them not a good combo putham looks like it’s doing okay a few nice shops and a new bar and some fancy restaurants do not make for a paradise for everybody interjected Harper fishing still drives this part of Maine and the fishing lately has not been all that good and it’s only

Expected to get more challenging the two officers proceeded to methodically collect the woman’s personal possessions dine watched them for a bit and then walked around the cottage he was pretending it was part of an enclave of mud Shacks outside of Kabul where they’ found a meticulously hidden I

Processing operation or 20 clicks to the north of the hook where an entire rural Village had banded together to hide a top leader of Isis a thorough search had rooted him out and a shootout had followed the intensity of which Divine had seldom seen every villager even grandmothers

And kids had produced a variety of weapons from old Soviet AK-47 assault rifles to stechkin machine pistols and opened fire divine’s team leader had had to call in reinforcements to eventually win the battle and the Isis leader had been killed in the ensuing melee so they got no Intel from him and the

Confrontation had cost two American soldiers their lives along with four kids and three elderly women Divine had thrown up after seeing the torn apart bodies of the children and women and he had not been alone he eyed the small desk set against the window a duplicate of the one in his

Room bright sunlight was streaming in through the glass and he stood directly in its path to gain some warmth when he looked down at the desktop he saw it a slight dust pattern the shape sure looked like the size of a laptop he ran the possibilities through

In his head had Jenny taken it with her had her killer taken it from her or had her killer come here and taken it after she was dead as he had speculated the previous night if they had taken her laptop and phone he knew the Security on each would be pretty much

Unbeatable but if they somehow got the passwords from her before they killed her there was up to several hours between silw Well’s last being alive and her death occurring a lot could have happened during that time gam didn’t mention any traces of torture in the postmortem but still if

Our enemies now possess what she had on her laptop or phone he knew there were strict protocols and procedures for keeping classified information on on government devices and just like the private sector much of it was stored on the cloud but he also knew that some government employees took shortcuts or didn’t

Always adhere strictly to the protocols he glanced over to see fuss eyeing him Cally where he stood in the sunlight what’s up she asked just trying to stay warm fuss scoffed try coming here in January she went back to work and divine stared back down down at a dust pattern

That was making his gut churn chapter 16 after parting company with the local police Divine walked to his Cottage where he composed and sent off a long email to cble filling him in on everything that had happened since they last communicated including silk Well’s laptop possibly having been taken and

There being no sign of her phone as Divine wrote it all out he could see that it was a lot to report in a short period of time and his instincts were telling him that there was a lot more to come he got into the Tahoe and drove

Along the coast Highway he had the dinner with Dak tonight but he decided he’d first have a follow-up meeting with his sister though the initial encounter had hardly been a meeting he checked his watch and noted that Dak would have been at his tattoo shop for a couple of

Hours dine arrived at Joselyn point and headed up the cracked and pitted asphalt driveway past l escaping that had once been elegant and substantial but now was just a ruinous mass as nature reclaimed its territory he parked in front of the house and took in the

Structure it was not in as bad a shape as he had expected parts of the exterior while grungy and ill-used by the elements looked like they had been power washed fairly recently the front entrance foundation’s veneer had some new stone and fresh mortar and the wooden columns holding up the pitched

Roof over the front door looked new the glass and some of the windows seemed to have been replaced and though the lawn was now dormant The Sod looked to be maybe have been put in during the fall he eyed one of the tall brick chimney stacks and saw

Smoke curling out of it directly behind the house was a large clapboard structure with a high-pitched Cedar Shake roof and a large Skylight set in each plane of the shakes there were Windows lining the side walls and a large exhaust pipe coming out of the rear wall he peered ins inside one of

The windows and saw that it was set up as an art studio easel with Works in process on them long worktables with cans of brushes and small bottles of paint lined up along with sketch pads jars of drawing pencils and charcoal sticks and large and small paint smeared

Pallets in one corner was a potting wheel and in another Corner stood a small Kil there was also large metal tanks next to what looked to be welding equipment and a large work sink and a metal tub set set on wooden saw horses he tried the door but it was

Securely locked he looked to his left and far down the property line he could see some of the ancillary buildings he had glimpsed last night he walked over to the coastline he found it was quite elevated as he looked over the edge to the Rocks below though there was a path

Down that looked well used some of the boulders were nearly as large as an Abram’s tank the surf pounded against them sending a drenching spray halfway up from where Divine stood he knew that Maine had a long coastline the fourth longest of all the states longer even in California’s

Because of all the jagged clusters of Coes and inlets and out of all that Shoreline in the middle of the night and a downpour Earl Palmer walked through a forest of trees to the exact spot where Jenny silw well lay dead on the Rocks below the odds of that happening were

Enormous no they were Beyond impossible I need to talk to that man and sooner rather than later he turned and walked back around to the front of the main house and knocked no answer he knocked again and then pounded on the wood go away called out Alex silw well

It’s Travis Divine we met last night then go away faster I have nothing to say to you divine stared at the weathered door and imagined silk well standing just on the other side of it all defiant and ticked off he needed to talk to her but

He didn’t have a warrant and so there was really nothing he could do I’m leaving my card under the doormat silence greeted this statement and divine couldn’t really imagine any scenario where she would be phoning him voluntarily he walked back to his car and drove off he reached the Coast Road

Turned left and hit the gas once around a Bend he pulled off parked his car and hoofed it back to Joselyn point he took up a surveillance Point behind a stand of White Pines which were bracketed by some leafless ash Birch and Maples using his Optics he kept an eye

On the main house and also the Art Studio 30 minutes later his patience was rewarded as Alex carrying a cup of something hurried out to the studio unlocked the door and went inside Divine put his Optics away and marched over to the studio he peered in

One window and saw Alex slipping off her coat underneath she had on Jee overalls and a long sleeved thermal undershirt her hair was piled Loosely on top of her head and secured there with some pins and braids she picked up a large pallet loaded it with fresh paint from a

Variety of tubes and headed over to one of the canvases set on an easel Divine slipped to the door and tried the knob it turned easily for some reason he was more nervous than when he had had been about to breach places in the Middle East where he knew men inside

Were waiting to kill him but he actually knew why I trained long and hard for the latter scenario not so much for what I’m about to do he opened the door and walked in chapter 17 he expected her to start screaming or maybe throw something at him or fire up

The blowtorch on her welding kit and come at him for a personal charcoal pooling session but Alex just stood there in front of her painting her pallet in one hand and a slender brush in the other you’re persistent my job sort of requires that he looked around so this is where the magic

Happens it’s not so much magic as just hard work luck and a dash of creativity and talent thrown in he looked around at paintings in oil acrylic and watercolor along with clay sculptures all in various stages of completion bronze and other metallic figures bent and curved by heat and

Pressure into fascinating shapes were arrayed around the perimeter of the space I think it’s more than a dash of talent I can barely draw a straight line this this is really impressive miss soulwell his frankness seemed to draw down whatever anger she might have been feeling at his

Intrusion I’m Alex I’ve never been miss anything and I’m Travis from Homeland Security keeping us all safe and the American dream possible I think you all need to step up your game on that she turned back to her work he came to stand behind her and took it

In while some of the works displayed in the studio were portraits of people landscapes and animals this one was clearly more impressionistic a yellow ball erupting out of an orange flame that in turn devolved D into a blue wave that was about to descend seemingly violently on

What he took to be roofs and a jagged Church steeple reaching disproportionately far into the Sky What’s that what I see in my head every morning when I wake up she replied as she added some shadowing to the flame and what does it represent to you she glanced at him more

Importantly what does it represent to you he was taken aback by her Swift Counterattack I I’m not sure it looks sort of like Armageddon and here I thought I was being subtle Divine looked around and something occurred to him you knew I was coming back you knew I would see you

Coming in here and that’s why you began working on this painting I have no idea what you’re talking about but her cheeks flushed and she wouldn’t look at him this work looks finished while you have lots of others in fart earlier stages so what’s so important about this piece that you

Wanted me to see you working on it I take it you believe Armageddon is coming to putam what a vivid imagination you have you might want to consider a career in fiction okay what does it mean to you the painting and why do you see that

Scene in your head every morning that is my business and no concern of yours and didn’t you come here to ask me questions about my sister her phone buzzed she put her brush down slipped it from her pocket and glanced at the screen give me a minute she said and started thumbing a

Response Divine took the time to look around some more that was when he saw the large framed finished painting it looked to be a white dress with a large red spot dead on the center the way it had been painted it seemed like the red spot was perpetually growing a neat

Optical illusion he thought then he saw a brass plate plate tacked onto the frame that read her first period okay I didn’t see that one coming in another corner he spotted something that also gave him considerable pause he bent down to peer closer damn it was a bronze sculpture that

Looked like a heavily veined erect penis that was looped with a chain and down below around the testicles were handcuffs want to buy it I’ll give you good price I bet it would look great in your living room he turned to see her staring at him

As she slipped her phone back into her pocket I can guess at the symbolism can you now she perched on the edge of a workt and crossed one long leg over the other please share without being too graphic I suppose it’s to Shackle or at least push back against a man’s baser

Impulses in that regard life does not not imitate art because there’s no way to really do that some things are changing hopefully for the better some would say the change is happening far too slowly it can be depressing she looked around her space but some of the greatest artists

Were depressed all the time they use that to power their creativity I can understand that you can really I served with a guy who drew these big designs in the sand when we were in the Middle East during some pretty heavy fighting we were losing guys every day and we were having to

Kill people every day and not just soldiers on the other side because lots of different sorts of people were fighting against us after every Mission he’d come back hang up his gear pull out this wooden paddle he’d whittel and Mark out well what I guess you’d call artwork

In the sand they never lasted because a wind storm would come through and they’d be gone gone but he kept at it I could never figure out what his designs meant and he never said but they were pretty intricate did you ask him why he did

It yeah I did what did he say she asked with what seemed genuine interest he said it was either do that or blow his brains out I’ve never killed anyone but I think I can understand what your friend meant she slow returned to her painting and started adding brush Strokes to it I

Was told that you turned down some great art schools she glanced at him in annoyance the timing was not right and now and now I don’t need them do I I educated myself we have a wonderful Library here in putam filled with books about everything I would want to know

About from writers all around the world and I guess you didn’t need any formal artist instruction I actually had an excellent teacher and Mentor right here who was that you have no reason to know okay he said wondering why she would have a problem with sharing information like that I understand you

Teach art part-time at the public school her expression instantly brightened I do twice a week at the very end of the day that’s all they could afford they barely have books in the school library or computers for the students When government budgets are tight they always cut education the students can’t

Vote but they will one day the kids were uninterested in art at first but their enthusiasm grew as they got better she looked around but the odds are stacked against them jobs are limited in this part of main along with opportunity drugs are rampant and grandparents are raising their grandkids

Because of it 90% of families are on some sort of government assistance many of these kids are being dropped into big black holes never to be seen again but you might find an artist out there who you could lead to another better future I doubt I have that ability in me

Why don’t I believe that believe what you want okay let’s talk about your sister I didn’t even know she was in town just like her brother told me and I believe it even less this time around did she come here often and not tell you she

Didn’t come here all that often once or twice a year when was the last time during the summer why not more often I don’t know you’d have to ask her and you can’t when was the last time you saw or spoke with her Alex let out an extended breath and

Shook her head saw her briefly when she came here during the summer spoke to her last I can’t really remember ballpark months weeks days over a month what did you talk about nothing important you two weren’t close she had her life and I had mine and they didn’t really mix well she was

Off somewhere around the world while I was stuck right here in putam stuck by your choice bad choice of words it has everything I want as an artist Solitude incredible beauty haunting images a place that makes you think it’s very inspiring I spoke with your mother she

Thought you should be in New York or California or Europe of course she did you see her much not for years I saw your father too her expression grew firmer and seemed to be pulling her inward I didn’t know that was possible your brother said he goes to visit

Him they have that military connection I don’t I don’t think he has long left none of us know how long we have left so you didn’t know Jenny was in town and you hadn’t seen her spoken with her in a while that’s right so I really

Can’t help you she turned back to her canvas and I have a lot of work to do so have you started selling your artwork your mother didn’t think you were I have an agent now over the last few years I’ve been commission to do a number of paintings and

Sculptures you can tell my mother that my clients include people from from New York and California and across the pond you should tell her yourself I’m sure she’ll be very happy for you I’m not nearly as sure about that as you appear to be are you sad that your sister is no longer

Living Divine had decided to ask this provocative question to get something from the woman that didn’t sound scripted what the hell kind of question is that she said her face flushing again and her thick eyebrows nearly touching it’s just that a question you found me sobbing my heart out at the

End I just don’t know why you were sopping your heart out you didn’t hang around well it was because of her so now you know are we done then why did you intimate that you would not be describing your sister to me as a person much loved by folks here I don’t

Remember saying that Divine repeated back the account she had given him for from the notes he had put in his iPhone does that jog your memory no okay one last thing what I’d like you to go with me to where your sister’s body was found why would I do that and why would

You want me to do that because you know this area far better than I do and you clearly possess something that might help me what pray tell is that an artist’s insight into the human soul I still don’t think I can help you let’s go find out he paused and added please chapter

18 He retrieved his rental and drove it to Joselyn point to pick her up then it wasn’t that far to the spot where Jenny silw Well’s body had been found they walked over the same cold rugged ground that that Jenny had presumably trod during her last night on earth Divine

Wanted to see Alex’s reaction to being here because that might actually help him understand her better and he thought he was going to have to do that in order to figure out what was really going on she had put on an overcoat and scarf and

A ski cap pulled down low over her ears the wind had picked up even more and they watched as dark clouds gathered just off the coast looks like snow or SLE is coming let’s hope not you don’t like the white stuff I teach my art class late this afternoon I don’t

Want to miss it she looked around as they walked across the field toward the forest and the wide path through it to the bluff overlooking the ocean and then something happened to Alex she started to sway and then she cried out and divine barely caught her before she slumped to the

Ground are you all right look I’m sorry for bringing you here I didn’t stop to think about the effect it might have on you she looked up at him her eyes unfocused and her expression woozy she slowly came around and then managed to stand without his

Assistance we can go back she looked at the open field and shuddered no I’m here now let’s get this done as they entered the path she seemed normal again even walking with Spirit he wondered why that was since they were getting closer to not farther away from

Where her sister’s body had been found he led her to the edge of the land and they gazed down at the rocks and the ocean is this where she was killed it appears so she shot him a perplexed look what do you mean appears I meant it exactly as I said she

Indicated the Rocks but her body was found down there yes that is a fact everything else is specul ation you’ve lost me Divine didn’t answer he was thinking about possibilities that he would need to parse through if he was going to get to the truth Jenny had been shot in the

Forehead and the round exited out the back of her skull and apparently vanished into the ocean that meant she was looking landward but if you went to the edge here wouldn’t you be looking at the ocean since that was the whole point of coming to this spot the casing had

Been found more than 300 yard away from where J had fallen at night she wouldn’t have been able to see her shooter from that distance and if she had turned to leave before she was shot squarely in the forehead would she have been close enough to the edge to topple over it why

Did you want me to come here she asked pulling him from these thoughts I need to know if this spot had some special significance for Jenny none that I know of do you think she might have come here to think in the pouring rain late at night no I doubt it

Then you think she came here with someone her killer Divine didn’t answer because he was the one doing the questioning not her did your sister ever talk to you about her work no wasn’t it confidential did she say it was no and I didn’t ask I was used to our father

Being unable to talk about political stuff right he served on the Senate intelligence committee I was never interested in any of that and he and I weren’t close Jenny was his favorite and I was a distant third behind deck Jenny was interested in politics Jenny was interested in

Everything and you what are you interested in my art and now my students Divine thought about what Pat Kingman had said that Alex had changed years ago going from outgoing and fun to introverted and scared diving back into her hidey hole at Joselyn point after venturing out for short intervals but

She was teaching at the local school so maybe she was getting over whatever had caused her to change I’m having dinner with Dak tonight would you like to join us my treat she frowned and looked away thanks but I think I’ll pass as they walked back to the Tahoe Divine

Said did your sister have any enemies here not that I know of she was adored in putam but again you intimated that you didn’t share the general opinion that Jenny was a wonderful person regardless of whether you remember saying it or not you did she wheeled around on him seemingly itching for a

Fight look I meant nothing more than the people with those General opinions never had to live with her she was a tough act to follow that doesn’t mean I didn’t love her or make me any less sorry that she’s dead so don’t try to put words in my

Mouth I can understand the heart act to follow pece can you really my two older siblings are roaring successes in their chosen and highly compensated Fields me not so much she gazed at him with a sudden look of empathy oh well being a federal agent isn’t a small

Accomplishment her voice trailed off as they walked he drove her back to Joselyn Point she got out and then peered back into the Tahoe I’m sorry I wasn’t more help you might have been more help than you think you’re meeting with my brother what about it changed your mind and want to join

No but piece of advice don’t believe everything you’re told she slowly walked to her Art Studio chapter 19 hoping to beat the incoming storm Divine drove straight back to where Jenny’s body had been found and walked the area with a soldier’s eye for detail he stood at the spot where the

Shell casing had been found the 300 Norma Magnum around was mostly but not exclusively used by the military and its snipers the casing had been next to a stand of bare trees providing some good cover he had noted all of that before he drew a sight line between the ejected

Casing and the spot where Jenny had been standing before toppling over the edge after being shot or so The Story Goes he lay prone on the ground in panamed taking aim at Jenny silk well he pulled the invisible trigger and counted three Beats the bullet would have hit

Her in the blink of an eye from this distance but it would have taken a few beats for her to fall over the edge and hit the Rocks below he stood and pulled out his phone he’d had the medical examiner franois Guam email him the preliminary autopsy

Report as he read it the weather system coming in off the coast had raised the temperature enough to where the precipitation that started to fall was rain and not sleet or snow he caught himself smiling Alex silw well would get to teach her art class today he hustled back to the Tahoe and

Reached it before it really started to pour he sat there staring at a crime scene that had definite shakiness to its outlines and thus its substance he texted Campbell with his theories and waited for a reply he got it 5 minutes later a testament to how such a busy man with a

Dozen missions like divines to oversee was laser focused on this one but it was no doubt the only Mission under his command that had to do with a man who had saved his life as a former Soldier Divine got that one really well it forged a bond stronger than just about

Everything else in life Campbell’s advice was explicit follow your gut and keep things close to the vest Dax silw Well’s military file is sealed I cannot break through it as yet and Kurt never talked to me about his son’s military career and why he left and I never asked stay

Tuned it is critical to find her government laptop and personal phone Divine ulcers are forming in people’s guts here he knew that if someone had taken those devices then Divine might be looking at a stranger having killed Jenny in order to get some Intel from her they had checked the secure cloud of

Her government issued computer and personal phone and found nothing unusual nor had there been any attempts to hack into them and there had been no calls emails or texts that would foreshadow her being murdered if she had communicated with anyone about her trip here she had not done so

Electronically on her personal or government devices being an Ops officer she knew the pitfalls of sending anything over the internet but she could have used a burner phone or prepaid phone card and left no Trail she had no social media Accounts at all not unusual for someone with her

Occupation he sent a brief reply to Campbell put the Tahoe in gear and fought the Wind and Rain to his next destination Earl Palmer’s house Chapter 20 The Rain started to ease some as Divine pulled onto the long Gravel Drive in the daylight everything looked different as he wound back through a

Thick stand of bare woods with cluttered undergrowth the long limbs swayed dipped and creaked in the stiffened breeze that had never been absent since Divine had stepped foot in putam the little C Cottage appeared to him in the middle of the woods coupled with the inclement weather the place had

An ominous sensibility to it like something out of a Brother’s Grim violent yarn masquerading as a fairy tale in the light he could see that it was white clapboard with faded green shutters just as the man who had confronted Divine outside the bar had said it would be he eyed the ancient

Station wagon again and the F-150 looked even older the truck bed was filled with old tools long metal rods what looked to be a small concrete mixer rolls of fish netting and rope and grimy buoys next to the house on a small Rusty trailer was a wooden dinghy with a name

Neatly stencl on the side he got out of the car and Drew close enough to see Bird’s boat named after his dead wife behind the house was a small building with curtained windows that he hadn’t noticed on his previous night’s Recon he stepped up to the porch and was

About to knock when the door opened and he was staring at the business end of an over and under shotgun Earl Palmer stood there in a red thermal underwear shirt and soiled dungarees white socks on shoeless feet he had about an inch in height on Divine and looked ruggedly strong with a barrel

Chest and long arms that tapered to slender hips and thin bowed legs not bad for a man in his latter 70s thought Divine but Lobster fishing demanded a lot of physical strength he reckoned up close he looked like a taller broader Robert Frost thought Divine who had read the man’s poetry at

West Point his comrades at the point had teased him about this until some pretty local girls they had gone into town to see had told them that they found an interest in poetry incredibly attractive in a man all the way back to West Point the guys had pestered him for details on

Some of Frost’s best known lines that they could use for their own pickup efforts two roads diverged in the woods and I I took the one less traveled he had told them he had learned that the line was often misinterpreted because Frost had regrets in his life and had not actually

Taken that road when his buddies asked him what it meant he said With all sincerity we chose a path almost no one else does we’re going to risk Our Lives to protect our country in way of life we chose the most honorable journey and also the most dangerous it’s a selfless

Act of sacrifice in a country that routinely worships individualism over the collective none of them had expected that response he could tell hell he still didn’t know exactly from where inside him those words had come they had ridden the rest of the way back in silence each man seemingly lost in

Thought over what divine had said Divine had lost four of his classmates to war including one in their group from that night and three more to suicide after tours of Duty that that it forced them to see and do things that people should not have to ever see or

Do who are you Palmer said in a steady calm voice that put Divine more on edge than if the man had been screaming I don’t know you what are you doing on my property Travis Divine I’m with Homeland Security I’m here investigating Jenny silw Well’s murder I wanted to ask you a

Few questions if I may let me see some ID slow Palmer added theine tentatively reached into his coat pocket and produced his identification hold it up high so I can see it Divine did so and Palmer studied it at eye level before reluctantly lowering his

Weapon what do you want to know can we do this inside said Divine as the rain started up again the porch had no roof so he was getting the full effect Palmer stepped aside and motioned him in with the gun muzzle then he closed closed the door and pointed

Divine into the room overlooking the front yard it was small and minimally furnished but as neat and organized as well a Ship’s Cabin concluded Divine there was a wood stove that was generating considerable and welcome warmth on a wooden shelf bolted to the wall were pictures of various people

Divine saw a younger Annie and what were probably her parents and hugging Earl Palmer was no doubt his wife Alberta they looked about as much as love as a couple could be and that picture was fairly recent he could tell Palmer broke the breach on his gun

And carefully set it on a table by the window Divine sat in an old rumpled Chair by the wood stove a stiff moving Palmer opened the stove door and threw in some more pellets then he moved over to a newl looking recliner and picked up a remote

The chair lifted up so that he barely had to bend his knees to sit down when he did he hit another button and the chair lowered Nifty said Divine damn body’s useless feel like an infant beware in a diaper before long Palmer set the remote aside and clenched the chair’s arms with his

Thick gnarled hands his eyes were a soft gray and his disheveled silky white hair provided a sharp contrast to the redened weather-beaten face lying just below it what do you want to know I found her that’s it I don’t know any more than that can you walk me through the time you

Left your house that night and when you found the body why because it might make you remember something new please he added anything to help me find out who killed her I thought the chief and Wendy Divine said Jenny silw well worked for the federal government that makes it our

Concern I’m sure you can understand but I am working with the local police on the case Palmer slowly nodded there always was Scuttle butt about what Jenny did top secret stuff I guess while you’re here ain’t it let’s assume that’s the case yes Palmer sat back and worried at his mouth with his

Long index finger he never looked down but kept his gaze rigidly Straight Ahead all went for a walk that night I do that a lot now I understand you recently lost wife I’m very sorry the thick white tufted eyebrows Rose and fell like a heartbeat birdie is was built to go the

Long Voyage you understand strong as a bear good health sharp mind I would have gone long before her that’s for sure if nature had any say about it both her parents SLI well into their ’90s what happened if you don’t mind my asking p pressed his hands against his

Bony knees as though bracing himself for whatever he was about to reveal what happened was somebody hit her with their car while she was out walking knocked her into a washed out Gully behind some scrub bushes and kept right on going left her to die right

There no one could see her but they say she she dragged herself along that goalie trying to get help help that never came and she died they killed my wife Palmer Eed his eyes closed for a moment and his fingers gripped his thighs as though he were writing out

Some turbulence high in the sky that must be the other homicide that Harper mentioned he was handling thought Divine so they never caught the person he asked though he knew the answer Palmer opened his eyes his hands retreated and he placed them back on the arms of his chair

No they never did some stranger passing through most like putam folk would have stopped and helped her she’d still be alive wouldn’t have suffered like she did I’m so sorry yep that’s what people say I guess all they can say he added I spoke with your granddaughter earlier at her

Cafe he nodded and said Annie makes real good coffee gives it to me free there a nice business going and that ain’t easy to do here or anywhere I guess so the night you went out walking hell get so I can’t seem to breathe in this house no more I grew up

Here I see things and takes me back to other memories better ones I can see that sure just head to the road and sometimes turn left and sometimes right that night I turned left left carry a flashlight with me I got one of them reflective

Jackets and he bought it for me so you were walking I headed towards Joselyn point I figured I’d get to it and then turn around and head home try and get some sleep though It Don’t Come Easy now with birdie next to me I’d be lights out in 10

Seconds I’m sure did you even know Jenny was in town I’d seen her coming in that very day I was driving through town do that sometimes just he looked around the space get out of here she pulled into the Inn supposed she was staying there and not at the family home Divine

Asked don’t think it’s the family home no more think it’s Dak and Alex’s place now and Jenny wouldn’t be welcome there Divine paused again Palmer’s head turned mechanically from side to side as the pellets popped and glowed behind the glass of the wood stove don’t know about that have to ask

Them don’t you okay go on every once in a while I’d head to the coast stand there look out nice Bluffs along there can see nearly to Nova Scotia at least it seems like lived most of my life on the water you see I like looking at it calms me

So you were a lobsterman he perked up at that over 50 years out there rough seas and fair never got rich but made a decent living ain’t so easy now lobsters moving farther out and heading north feel sorry for the folks coming up it’s a lot

Harder now ain’t many other ways to make a decent doll around here so he went to the coastline and looked out yes sir did it once more and then his lips trembled and his long fingers flew up to settle them down you walked to the coastline at that

Point he removed his fingers and nodded cold that night and rainy had my long waterproof on in my hat water don’t bother me much Ocean or from the sky that trail through the woods I’ve been there many a Time nice views from there you can see the entrance to putam Harbor

To the South though I couldn’t really at night but I know right where it is went in and out of that place more times than I can remember takes me back you see looked out at the clouds of the Atlantic beautiful thing to watch to listen to the rain falling

No lightning mind you or I would have skedaddled don’t much care for lightning and then what happened I looked down he said simply if hesitantly I looked down he said again as though he was afraid Divine had not heard him and I saw Jenny wait you knew it was her from where you

Were standing when Divine had gone back to the spot he had more accurately gauged the distance at over 15 ft from witness to corpse and the body had been sprawled on black rocks and partially submerged Palmer seemed confused for a moment I know what I mean I learned

Afterward it was her I just saw a body at that point I had my phone with me and I called the police I waited till they got there they rushed to pull her up young man went down there on a rope the tide was coming in fast they got a truck

With a winch she was half covered with water much longer than she’d have been out to see but they got her out all right or her body at least Jenny was long gone so it was just a coincidence that you happened upon that spot and looked

Down yes sir it was but I wish it hadn’t happened to me lost my son and daughter-in-law to a damn fire years back and then birdie seen enough death just seen enough his voice trailed off and he swiveled his head and stared at the fire behind the glass Divine watched him for

A few moments trying to take in the True full measure of the man once you learned it was Jenny what did you think I didn’t think nothing really I mean I couldn’t believe it who would want to hurt her that was my next question to you must have been a stranger like who

Killed Birdie Divine thought Palmer very much wanted to believe that so anything else you can tell me that might help nothing I can think of son sure hope you figure all this out well that’s why I’m here he said Divine left him with his card and a request to call if Palmer remembered

Anything else helpful he did not expect the man to ever take him up on that offer as he reached reach the doorway Palmer stirred I know it don’t seem like much to you son but putam is all I got it’s my home only one Bird’s buried here so’s

My son I can’t never leave this place not ever yes sir said Divine Palmer swiveled his head back around and returned his attention to the fiery pellets locked behind glass to Divine it seemed that the man was also in a prison of sorts not of his own

Making but just how the life cards had been dealt for him Divine veered around the house to the small building with the curtains the door was locked and the window coverings made it impossible to see inside he could go back in and ask the man directly what was in there but something

In his gut said not to at least right now he drove off firmly convinced that most if not all of what Palmer had told him regarding finding Jenny’s body was a lie now the question became why chapter 21 Divine drove back to the inn and hurried through the rain to his Cottage

He checked his little booby traps and they were once again undisturbed he sat down at the small desk by the window clicked on the lamp which had been set off to one side to provide some illumination against the gloomy day and opened up his laptop he needed to dig deeper into

Jenny’s CIA career Divine had attained top secret clearances in the military then re-upped those and supplemented them with CSI level security clearances after joining Campbell at the office of Special Projects since his time in New York while working at the investment firm cowl and cumley divine in his new

Role with Campbell’s outfit had traveled to five countries on three separate missions over the course of several months in China he had used his business analytical skills to help bring down a shadowy cryptocurrency Trader whose ties to the communist government had alerted us intelligence Services dine had learned a little about crypto while

Laboring on Wall Street now he felt as though he were a full-fledged expert his next mission in the Middle East had involved an Arab state that was doing its level best to crash the US economy it was forcing its fellow petrochemical producing states to agree

On a 3 million Barrel a day pullback in oil production that would have sent oil oil prices soaring crippled the Us and other Western countries dependent on oil and added hundreds of billions of dollars in wealth to the Rogue oil producer while inducing misery across the globe in the form of higher energy

Prices it wasn’t simply to make money Divine and his colleagues had discovered it was to promote unrest in Western democracies as Citizens there protested against higher prices the weaponization of everything seemed to be in Vogue these days Divine had worked with a team of intelligence and financial Specialists

To counter that effort including using denial of access to International lending facilities and wire rooms along with Walling them off from banking support and Multinational monetary commissions this would have made the Rogue player a pariah in the Global Financial community and even with the trillions of dollars in prochemical

Dollars it commanded such status would have been devastating to the country’s future business well-being they had backed down as a result in Geneva Divine had set his financial background aside and picked up his gun the result had been another victory for his country and a Target on

His back during the train ride to Milan Divine read slowly and methodically over silk well CIA career making more notes as he did then he pulled up and read through a psych eval of silk well that had been done about 2 months before the blunt conclusions on the eval

Were not personally FL flattering controlling manipulative secretive to the point of mild paranoia with an all-encompassing drive for Mission success regardless of who or what got in the way but for an Ops officer it was the perfect formula she had leapfrogged over several of her colleagues mainly

Due to the results derived from her Bevy of recruited spies and Intel leveraged from those relationships being a White House liaison for Central Intelligence hadn’t hurt he knew and he wondered if her father being a poor hero and beloved Senator had helped with that assignment of course it did that’s how

DC operates at least in the shadows he turned off his computer and sat back the weather did not appear to be getting any better he might have to start doing his early morning workout in the dry and warmer environs of the cottage he made sure the damper was open

And laid some of the stacked wood in the fireplace he got it to draw using some strips of paper provided by the Inn for this purpose he knelt in front of the opening and let the warmth Embrace him he had been trained to withstand the rigors of intense heat and cold but he’d

Always been able to handle the heat better than the cold and that was despite having grown up with bitter Connecticut Winters he drew his desk chair up to the flames and sat down letting his mind go over each conversation he’d had about the case so far starting with Emerson

Campbell then Clare Robards and ending on his talk with Earl Palmer he next envisioned the crime scene the shooter prone on the ground firing at the standing Jenny silk well the norm round blowing a hole through her head for and AF the bullet lost to the Atlantic then there was the angle of

Entry of the bullet as calculated by the medical examiner during the postmortem that was the most Troublesome of all in some ways 93° and that had come out of her head at a descending angle of 102° probably due to the impact with the skull the only problem with all of that

Was a shooter aiming from a prone position could never have fired around that would have entered silk Well’s brain at that angle it would have defied the laws of physics 40° maybe 45 but a bullet couldn’t bend itself downward before entering its Target not even with gravity at long distances the rotation

Of the Earth’s axis would impact the Flight of the bullet this was known as the Coriolis effect and it differed depending on what hemisphere you were operating in snipers in the northern hemisphere would see their bullets drift to the left and those in the southern hemisphere to the right and at such

Distances one had to also account for the vertical rotation of the Earth’s axis the calculations for such shooting used to be done manually now they were done by Ballistic apps all one had to do was enter the requisite data and the algorithm would dial up the proper shooting coordinates and sniper teams deployed

Spotters as well who fed data and observations to the actual Shooters in fact the spotter was usually more experienced than the one holding the gun because spotting was in certain important respects more difficult than pulling the trigger the bottom line was her killer had not shot silk well from a distance

Of slightly over 300 yard with a sniper rifle she might have been shot with such a rifle although other weapons would chamber the norm around but the shooter had definitely been standing and not lying prone and he would have been far closer to Silk well to achieve pretty

Much a level shot into her brain the entry angle also told Divine that her killer was taller than she was which accounted for the slightly descending entry into her head a taller person would obviously aim down when shooting a shorter one had the killer marched her to the

Edge of the bluff made silw turn around and shot her like a firing squad that seemed highly unlikely but Jenny had been found on the boulders at the spot indicated many people had helped get her up from that spot they could not all have been in on some Grand

Conspiracy so it seemed reasonable to conclude that silw well had been killed elsewhere and her body had been transported and then placed on the Rocks where Palmer found her the Norma casing could easily have been dropped where it was found to give off the appearance of a longrange sniper shot which would have

Also bolstered the argument that Silk Well’s death was tied to her career at CIA and not the act of a local person from putam but what if she had been killed by someone here and it had been made to look like something else who had the motive and the resources to pull it

Off unfinished business that was what Claire robarts had said her daughter had told her was the reason for Jenny visiting her old Hometown so what was the unfinished business Jenny and did it get you killed Divine moved his chair back over to the desk and looked out the window

Right as the rain stopped and Sun broke through the clouds and Shone down on Maine once more the light played over the metal roof of the inn and sparkled off the windows it made for a good feeling he thought like when you saw a hummingbird hovering over a flower some warmth and

Sun always booed the human Spirit as he glanced farther down the path he saw what looked to be a starburst resting just above a bush a flash of light as the sunbeams encountered a reflective surface it was fairly dazzling to those of the Casual Observer variety of which

Travis Divine was not a member and never would be he Dove sideways a split second before the window glass of his Cottage exploded as the bullet powered through it lodging into the far wall instead of divine’s head he pulled his gun and edged next to the shattered window he

Heard what sounded like footsteps running away he got to the door and did a turkey peek and when he saw no one he jumped out did a roll and came up in a kneeling firing position he heard a vehicle start up by the time he got to the street he could

See nothing or no one in either direction he hurried back to the spot where he’d seen the flash of light coming off the rifle scope he stooped and ran his fingers through the grass they stopped when he felt it he saw the special marking on the head stamp of the

Casing it isn’t to 300 Norma it’s a Nato round what the hell is going on chapter 22 you say you didn’t see anyone asked Chief Harper he and divine were outside the ladder’s Cottage looking at the large hole in the center of the window no just the reflection off the

Scope said Divine if I hadn’t looked out the window and the sun hadn’t just come out we would not be having this conversation and your me would be cutting me up to get the bullet out glad it didn’t come to that said Harper as he held up the bagged shell casing Divine

Pointed to it it has a cross and a circle stamping that means it meets NATO specs but the caliber was also stamped on it which means it’s a civilian and not a military round okay that narrows things but only a little I heard someone running and

Then a vehicle started up by the time I got to the street it was gone a breathless fuss hurried up to them did a quick canvas of the area nobody saw anybody with a gun but Joe Martin was coming out of the hardware store and saw van getting out of here

Right quick about the time Divine said the shot was fired did he get the plate asked dine F shook her head no I mean he had no reason to he didn’t know anything it happened Divine sighed and looked around someone takes a shot at me and BR broad daylight and no one sees

Anything fuss seemed to be reading his mind Pat Kingman was out running errands and you’re the only Cottage rented this is not the high season in this time of day the downtown area is pretty dead like I almost was thought Divine well let’s get the bullet out of

The wall hopefully we’ll find the rifle to match it to even though it’s a different caliber you think it might be from the same weapon that killed Jenny asked Harper the rounds chamber different pressure settings and though they look identical the thickness of the brass and the heads space are different some might

Disagree but I wouldn’t fire a 300 or 308 round and a rifle chambered for NATO ordinance unless it was specifically chambered for both it might blow up in your face or the ejector might Jam because the casing stretched too much okay but who would want to kill you

Asked fuss someone who doesn’t want me to find out who murdered Jenny silw well would be my first and only guess but we investigating her death too pointed out fuss then I’d watch your back if I were you said Divine before walking off he headed to main Brew where he

Found Annie Palmer cleaning the front counter want a cup of coffee on the house thanks he took a seat on one of the counter stools and watched as she poured out two cups from a full pot she set one down in front of him and said

Just made it should be extra fresh did you hear anything about a half hour ago he asked after taking a sip she leaned against the counter fingering her cup hear anything like what a bang like a firecracker going off no but I was in the kitchen for the last hour doing

Inventory with my airpods in I wouldn’t have heard much except Rihanna why just something I was checking out he put his cup down and decided to plunge in I went by to see your grandfather this morning he saw her neck tense as she took a slow sip of her drink really why

Because he found Jenny’s body yes what did he tell you there was an anxiety in her voice that bothered him he said he was out walking late at night like he often does he stopped and looked out at the ocean at various places along the coast the last place he

Stopped he looked down and there she was then he called the cops that’s what he told me too guess if he hadn’t Jenny would have been carried out to sea then nobody would have known what happened to her you didn’t mention that your grandmother was out walking and got hit

By a driver who then drove off she looked down into her coffee cup I didn’t think to why would you have cared what happened to her I’m just sorry it happened yeah yeah everybody’s sorry except for the [ __ ] who did it her cheeks flamed and she cleared her

Throat sorry I don’t usually use language like that I was in the Army I’ve heard far worse did Gramps tell you that she dragged herself looking for help before she died yes he did living in a small town has its good points but sometimes the isolation isn’t a positive no it’s not

You any closer to finding out who killed Jenny just really starting interviewing people taking statements going over the crime scene checking the forensics not very exciting but all very necessary says the fake investigator from Homeland Security I also met with Alex silw well you mentioned before that no one really

Knows her Palmer dabbed at a spot on the counter with her cleaning rag yeah well I shouldn’t have said that what business is it of of mine so what’ she have to say nothing too remarkable I went inside her Studio she’s quite an artist she should be my grandmother

Mentored her birdie taught Alex yes when Alex was in high school you wouldn’t know that of course birdie was incredibly talented she could have really been something if she had pursued it when she was young she was even offered a spot at an art school in Paris damn so what happened Palmer

Shrugged she loved Gramps they were high school sweethearts they decided to stay here and raise a family but she continued with her artwork and taught folks like Alex the building behind the house was that her Art Studio yes Alex seems to have followed her example of staying put she had offers

Too yeah I know Palmer said absently with a frown if I had been Alex I would have been gone in two seconds flat not into small towns I could always come back to visit she looked around the cafe and this may come as a shock but serving food and

Coffee in the town where I was born and grew up was not a significant element of my youthful dreams in fact it had no place whatsoever she added with a sad smile I went away to college and didn’t think I’d be coming back but here I am you’re

Still young you can still dream and then do something about it far easier said than done I think that’s why they call them dreams you want another cup no I think I’ve hit my caffeine allotment for today by the way I’m having dinner with DX silw well tonight really you two

Becoming best buds he’s just someone I need to talk to well I need to get back to work hope you and Dak have a great time but don’t let him get you drunk you won’t like yourself in the morning trust me she walked off leaving him to wonder

About what she had meant by that chapter 23 by the time Divine got back to the Inn Harper and fuss were gone he stood at the spot where he had seen the scope Flash and then eyed the window of his Cottage not a difficult shot cover was good the

Shooter had chosen their position well the grass had been too soaked to hold any Footprints I can’t believe this happened he turned to see Pat Kingman standing there yeah I wasn’t too thrilled either I can put you in another Cottage no that’s okay I’ll just tape

The hole up until you can get it repaired it wasn’t too big the hole it would have put in me would have been a little bigger she looked like she might be sick so Divine said hurriedly I’m okay Miss Kingman and I’m sure they’ll find out who did it and

That will be that well I certainly hope so you let me know if you need anything I will she turned and hurried back to the Inn Divine drove out to Joselyn point he had some more questions for Alex when he got there she was heading out a stride a turquoise colored bike

With a big basket there was a cool hand painted slash of lightning along the frame in the basket was a large waterproof napsack she had on wool pants and a thick white sweater with a Tweed Blazer over that and her hands were gloved her hair was in a ponytail and she had on

Ear muffs her expression was excited where you headed my art class remember oh right little nippy to be riding a bike it’s only a few miles how about I give you a lift we can talk on the way and then I can wait and drive

You back here you don’t have to do that I don’t mind really well it would save me some time and this heavy napsack makes turning a chore she parked her bike on the porch while he stowed her knapsack in the back seat she directed him to the public

School which was set in a block of empty warehouses boarded up business parks and vacant weed filled Lots as he pulled into the school she said this was all starting to go downhill when I was a little girl then all the businesses closed jobs went overseas and there was no back stop Merl

Main has lost a lot of population Mayers rely a lot on tourism but the pandemic blasted a big hole in that and we still haven’t recovered I’m sure compared to Boston and New York the cost of living is lower but it’s not all that cheap to live here either when you

Factor in food and fuel and a lot of the jobs don’t pay a living wage she looked at the window and the weather can be challenging we’re actually projected to lose population for the next 20 years leaders need to step up invest in the state in the people or the pictures not

Going to miraculously get better Mayers deserve that hell everybody in this country does you’re very well informed it’s my home and my country I need to be informed where do you live right now it’s a moving Target did you get your interest in all that from your father she looked at him

Wearily I am not a politician I have no interest in that at all you don’t have to be a politician to help your community right now I just want to help the the kids in my class she opened the car door are you coming in or staying

Out here can I come in you have to sign in at the front desk and I have to vouch for you she eyed his waist I don’t know about the gun do they have a security person here they used to until they couldn’t afford the position anymore I think my Federal creds will

Carry the day and they did for the next hour and 20 minutes Divine watched from a corner as Alex taught two classes of sixth graders in a makeshift classroom with no windows High ceilings and not much heat and yet the kids loved it he could see that from their enthusiasm and

Their questions and how seriously they took Alex’s comments as she went around the room to view each student’s efforts she was unfailingly positive and detailed and her suggestions were delivered with genuiness humor self-deprecation and delicacy and she smiled often he saw which he had never really seen her do in the limited time

He had known her at the beginning of the class she had passed out granola bars and juice boxes which she had told Divine she paid for with her own money that was why the napsack had been so heavy later as they walked back to the Tahoe she said the entire school is 130

Percenters what does that mean the government pays for lunches for students whose family income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty line that’s about 36,000 a year for a family of four that seems ridiculously low for a family to live on I don’t have kids but I remember

How much I ate I would think it would be damn hard to make ends meet on double that it is but that’s the law and the extra federal funds doled out during the pandemic have dried up with those dollars the income level was waved and all kids could eat for free not anymore

And a hungry kid has a difficult time learning that’s why I give them something before the class near the end of the school day they start to run out of gas I wish they let me teach the class earlier but art is sort of an afterthought I guess I’m lucky they

Offer it at all he opened the passenger door for her took her napsack and put it in the back seat it’s a really good thing that you’re doing it Alex most days it doesn’t seem like much throwing a pebble at a tidal wave every little bit helps and you

Connected with those kids do you really think so I know so I saw it for myself hell if you’d been my art teacher I would have been a lot more interested in painting it’s not just because you’re so what I mean to say

Is [ __ ] she put a hand on his arm as he put the SUV in gear thank you on the drive back Divine said not to unduly alarm you but someone took a shot at me earlier today what where she ran her gaze frantically over his person and

Are you did it no it missed but it was a little closer than I would have wanted please tell me they got whoever did it no they didn’t first Jenny and now you this sort of stuff does not happen in putam violent things can happen anywhere Alex even in putam look at Alberta

Palmer her death was very violent and the person got away he looked at her to gauge her reaction to this she was sitting there staring straight out the windshield her body trembling and spasming like she had been doused with ice water I heard that Alberta taught you art Alex stopped trembling closed her

Eyes and Drew a long composing breath as she said some words that Divine tried to lip read or hear but couldn’t she opened her eyes and seemed back to normal she was a wonderful artist in her own right and the kindest person I ever met you must have been devastated when

She was killed I’m not sure that’s a strong enough word actually I’m embarrassed to say that my sister’s death didn’t affect me as much as birdies did she glanced at him I guess you think I’m an awful person for saying that your feelings are your feelings and

There’s no law that says you have to love your family above all others everyone has their own experiences in that regard Alex nodded appreciatively and said she was actually the reason I started teaching at the school birdie had done it for decades but then her eyesight started to

Fail and her fingers weren’t as Nimble and she it was just time for her to let someone else do it and that someone else was me I’m sure she was pleased she was very much so which made me incredibly happy they drove on in silence for a few

Moments last chance on joining us for dinner tonight said Divine she hesitated but then shook her head I have some work to catch up on and then I think I’ll go to bed early but thanks he dropped Alex off and watched her walk into her home then he turned

The car around he had some things to do before meeting Dak tonight but in light of recent events his primary objective right now was to stay alive chapter 24 he stopped by a hardware store and bought some duct tape when he got to his room at the in he checked his booby

Traps then he duct taped over the hole in the window and closed the curtain he eyed the opposite wall where the round had embedded itself and he wondered if the locals had made any progress on finding out who had fired it dine then emailed Campbell with his report recounting everything he had

Learned since his last communication to his boss a minute later his phone buzzed it was Campbell you’ve clearly stirred The Hornet’s Nest he said seems like it we have been monitoring chatter from the regions where Jenny operated and it’s an interesting silence replied Campbell we would have expected more

After an event like that as in trying too hard not to say something exactly so are we leaning toward her murder being related to her job not yet the silence may be genuine well the crime scene was staged explain Divine went over the points and concluded with I think she was brought

There after after she was shot and her body was dumped on the Rocks the bullet entry angle alone blows up the official Theory I agree with you the casing could have just been dropped at the spot easily enough but whoever put that scheme together didn’t take into account

The entry angle or the fact that the shooter would be lying prone on the ground Campbell said so no spot there where he could have rested the stock on a tree limb and fired pretty much at eye level or maybe a full-size tripod that would make for the s angle all the limbs

On the trees around there were well off the ground and a full-size tripod and a shot from 300 yard away to make it a level entry into her head what would have been the point why not just fire from a prone position you’re still going to hit the target okay she was killed

Elsewhere and dumped where she was found and the scene was doctored to suggest otherwise why obviously to cover up where she was really killed and by whom the time of death window allowed plenty of wriggle room on Alibi so I don’t think that will help us the environmental elements did a number

On the body I was told but her body had to be transported there probably in a vehicle if we could find it there might be some trace of her still there and now we come to the man who found her everyone up here seems to think it’s just a coincidence that Earl Palmer

Happened upon that stretch of coast and looked down and saw her me I think it’s the same odds as winning the lottery well people do win the lottery Divine yeah but millions of people play the lottery he was the only one playing this game you think he was told to lie then I

Think a lot of odd things are occurring in a town filled with odd people but I don’t know what it all means yet did you find out anything on Dak silw Well’s oth it’s buried deep I really sense the hand of his father on this one Divine as I

Told you before Kurt never talked about his son’s service other than to tell me that he joined up so what’s your preliminary assessment local or Global source for her murder but for one thing I’d say Global what’s that she told her mother that she had unfinished business up

Here the call ended a few moments later and divine set the phone down then he heard a knock on his door his hand on the Glock Divine peered around the corner to see a bespectacled man in his 50s with a gray beard standing there yeah said Divine from a distance the man

Seemed startled and looked around Mr divine Harvey Watkins I’m a local reporter I’d like to ask you a few questions if I could Divine opened the door Watkins held up his ID showing him to be a reporter with the putham Press what sort of questions Watkins gave him a condescending

Expression Jenny silw Well’s murder and you’re here to investigate it if so you look seasoned enough to know that I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation I’ve already interviewed Chief Harper and sergeant fuss then you have your story but our readers would like to hear from you I’m surprised a

Town this small even has a newspaper well it’s only published digitally but local news is making a comeback and it’s about time I only work there part-time I also work at the hardware store someone pointed you out when you were there buying duct tape Watkins looked over at the

Window understand someone took a shot at you if you were told that I won’t deny it any idea who did it if I knew that they’d be in custody so the investigation asked Watkins I’m working in cooperation with the local police who have been professional and helpful we

Hope to make progress and find out the truth you sound like a PR person now said Watkins smiling good then I hit my mark can’t you give me anything I used to be a reporter full-time over in Bangor never had a story like this on my doorstep and I’m not getting any

Younger he held up his phone with the record function showing and a pleading look on his face Divine leaned against the door jam all right turn on your recorder he waited for Watkins to do so okay someone did take a shot at me you and your readers can ask yourselves why

And the answer that occurs most likely at least to me is that our investigations are getting closer to the truth and someone is obviously not happy about that he wasn’t going to mention the different types of bullets used do you think the person is local Watkins asked don’t know but we can’t rule

Anything out at this point we all know that Jenny was engaged in some well confidential matters for the federal government could that be the reason she was killed again we can rule nothing out but any new information will be given out to the local press at the appropriate time we like to be

Transparent but we can’t jeopardize the investigation I’m sure your readers will understand Watkins turned off his recorder and smiled thanks for that now can I ask you something sure did you know Jenny I knew all the silk Wells including the senator I came here from Bangor over 30 years

Ago my wife has family in the area and a job had opened up on the daily paper here that was better than what I had in Bangor of course over the years things changed and that job went away but we liked it here and stayed so you knew

Jenny as a child sure did precocious and curious about everything I’ve heard that from other people we all knew she was destined for bigger and better things than she was what we didn’t know was that she was also destined for a premature death did you know her parents

Well oh sure covered all of Kurt’s campaigns War hero turned Maverick politician the people of Maine loved him and he did right by him Maine has gone through some tough times but but we’re Hardy folks and we keep plugging away Kurt was one of us he was tough and kept

Plugging too sure sad to hear how sick he is now what did you think of CLA she was a good partner to Kurt and I mean as a wife mother and political spouse those are three distinct roles and most people fall down on at least one of them not

Claire and the kids nice polite all talented in their own way I understand that years ago Alex of had a personality transformation you know anything about that because the people I talked to had nothing specific to tell me Watkins looked around nervously you can’t quote me or anything Divine straightened and his

Expression sharpened anything you tell me is confidential you want to come inside Watkins nodded and stepped Across the Threshold Divine sat on the bed while Watkins perched on the edge of the desk chair it was during the summer she was a rising junior in high school what happened asked

Divine Alex was assaulted and ended up in the hospital I believe she almost died Divine was stunned did they catch the person no they never did so Alex didn’t know who it was or why she was attacked no it was either a stranger or Alex couldn’t identify the person for

Some reason the whole thing was hushed up if you want the truth Kurt was running for the senate for the first time back then most people in putam probably don’t know what really happened I only know what I told you because I was a reporter and I have to say that

Back then my boss put the kabash on digging into it or me really talking about it so she became reclusive changed her whole life really she just became a shadow of what she had been it was really very sad you’d think it would have made her want to move away from

Here Watkins took off his glasses and cleaned them on the sleeve of his coat I think it just made her afraid Mr Divine afraid of the old and the new she at least was familiar with this place but other locations just became too big a potential nightmare for her and as the

Years passed I think whatever walls she built solidified she has the old house and now her Studio the kids she teaches and that’s about it at least that’s my two cents worth of psychology did she get counseling I would imagine she did did her family support her Jenny was working in DC at

The time she came straight home and spent every day at the hospital and after her sister was released she was with her all the time probably calming her reassuring her supporting her that was Jenny and Dak he was away in the Army at the time Divine nodded his mind

Going back to a naked Alex standing defiantly in that window does she feel safe there invulnerable am I overthinking this Mr Dine you okay Divine came out of his thoughts to find the man staring worriedly at him what a terrible thing to have happen he said and then Divine

Thought how lame that must sound happens to far too many women noted Watkins although one is one too many but we live in a troubled society and things are not always what they appear to be people included had a neighbor back in Bangor nicest guy help you whenever you needed

It the year we left Bangor to move here he was arrested for possession of child pornography you think you know someone and then hell you realize maybe you don’t know a damn thing after Watkins left Divine sat there thinking that the reporter’s last words were some of the truest he had ever heard

Chapter 25 Divine drove over to the Bing and Son’s funeral home and parked next to the front door a long black hearse stood with its rear doors open next to the side entrance a young woman at the front desk upon seeing divine’s credentials made a call and then led him back to a

Small office where fruis gam was sitting behind her desk haven’t gone back to Augusta yet I actually live here she said rising to shake his hand I just keep a condo in Augusta I’m one of 35 medical examiners appointed by the chief medical examiner whose office is under

The Attorney General’s Department it’s a volunteer job I’m assigned to this part of the state but I have a medical practice in town and I also work here with my brother Fred we both have degrees in mortuary science and are licensed in balers my brother also has a

Degree in funeral services plus we’re certified in Cremation Services which is the roote more people people are choosing you’re a very busy woman Miss gam I’m used to juggling lots of balls in the air keeps me energized and engaged she sat down and pointed to a

Chair which Divine took what can I do for you angle of bullet entry on Jenny silk well Guam’s cheek bulged as she clenched her jaw what about it he just stared at her until the woman dropped her gaze and started to fiddle with a pen on her desk blotter

I suppose you’re referring specifically to the path the bullet traveled through the deceased’s head I know quite a bit about guns and shooting them there are basically four ways to do it prone sitting kneeling and standing the latter for a longrange shot is by far the worst because it’s the most inaccurate the

Best is the first method it takes away most of the physiological wobbles that can Mar the shot and while 300 yd away at night with rain and wind is not the most difficult shot an accomplished sniper has to make it’s not easy either and you’re not making it by

Standing really she said not looking convinced at all yes really if you’re holding your weapon under your own power you do not have a stable Foundation to prevent body shakes a sniper rifle feels like a barbell I don’t care how strong you are or whether you use the sling for

Support to create tension between the rifle and your arm the so-called Hasty sling you’re going to get some movement some Hunters use the kneeling position in knee high grass placing the elbow on the lower quad muscle not the bone of the knee because bone on bone is not

Stable same with the sitting position none of that matters very much over a short distance but it’s critical at long ones and the only way the angle of Entry makes sense in this case is if the shooter was standing probably less than 10 ft from Jenny not over 300 yd away

Lying on his belly he had taken a risk telling her this since she could run to Harper and reveal to him all that Divine had just said but he remembered the smile she had given him at the end of their first meeting he thought she could

Possibly be an ally well he would find out if he was right or not I see that you’ve thought this through I try to do so in all important matters did your me come to this conclusion it wasn’t that hard was it gam steepled her fingers and sat forward

Her elbows pressed into her desktop so rigidly that her own fingers were now shaking the fact of the matter is I made no official finding on anything that you just spoke to I accurately measured the angle of entry and exit I did not address where the casing was found or

Make an opinion or finding as regards the exact distance between the shooter and the victim or the firing position the shooter was using spoken like a prepared witness in court I try to be accurate so do I the thing is Harper and fuss have never raised

That point with me as far as I can tell their official position as the shot came from where the casing was found I’m not sure I know what to tell you he decided on the direct route is it just me or does this town have secrets every place has

Secrets I think putam hits above its weight on that score maybe it does my own only goal is to find out who killed Jenny silk well I know he sensed a shifting dynamic between them right now I’d appreciate any insights you can provide she looked up her expression

Pained this is my hometown too Mr Divine meaning meaning I might be the wrong person to ask I thought medical examiners just wanted to get to the truth by letting the dead speak to them every victim of viol violence deserves that don’t they they do did you know

Jenny I was a few years older than she was but yes I knew her so come on and tell me what you know however before she could say anything the door opened and a man leaned in he was tall and looked to be in his late 30s his features neatly copied

Gams Divine said you must be Fred Bing I am do we know each other the two men shook hands after dine introduced himself Bing wore his brown hair on the longest side about 63 he had a clean shaven face a long fit runner’s build and penetrating grayish eyes his white

Dress shirt sleeves were rolled up revealing pale muscular forearms he looked tired what do you need he held up some papers your signature he looked at Divine we refinancing our working capital loan the documents one has to read to do so will cure any insomnia Divine smiled I’m sure I would

Like to talk to you about some of the terms sis said Bing get your advice before we actually sign off she glanced at Divine sure we were just finishing up weren’t we Mr Divine the woman’s look was more pleading than triumphant Divine Rose and handed her his card if you remember anything else

Helpful yes of course she said hastily pocketing the card I heard you hear about Jenny said Bing awful just awful you knew her oh yes Jenny and I were in the same high school class I went to college and got my teaching certificate and went back and taught science at the

High school for a while then I got the necessary degrees before coming to work here Jenny was the cream of the crop we all knew she was destined for for bigger and better things yeah so I keep hearing did you see her during her last visit no

I had no idea she was here right just like everybody else in this town okay well thanks Divine started to take his leave but then turned back and Sons what the sign out front says being and Sons I was just wondering who the other Sons were Bing said oh our uncle

John and our Father Ted Bing our grandfather Frederick I’m his namesake founded the business our father and uncle worked for him until he passed and they ran the business until they retired that’s when we took it over he looked at his sister franois and me we should

Probably change the sign to Bing and Associates or Bing and gam suggested Divine I guess that’s your married name it is but I’m not married any longer so it’s just the two of you left yes said Guam before her brother could answer dine glanced at Bing who was looking confusedly at his

Sister great thanks Divine walked out he had collected a lot of data and very little that made any sense but somehow he needed to make meaning of it all while someone was gunning for him why do I suddenly miss being deployed to Iraq at least there I was

Pretty sure of who I was fighting against here not so much chapter 26 only real food was a Hopping Place Divine discovered as he turned the corner onto hyram silk well Boulevard after walking from the putam in cars lined both sides of the street and there were some folks Milling about the

Entrance the brick building occupied about a half block and looked to have once been some sort of Warehouse or industrial space the sign for the restaurant was formed from from chunky welded metal with the letters done in calligraphy two gas Flames encased in glass lanterns flickered on either side of the double wooden

Door inside the floor plan was wide open with rod iron pipes and other metal fittings ornately bent into enormous light fixtures dominating the walls and the ceiling the latter of which was open to the rafters there were about 30 tables of varying sizes most of them full of hungry customers and the accompanying

Noises of conversation and clatter of glasses and utensils the kitchen was visible through large windows and the professionally clad cooks and staff could be seen working behind large stoves and in front of commercial ovens with huge pans and Skillets and dishes in use and orders digitally flying across computer

Screens weight staff emerged through double doors with large platters of food or armloads of drinks piped in music wafted over the clientele and a small bar set up along one wall was doing a healthy business in a town of fewer than 300 people thought Divine but then Dak silw well

Told me about the thousands who live in the surrounding area but still what made putam such a happening place as he looked around the room trying to find Silk well he noted two large paintings that were mounted on one wall he walked over and eyeballed them

One was of a fisherman with a large net filled with yes it was mermaids he concluded the other painting depicted a storm blowing in off the coast and in the foreground a large home with a Widow’s walk where he could see the image of a woman looking anxiously out to

See the house he easily noted was Joselyn point he looked down at the signatures at the bottom of both paintings the initials ads Alexandra silw well with the D being her middle name probably the style was definitely hers he could see that even though he’d only viewed a few of her

Pieces hey he turned to see daak striding toward him the man had exchanged his muscle shirt and jeans for a tailored two-piece dark suit with an open collared white shirt his hair was slicked back and wound up in a ponytail he looked like a totally different person Divine noted and maybe that was

The man’s intent you like them Dak asked pointing at the paintings yes your sister’s work right how the hell did you know that I saw some of Alex’s work when I spoke to her at her Studio but these are different the mermaids I don’t really

See her doing I mean catching them in a net like fish yeah she didn’t want to do it actually it was the owner’s idea and the money they were willing to pay was too good and the house that’s your place yes and the lady looking out to the

Ocean with the storm coming typical New England scene we probably had had ancestors who did that very thing Alex has a great imagination but for her paying customers she sticks to more traditional themes Dak LED Divine over to an empty table with a reserved sign on it they

Sat down and a waitress immediately came over with water and menus evening Mr silw well she said Beth this is Travis Divine a friend of mine so let’s treat him real good okay yes sir big fish and a teeny Pond thought Divine this also probably explained the

Suit silw well ordered a glass of Cabernet while Divine opted for an IPA on draft busy place oh yeah they do a great business dine looked at the menu and noted the prices no offense but for a sleepy little town with the kids getting free school lunches how does the place charge

These prices and sell out you’ve been talking to my sister about that right the 130% centers yes she didn’t paint a really Rosy picture of the economic climate here she’s always been a Debbie Downer the fact is co changed everything we got nearly a thousand families who

Moved to the area from Boston New York Miami Seattle Chicago La San Francisco and other Metro areas where the cost of living is through the roof they can work remotely still pull in an income that is many times what most manners make and build or buy homes for peanuts

Cheapest ocean front in the country or at least that’s what one realtor told me I didn’t see much construction going on along the coast here it started about a mile down but it’ll get here and some of it is Inland too he looked around most of the customers in here tonight are the

Remoter as I like to call them State used federal dollars to bring super fast Broadband here that was key key to getting these highly educated and highly compensated folks to come and they’re putting down roots and all of the people working at this restaurant are locals

But real food pays a living wage and the employees get health insurance and a 401k that’s great and the weather hell you think Chicago Boston and New York don’t get cold and you want to be in Miami Phoenix or Houston in the summer sure it gets warm here but nothing like

That and the proximity to the ocean actually keeps the winters bearable and if folks can save a ton of money it’s not rocket science and there are developers coming in who want to build an Oceanfront Hotel a spa resort and new residential communities if that happens

This place is going to boom and the people who bought here before that are going to make a fortune and instead of eroding sand we have sturdy Rocky shorelines so houses aren’t going to topple into the sea as the water levels rise at least not for a long time so you

Get ocean views without that worry for rock bottom prices and there’s plans to build new Elementary in high schools and businesses are starting up all the time and I invest in the ones that I believe in like this place I’ve already made back 10 times what I put in only good

Thing that came out of CO as far as I’m concerned was Jenny involved in any of this no I talked to were about it but she was government and some of the monies coming our way are tied to federal dollars she couldn’t risk the conflict okay I can understand that and

That ocean front Hotel guess where they’re thinking of building it Joselyn Point Dak nodded with a self-satisfied smile I’ve had preliminary talks with them the house isn’t knockdown but we have tons of acreage right on the water plenty of room to put in a nice facility and amenities hell it could accommodate

A residential development and Retail businesses too and the dollars they’re talking wellow I might leave old hyram Silk well in the dust so with Jenny gone I guess it’ll just be you and Alex splitting the fortune Dak looked at him sharply what the hell are you implying I’m implying nothing just

Trying to thoroughly understand the situation well understand this Jenny’s share of the sale if it happens will go into a trust to promote conservation and protect endangered species in Maine why is that because I know that’s what she would have wanted so don’t go thinking that I knocked off my sister

For money that deal alone will give us all more money than we would ever need thanks for the clarification when did you hear about Jenny’s death I was in Boston that night had a meeting with a business I’m trying to get to open a location in in putam

It’s one of those gym franchises healthy people make for a healthy Community I got a call from Chief Harper I was asleep in my hotel room when my phone rang scared the [ __ ] out of me it was like 3:00 in the morning Dak looked down

At his drink at first I thought it was folks calling about my dad I had prepared myself for that for a while now yeah I guess so he shook his head but not Jenny I couldn’t believe it I thought he was out of his [ __ ] mind I

Didn’t even know Jenny was in town I’ll admit we weren’t as close as we were when we were kids but she usually let us know when she was coming up so any ideas on why she didn’t this time Dak shook his head I’ve been letting that rattle

Around in my head ever since I got that call the thing is she doesn’t usually come up this time of year there’s not that much to do sometimes she’d go sailing right off the coast and she liked deep sea fishing but you don’t do that now or she’d just walk or bike

Around go for hikes again that stuff is better left to the Summers or fall and Jenny was here during the summer we met up a few times talked about Dad in the old days she seemed really good she didn’t mention anything out of the ordinary any unfinished business up here unfinished business

Like what I don’t know it’s why I’m asking no nothing like that she seemed well like the old Jenny what about Alex where was she when Jenny died Divine had forgotten to ask the woman but he could do so later and compare it to what Dak

Had told him at that time of night she’d have been at the house asleep so you two didn’t talk about that if you want the truth Alex and I don’t really talk all that much what happened to her Dak shot him a troubled look what

Do you mean I was told she was assaulted many years ago and the person who did it got away but that it changed her who did you hear that from is it not true Dak finished off his drink yes it’s true but she wasn’t just assaulted she was raped beaten and left

For dead Divine flinched Harvey Watkins hadn’t told him Alex had been raped but maybe he didn’t know Watkins had said it had all been hushed up Alex couldn’t ID her attacker no she couldn’t for some reason I was never clear on why you didn’t ask I was pulling a deployment in Germany

With the different time zones it was hard to keep up with life back here I heard snatches of what happened I tried to get leave to come home but apparently your sister getting raped wasn’t a big enough deal for the Army to allow that when I finally got back no one was

Talking about it everybody was actually walking around on eggshells but she was different yeah she sure as hell was if I ever catch the son of a [ __ ] that did it so no leads or anything apparently not the cops concluded it was some strange Divine decided to shift

Gears do you know Annie Palmer Dak looked at him suspiciously why do you ask just trying to understand as much as I can about this place and its Dynamics I know her in fact we dated off and on a few years ago didn’t work out hell Divine we weren’t looking to get

Married just to have some fun and did you yeah she was cool nice girl why did she say different no I didn’t even talk to her about you I’ve dated lots of women and we all had good times up here that’s important otherwise you could go stir crazy but you have all

Your business interests business is business pleasure is something else Divine decided to change gears so what’s your criteria for investing free cash flow in what time period Roi minimums growth prospects do you have a typical exit strategy or do you just reexamine every so often and what’s your stop-loss plan and do you

Invest Solo or with a fund or a Syndicate you sound like you know your way around a balance sheet in p&l statement I have my MBA worked on Wall Street for a time why the hell did you leave you make it there you had to be pulling in serious bucks just wasn’t for

Me okay I have some Financial backers for my investments that that was another reason why I was in Boston to meet with them I’ve got a proven track record so they trust me we like to be cash flow positive within 18 months but there’s wiggle room there on a case-by casee

Basis exit within 5 years unless there’s a compelling reason to get out earlier or stay in longer flexibility is the key Roi expectation is high 100% is the minimum we shoot for the moon do you insist on board representation we always take at least one board seat and more depending on our investment

Piece but keep in mind this is not Apple or Google these are startups they actually need our business expertise I usually like to have my hand in and we just closed our 20th deal last month and the other 19 I think we’re going to hit home runs in all but

Two that’s a much higher percentage than the Wall Street boys have I get to really dig into the business plans and and meet the people before the dollars go in and then I’m right here watching my investment and jumping in or pulling the plug if I have to you ever think of

Going somewhere else every second of every day but I’ve got time on my side and a plan a big one the new silk well Empire the new Dak Empire the two men ate their meal and then went their separate ways as Divine was walking back to the

Then he looked to the sky which was growing cloudy the wind was picking up he could feel the barometric pressure dropping as the storm system moved in he was halfway back to the Inn when he was confronted by three men who stepped out from the darkness in a particularly

Lonely part of putam and these men were not drunk and stupid local yals like the ones who had followed him out of the bar they got divine’s immediate attention primarily for one reason they look like me right before I go into into battle calm focused and lethal chapter

27 three guns to his one made it a quick end to a fight that never materialized Divine was disarmed and pulled into an alley where his hands were zip tied behind him and then he was taken to an SUV with blacked out windows that was parked there no hood was put over his

Head and he wasn’t blindfolded they aren’t worried about me knowing where I’m going because they know I won’t be coming back he studied the three men one driving and one on either side of him they hadn’t uttered a word they had let their weapons and hand signals do the

Messaging he guessed two of the men’s ethnicity to be Middle Eastern and the third was clearly Asian this was business to them and they deployed the ideal skill set to get the job done they were all around 6 feet lean and wiry without the big flashy muscles that most

People believed signified great strength and fighting ability nothing could be further from the truth Divine knew being strong was great for one’s Health and Longevity but he had seen 6′ five dudes with six-packs and bulging biceps and quads taken down by short skinny guys who understood precisely how to wreck a person without

An ounce of remorse that made them unpredictably dangerous and crucially a millisec faster and that was the whole ball game when you were fighting for your life none of the men looked at him not because they were afraid he could identify them but because they were probably bored this was business and the

Hard part the abduction had gone seamlessly now there was just the execution phase to come which would be the easiest element to the job then it was on to the next assignment they were as different from the alpha and Bravo from the Geneva train as it was possible

To be that pair had relied on their guns when that failed them they were Road killed to anyone like dine who actually knew what they were doing the drive took them out of town along the coast and due south Divine gauged after about 20 minutes they turned off the road and the

SUV trundled over a bumpy unpaved Street another turn off there and about 500 ft later over crunching gravel they came to a stop dine was bundled into a small wooden house that was closer to falling down and remaining standing he could feel tendrils of cold air coming in

Through the cracks in the exterior walls he was hurried up a narrow and close closed set of stairs down a hall and into a room that was Bare except for a chair in the middle he was pushed into the chair and duct taped to it with his

Hands still zip tied behind him he appeared to be securely immobilized he had swept the room doing a Kim Recon or keep in mind you looked at as many different details as possible in a short amount of time with the ability to recall them later as needed

This told him there was one window where the curtains were flapping because the window was either open or the glass was missing the floor was made of wooden planks the only door was the one they had entered the walls looked to be solid plaster there was a nail sticking out of the

Plaster where a picture had probably hung the chair was an ordinary wooden one with spindly arms it might have already been in the house or they had bought it at some junk shop to use as his execution perch it felt fragile under his 220 lb not much to work with

But he probably wasn’t going to have that option anyway looking at the men he was reminded of a Mark Twain quote one of his instructors at West Point had taught them of all the animals man is the only one that is cruel he is the only one that inflicts pain for the

Pleasure of doing it he didn’t know if these men took any pleasure in their work but he did know they took pleasure in the payment they would receive for ending his life he knew the hit rate for a moving Target was less than 4% and the

Kill rate was under one in 100 only he was stationary he calculated the kill rate on him at damn near perfect when engaged in his ceiling staring process Divine had sometimes gone through the scenario in his mind no way out the last full measure the end as

It came to all of us just not so violently he already knew he was not going to beg for his life because he refused to waste his last few remaining breaths on useless things he had almost died twice while in uniform and once in civilian clothes

In each case as his life seemed to trickle from him Divine recalled being in the moment he was certainly feeling the pain and he was experiencing the sense of impending doom that anyone dying suddenly felt because your brain was releasing all sorts of chemicals into your bloodstream to try to Stave

Off the end of its existence and yours and when all hope was gone the brain would begin methodically shutting down all the body’s organs in an orderly procession turning the lights out at the very end and this would normally take moments not minutes Divine had felt all of those

Things three times now and with that experience behind him reinforcing his psyche he prepared for what he knew was coming what had Dr Guam said that Jenny’s death was instantaneous that she was dead before her brain even realized it was over but that hadn’t really been the way

It had gone down Jenny had been staring at the shooter her killer much like Divine was now looking at the three hardened men in front of him she knew what was coming your brain knew which meant you knew that the end of you was imminent Divine wondered what she had

Thought about had she panicked pleaded for her life sobbed uncontrollably no he didn’t believe she had done any of those things everything she had done in her life up to that point spoke of a person in control she would have stood there staring back at

The person about to kill her with a calm Cal even defiant Detachment maybe even daring them to pull the trigger before they wanted to to assume for one final time the upper hand over someone a measure of control even if that person was going to be the instrument of her

Demise Divine stared back at the men with a calm Detachment he wasn’t going to give the [ __ ] the satisfaction that what they were about to do had rattled him in the least you go out like an Army Ranger tabbed and scrolled but they did not pull their

Weapons and shoot him dead they left him there he counted three sets of footsteps passing down the hall and then down the stairs they had made their first mistake tonight after an otherwise flawlessly executed Mission but to divine’s mind it was a big one they had left him alone and Alive chapter

28 most people Bound in Duck tape would expend all of their energy pulling and tugging at their bonds which only made the Bindings that much tighter like a fly struggling in a spider’s web but duct tape like many such things had one weak spot focused immediate torque with that in mind dine leaned

Back in his chair as far as he could and then threw his torso forward with as much force as he could muster the duct tape sheared off at multiple weak points he didn’t wait to hear if any sound he had made doing this had reached downstairs that was just wasted time

Better spent elsewhere he stood turned to the side and got free of the remaining drgs of the tape he then sat on the floor Divine despite his size and musculature was quite limber and flexible this was not all genetic or by happen stance he had worked at it he

Brought his hands under his butt and then pass them along his hamstrings down his calves and under his feet until his hands were now in front of him he held his arms up in front of him and examined the zip ties they were black and police grade meaning they were thicker than

What one normally associated with such devices they also were susceptible to torque but she had to line up the weak point he used his teeth to pull the end part of the ties so it was directly in the middle of his wrists then he once more used his teeth to make sure the

Ties were as tight as possible he sat in the chair lifted his arms straight up over his head and then brought them down with every of adrenaline fueled Force he could his arms passed on either side of his torso the zip ties incapable of surviving this sort of torque directed

Right at their weakest Point snapped in two at the sight of the locking mechanism Divine didn’t take even a second to Rejoice over his twin victories he went straight to the window and looked out the lower window had been removed for some reason though the upper part was still there but he wasn’t

Focused on that brand new looking bars had been screwed into the exterior walls turning his room into a cell since he was not escaping via that route he would have to get out of here the hard way he turned raced back to the duct tape tore off some strips used

Considerable strength to pull the long nail out of the wall and rushed back to the window the storm was starting in Earnest and a bolt of lightning struck nearby he waited his elbow poised near the window as soon as the deafening Thunderclap sounded he hit the glass

With his elbow the glass shattered and he used the duct tape to pull out a long pointed Shard he wound the duct tape around the top of it so he could grip it there without cutting his hand he placed the nail between his fingers and let the

Business end stick out the top he slowly opened the door inch by inch because it had creaked before he had already seen another partially opened door along the hallway when they had brought him up he closed the door behind him and slid on his hands and knees down the hall to the

Other door he pushed it open a little more so he could slide through before easing it back to its original position he peered out through the Gap perfect sight line of anyone coming up the stairs and when they turned to the room where he had

Just been their backs would be to him he heard another vehicle pull up outside the room he was in now had no window but he could hear feet running through the rain and then the front door opened he heard voices some in English some in other languages he had a conversational

Knowledge of farsy and Arabic but those linguistic skills had withered from non-use it didn’t matter the people were speaking fast and in low voices he relaxed and did his combat breathing when he heard footsteps on the stairs two sets two men through the Gap he could see the countenances of the

Asian in the lead and one of the middle easterners right behind they reached the top of the stairs and turned right their backs to Divine just as he’d planned he was on full autopilot now it was known as unconscious competence because he had practiced both the analysis and actions

Based on that analysis so many times and carried it out for real countless more times that his mental and muscle memory was near absolute Divine knew that there were around 75 areas of the body that could trigger incapacitating reflex injury now his task was to ID a few of those

Locations in this situation and inflict just such an injury and do it with speed surprise and overwhelming aggression there was a reason why a lion always went for the throat he’d wanted to do this completely silently but with two adversaries that was problematic there were at least two

More downstairs the third man and whoever had come in just now he stepped out in such a way as to give the middle easterner a sight of him in his peripheral that would expose the target Divine was aiming for when the man turned the glass knife slashed his

Throat severing the wind pipe so the man would not cry out the thrust had also split the kateed sheath in two the blood Geer painted the opposite wall a dripping red and splattered all over dine as well the lead man was pulling out his gun when dine struck and the

Nail hit the man’s windpipe he recoiled and dropped his weapon gasping for air unable to call out Divine next pulled the glass Knife free from the first man’s throat pivoted and severed the second man’s Kate with it Divine caught the man and gently laid him down on the

Floor even as he gave a last rattling gasp and joined his partner in death the sounds of the attack and the men falling were fortunately mostly covered up by the sounds of the raging Storm Divine searched both men and found his phone and his gun he quickly sent a text to Harper and

Fuss telling them what had happened and approximately where he was but that they could also track his phone he was just about to send a message to Campbell when a voice call called up speaking in farsy Divine answered back in a low voice in fary saying basically be right

Down as soon as the other middle easterner poked his head up the staircase Divine put two bullets in it the dead man slumped to the floor the wall behind him painted with his blood there was a scream a woman’s Divine thought and then he jumped to the side

As the muzzle of an MP5 entered the stairwell and on Full Auto sprayed the area with a wall of bullets next divine heard people running away and he got to his feet he made his way cautiously down the stairs and then poked his head around the corner he

Ducked down as more gunfire erupted when he then heard a vehicle start he ran to the front door and jumped out onto the porch in time to see the tailights of the SUV fleeing down the road as the storm continued to Roar overhead he ran back to the dead man at

The bottom of the stairs because he had been the one driving before he snagged the vehicle keys from his pocket and ran back outside died he got into the SUV fired it up and started to back out however the truck wobbled badly and he slammed it in park and hopped out he

Went around the vehicle his Fury accelerating as he did so they had shot out all four tires on their way to escaping that was the gunfire he had heard he slumped against the SUV’s Fender and let the rain wash over him despite their escape Divine had one thing to be happy

About I’m alive chapter 29 Divine sat on the front steps of a place where three men lay dead inside he was listening to the sounds of someone vomiting into the scraggly bushes on the right side of the old shack Sergeant Wendy fuss came into view wiping at her mouth and looking

Wretched Jesus divine she said spitting onto the ground and looking at his clothes that were soaked with the blood of other men Harper came out of the front door door snapped off his nital gloves and glowered down at Divine how in the hell did you get out

Of that you can think the United States Army Harper glanced at the house I think I need to call in the county and state police on this it’s out of my jurisdiction feel free and you going to contact your folks he added I mean those bodies they sort of look well

Federal already done and they’re on their way so we should just seal this thing off then and wait for folks to show up that’s what I would do said Divine and I need a ride back to town we’ll need your statement said fuss wrinkling her nose as she rubbed her

Belly I can do it back in town Harper said quickly I’ll run you back when do you stay here on guard till the people show up fuss looked like that was the last thing on earth she wanted to do but the woman gamely nodded and said sure

Okay chief I’ll radio the county and state folks right now and let them know what’s what said Harper as he hurried over to his Cruiser fuss moved closer to Divine and looked up at him did you really kill all those men if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be

Standing here talking to you it was a damn Miracle no it wasn’t it was slow training deep practice and fast execution well he sure as hell executed them dine really wasn’t listening now he was thinking ahead leaping from one possibility to the next is this related to my investigation of Jenny silw well

Is whoever fired at me through the window also involved in this or does it have nothing to do with silw and everything to do with me back in putam he gave a statement to Harper afterward he went to his Cottage and showered scrubbing extra hard then changed into clean clothes and phoned

Campbell to give him a fuller report it was late but he could always leave a message however the man picked up on the second ring okay this is getting weirder every minute noted the retired General after Divine had made his report the question is is it connected to the silk well case

Or something else meaning me the group in Geneva you mean they were speaking farsy and I heard a woman’s voice you thinking the woman on the train it’s possible how would they have tracked you down so fast there’s only one way sir Campbell said wait you think we have a mole in our

Organization we wouldn’t be the first I can’t believe Divine cut him off because one he was tired and two he was pissed what I know to be true is that two middle easterners and one Asian guy knew exactly where I was and almost punched

My ticket for good I want to know why so should you Campbell was a fine leader which is why he simply said you’re right on it stay tuned and watch yourself Divine put his phone away and looked around his room right watch myself but who’s watching me best case scenario he had seriously

Reduced their Manpower resources and they would have to pull back and regroup which would give him time they would also probably know that the feds would be all over this another reason to lie low for a while worst case scenario they would redouble their efforts and try to

Finish the job tonight because he wouldn’t be expecting it and worst case scenario is what you always prepped for he walked out to his rental grabbed his go bag and walked back to his Cottage he waited 10 minutes and then turned the lights out the rain had stopped and the

Sky had cleared it was actually warmer than it had been he constantly checked the door and the windows looking for anyone watching him an hour passed he opened the window in the bathroom and knelt there for 5 minutes watching listening and using his sense of smell to detect anything that might do him

Harm satisfied he clambered out and closed the window he paralleled the main road for a quarter mile then turned toward it and picked up his Pace his army jog was designed to set a pace not too fast and not too slow that he could maintain pretty much forever with a 60lb

Pack on his back he reached Joseline point and jogged up the main drive he had taken great pains and used all his skills to make sure he was not being followed either by vehicle or on foot he had even scanned the skies for drones he saw Dax Harley with a

Customized rain cover over it Alex’s bike was still parked on the covered porch he walked over to the art studio and tried the door it was locked he took a pck gun from his go bag and 20 seconds later he opened the door and slipped inside he looked looked around the dark

Space took in the smells of the paints and the charcoal pencils and the peculiar Aroma of drying clay and he could also sense the woman’s shampoo and the body wash which he had earlier imprinted in his brain in case it became important later that also meant it had

Not been so long ago that Alex had left her Studio he checked his watch after 3:00 in the morning but what did they say about artists when the creative Bell sounded you needed to answer the call no matter the time he used his phone light to look around

At her Works in process and he marveled at both the woman’s obvious skill and Imagination he didn’t know which one he admired more then he came to a sketch he had not seen before because it hadn’t existed when he had been here previously she had gotten the jawline

Right and the eyes too deep set and brooding looking angry even when the person wasn’t the neck was a bit thicker than he had thought at least in perspective to the Head but everyone had their interpretation but for having not spent much time with the person Alex had done quite a good

Likeness of me chapter 30 what the hell are you doing here Divine woke and sat up straight to see the morning sunlight shating into the Skylight he scrambled to his feet from his sleeping birth on the floor and faced off with Alex silw well who was

Not looking as angry as her words might have implied but more Curious and perhaps a bit amused she had on the same clothes as the last time he’d seen her in the studio her hair hung wet and Limp around her face he actually liked it that way

Better than piled on top the latter was too theatrical he supposed was the word the former just seemed more truthful and why are you even thinking about that well said Alex giving him a raised eyebrow look I had a spot of trouble in town and decided my Cottage at the end might be

Compromised so you picked my studio to be compromised instead I had few options but I made sure I wasn’t followed okay but you were sleeping so hard I could have taken my time and killed you divine didn’t say anything to this because he knew she was probably

Right she perched on a work table what sort of trouble like what like die he thought but said nothing important why don’t I believe you I’m not sure but I’m willing to listen she scowled at his flippancy you don’t look like the sort that anyone could make do

Anything you never know so that’s why I came here the door was locked I always lock it he took out his pick gun then you should strongly consider a stronger lock her scowl deepened should I call the police isn’t breaking and entering illegal I swear I broke

Nothing she seemed to think of something and glanced at the sketch of him on the easel her face flushed I you’re probably thinking she gave up I think you’re an artist who sees creative opportunities and everything you see and everyone you meet her flush vanished and so did her scowl and reserved manner

Her smile lit the room stronger than the sunlight at least to Divine you look like you could use some coffee and food I could yes come on I’ll make you breakfast you don’t have to it’s the least I can do for someone who entered but didn’t break and who thought my

Studio would be as much of a safe haven for him as it is for me her smile retreated with these words and that bothered Divine far more than he had thought possible he barely knew the woman but he wanted to make her happy to make her whole

Again they left her studio and she led him into the main house through a rear entrance that opened into a cathedral sized kitchen damn how do you not get lost going from the fridge to the stove it comes with directions seriously the place was set up for a home with a dozen

Servants and how many do you have now you’re looking at her I’ve got some eggs fresh berries ham avocados and homebaked sourdough all of that sounds great she pointed to a cupboard plates utensils and cups are over there how do you like your eggs any way you care to make them

She brewed a fresh pot of coffee and he helped her get the items out of the fridge that looks new said Divine staring at the Sub-Zero double wide courtesy of my dear entrepreneurial brother he’s been slowly fixing up the place they decided on an omelet he did

The Chopping and slicing of the onions peppers tomatoes and mushrooms while she split and spooned out the avocado put the fruit into a bowl and put two slices of her sourdough in the toaster she mixed the eggs and other items and cooked it in a stov top pan later she

Sat across from him in the breakfast nook sipped her coffee and watched him Chow Down you were hungry he checked his watch it was after 10: [ __ ] I usually eat before now where’s Dak probably already at work you don’t know for sure it’s a big house he

Lives in one wi and I live in another and it all works so far she she wrapped on the tabletop so what happened last night you said you had trouble with some guys what kind of trouble trouble enough then you can stay here as long as

You need thank you said Divine who was surprised by the offer but also humbled by it are they after you three of them aren’t so you what arrested them or something or something yeah so you’re not going to tell me what happened I thought I just did she sat back and took

Him in it seemed to Divine line by line crevice by crevice Artist as Observer he concluded and it was a little intimidating as though she could see through the Flesh and Bone and home right in on the thoughts right now hovering in his mind you know what I really love about

Creating art no what it’s all about perspective of both the artist and the viewer he finished his coffee and Rose to pour another cup and took her empty cup to refill how so you looked at my sculpture of the big penis roped and the testicles cuffed and concluded it was meant to symbolize

Women pushing back against a man’s baser instincts he sat back down after handing Alex a full cup and it wasn’t from your perspective it clearly was which is why you voiced that opinion and from your perspective you looked at it from a male’s point of view as the artist I

Look at it differently you mean from a woman’s point of view I mean from a neutral observer’s perspective I didn’t know there was such a thing there can be if one tries so as a neutral Observer he said losing his amused expression she slid her finger along the top of the

Table life can be unfair for anyone those with a penis and those without then why a man can be trapped by his own masculinity or what is perceived as masculinity dick chained balls cuffed they feel they have to act in a certain way because that is what society as a

Whole expects for some men it’s no problem it’s who they are anyway Rambo or whatever but that’s not most men so most men end up living a life that is not really theirs it’s dictated by societal expectation and women women have a whole other set of problems and challenges and

Expectations that are impossibly unattainable so you have people getting rich off selling crap to women to put on their faces or lips or eyes devices to suck in their gut and ass or encouraging them to go under the knife to get bigger boobs or bigger butts or fewer wrinkles or smaller boobs or

Lesser butts as the tastes of the money grubbing influencers change or become skeletons so they can squeeze into latex miniskirts and cleavage bearing tops without the benefit of personal chefs and trainers all in the name of female empowerment which is one of the biggest hypocrisies I can think of While others

Applaud idolize and enrich these people for telling females particularly young and impressionable ones that not rigidly adhering to their definition of physical attractiveness will Doom them to be considered ugly by society as though Beauty and confidence and empowerment can’t exist in any shape size or color but it’s all about the almighty dollar

And it makes people do awful things to each other but they rationalize it as actually helping those who are not perfect become perfect so you see it really is all about perspective Divine laid down his fork okay men’s dilemma covered neutral Observer side taken care of women’s

Challenges done now let’s hear your side who says I have one all of what I saw in your studio says you do am I wrong she Rose yes you’re wrong you done I need to get back to work you can stay here until your place is no longer

Compromised and you can think about the fact that I asked you a simple question about what happened to you last night and you had so little respect for me that you couldn’t think of anything other than to [ __ ] me there you finally got my side feel better she

Walked out leaving Divine sitting there thinking first that she was absolutely right in what she had said and he felt like crap for doing that to her and second that the more time he spent with the woman the less he understood her and that had never happened to him before so

I losing my talent at evaluating people or have I just met my match in Alex silw well chapter 31 Alex was in her Studio when he left Divine didn’t say goodbye he just saw her through the window but she didn’t see him because the woman was totally

Absorbed in her work he did note that she had taken down the sketch of him from the easel it was probably in the trash he thought about telling her what had really happened to him last night particularly after she had guilt tripped him and rightly so but his loyalty to

The mission prevented him from doing that he didn’t yet know whom to trust in this town not even the woman who had given him sanctuary and made him a delicious breakfast and whom he wanted for some reason not yet clear to him to help heal he jogged back to the Inn where he

Found Harper waiting for him out front the man was upset where the hell have you been I’ve been calling and testing sorry I had my phone turned off Divine lied he just not felt like talking to the law man what’s up the police Chiefs ticked off features hardened to a

Bristling scowl what’s up is your folks showed up to that hell hole with all the dead people inside and cut off access to everyone even the state police did they say why they didn’t say anything just flashed their fed creds and told us to back the hell off they took the bodies

And they have armed guards en circling the place while they do God knows what in there the state police are pissed I can tell you that this might go all the way up to the governor’s office I’ll make a call and see what I can find out

Harper did not look mollified in the least by this offer nothing against you divine I know you’re just doing your job but I sure as hell wish you’d never shown up in putam yeah well I’m feeling the same way thought Divine he left Harper and walked to his cottage which was

Occupied two men who screamed National Security were waiting for him plain suits plain shoes plain ties uniform haircuts unreadable Expressions one was tall and basketball player lean the other medium height with some iron pumping head to his frame Agent Man said the shorter fellow indicating himself

And agent Saxon he added with a nod to his colleague they showed their creds they were members of a little-known agency that was right at the heart of the country’s most stalwart defenses against enemies both foreign and domestic and their very presence made Divine tense we need a detailed

Statement from you said man can I ask one thing first sure what what how’d you access my room man looked at Saxon and then turned back to Divine our badges prompted the land lady to open sesame with her master key thanks I’ll keep that in mind we’re on the same team said

Saxon in a voice that was as drawn out as his frame so everyone keeps telling me but at the end of the day I think we’re all engaged in an individual sport take it up with a government shrink to get your head on straight snapped man your statement have you looped in

Campbell we’re actually here at his behest your boss carries a lot of horsepower in our world I’m sure he spent the next 5 minutes recounting everything from the moment of his abduction to his running out of the house only to find the tire shot out on

The SUV he did not tell them about spending the night at Alex silw Well’s art studio so where have you been since then asked Saxon apparently reading divine’s mind we checked here hours ago ago you didn’t sleep in this room no it didn’t appear to be a safe place so

Where did you go somewhere else and why does that matter to you I’m alive right to tell you what happened so why don’t you reciprocate by telling me who it was who snatched me man looked at Saxon who Shrugged he said we don’t know [ __ ] said Divine we got the bodies sure we

Have printed them and nothing came up on any database we put them into we got their DNA and we’re running that too on priority but so far squat Saxon said not so surprising Divine they appear to be International muscle For Hire they might never have been arrested at least in

This country or in any other country that reports to the international bag guy clouds we use we’re circulating pictures in various places hoping for a hit no idea on them none they had to get into the country somehow Divine pointed out Saxon said they could have done it

Under aliases and then dumped the fake IDs they clearly took into account that their mission could go sideways and brought nothing that we could use to trace them when they snatched you we’re checking camera feeds at all major points of Entry but it’s slowo the SUV rented under a shell

Company with a fake ID and stolen credit card that our tech people tell us was of the very first order man fixed him with a pointed stare that had much behind it divine tell so the question becomes why Target you man said have you talked to Campbell

About that no but we’re talking to you right now we know about Jenny silw well I actually worked on a Joint Task Force with her back in the day any leads on her murder interjected Saxon I’ve only been working this case a short while you didn’t answer my question no

Leads you think these people were here to stop you investigating the silk will case maybe maybe not what other reason asked man take it up with Campbell it’s not for me to say we will there was another vehicle and I heard a woman’s voice anything on that Saxon

Shrugged not yet we have bolos out but not much to go on I would imagine they’re long gone by now or hiding in plain sight noted Divine in this Podunk Place said man this Podunk place has a lot of newcomers from all over what’s the attraction Saxon wanted to know

Lower cost of living for those who can work remotely and wanted to get out from being around millions of people Saxon nodded thoughtfully Co changed a lot in some ways it changed everything replied theine he stood and Saxon said where are you going back to work with people

Gunning for you assuming a fetal position is not an option and when you’re you’re in combat the mission comes before personal safety at least they taught me that in the Army four onone Divine you’re not in combat anymore growled Saxon could have [ __ ] fooled me replied dine as he walked out chapter

32 Divine drove to a place he’d already been twice and this time he was not leaving without answers truthful ones Earl Palmer answered the door he looked pale and Ill thought Divine his white sweater was stained and his pants drooped off his skinny hips and shriveled glutes you okay Mr Palmer

Asked Divine genuinely concerned about him yeah yeah just a 12-hour bug I’m getting over it what do you want to ask you some more questions his expression lapsed into a scowl look son I’ve told you all I know never hurts to go over it again and I’d

Like you to go somewhere with me if you feel up to it where said Palmer guardedly to where he found the body Palmer shook his head I don’t want to go back there almost had a heart attack Please Mr Palmer it won’t take long I’ll drive you and bring you right back here

What else can I’m sure you believe that Jenny deserves Justice the old man stared at him his white puffs of eyebrows twitching like he’d been mildly shocked let me get my coat and stick after Earl had been helped into the SUV they drove in silence until Divine said I understand that your wife

Taught Alex silw well to be an artist birdie taught a lot of folks but with Alex she said it was different how so asked Divine he wasn’t just making small talk he wanted to know if only to help him better understand the youngest silk well birdie said some folks are born to do

What they do write draw hell fish for lobster whatever she said Alex would have been an artist with her without her birdie just happened to be there to help the girl along she has a studio out back like your wife did at your house Palmer

Stared out at a sky that didn’t seem to be able to make up its mind remain calm or turned stormy way back used to be my gear shed said pal but I fixed it up for birdie about 20 years ago as her art place should have

Done it long before but I didn’t and birdie never complained not once and he seemed to run out of energy you miss fishing for lobster asked the vine after a few moments of quiet Palmer wiped at his mouth I was a Stern man he smiled weakly doesn’t refer to my personality

That’s just the part part of the boat I worked Stern man does the grunt work but we shared the duties more or less me and the captain on a 30ft be old boat built in 1969 damn fine vessel could handle any weather any Seas really every morning

Crack of dawn we row out to the boat with our thermoses of coffee and our lunch pales get out of the harbor and onto the Open Seas big rolling swells out there make you puke if you had motion sickness I never did even in a fog when you couldn’t see the Horizon

And the smell of fish guts and diesel fuel was coming at you from all Compass points I really don’t know anything about fishing for lobster but I do like eating them Palmer’s mouth eased into a broad grin that reached his eyes and held there when I was a kid I had my

Wreck license five lobster traps as proud of them as I was of anything I ever owned then I got my student license and moved up to 10 traps then I got to working for others 800 trap licens with commercial fishermen that’s a lot of lobsters oh

Yeah money was good back then we did a rotation of the traps every day collect the lobsters rebate with herring you put them in mesh bags and either tie it off or stick it on a metal shaft in the Trap get to about 200 or so traps a day each

Buoy marks two traps attached together by a rope called a trailer I’d pull one and the captain the other now them traps alone weigh about 50 lb then he add in the ballast which is about a half dozen cement bricks plus the weight of the lobster and the water you’re pulling it

Through it’s a back breaker all right builds you up though I strong real strong least way as I used to be he added his voice diminishing with each word spoken I bet how do you know which trap is yours buoys have distinctive colors and every trap has to have a tag that

Matches your license which you got to display on your buoys and you got to replace a tags every year you pick your colors can’t be same as anybody else’s of course have to carry a buoy with those colors in plain sight on the deck too so we pulled the traps up and

Collected the lobsters from them then I put them in a sectioned off box why is that bugs are vicious attack and eat each other give them half a chance bugs what we call the lobsters now once we’re done with the rotation we had on back that’s cleaning time for the stern man

Back at the moing in the harbor we unload the lobster from the drained holding tank and put them in crates that float right behind the boat when we get a big enough Flo we take him to cell that’s about it son doesn’t sound like something you’d spend most of your life

Doing but I did and I don’t have no regrets his face screwed up and he looked away from Divine this here right now now the Gulf of main is warming faster than just about any other body of ocean water on Earth that ain’t good for folks do what I did already pretty much

Wiped out the Cod and shrimp populations around here Lobster and oysters don’t like warm water either they’ll keep trekking North till they run out of Planet I guess Canadians will be smiling for a while I suppose till the bugs abandon them too he smiled and paired it with a Bittersweet expression we’ve been

Catching and eating those Crustaceans for centuries guess they got the last laugh on all mankind but there’s still lobsters out there said Divine I see boats coming and going oh yeah just not what it was that’s why a lot of restaurants don’t have it on the menu no more can’t get it

And when they do wants to pay 80 bucks for a dang Lobster and Lord they got regulations you got to jump through we got different fishing zones in Maine in our Zone we got large Tides more than 15 ft in strong bottom currents so the ropes we use with the traps move they

Said endangered whales were getting stuck in the vertical lines and such so you got to use different gear and change how you lay it so a passing whale can snap it if they do there goes your gear and the ropes get snagged on rock and such down there lose the Rope the traps

The whole shebang with that as well now some lobsterman won’t fish in certain areas because of that they go to a muddier Sandy Bottom so their ropes don’t get snagged but the thing is lobsters like the hard bottom so you’re not going to trap as many cast 22 that

Is I can see that said Divine we had some catch 22s in the military as well and lots of early mornings too best time of the day to be out there though you wake up before the sun and see a new day unfold right in front of you on the

Water ain’t none of us guaranteed another hour of living don’t care who you are or how much you got might as well get a up early and enjoy what time you got left I say he looked out the SUV’s window and it wasn’t hard for divine to deduce that the older man was

Thinking about his wife and the car that had killed her and then driven off yes sir you’re right about that said Divine now thinking about how close the previous night had come to being his last night on Earth and I appreciate you helping me find out who hurt Jenny he

Added trying to draw the old man back to the task at hand but Palmer didn’t respond to this he just kept staring out the window they reached the spot and he helped to ease Palmer from his seat Divine walked slowly because Palmer was not moving steadily or swiftly over the

Distance even with the sturdy walking stick he had brought along knees and hips he said in response to divine’s look need to get them all replaced but I ain’t got the money for that even with Medicare which pays a big chunk of it I ain’t got no supplemental

See the deductible and co-payments were just too much for my Social Security which is all I got might be able to get one hip and maybe a knee done but then who’s going to help me with the rehab local hospital shut down a decade ago

And the closest place is 40 mi from here and nobody comes to the home no more not out here then where do people go for their health issues doc gam does all she can she tried to help me with the insurance stuff and all a while back she

Helped me get a surgery I needed done she comes by to check on me and birdie when she was alive did the same for others very kind woman knew her mom and dad and her uncle hell knew their parents too the bang started the funeral business a long time ago how about your

Granddaughter could she help Mannie’s got her own life and a business to run she doesn’t need to be cooking my meals and changing my damn diaper they slowly walked to the edge and both men looked at out at the ocean prettier than any gal I ever seen except birdie said

Palmer Divine looked down to the Rocks where Jenny’s body had fallen or had been placed Divine noticed that Palmer never once looked down he kept his Gaze on the horizon maybe this is his safe space like every ceiling I look at so you came to this spot and looked down and there

She was yes that’s right replied Palmer still not looking down which was odd because most people with the words Divine had used would look down is this spot special to you Palmer swiveled his head to the right and eyed him Cally every inch of coastline is special

To me just happened to be this one I walked to that night but not the only one this was my third that night you didn’t mention that before well now I am Palmer said more fiercely than divine’s comment really merited Divine stared pointedly at the man specifically at his neck you find it

Hard to WAND around like that at night with your hips and knees the way they are people are meant to move actually helps me you sit all day you get stiff as a board walking Lubes the old joints least it does mine okay that was neatly done thought

Divine Palmer stared out to the water again pup Scott Bay has the best lobster bottom on the East Coast but it was pretty good in our neck of the woods he looked up but only slightly read the sky and the tide like the back of my hand The Depths out there the temperatures

Used to know every ledge and CRA out there cags are where the bugs love to hide got to lay your traps as close as you can hope they bite on the Herring he turned stiffly to give Divine a sideways glance communing and competing eating with Mother Nature

Every day right said Divine who was not really paying attention to the man’s words but was instead focused on Palmer’s stiff movements he looked down at his feet and had an idea what’s that next to your right foot Mr Palmer did you drop something Palmer didn’t look down

Instead he slowly backed up a few steps what is it can you see Divine said never mind it’s nothing my mistake so did you remain here when they came to take Jenny’s body away Palmer hesitated yes but after they brought her up I left the weather was turning bad I

Thought it had been raining hard since early evening lightning and all said Palmer they drove me back to my place took a hot shower and just sat there couldn’t sleep so he knew it was Jenny by then I yes yes I did who told you one

Of the boys that went down there to get her he knew her we all knew Jenny okay anything else you can think of Palmer slowly shook his head no not one damn thing young man at least that you’re willing to tell me thought Divine chapter 33 Divine drove Palmer back home and

Headed straight to bingan Sons after checking something on his phone he found franois gam coming out of her office I’m sorry I really don’t have time to talk I have a body to him balb I only had one question what how could Earl have seen the body on the Rocks below if he’s

Totally incapable of moving his head to look down she froze and then placed one hand against the wall seemingly to steady herself I don’t what are you talking about Earl mentioned that you helped him get a surgery he needed some time back why do I I think it was

Cervical spinal surgery the sort of work he did all those decades would certainly cause some problems there I had a buddy in the Army who suffered a malfunction of his parachute he lived but he had to have several spinal fusions one of which caused limited range of motion in his

Neck but he was young and strong so he was able to bounce almost all the way back so I’ll ask again how did Earl see a body over 20 ft below his eye level when he can’t even look down at his shoes can we can we go to my office sure

If you’ll answer my question he sat down across from her in her office and let her take her time Earl had an accident out on a lobster boat once and was badly injured he underwent cervical spinal fusion surgery by a specialist that I thought was a good one however the surgery went

Poorly and there were complications foremost was Earl having a lot of builtup scar tissue and arthritis from the work that he did a follow-up surgery not only didn’t correct the problem it made it worse he had to retire because of it and Earl has over the years lost more of his range of

Motion I’m sorry to hear that but then how could he see the body I don’t know maybe he got down on his knees which would have him facing down why would he have gotten down on his knees how could he have managed it and then how would he

Get back up I don’t know did you ask him by the time I do why do I think a story will have been prepared she looked both offended and flustered a story prepared by whom what is going on in this town Dr Guam I have no idea what you’re talking

About I think you know far more than you’re telling me I thought your job was to find out who killed Jenny to do that I have to get the facts right lies do not help me who do you think is lying to you pretty much

Everybody she Rose I have to get to work he stood I do too and let me just be straight with you I will get to the truth I don’t care how many obstacles are thrown in the way she looked at him with a mixture of sadness and Defiance I wish you

Luck Divine ran into Fred Bing as he left he looked busy and preoccupied but he stopped and said Mr Divine did you need something I already spoke to your sister was she helpful not particularly Bing did not look surprised by the response which intrigued Divine can I help asked Bing do you know

Earl Palmer Earl oh yes everyone knows Earl I heard he found Jenny’s body maybe or maybe not thought Divine you said before you didn’t know she was in town this time so when was the last time you saw Jenny Bing thought for a few moments running his hand through his hair maybe

Last year or the year before I assumed she was busy with whatever she was doing and what do you think she was doing Serving her country in some capacity the actual details of what she did have made for some Lively discussions at the local watering holes up here I can tell you

That DX said that the remote workers have really turned the prospects of the town around they’ve certainly helped he grinned Riley although most of the recent influx are too young to have much need of my services yet do you have any thought thoughts on who might have killed her

Bing leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his slender chest I think I just assumed that it had something to do with her work I mean why would anyone up here want to kill her she wasn’t really part of our lives anymore the only real connection was her brother and

Sister and all that property property that some may want to develop and pay a pretty penny for it bing looked surprised really who told you that does it matter matter I guess not said Bing looking confused and to divine’s mind nervous I assume you handled Mrs Palmer’s funeral arrangements yes yes we

Did it was terrible Bird’s death stunned all of us and the fact that no one was held accountable it just makes it even more horrible and I understand her son and daughter-in-law died in a house fire yes that was about let me think 15 years ago now what happened no one really knows

For sure Steve was a smoker so that’s what we all thought it happened at least initially it was early summer but we had a cold snap and turns out they’d been having trouble with their furnace so they were using one of those old portable heaters without any safety or

Cut off features you know the kind that if they tip over and catch something on fire your whole house can go up in about a minute so maybe it wasn’t as smoking I wasn’t working at the funeral home then but but my uncle told me that it was a

Challenge making them viewable ended up being a closed casket no one wanted to remember them that way their daughter I think was away or something he paused but why are you asking about that because it has Loose Ends like the person who hit Mrs Palmer and fled the

Scene but those two events were 15 years apart and one was a tragic accident and one was a hit and run and now Jenny uh again I don’t see the connection well I don’t either to tell you the truth maybe there is none I wouldn’t think so I mean

Stuff like that does happen yeah but this little town has had more than its share of stuff don’t you think Bing just Shrugged well good luck with your investigation if there’s anything I can do to help please let me know I will the vine left got into his SUV and drove

Back to the in and all along the way he was wondering why Earl Palmer had been offered up as the one to find Jenny’s body when he could not have possibly seen it whoever was behind this had not thought that one through but then again until Divine had come along everyone had

Just accepted what the old man had said at face value maybe I am good at this or maybe no one else really wants to find out the truth chapter 34 Harper and fuss were waiting for him when he returned to the in the two cops didn’t look happy and he felt sure he

Was about to find out why Harper said heard you went to see Earl Palmer today news travels fast can I ask why he was the one who found Jenny’s body I had follow-up questions like what asked fuss giving him a look that Divine didn’t really care for just the standard stuff

Learn anything new asked Harper his hand hand resting on top of his baton I don’t know I have to think about it you were over at the funeral home earlier too said fuss minutes ago and you already know you guys need to apply to work for

CIA cut the crap Divine what are you trying to get at demanded Harper same as you the truth we all just have our own methods of getting there apparently you seem to doubt that Earl found the body said fuss well well if you mean do I think it odd that he

Looked down to see the body only the guy can’t look down then yeah I have some doubts you should too Harper i’ed fuss and said what do you mean he can’t look down the man seemed to be sincere thought Divine or else he was an excellent liar a couple of cervical spinal fusions

That went bad he has severely restricted range of motion thought gam would have told you you obviously saw her at the funeral home moment she told you that we had met you’re wrong we didn’t talk to her said fuss we saw both your cars in

The parking lot when we passed by on our way here okay now what about Earl asked Harper I gave him a little test at the spot where he claimed to have seen Jenny’s body he filled them in on what he had done to discover the man’s inability to look

Downward are you sure asked Harper test him yourself suggested Divine and the guy has a hard time walking no he doesn’t really walk he shuffles so he was out in a monsoon shuffling miles including through the mud to the edge of that bluff if what you’re suggesting is

True it opens up a can of worms said Harper it actually changes everything replied Divine what do you mean by that asked Harper if he didn’t look down and see her how was she actually found did she really fall on the Rocks after being shot or was she killed elsewhere and

Moved there later hold on hold on protested fuss you’re getting way over your skis the way I see it I don’t think so it’s a fact that when Earl called 911 there was a body at the spot mentioned yes said Harper I told you that the night dispatcher called me and I called

Wendy we went out there straight away and Earl was there sure was right over at the edge he pointed to where she was did he looked down when he pointed I don’t remember snapped Harper I had other things to think about but if he didn’t find her what was he really doing

There asked theine you’re the one saying that Not Us Then test him we do that it’s as good as saying we don’t believe him Divine retorted I thought our job was to find the facts not worry about hurt feelings we don’t need you to tell us how to do our job interjected fuss

Heatedly in fact you made our job Harder by preventing us from searching Jenny’s room and car right away I had nothing to do with that it was still your people pointed out fuss this is getting us nowhere said Divine are you going to speak to Earl Harper hitched up his

Pants I’ll let you know in the meantime what can you tell us about those three people you killed your boys turn up anything not that they’ve shared with me well as soon as you do hear anything be sure to let us know i’ appreciate the same replied Divine they walked off

Without acknowledging this request as soon as they left Alex came riding up on her bicycle stopping in front of him can we talk sure about what about me and Jenny chapter 35 she curled and uncurled her fingers around the coffee cup at Maine Brew Divine watched those long Lively fingers

And judged them to be as artistic in design and function as the mind of the woman who owned them what about you and your sister said Divine in a gently prompting manner Alex looked up at him considerable pain in her expression she fiddled with the colorful

Scarf tied around her neck I I heard about what happened to you that you almost died last night that was why you came to my studio wasn’t it who told you that Wendy fuss she said that you killed three men who had kidnapped you he nodded

Slowly yes but we didn’t come here to talk about that did we he took a sip of coffee and glanced out the window as a chilly rain started to fall when she didn’t say anything he looked back at her I heard something about you what that you were attacked when you were in

High school and that the person who attacked you got away I I she looked so distressed that he put his hand out and gripped hers firmly if you don’t want to talk about it then don’t it’s up to you no worries I shouldn’t have brought it up I’m sorry

It was a stupid thing to do he let go of her hand sat back and waited she took a sip of coffee and then set the cup down and plunged in the doctor said that in addition to having physical injuries I I suffered a traumatic shock and that shock caused

Something called localized or situation specific dissociative Amnesia back then I had no idea what that meant but I’ve come to learn that it means I can’t remember certain specific memories in my case I can remember what I was doing before it happened but nothing after that so you don’t remember

Remember any details of the assault she shook her head I wouldn’t even have known that it happened at all except I woke up in a hospital with a skull fracture and the police were there she touched her scalp in the middle of her head they had to shave my head right

There to fix it they also told me I had been yes I know will you ever get the memories back they don’t know apparently most of the time they do come back at least to some degree but it hasn’t happened with me and it’s been over 15 years

Now is there anything they can do to help you get them back I’ve been to psychotherapy but didn’t help they told me that your mind blocks out something if it’s too painful to confront and there’s something called creative therapy that I actually do every day and what would have done

Regardless of whether this had happened to me or not your artwork you mean she smiled sadly and nodded yes it’s my cocoon my safe space when I’m doing it all is right with the world at least my world who found you after you were attacked do you know if they told me I

Don’t remember I was just in shock when they told me what had happened and my head hurt so badly so the police had nothing to go on no one else saw anything no where did the attack happen Alex shook her head I I don’t remember I am so very sorry that

Happened to you Alex she looked down at the table and nodded and then wiped at her eyes but you didn’t come here to tell me this since I was the one who brought it up she looked at him I came here to tell you that Jenny did come by to see me

When she was here she stopped and looked at him again aren’t you mad that I didn’t tell you before no I’ll just assume you had your reasons her expression relaxed you keep surprising me Travis I think I have you figured out and you throw me a curve not to worry

I was thinking the very same thing about you she picked at one of her paint covered fingers it was in the afternoon before she was killed what did she want she wanted to know if I had remembered anything from when I was attacked and what did you tell her same

Thing I just told you that I hadn’t why would she be bringing that up now after all these years or did she regularly check in with you about it no she had never mentioned it before aside from when she came home to help me right after it

Happened she never left my side for a long while and she would talk to me about it trying to get me to recall what had happened I think she might have tried too hard because it never worked I remember she got angry with me sometimes about

It why like you said these things happen to people who have experienced what you did because Jenny would have been strong enough to overcome that remember every detail and nail the bastard or so she told me when I couldn’t do that a tough older sister an impossibly perfect older sister but she

Did care about me Travis I know she did through her actions if not always through her words but not so easy to love your earlier remark about Jenny is making more sense I did love her despite all that is that when birdie Palmer started to Mentor

You yes Jenny had to go back to Washington for work and Mom and Dad were well they had a lot going on they must have been terribly upset about what happened to you I don’t think they knew how to deal with it Dad went around angry all the time I believe he

Blamed himself for not protecting me and Mom alternated between going into a shell and then coming out of it to smother me she looked out the window at the rain falling from a gray sky but her expression brightened in spite of the gloomy weather birdie was a godsend a truly wonderful giving person

She didn’t just teach me about art I mean I had a natural talent but my fundamentals were all over the place especially my line work she taught me about life too about who I was or could become I heard you had been accepted at some great art schools I know you have

To present a portfolio of your work to be considered for admission birdie helped me do all that Travis she was the reason I had the courage to apply to those schools in the first place and have artwork worthy enough to show them it was therapy for

What I was going through she urged me to get it out on the drawings the canvas whatever I was working on and it helped it really did but then you didn’t go to any of the schools why Alex stared out at the rain which was starting to fall

Harder and mirroring what the weather was doing tears started to slide from her eyes and Cur down her trembling cheeks and as Divine watched this it was like he had forgotten how to breathe he reached out and gripped her hand once more not only to reassure her but to also do so for

Himself would you think it unbelievable if I told you I didn’t know why no I wouldn’t but there is a big world out there to explore and cap in your art she shifted her gaze to him I know but Divine knew the woman had no faith

Or belief in her own response at this point they were just words expected ones what she thought he wanted to hear he withdrew his hand so he stayed in the Old Homestead where he grew up it was a Happy Time For Us mostly at least I remember it that way

She glanced at him did you have a happy place he nodded it was called the United States Army so why aren’t you still in uniform because life came at me fast and I didn’t duck in time so now here I am here we both are I I better

Go when she Rose he said whether those memories come back or not Alex they won’t Define you if you don’t let them I used to think that you still can I used to think that too Travis he watched her walk off because he could think of nothing to make her

Stay but he did have one thought if I find whoever took Alex’s life from her I will make them pay chapter 36 the next morning after his workout and partaking of the in’s continental breakfast Divine drove to the police station where he found Harper and fuss

In the chief’s small office he eyed the pictures on the wall of tough looking men in uniform Harper noted this and said former Chiefs of police here way back we had six full-time officers if you can believe it but then our population fell off a cliff it’s going back up according

To Dak silw well it is conceded Harper the remoter he calls them they are coming here in droves I don’t know if it will last but we’ll take it only good thing to come out of Co for us any news on Jenny’s phone or laptop we don’t know

That she had a laptop with her said fuss Divine pulled his phone and showed the picture he’d taken dust pattern on her desk at the in what else could that be when did you notice that asked Harper when we searched the place and you’re just now telling us He

Barked I thought you had noted it this seemed to make Harper even matter and he was clearly struggling to keep his temper in check how about your folks have they traced any of that electronically Divine shook his head no but I got another question okay said Harper seeming to brace

Himself where was Alex silw well attacked all those years ago Harper looked at who was now looking at the scuffed wooden floor I was a sergeant back then said Harper like Wendy is now but we had other officers like I said okay were you one of the responders and who called it

In I understand that Alex didn’t she woke up in the hospital why are you asking about that said fuss now looking at him because Jenny asked Alex if she had remembered anything about the attack what bellowed Harper you mean this this time who told you that Alex did she

Never told us retorted Harper well she told me and I’m telling you so I’d like to know where Alex was found since it now seems Jenny came up here to look into what happened to her sister why after all this time said fuss I don’t

Know but I’d like to find out so the place before my time said fuss quickly Divine shifted his Focus to Harper who would not meet his I Chief it was actually it was right around where Jenny’s body was found as a matter of fact but in the open field before you

Get to the trees and through the trail there to the bluff by the water divine’s expression slowly hardened and you never put two and two together no I didn’t hell I hadn’t even thought about what happened to Alex in years your question just now made me

Think about it come on you really think they’re connected interjected fuss what about the military round found out there and the person who took a shot at you and the ones who kidnapped you they were all foreign folks they weren’t around when that happened to Alex I

Don’t know what to make of all that yet conceded Divine but the location being the same for Alex and Jenny it might mean something we have to follow it up you can if you want said Harper I have better things to do with my time okay

Did you confirm that the round fired at me was an round I’m asking because even though I found the casing this case is so screwy when it comes to ballistics I want to make sure the casing matches the round fired we confirmed it yes told the

Other feds Saxon and man did you check dax’s Alibi for the time Jenny was killed Harper exclaimed why in the world would Dak want to kill his own sister oldest motivation of all money what money Dak told me some developers want to buy Josel and point it would be worth

Millions now that Jenny’s gone the value of Dak Shar went way up Harper eyed Divine okay we’ll check it out thanks for the info you’re welcome chapter 37 later that day after spending time in his room going over the case notes in his briefing book and pondering how all

Of this tied together with what he had found out so far Divine drove through the wind and rain to the spot where Jenny’s body had been found and where Al had also been attacked as he stared out over the rugged terrain Divine concluded that the events had to be connected in some way

Which meant that the killer of Jenny silw well might have also attacked Alex or at least knew something about it but what explained the men who had abducted him and the woman he had heard fuss was right they were foreigners most likely and while they might have reason to kill

Jenny because of her ties to CIA they almost certainly could not have been involved in what happened to Alex 15 years ago he instinctively looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was trying to get a bead on him that had been a way of life in the Middle East because there

Someone was always trying to sneak up and kill you this case really came down to one Lynch pin Earl Palmer he was lying about finding the body of that Divine was convinced and the police seemed to have no interest in following that up were they being loyal to a local

Just equal parts incompetent or stupid or were they complicit in whatever cover up was going on but the thing was Palmer didn’t strike Divine as a liar he seemed just like everyone described him salt of the earth nursing perhaps the most painful loss any person can endure so why lie under those

Circumstances is someone making you lie Earl he drove off while the rain continued to pour down and then abruptly transformed to SLE and then just as swiftly it all all stopped and the skies began to clear the weather really was crazy up here thought Divine he turned onto the main road as

His phone buzzed it was Campbell Divine hit the speaker function first things first agents Saxon and man have made a partial trace of the men who kidnapped you what did they find out they arrived in the country the same day they came after you flew in from

London before that we traced them to Brussels they are unnown quantity Killers For Hire like the guys on the Geneva train yes but at a higher level you did well to survive Divine any idea who hired them not yet the organization you went after in Geneva has many

Resources and while we hit him with a debilitating shot we obviously didn’t knock him out now we’re doing a deep internal security audit here trying to compartmentalize who knew about your assignment in Maine must be a fairly short list it is divine but we need

Proof If we have a mole we’ll find the person and deal with them accordingly I hope I’m around to see it replied Divine anything on the woman on the train she might have been the one in the house that night apparently a woman of many identities a number of which we

Are currently running down it seems most likely that she was engaged by the Geneva folks to deal with you after what you did to them so she’s a freelancer then that’s the prelim at least but it has not been confirmed confirmed there’s been talk of a new Talent out in the

Mercenary field but we don’t know if it’s her or not now what’s new on your end Divine went over his suspicions about Earl Palmer and the possible connection of Jenny silw Well’s murder to the assault on her sister years earlier my God Kurt never mentioned anything like that happening to Alex

They apparently hushed it all up why I don’t know then what’s your take on the normac casing being found at Jenny’s crime scene but a Nato round being the the one that nearly killed you asked Campbell I don’t really have a take sir yet it could be someone from the

Military or a civilian trying to throw suspicion that way and we don’t know for sure Jenny was killed with the nor round since it was never found you have anyone that’s given you certain Vibes Dax silw well is an aspiring mini Mogul who will make even more Millions off the sale of

The Old Homestead now that Jenny is gone he says he was in Boston at the time but he could have paid someone to do it that much money as a prime motive that’s the other thing I meant to share with you I spoke today with the silk well estate

Lawyers about the trust that left the house and property to the children said Campbell so it might be Dak had even more motive than you thought how do you mean according to the trust terms there has to be a unanimous vote to sell the property so if Jenny didn’t want to sell

Dak was not getting his millions and if Alex doesn’t want to sell Dak has the same problem that he might have had with Jenny I got to go Divine ended the call and punched the gas chapter 38 Divine pounded on the front door at Joselin point to no avail Alex’s bike

Was there but dax’s Harley was not at this time of day the man was at work inking people’s skin he tried the door but it was locked he ran around to the studio but a quick look in the window revealed it was empty he hustled back to

The house and found the back door unlocked Alex he cried out you here we need to talk Alex he searched the first floor then the second he found dak’s bedroom which was a pig sty on the other side of the house was Alex’s which was tidy and

Organized walls built around her to keep the boogeyman away he opened a third door and looked in there were dust cloths on the furniture but he could tell the space was clearly another another bedroom on the wall he saw a number of grainy old newspaper articles that had

Been framed he walked over to them the local paper had written stories about Jenny silw Well’s academic and athletic accomplishments which were many and impressive and on a shelf were trophies and certificates and other memorabilia that further proclaimed the outstanding youthful achievements of the room’s former occupant he shook his head and wondered

What it would have been like to be Jenny silw Well’s sibling not easy not easy at all he closed the door and spied another staircase that headed up he took it the staircase was full of mildew and Decay he saw that it opened out onto the

Widow’s walk that served as a Topper to the home the weather HIIT him as soon as he stepped outside but now it was just wind the precipitation had carried well off the coast the air seemed finer and purer up here he immediately noted he took in the

Area with his gaze finally settling on the Atlantic the wind had churned it and the White Caps roiled the surface in a slow-moving motion that struck him as frenetic still there were a few boats in his sight line but that was all the day was beginning to wind down and the

Setting Sun was behind him casting all he was seeing in a stream of colors that was building as slowly as the waves when his gaze dropped to the dark rocks along the coast his throat seized and heart felt stiff and flimsy he cried out in his anxiety and ran pel Mell back

Down the stairs to the first floor and out the back door he ran flat out toward the ocean his heart in his throat as he mumbled every prayer he could think of he looked down on the boulders where the tide was just beginning to come in Alex

Was sprawled out on one of them he hurried down the rough path to the rocks and skipped over them to reach her don’t be dead don’t be dead he pulled his phone to call 911 he got to her and knelt down to check the woman’s pulse she screamed and

Sat up so abruptly Divine fell back on his ass on one of the Rocks what are you doing he was so relieved that he had interpreted the scene incorrectly that he didn’t answer he just laughed uncontrollably for a few seconds in a spasm of relief and then lapsed into an

Embarrassed silence his chest heaving with all he was feeling at the moment as she stood stared at him with obvious concern he said I saw you lying sprawled on the rocks from the widows walk I I thought he couldn’t finish the statement but he didn’t need to oh my God I’m so

Sorry she reached out and gripped his hand I guess it looked I was like Jenny he nodded and then looked off to the encroaching ocean he closed his eyes and tried to will away that image of a dead Alex it did not work I come out here a few times a week

And lay out on this Flat Rock before the tide comes in it’s part of my therapy I was going to bag it today with the rain but it stopped so I didn’t know you were still in therapy it’s self-imposed I learned a lot from others and now I practice it breathing

Exercises meditation using certain calming phrases being in the moment trying to knock as much cortisol out of my system as I can and replacing it with dopamine she ran her gaze over him you should try it you look very stressed I can teach you a few things

Thanks maybe I’ll take you up on that but I have some questions first okay what did you know your brother is negotiating to sell Joselyn point and do you agree with that and do you know whether your sister did and whether she approved of a potential

Sale Alex now looked out to see and didn’t answer for a long moment while Divine tensely watched her Dak told me about it I don’t know if Jenny wanted to sell or not I don’t know if she even knew about it she didn’t talk about it

When she came up here last no she never mentioned it she just wanted to talk about if I had recalled anything from when I was attacked so are you okay with him selling all this we haven’t really talked about how I feel and I haven’t really thought

About it under the trust document you both have to agree for a sale to go through when Jenny was alive she would have had to agree too she slowly turned to look at him you’re not suggesting I have to look at every angle Alex Dak is negotiating to sell this

Place like I said so how is he doing that if you haven’t agreed to the deal I don’t know I’ll have to talk to him about it he drew closer Alex do you want to leave here you told me there’s a big world out

There for me to capture I know I did and I meant it but you can travel to other places without selling this place without selling your home in case you hadn’t noticed I’m not exactly rolling in cash yeah I’ve sold some artwork here and there but I don’t get Picasso level

Money in return I thought that Dak does well financially I’m not Dak but if he weren’t paying the taxes on this property we would have already lost it so you’re saying you might not have a choice in the matter if Dak stops paying the taxes there’s no way I can keep the

House well you’ll be very rich Dax said it would be worth millions he watched her closely to see how she reacted to this Alex just stared off my dad probably won’t live to see the new year will he Divine was startled by the segue no it’s doubtful that he

Will have you spoken to your mother about it I know everyone hates her because they think she abandoned dad but I don’t think that what do you think how about some hot tea and I can light a fire in my dad’s old study I’m chilled to the Bone now and

Not just with the weather sounds good I can help they entered through the back door where Alex stopped and said you mentioned you were on the Widow’s walk he looked embarrassed I was worried about you I saw your bike and when you didn’t answer the door was unlocked I get it

Travis as he watched her in the kitchen prepare the tea he was struck by her vulnerability and more important how she was dealing with it the woman had personal courage that was admirable he imagined that she took each day as it came not attempting to go any further

Than that and one day at a time was probably difficult enough for her he carried the tray while she opened the door to the study Divine looked around at the worm eaten Walnut floorboards and darkened ceiling beams in the middle of of the room was an old partner’s desk

With a well-worn green leatherback chair and a small wooden holder with a large fountain pen in it and another stand that held two old smoking pipes bookshelves lined two walls on the third wall was a large window looking out to the water on the fourth was a brick-faced fireplace with a wooden

Mantle that held framed pictures there was an old red leather couch and a couple of armchairs set around an industrial style coffee table constructed of chunky weathered wood with metal straps across the top and rusty metal wheels he set the tray down on the coffee table this place looks full of

Memories Alex smiled as she poured out the teas and set some banana bread out on plates good ones at least for me Divine handled the kindling and stacked the wood in a particular way in the fireplace he thinned out an old page of newspaper lit it and held it up near the

Flu opening to draw the flames you look like you’ve done that before Army and the Boy Scouts some of the training is the same as the fire picked up they drew closer to it Divine took a bite of the banana bread and exclaimed damn that is good I make it

Myself it was the recipe birdie shared a woman of many talents yes birdie was I wasn’t talking about birdie they stared awkwardly at one another before Divine broke off his gaze I loved coming here as a child this was originally Ham’s silw well study and all the silw men have

Used it as their inner sanctum over the generations those pipes belonged to my grandfather Tobi a silk well my father would be at the desk writing with the fat fountain pen that’s still in the holder over there he had monogram stationary and his penmanship was perfect I always tried to form my

Letters like he did he wrote his own speeches and he liked to do it in here he would read them to Jenny and she would critique them he usually agreed with her comments at least that’s what she told me one of yours said Divine pointing at the

Painting hanging next to the window it depicted four people in in a sailboat yes that was us dad and the three kids mom didn’t like to sail she got seasick but Jenny would race her little boat out on the gulf all the time she was Fearless the way she said it made Divine

A bit sad Jenny had clearly intimidated her younger sister but it seemed her death had also left a void in Alex’s life she Rose and plucked a framed photo off the mantle and held it out to him I use this as the model for the painting he looked at the picture and

Saw a Sleek blue and white sailboat with twin sails and a cabin below at the helm was Curtis silw well with a far younger Jenny next to him one of her hands on the wheel next to her father’s off to the side were Alex and Dak someone took

The picture from Shore and gave it to us he obviously liked the painting if it’s hanging in here I did that two years after happened it was therapy I’m sure it was it took you back to a safe time and a safe place she smiled my dad was a

Daredevil sailor too even more than Jenny Divine smiled how’d you all handle it Jenny pretended not to be scared Dak was terrified and screamed bloody murder the first few times we went out especially if the Seas were rough but then he got the hang of it and you I trusted my

Dad she looked up at dine as she handed him a cup of tea I knew he would never do anything to hurt us and he was always in control even when he seemed not to be he could do anything sounds like you really love him

I knew he was this Brave war hero from way back but I never saw that side of him he never had any of that stuff here here no medals or anything and he never talked about it even when we asked him well Jenny and Dak did I wasn’t

Interested it’s been my experience that the people who did the most in war talked about it the least and the reverse is also true she nodded and looked out the window where the wind had intensified it pushed against the glass with the firm pressure of a leviathan’s hand then

There was a loud smack as possibly a tree limb hit the house Divine felt his hand Dart to his gun get a grip you idiot Alex said he was a good congressman and Senator he worked a lot with the state’s Governors especially Angus King who is now a senator too and

John balachi when he was the governor my dad really cared about the people who live here will you go down to see him and your mother she said she tried to call and got no answer and she hasn’t seen her talk to you since the divorce it’s complicated Travis she said her expression

Tightening I’m a different person than I used to be I don’t want to be different I want to be happy and I am sometimes but sometimes things hit me and wipe the smile right off my face my anxiety goes through the roof I can barely breathe the world feels like it’s

Closing in on me it’s not mom really it’s me and I don’t want her to see me like that she seemed to grip the teacup harder and glanced at the fire he could see her taking deep moderating breaths and saying something under her breath a calming phrase or chant like she had

Mentioned you’re safe with me Alex I won’t let anyone hurt you she gave him a sad smile but one day you won’t be here and I will of course and what a stupid thing for me to say he stared at the flames and couldn’t think of any suitable reply to her

Honest fromthe gut words chapter 39 he left her there by the fire Divine looked back at the house as he sat in the SUV his spirits as Bleak as the weather the case had its difficulties but so did every other challenge he’d confronted no it wasn’t the case that

Bothered him so much it was knowing that no matter what he did he could not make people who were not whole whole not Alex not Curtis silw well not his ex-wife not Earl or Annie Palmer not anyone whose life had been touched by Jenny soulwell including me and I never even

Even knew the woman he drove to the police station and found that neither fuss nor Harper was there there was a woman he had been introduced to before her name was Mildred James and she handled the dispatch and all the admin work for the Department I’m not sure when they’ll be

Back said James can I do anything for you he sat down across from her you lived here long I was born here 59 years ago next week happy early birthday then so you know the silk Wells oh sure wonderful family it’s so awful what happened to Jenny I’m sure her parents

Are very upset well I heard Senator silw well is not well so he may not be aware you like working here if I didn’t I wouldn’t there’s never too much to do I mean nothing that you’d call exciting and that’s not a bad thing don’t get me

Wrong but with more people moving into the area we are getting more calls and such there’s even talk of hiring another officer or two were you working here when Alex was assaulted oh yes I’ve been working here over 20 years thank God whoever attacked her didn’t kill her I

Think they killed part of her Divine thought what can you tell me about the incident he asked well I was on duty and got the call that a woman had been attacked I took the information and dispatched the response wait a minute who called it in

The people who found her how did they find her let me think yes they said they were driving past a spot along the coast and they happened to look out and see something lying there the husband got out to see what it was while the wife

Waited in the car he recognized that it was Alex he ran back to the car and told his wife to call the police which she did and then Alex was taken to a hospital where she awoke but couldn’t remember anything that’s right that hospital has since closed it was only 10

Minutes from here thank God or Alex might not have made it now she couldn’t give a statement or help in any way she was clearly in shock and she had a skull fracture her life was in danger until they got things under control the officer searched the area where she was

Found but didn’t find any evidence worth anything and they canest for Witnesses but no one saw anything were her parents in town when it happened Mrs silw well was and she rushed right over to the hospital when we notified her stayed there all through the night Jenny came

Up from Washington to help too and Dak was out of the country in the Army I believe that’s right and Senator silw well he flew up straight away on a chartered plane a friend of his arranged I actually picked him up at the airport and drove him to the hospital he was

Beside himself with rage guilt you name it and that man was feeling it I understand she had been raped Divine said in a low voice James assumed a pained expression yes I’m not sure Alex remembered that part or any part the mind is funny like that but her

Examination clearly showed that she had been raped we still have the rape kit after all this time but we never had a suspect to match it to we ran it through the usual databases and such but never got a hit we were all hoping that Alex would regain her memory and identify her

Attacker if she knew him or at least give a description but she never did now it’s a very cold case could I look at the file and the evidence why do you think it might be connected to what happened to Jenny well Jenny had come up here on some

Unfinished business and she had talked to Alex about the attack and I understand that Jenny’s body was found near where Alex was assaulted James frowned yes I thought that was awfully strange well I can’t see how it would hurt to have another pair of eyes on it she led

Him to a locked room at the back of the small building and showed him where the files and evidence were located she had him sign a log book there’s a little room with a table just through that door you can use just let me know when you’re

Done he thanked her and she left him there Divine gathered up the box of evidence and the related files and carried them to the room where he set everything out he first unsealed the evidence bags and took pictures of the items inside with his phone they consisted of Alex’s clothing and

Underclothing which was torn and dirty some hair samples a pair of women’s sneakers and the contents of a small bag they were mostly art rated a couple of tubes of paint a brush a pencil and a small sketchpad he opened the ladder and saw some pencil drawings that she had done

They were all of the coastline or else looking out to see they were quite good and demonstrated the natural talent that the woman had exhibited while still in her teens what he didn’t find was the rape kit he checked the log that was in the

Box and it showed a rape kit but he didn’t see anything that looked like it he was familiar with them because he had worked with army C overseas when some soldiers in his company had been accused of raping a local woman two of them had been found innocent one had not he was

Currently serving time in a military prison at Fort lenworth for his crime he sealed the evidence bags and put them back in the box he glanced out the window and saw that the rain had started up again you would be just as wet walking down the street as you would

Be jumping in the ocean he figured he went methodically through the files and official statements Alex had told the investigators that she remembered riding her bicycle along that section of the coast she was was on her way to Joselyn point after seeing some friends in town

It was later than she had realized and she was hurrying to get home before it got completely dark that was the last thing she remembered until she woke up in the hospital there was seen hair and other traces on her person from her attacker but the police never had anyone

To match it to there were no Witnesses then he got to the part about the couple who had found Alex their names jumped off the page and seemed to scream at Divine Steve and Valerie Palmer had been the ones to find Alex and call the police Divine checked the date and then

Googled something on his phone the story popped up on his screen 3 days after finding Alex’s body Steven Valerie Palmer had died in the house fire the story said that it had been accidental and due to a portable heater being knocked over probably by the couple’s cat which had also perished

In the fire it seemed the drapes had caught on fire and the room had been engulfed in flames while the doomed couple had slept they had apparently been overcome by smoke inhalation because their badly charred bodies had been found in the bed Divine went and asked James about the

Rape kit she looked through the box and then through the entire evidence room my God it’s not here she said dine looked at the log to see who had last accessed the evidence the date was from over 10 years ago and while the ink had faded some Divine could still make out the

Name and signature Sergeant Richard Wayne Harper chapter 40 Divine drove straight to main Brew to find that Annie Palmer was just leaving Divine checked his watch it was after 8 long long day for the woman she had her Moor cycle helmet in hand a rain Slicker

On and was climbing onto her scooter as he pulled to the curb do you have time to talk he asked After Rolling his window down she looked flustered I was going to check on my grandfather before heading home it won’t take long just a few questions she

Hesitated okay where in here out of the storm they sat in the SUV while the rain clattered against the vehicle’s roof so what questions she asked tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear it’s bringing things up in the past things that will be painful to

You I I don’t understand she said a sense of panic rising in her eyes it has to do with your parents what about them they were the ones to find Alex after she was attacked what are you talking about she stared at him blankly for a moment you didn’t know that

No your parents didn’t tell you I was at Camp when they died in the fire I’d been there all week the police brought me home when it happened it was awful she punched the dashboard I should have been there I could have saved them you can’t blame

Yourself for that Annie for all you know if you had been there you would have died too well at least we would have died together I don’t believe that’s what your parents would have wanted she looked out the window my grandparents took me in and finished raising

Me but I never knew about my parents finding Alex my grandparents never told me I don’t even know if they knew so you knew about her being assaulted there were rumors and I heard them things from time to time she was also raped Palmer’s eyes filled with fresh tears I didn’t know

That and no one else in town told you about your parents finding her no who else knew well the police did surely I can’t believe this [ __ ] she paused and studied him but what does that matter now whether I knew or not Alex got attacked and your parents found

Her and from the timeline I looked at they found her pretty much immediately after she was attacked then 3 days later they die in a house fire I must be very stupid but I don’t see what you’re getting at I think they might have seen whoever raped Alex they

Could have passed the man on the road maybe he was running or driving away the point is it’s a lonely area it was getting dark there might not have been anyone else around but if they saw the rapist why didn’t they tell the police that I haven’t figured out yet I

Just found out they were the ones who discovered Alex and reported it so are you saying that my parents were what murdered it’s possible Palmer shook her head stubbornly I just don’t see how that could have happened my parents were friends with the silk Wells they would

Have told the police if they had seen a man running or driving away like that and if they had what would be the point of killing them to keep them quiet about what they had seen the police would have arrested the person or at least talked to

Them Divine knew she was probably right about that the police report says the fire was started when a portable heater turned over and caught the drapes on fire she nodded that’s what they told me too I remember that old heater it wasn’t safe Mom was always always telling dad

To buy a new one but but what well to tell the truth my parents were going through some tough times financially my dad had put all their savings into a business that went belly up and my mom had been recently laid off from her job I heard them talking about

Maybe losing the house I think they sent me off to Camp before I started asking too many questions but later I found out the check they’d paid my camp fee with bounced what happened afterward the bank foreclosed on the house luckily I could go and live with my

Grandparents turned out my dad had debts no one knew about it was a real mess I was left with nothing if you don’t mind my asking then how did you open a business you had to have some Capital to do that and I don’t think your grandparents had that sort of

Money lying around Palmer now looked embarrassed I Dak invested the money for me to open main Brew we had been seeing each other and and he liked you and also thought you were a crackerjack entrepreneur she snorted yeah something like that I guess you also warned me not to let him

Get me drunk that I might regret it I shouldn’t have said that if he ever found out he will never find out from me the panic in her expression eased as she looked at him so why the warning we went out one night I had too much to

Drink and I woke up 5 weeks later and found out I was pregnant did he rape you no he didn’t Dak is not like that but his not using protection wasn’t what I had in mind but I was too effed up to think clearly and the baby

I went to a place did Dak pay for that she nodded I was told that the silk well wealth had dried up Generations ago so where did Dak get the money to help you pay for an abortion and invest in all these other businesses he said he had

Some Financial backers in Boston do you know who they are he never told me but he’s doing really well he fixed up Joselyn Point some and built that art studio for Alex he built it for her yeah about two years ago you didn’t know he shook his head she never mentioned that

Well I told you that anyone who thinks they know Alex is lying same goes for Dak he looks like a tatted musclehead badass but he’s actually quite sensitive and Jenny did anyone here really know her she was about 10 years older than me

Me but I knew her I can’t say I knew her all that well but I was surprised surprised by what well the rumor is she was some sort of spy you know hiding things Poker Face pretending to be something she’s not well with Jenny she wore it all on her sleeve I

Think she was the most open one of the bunch so I don’t know how she made such a good spy Divine offered to drive her to old Palmer’s house because the rain was still pouring down and she accepted you can just drop me off back here and I’ll take my scooter

Home a bit later he pulled up to Earl’s Cottage and they ran through the rain up to the porch she had a key and let them in they searched the entire house but Earl wasn’t there you think you went for a walk she looked over at the front door

His walking stick is against the wall he never goes out without it she pointed to a a peg on the wall and there’s his coat and the reflective vest I bought him he wouldn’t go out without those where else could he be divine looked out the window at the small

Studio hey I think I see a light from behind the curtains what really she sounded relieved he must be in there maybe he’s going through some of Bird’s artwork I told him it would help with the grieving process they hurry out to the studio Palmer opened the unlocked door

Gramps it’s me I’m so glad that you she screamed Divine pushed past her his gun out and making wide arcs in front of him but then he stopped and lowered his weapon as he stared up at a clearly deceased Earl Palmer hanging from one of the rafters chapter

41 while Harper and fuss went about their work with the aid of a crew of volunteer EMTs and franois gam readied her instruments for the preliminary processing of the body Divine stared up at Palmer still hanging there the image of Sarah yuse came back to him he had

Dated her back in New York when he had worked for the investment firm of cowl and cumley she had been found hanging in one of the firm’s storage closets the initial cause of death had been deemed suicide it had soon turned to a verdict of murder what about you Earl did you do

This or did someone else do it to you with everyone’s help they managed to release Earl Palmer from The Noose and lowered the body where it was initially examined by the two officers next a nital gloved Harper stood on a ladder and cut down the rope

That had been used careful to keep the knots intact Divine edged over to where gam was kneeling next to the body which was lying on a synthetic tarp designed to capture all trace evidence she used a digital thermometer to test the ambient air temp and then employed a rectal

Probe to check Palmer’s body core temperature how long doc the ambient temp in here is 37° he has warm clothes on which would counteract the ambient sum the body loses roughly 1.4 de F of heat per hour after death up to 12 hours and about 7 per hour after that

She looked at the rectal thermometer based on all that this reading indicates he died between 1 and 3 this morning Divine looked at the ligature marks on Palmer’s neck those look gravity induced he said as opposed to straight line which should show strangulation you know about such

Matters I have a little experience with them yes she held Palmer’s large head in her gloved hands no OB VI signs of bleeding or blunt force trauma so he wasn’t knocked out and then strung up why in the hell would you think that Divine glanced over to see

Harper staring angrily at him he swiveled his glance around to fuss to see what she looked like she was staring at her boss anxiously it seemed to Divine I’m saying that it might not be a suicide his beloved wife was killed horribly said Harper walking forward as

He spoke crossing the footprint of the small building until he was looking up at the taller Divine the man is out of his mind with grief he walks alone in the middle of the night looking for [ __ ] I don’t know what maybe a little piece and then he

Finds the body of another person he knew he pointed at the rafter from which ear Palmer had been hanging and now we get this seems pretty linear and obvious to me a person can only take so much so you’re convinced he took his own life said Divine I’m not convinced of

Anything until the doc over there gives her verdict but why would someone want to kill Earl that’s our job to find out Harper stabbed a finger into divine’s left PEC I’ve got one murder to solve Divine I don’t need you going around trying to add to that number with all

This bull crap as Divine looked at Harper all he could see was the Man’s Signature on the log list and the missing ring kit he was certain that Mildred James had told Harper about divine’s checking out Alex’s evidence file and the man was obviously not happy about it well you actually already have

Two murders Alberta Palmer Earl would make it three and like you said Chief let’s wait until we get the verdict from Dr Guam he looked at the woman I’m sure it’ll be a top priority for you right doc yes yes of course she said looking and sounding

Agitated I’ll do it first thing in the morning she looked at the EMTs load the body in the van and bring it to the funeral home I can do the post there once I get approval from Augusta I know they have a backlog right now and I

Don’t want to get lost in a long queue but I also want to be fresh when I do the post we’ll need the place to be secure said Divine I’ll call the county and have him send a deputy over to watch the place all night said Harper taking a step back

And seeming to lose all emotion and with it all his vitriol good said Divine as he started to walk out where are you going asked fuss to take Annie home you got our statements anything else can wait until tomorrow he left and got into the Tahoe Palmer was sitting there staring out the

Window at the cottage where her grandparents had raised her after a fire had taken her parents away then her grandmother had been killed and now this I’m so sorry said Divine and not for the first time when they discovered the body Palmer had rushed forward and grabbed her grandfather’s legs screaming at the

Vine to help her get him down to perform CPR to save him but Divine had seen many dead bodies and he knew he was seeing a long Dead one at the moment it had taken all his strength to pull her away from him lead her out to his vehicle and get

Her inside then he called the police he’d sat with her while he waited for them he tried to soothe her come up with words that would make the pain of such a traumatic Discovery go away until he recalled that those words did not exist so he had just held her let the

Woman cry into his shoulder told her it would be okay when he knew it wouldn’t he got her to cup her hands and breathe into them when she sobbed so hard she hyperventilated and couldn’t catch her breath the flood of CO2 calmed her twitching lungs is there someone you can stay with

Tonight I don’t think you should be alone when she didn’t respond he repeated his question halfway through she said josely and point Dak and Alex this surprised Divine especially after she had told him about Dak but he nodded and they drove away from the place where a dead man lay on a cold

Floor chapter 42 Alex answered the door theine quickly explained the situation and it was gratifying to see Alex put her arm around the woman’s shoulders and Usher her into the house you can sleep in Jenny’s old room you know where it is I’ll be right up to help you settle

In as Palmer headed up the stairs Alex turned back to Divine she had on a pair of men’s pajama bottoms and a turquoise sweater and pink socks her hair fell around her shoulders and she had a smudge of charcoal between her thumb and forefinger what happened exactly she

Said her voice weary but her expression anxious he recounted the events in a few sentences and Alex’s look grew more and more anguished as he did so my god when is enough going to be enough Annie’s now lost everyone well she wanted to come here so

She has you she can stay here as long as she wants we can get some things from her apartment in the morning I can load her scooter in the back of the SUV and bring it over in the morning thanks do you want some coffee or

Tea no you and Annie need to get some rest and I’ve got some things to do she furrowed her brow at this statement things to do do you know what time it is my job’s like yours it’s not 9 to 5 she smiled and that lifted his spirits a

Little okay but please be careful thanks for helping Alex I know Annie appreciates it that’s what we do here we help each other because each other is all we’ve really got where’s Dak I didn’t see his Harley I’m not Not My Brother’s Keeper they gazed at each other Divine

Didn’t really want the moment to end but good night she closed the door and he hurried back to the Tahoe and drove off he could feel things escalating now and he needed information a lot of it as he drove he hid a number on his phone cble picked up on the second

Ring Divine went over finding Earl Palmer’s body and then the fact of the missing rape kit and chief Harper’s having been the last one to check it out and Annie Palmer’s parents found Alex right after the event happened and 3 days later they were dead in a house

Fire and you believe they saw who did it but didn’t report it for some reason then they were murdered by the man who raped Alex to ensure their permanent silence it’s a plausible Theory but you have to get proof the puzzling question is if I’m right why didn’t they report it

Putam is a small town meaning they might have known the person who did it and didn’t want to expose them for some reason that’s also a plausible Theory noted Campbell now let’s focus on Earl Palmer’s death if he was murdered and there’s no proof of that yet one reason could be he

Was paid off or forced by someone to pretend he found Jenny’s body so the murderer silenced him in case he had a change of heart and decided to tell all yes why involve him in the first place asked Campbell I don’t believe Jenny was killed where she was found I think she

Was taken there and it wasn’t just any location it was near the spot where Alex was found after she was raped so you think the attack on Alex and the murder of her sister are connected even though they took place 15 years apart I’m beginning to otherwise the locations are

Just too much of a coincidence particularly if the place where she was found was staged that means the killer intentionally picked wouldn’t most people up there know that was the spot where Alex was found no I don’t think so it was apparently hushed up but I may still have a town full of

Suspects now Jenny told her mother that she had unfinished business up here and then I found out that she visited Alex and asked her if she remembered anything about that night to my mind that means the unfinished business has to do with Alex’s rape do you think Jenny had found

Out something yes I do and maybe you could check with her colleagues at CIA to see if she said or did something there that might help us Campbell said you know it’s possible that she could have used some of her government resources to do some sleuthing on her

Own from the sounds of it the lady was tenacious as hell you’re describing yourself too it’s what the Army taught me as you know speaking of any luck on breaking through the seal on dax’s military record yes he was found in bed with the wife of his

Co Divine said okay I can see why he got the OT rather than a DD the Army didn’t want everyone to know about a cuckle did Superior officer but I don’t see how that helps you it tells me that Dak will take a big risk if the reward is large enough but

It also shows a degree of recklessness noted Campbell which makes him unpredictable and more dangerous exactly exctly the mole asked theine we’re 90% through our audit let me know when you finish with or without an answer what are you going to do now Campbell asked take a nighttime tour of putam Main in

The hopes of finding what asked Campbell I’ll know it when I see it chapter 43 Divine drove to the spot where one sister had been raped and the other one found murdered he got out and walked around while at the same time in his mind moving through the details he knew about

Jenny’s murder and speculating on what had happened to Alex here he thought about Jenny with a rifle aimed at her head and of Alex when she realized what was about to happen to her the twin images rocked him to his core when Divine didn’t believe anything could

Anymore he walked to the The Edge and looked down at the rocks and then out at the ocean which was rumbling and tumbling he had seen more violence and depravity in his life than most others had to a degree it desensitized you to the stunning cruelty of which human

Beings were capable yet in other ways Divine found he was more empathetic than most it might be because he had comforted as best he could colleagues and friends and family members who had lost loved ones that didn’t just include fellow Americans but soldiers from other countries and civilians who had lost

Everything and everyone they cared about to war death was always unsettling even when it was expected but violent Unexpected death it had a horror a grotesqueness that most humans simply couldn’t wrap their minds around that’s because there was nothing logical or understandable about it he looked in the

Direction of Joselyn point where two vulnerable women were hunkering down perhaps they were managing to get by together when they might have failed alone at least he hoped so as Divine looked back out to the water he saw the lights of a boat that was very near the shore and north of his

Position he looked at his watch and wondered who it might be out there at this hour of the night he hopped into his SUV and drove toward where the boat seemed to be heading he continually glanced out at the water to follow the vessel’s journey and then the light vanished which deepened his

Suspicions he slowed the SUV pulled over and stopped he slid his Optics from his bag got out and looked through them over the vehicle’s roof he swept the Horizon for a glimpse of the vessel but it was like the boat had disappeared into the night he got back in and was about to

Pull back on the road when a car passed him going fast he glanced quickly enough to see that it was Dr Guam in a gray BMW sedan he pulled in behind her and followed at a discreet Distance by now she had to have finished at Palmer’s place or squared things away

At the funeral home before she did the post in the morning she might be heading home wherever that was she had told him she lived here but also kept a place in Augusta he lowered the window a crack because he was feeling warm and a little claustrophobic the brine smell from the

Atlantic flooded the interior and brought back memories of West Point and sailing on the brackish Hudson River officially known as the United States Military Academy West Point had been identified by George Washington as the most strategic location in the American Revolutionary War originally named Fort Clinton it was the oldest

Continuously maintained military Outpost in the country it was on the West Bank of the Hudson hence the name a a branch of the US Mint was located there it was pretty safe Divine thought being on a military installation loaded with weapons and people who knew how to use

Them four of the best years of his life had been spent at the point he had made friendships he expected to last the rest of his life for his comrades who had been killed in battle those lifetime bonds would not happen but that was something they had signed up for

Collectively they were all supposed to make the world better or Freer or safer the jury was still out on that but regardless we did our duty and did our best he slowed down when the Beamer did then it turned onto a paved driveway on a stretch of Coast Road that was

Unfamiliar to Divine the rod iron gates opened the Beamer passed through and the gates closed behind the car he pulled off and watched gam drive up to the side of what could only be termed a mansion then the house swallowed the car as she pulled into a sideload garage

Bay he squared up the SUV and pointed the lights at the gate coming together the twin metal gates formed a large b b for Bing he thought Joselyn point was impressive or at least it had been back in the day this place looked to be no

More than a decade old and was even larger he wondered if she lived there alone or with around 50 people it was more Hotel than house he drove off his mind tumbling through a number of scenarios who would have thought such a little town would have such big secrets and

Problems he slept deeply got up early and did his work out especially hard as though punishing himself for his lack of progress with every Diamond pushup he chastised himself every Sprint he dug deeper because he’d been such a failure thus far he made every Burpee hurt a little more as Penance for his

Ineptitude he walked back to the Inn showered and changed and then picked up Annie Palmer’s scooter and drove with it in the SUV to Joselyn point it was 7:30 sharp when he knocked on the door he noticed that the Harley still wasn’t there Dak had left early for work or

Else had not come home Alex answered the door dressed in jeans and a long sweatshirt she led him into the kitchen and made him a cup of coffee they sat at a table in the small sun room how’s Annie she’s still sleeping I didn’t want to wake her her

Scooter will be waiting for her out front it was nice of you to do that no trouble she’s going through a lot how did you happen to be with her last night divine looked uncomfortable with the question part of him wondered why she wanted to know but then he concluded

It was actually a perfectly reasonable query I just wanted to ask her some questions and I drove her over to Earl’s because she wanted to check on him it was raining hard and it made no sense for her to go there on her scooter that’s when we found

Him I still can’t believe that Earl would kill himself Divine didn’t bother to tell her his theory about Earl Palmer being murdered he had no proof to offer only speculation but there was something else he wanted to tell her I don’t believe Jenny was killed at

The spot where she was found based on the angle of shot entry I think she was killed elsewhere and her body was placed on the rocks at that particular spot for what it’s worth the local Emy agrees with my theories on the shot entry angle Alex asked in a forced calm

Tone why would they pick that particular location to place my sister’s body it was where where you were attacked what there I think that was why you had that sort of event when I took you to the spot it had nothing to do with Jenny’s death you got woozy in the open field

Where you were found once you got in the trees you were fine so even though you don’t consciously remember anything about that night I think your subconscious does her eyes now brimmed with tears the same place so you’re saying whoever attacked me also killed Jenny I’m saying it’s a possibility

That’s all but she told me that Jenny came up here to ask you about it and she told your mom that she had unfinished business what else might she have meant by that I don’t know Travis I don’t [ __ ] know okay she hurried from the room he sighed finished his coffee

Rinsed out the cup put it in the dishwasher and laughed you’ve got to get to the truth Divine for a lot of reasons chapter 44 Divine drove to the police station to find Harper out but fuss in her office she eyed him inscrutably as he sat down across from the

Woman I spoke with Mildred understand you came by I did said Divine evenly I also understand that some evidence went missing evidence does go missing said Divine looking at her for various reasons let’s cut the [ __ ] dine I saw the log book and so did you never said

Otherwise there is no way Chief Harper took that rape kit back then again I never said he did before she could respond he said what about the fire that killed Steven Valerie Palmer F’s eyebrows nearly folded over each other what the Palmer fire yes I know

About it though I wasn’t on the force then but I remember it was an accident you mean that was the official finding that was what happened barked fuss look I’m just thinking things through hear me out they find Alex right after she was raped and then the Palmer die 3 Days

Later quite a coincidence apples and oranges if I recall correctly it was a faulty portable heater happened all the time back then my cousin is a volunteer firefighter he said there’s still one of the leading causes of fire in the winter I’m sure no I’m not sure you are sure she

Exclaimed heard from the me on the post yet he asked deciding to change the subject that’s where the chief is attending it Divine Rose Looking angry and I wasn’t invited why because it’s a probable SU suicide unrelated to the case you’re up here investigating she sounded like she was

Reading from a script thought Divine that’s [ __ ] he found the body of the murder victim I’m up here investigating are they still doing the post at the funeral home yes but he was out the door before she could finish the sentence minutes later Divine hurried into the funeral home grabbed someone who worked

There flashed his creds at them and fast walked to the room set at the back of the building where he had viewed Jenny’s body he didn’t bother to knock but just burst in Guam looked up from what she was doing which was cutting open Earl Palmer’s chest while Chief Harper stood

Across from her looking slightly nauseous can anyone join the party or is it exclusive asked Divine with a bite to his words gam glanced curiously at Harper I thought you knew Harper groused I thought I asked Wendy to let you know but maybe I forgot she was actually

Under the impression that I had no reason to attend retorted Divine well you’re here now so let’s get on with it not that it has anything to do with why you’re here snapped Harper he looked at Guam and nodded for the next hour Guam worked over the body dictating notes into her

IPhone which was on a magnetized stand next to her both Divine and Harper asked questions of her throughout the procedure he wasn’t n strangled and then hanged as you noted before the ligature Mark is gravity based with no StraightLine ligature marks under it his stomach had no undigested food in it

Which makes sense if he was killed early in the morning but there were some other substances in his belly was he on medication she nodded I was his PCP so I know he was on statins and high blood pressure meds and also some painkillers for his arthritis and other pain isses

Issues most people his age are on lots of meds unfortunately but those meds didn’t kill him right said Harper I wouldn’t think so unless he overdosed on them and then he would not have been able to hang himself and there was nothing in the tissue samples that would indicate any

Toxins in his body there was a chair on its side right under the body said Harper he obviously put the Noose up there climbed onto the chair and kicked it away end of story Divine didn’t believe this but he wasn’t going to say it in front of Harper but you’ll run

Blood work and talk screens he said Guam looked at Harper who said all that costs money Divine a lot of it and for what the man killed himself how else could it have happened I agree my cause of death will be suicide said gam good don’t get me wrong I like durl

But I also don’t don’t need another murder in putam thanks Doc he nodded curtly at dine and left dine looked down at the cut up body as guon bagged the organs in thick plastic viscera bags and placed them in the chest cavity she had already slid Palmer’s facial skin and scalp back into

Place after having pulled it down to saw through the skull and remove the man’s brain she now started to stitch up the Y incision she had earlier made along the sternum so nothing out of the ordinary then asked the vine as you saw I took 1-in tissue samples of his organs didn’t

See anything unexpected as I already said he had heart disease but I knew that although for his age it wasn’t that bad when I was with him he had a really hard time walking he just shuffled really you know about the spinal fusion surgery that really limited his range of

Motion as I told you before and he had severe arthritis and in both knees and hips which caused him to have trouble walking so with all those physical limitations you think he could have hanged himself a sudden pop of adrenaline can allow you to accomplish many things that

You ordinarily would not be able to do if Earl really wanted to kill himself he could do it anyone could really and while he had limitations Earl was still a big strong man whose lifelong work had built his upper body to a remarkable degree Divine nodded but remained unconvinced he didn’t think adrenaline

Was the answer to this by the way I saw you last night she looked up at him confused I know Ed Earls no I meant later you were driving home and I was behind you wow that is some place you have it’s not really mine she said

Quickly looking down at her Stitch work again oh really my father built about 10 years ago didn’t know there was that much money in funerals oh there’s not believe me but have you heard of Warren Buffett of course way back when my grandfather subscribed to his investment newsletter

Whatever Buffett invested in so did my grandfather every spare Penny he had and he was notoriously Frugal in his personal spending over the decades the returns have been quite large well enormous really far more than any of us knew when my grandfather died my father and Uncle inherited

Everything my uncle retired and went off to Florida but my father stayed here for a time and built that place my mother was still alive back then and she was really the force behind it you have to understand she spent most of her married life in a cramped two-bedroom Rancher

When my brother and I came along things got really tight but my father refused to buy a new house house two bedrooms what did you and your brother do as you got older he slept in the den I kept the bedroom I was the oldest she smiled anyway that house was my mother’s

Revenge as it were she lived in it for exactly 2 years before she got cancer and died I’m sorry no it’s fine she really enjoyed those two years let me tell you after that my father moved to Florida to be near my uncle my brother and I got to

Live in the house and we both have trust funds set up so you really don’t have to work anymore then she sighed well that’s the catch what my grandfather set up trusts for his sons and my father did the same thing with the house and his inheritance for me and my

Brother did the same thing I’m not following in order to inherit all that wealth my father and uncle had to work at the funeral home until age 65 my father made a similar arrangement for my brother and me although we only have to work there until age

60 until then we get a little money from the trust and we get to live in the house but we have to work at the business to earn money and I have my medical practice of course which quite frankly doesn’t generate a lot of income

And it’s not like there’s a lot of money left over that house is expensive to keep up what happens if you leave before then the child who stays with the business until they turn 60 inherits it all if we both leave before that then we lose the trust funds and we can’t live

In the house or get the proceeds from selling it it would all go to charity if we both stay we split it you going for the durations so you can cash in she looked pensive and conflicted I’m not sure I can hang in there I never had kids and I’ve actually been thinking

About relocating to Charlotte North Carolina I’m tired of the cold and that house is far too big for two people and I don’t like the idea of my life decisions being dictated by the sole thought of gaining wealth that I had no hand in creating and your brother I think Fred actually likes

Running the business so it’s not so much of a hardship for him and in his leisure time he’s quite the Outdoorsman he likes to hike and rock climb and New England has a lot of places to do that he kayaks and bikes too he never married I think he saw my experience and

Swore it off that bad my ex stole all my money left me with all his debts and ran off with someone who I thought was my best friend damn I’m sorry it was a long time ago I dream of running into him one day and well I guess I better not elaborate considering

You’re a federal agent but it is a great deal of money at stake so for now I’ll continue to live in a house that is far too big with my little brother sort of like Joselyn point and Dak and Alex I never really thought of that but you’re

Right by the way Senator s was very close friends with our family my grandfather and father supported all of his campaigns and the big name means something in Maine I had relatives in state government and one of my great uncles was a long- serving Congressman Divine thought of

Something was it your family that chartered a jet to bring the senator back from Washington when Alex was attacked 15 years ago yes I believe it was my uncle or grandfather how did you know about that he Shrugged just putting two and two together we couldn’t believe that someone would attack

Alex were you here when it happened no I was still doing my medical residency out of state okay can you email me your report on Earl with a set of pictures of the body of course you’ll have it straight away I hear Charlotte is really nice

Might be worth it to give up the Bucks and live your life on your own terms and not someone else’s yes it certainly might he left her there staring down at a dead body chapter 45 on the way out he bumped into Fred Bing who was looking

Upset when Divine commented on this Bing said small business ownership is not all it’s cracked up to me I had two people call calling sick and a delivery I really needed did not come in your sister told me about the unusual trust arrangement with your father Bing sighed

And leaned against the wall it actually wasn’t unusual for him it was a simple power play all the way he didn’t really care about keeping this place going he did it for his inheritance and he made sure that my sister and I have to do the

Same it sounds like a shitty thing to do to your kids on the plus side I actually enjoy what I do I mean despite the day-to-day hiccups and you like the outdoors your sister told me Bing’s face lighted up I spend my work days in the dark with dead

Bodies and grieving families so I like to spend my free time in the sunshine with nature strikes a nice balance she also told me about her disastrous marriage Bing’s smile faded Stuart Guam was the world’s biggest jerk I could have killed him for what he did to my sister he

Blanched I mean I didn’t mean that I would relax Fred there’s no law against thinking about killing someone and if he’d done that to my sister I’d be thinking the same thing Bing’s expression turned somber I heard about Earl your sister and chief Harper believe he killed

Himself suicide Earl look I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job but I will tell you this Earl Palmer would have been the last person in the world I thought would take his own life then you know what the alternative is Bing nodded and looked deeply troubled he drew

Closer this town is small and isolated but every place no matter how big or small has Secrets agent divine secrets that some folks would rather keep hidden can you be more specific I wish I could but that’s all I know just a weird feeling do you think Jenny was killed

Because she might have known specifics I don’t gamble agent Divine never saw the logic in it but if I were a betting man I would lay down money that that was why she was killed I mean to my knowledge she never came up here at this time of year before there had to

Be a reason I appreciate your frankness so you’re going to hang on here for the full ride I think so your sister may cut out early she should but I’ve told her that it won’t matter as far as the money goes what do you mean said Divine

Startled if she leaves the business and loses out when I inherit I’m giving her half I mean it’s plenty of money for us both even if I eventually marry and have a family which looks less and less likely every day but you never know you told her that I mean about the

Inheritance oh yes in fact I had it put in writing just so there could be no misunderstanding in case I did get married and something happened to me now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got a couple of fires to put out he rushed off leaving Divine wondering what the hell was going

On in this town again later Divine pulled in front of Inkwell Dax silw Well’s tat parlor it was not as big or elaborate as he had thought it would be based on what he had heard about the man’s Ambitions and achievements but when he looked at the samples of tattoos exhibited on the

Front plate glass he came away impressed with dak’s creative ability he tried to walk in but the door was locked he rang the buzzer next to the door and a woman’s voice said yes Travis Divine to see Dak silk well just a minute 20 seconds later the door

Buzzed open and divine walked in in Dak met him and shook his hand dine looked around and saw four people in specially designed chairs two tattoo artists were seeing to them you came to get a tat Right Said Dak with a smile just couldn’t stay away could you despite the

Cold outside he had on a yellow tank top and lightweight cargo pants not right now maybe later you have time to talk got a Shop full of customers and a long list of others coming in today looks like the ones here now are being attended

To yeah but I oversee each one give me 10 minutes I can meet you at the Brew it’s not open why not I guess you didn’t hear Earl Palmer’s dead I actually took Annie to stay at your house last night I thought you knew Dak looked stunned by the news I I

Didn’t go home last night I stayed in town at a friend’s place what the hell happened did he have a heart attack or something Annie and I found him hanging in his wife’s Art Studio Dak looked like he might be sick hanging he killed himself Earl the customers and the other tattoo

Artists were staring now so Dak motion Divine to follow him into a small office at the back of the shop D closed the door and sat behind the desk desk while Divine took a seat across from him we’re not sure yet what happened still investigating what is going on around

Here first Jenny now Earl when was the last time you saw Earl I’m not sure maybe a week ago just seeing him driving through town he didn’t come around much not after birdie died he looked up at dine with an expression of Hope which dine could partly understand stand maybe that’s why

He did it because of losing birdie it’s possible certainly Dak shook his head so what did you want to ask me you said you had investors from Boston backing you that’s right who are they why does it matter to you asked Dak sharply evidently not pleased at all about this change in the

Conversation knowing more is better than knowing less my business is private if that’s how you want to play it so how goes the negotiation on selling Joselyn point it’s going well actually and Alex is all on board when the time comes she will be you sound

Confident you may think you know my baby sister after meeting her a few times but you don’t she wants out of this place even more than I do really I thought she saw it as her safe space and she likes teaching the kids she can teach kids anywhere putam is where someone raped

And nearly killed her do you really think she wants to be reminded of that every damn day interesting choice of words since she doesn’t remember the attack but people have told her what happened every time she passes by that spot she probably has all that horror

Rushing back to her even if she can’t technically remember it she didn’t know where it happened until very recently and now that spot will also always be the place where Jenny’s body was found don’t you find that curious all the possible locations to leave Jenny’s body

And they chose that one I don’t know what to think about that it does seem weird but hell life is weird I need something more definite than that Dak Rose well good luck on that I’ve got to get back to making money outside Divine found Harper and

Fuss waiting next to his SUV their expressions were tight focused and Grim none of which he cared for not a single one what’s up he asked half expecting them to say that someone else was dead Harper nodded at fuss who slowly took out her cuffs and said Travis Divine

You’re under arrest you have the right to remain silent what said a startled Divine who took a step back anything you say Canon may be used in evidence against you in a court of law dine took another step back what the hell is going on here Harper said do not resist Divine

It’ll only make it worse what am I being arrested for exactly on suspicion of theft of police evidence replied Harper what evidence Alex silw Well’s rape kit [ __ ] Harper put his hand on top of his baton do not be stupid I do not want to hurt you divine almost laughed at

That one fuss seemed to read his mind and said nervously look I know you could kill both of us with just your pinky but we’re only doing our job Divine glared at Harper as he slowly put his hands behind his back fuss cuffed him while she finished the Miranda warning you’re

Making a big mistake Divine said to Harper just doing my job and I’ll do mine and then maybe you’ll be the one with the cuffs on chapter 46 the two men stared at each other over the width of a table in the small interview room of the police station a

Bell and howl surveillance camera that looked to be from the 1980s hung in the corner like a deflated party balloon Harper looked both kg and pensive as he turned on a recorder and stated the date time and the identities of the two parties in the room

Divine said why are you doing this are you having a relationship with Alex silw well what does that even mean I understand that you slept at her place one night the night you were attacked who told you that is it true demanded Harper I stayed in her Art

Studio that night I thought it would be safer than my place since someone has tried to kill me twice including once there you stayed there with her permission said said Harper impassively she found out about it afterward so you broke in Divine slammed his fist down on the table are you

Really going down that road breaking and entering is a crime Divine Harper said calmly Divine struggled to get his temper under control but the smug look on Harper’s face made it easier and he’d been grilled by the best of army CID agents she approved of what I did after

The fact so I don’t see see what the problem is and I thought you were trying to nail me on stealing her rape kit why does it have to be just one crime I’ve committed no crime why did you want to look at that evidence file because I

Think whoever killed Jenny also attacked Alex 15 years ago I already suggested that theory to you I don’t agree you don’t have to but you didn’t have to drag me in here on some trumped up charge the rape kit is missing yeah I know it was missing when I opened the

Box Mard James knows that too no she looked at the box after you told her it was missing why would I take it I don’t know why don’t you tell me why did you look at the Box 10 years ago you were the last one to sign it out before I

Came along I’m asking the questions here not you now Harper was struggling to get his temper under control while Divine gazed at him placidly answer my question I already did I didn’t take it so I can’t have a reason why I did but I am puzzled about

What did you have doubts about the case did you wonder why it was never solved did you wonder why there was never a suspect to match the forensics too you’re not listening Divine did you take the rape kit no I didn’t huffed Harper good neither did I I think we can call

It a day Harper pointed a finger at him you were the last person to access that box after you did a long time ago when you were still a sergeant Harper shifted in his seat and Shrugged okay you’re right it was unsolved I wanted to see if something

Clicked it was part of my job did anything click no something occurred to Divine was the rape kit there when you accessed the Box Harper didn’t answer right away ye yes would you swear to that on the witness stand asked to clearly incredulous Divine I’m not on a [ __ ]

Witness stand roared Harper you might be one day Divine shot back if you push this Harper sat there for a few moments before ending the interview and turning off the recorder get out of here you read me my rights am I being formally charged we didn’t process you yet and you haven’t

Been officially booked or arraigned but we can pick you up anytime so much as a parking ticket Divine Rose I’m not the enemy here the enemy is who I say it is Divine walked out in the lobby he saw Mildred James she looked up at him

Guiltily in a low voice she said I am so sorry about all this her gaze darted toward the hall where the interview room was I know you didn’t take that rape kit the rear doors are alarmed you would have had to pass me with it and you

Didn’t it’s not like you could have hidden the dang thing in your pants I told the chief that I appreciate that well at least I’m free to go for now where is Sergeant fuss she got called out on something he nodded and glanced through the glass partition into Harper’s office

He eyed the line of photos on the wall of former police Chiefs he had seen before as he looked more closely the picture of the man next to Harper seemed familiar for some reason he pointed at it who’s that man the one who was Chief before Harper James glanced at it oh that’s

Benjamin Bing divine’s jaw dropped Bing like in bing and Sons yes he was the third brother the other two followed their father and Uncle into the funeral business but Ben became a police officer worked his way up to Chief a little too overbearing and full of

Himself for my tastes he would grind you up if you made him look bad what happened to him he retired and moved to Florida to be with his brothers where in Florida Naples I saw a picture of the house once right on the beach it was breathtaking interesting is he still

Alive probably he’s still young maybe a year or so older than me France SW or her brother might know for sure or the chief he probably keeps in touch they were tight yeah I bet said Divine who now had a whole new angle to explore chapter 47 Divine called Campbell and filled him

In on his arrest the missing rape kid the fact that Benjamin Bing was the police chief when Alex was attacked and his strong opinion that franois Guam was lying to him she’s thinking of moving to Charlotte and fed me a [ __ ] story about losing the money when her brother was giving her half

Regardless so do you think Benjamin Bing took the rape kid or Harper why leave it there all those years in case it incriminates someone you know I think Harper was going to look at it for the reasons he said found a kit missing and either kept his mouth shut or did

Speak to Bing and probably got his ass handed to him we need to find out if Bing is still alive Jenny came up here to take on some unfinished business and the attacker obviously didn’t like that and you said you believe Steve and Valerie Palmer saw who the attacker was

Or at least suspected and thus they had to die yes said Divine but why didn’t they report it immediately he didn’t have an answer to that the Palmer were going through tough times financially Divine said after their deaths their house was actually foreclosed on why is that significant

You have to understand I have no proof of this but one possibility is they might have known the rapist and decided to blackmail him to get needed money and instead of paying the rapist struck back hard and Earl Palmer I understand why he had to die if he was forced to lie about

Finding Jenny’s body he’s a loose thread but how did the person get him to pretend to find Jenny’s body in the first place from all accounts he was an honest man maybe they had some dirt on him if they did I need to find out what it was I found something out about

Jenny’s activities that might help you said Campbell what she did use her CIA resources to investigate the attack on Alex how satellite surveillance imagery for the night in question how did that come to be as you know we have satellites that sweep the globe around the clock that

Particular part of the country is pretty important the Canadian border is nearby there are planes coming in from overseas non-stop along that route and that sector is right along a principal trajectory path for both in and outbound nuclear missiles so there were pictures of putam Maine in the

Database how come no one thought of that before said Divine I have no idea but I confess I didn’t but why did Jenny wait all this time before checking that angle I think I know the answer to that it was only 3 months ago that she was elevated

To a position at CIA where she would have unfettered access to Intel like this knowing her she probably tried for and was rebuffed but we have the digital trail of her requesting and accessing this data about 3 weeks ago from set pictures taken on the very night Alex was attacked 15 years

Ago they keep that stuff from back then they keep a lot of stuff forever Divine sometimes it’s patterns people are looking for and then changes to those patterns and for that you need the contacts that only time delivers the US government is the world’s biggest data

Hor order when it comes to that did the satellite record the actual attack on Alex no we weren’t that lucky it wasn’t positioned in a spot that would show that what then it shows a vehicle traveling away from that location at the time in question and before you ask no

There was no license plate shown again it couldn’t be that easy right that doesn’t help us much ah but that’s not all it showed the vehicle passed a car coming the other way it was around a curve so both vehicles had to slow the way the other vehicle

Was positioned it blocked the other car for the most part from the satellites cameras remember it doesn’t remain static it keeps roaming and and that satellite did capture the plate on the other car let me guess it belonged to Steven Valerie Palmer Bingo replied Campbell and now the blackmail Theory you just

Articulated seems far more pla and that means they recognized whoever it was which means the attacker was probably local and still in putam if he’s the same person who killed Jenny was there anything on the imagery that can help us identify the other vehicle not much no can you send me the

Imagery yes now one thing puzzled me and I Know It puzzles you what’s that Jenny and her mother were estranged so why would Jenny tell CLA what she was planning about the unfinished business I can call Claire and ask her I think it better to confront her

Personally I can fly down and Campbell interrupted you’ve got your hands full up there it would be counterproductive to pull you away I’ll meet with her you sure that’s smart sir I know this is personal with you it is personal Divine and it’s also my job I’ll report back what I find out

Chapter 48 it’s been a long time Emerson said Clare robarts it was evening and she and Campbell were sitting in front of a roaring fire which eased the Chill from the old General’s bones yes it has been he agreed he studied her for a moment his thickly

Tufted eyebrows edging up and down look people have their opinions Claire but it’s your life to lead and no one else’s his words did nothing to lighten the mood of the room indeed Claire’s features grew even more unfriendly he noted this and said um I know that you visit him

Regularly that’s good of you she leveled a rigid Gaze on him and said in a querulous tone good of me we were married for a long time and we had three children together do you really think I would simply abandon him Emerson although I guess that’s what people do

Think including you but Kurt also wanted the divorce we had gone our separate ways we only stayed married because of his upcoming election I know said Campbell curtly looking down she pressed on but you don’t want to believe it do you it’s easier to think poorly of me and never

Bring perfect Kurt into the equation but he was see someone too did you know that Campbell stiffened and eyed her cautiously no I didn’t now she did clear out at the first sign of his declining health I was already engaged to Vernon by then I suppose you didn’t know that

Either or didn’t want to know it Campbell cleared his throat and said well you have put me in my place by simply asserting the facts Claire I’m I’m sorry I really am thank you she said her cheeks flushing with emotion it seemed that Campbell’s Last Words had

Finally mollified her now how can I help you agent Divine reported that she told him that Jenny had informed you about her trip to Maine and that it was for some unfinished business yes that’s right I I told him that she called me but she actually came in person to visit me here

We sat in this room together her gaze swept across the library and the pain associated with the loss of her eldest child became starkly etched in the woman’s features I had no idea it would be the last time I would see Jenny I apologize if my questions are

Causing you pain they can cause me any level of pain so long as whoever killed Jenny is arrested and punished robar guards Cried Out Campbell waited a few moments before continuing I knew that you and Jenny were estranged so it was curious that she Robards put up a hand that she would

Bother to come here and tell me of her plans yes Robards dropped her hand to her lap and studied the fire I suppose Jenny wanted me to know that she had never stopped trying to find out who had attacked Alex why would that be important to her her making sure you

Knew the anguish in the woman’s features became Starker because she was of the opinion that Kurt and I never did enough to pursue the matter she even accused me of being derelict in my duties she said the same of Kurt only she couldn’t say it to

His face not now anyway why would she think that asked Campbell because in some ways it’s true don’t be mistaken what happened to Alex tore us apart Kurt would have killed the man if he could be found but Alex survived and recovered and the police had no leads and it was

Probably not good optics for Kurt’s political career no one could blame him or you for what happened Campbell pointed out politics is an ugly business Emerson it was back then and it’s even dirtier today people would blame Kurt for not protecting his daughter for allowing a teenage girl to wander around by herself

At night looking for trouble count on it I never thought of it that way that’s because you’re a soldier and an honorable one she fidgeted in her seat playing with the Hem of her dress and then I suppose for those reasons we we moved on from what happened to Alex even

Though no one was ever held accountable for Jenny that was an outright betrayal I suppose but we did just move on with our lives and never really talked about it tears trickled down her cheeks as she spoke these last words then she composed herself God it sounds so callous so

Heartless when I say it like that particularly since Alex didn’t recover not fully she’s still trapped up in that damn town in that godamn house because she’s still afraid to to move on with her life she keeps looking over her her terrified because he’s still out there

You’d think she’d want to get as far away from there as possible there is nothing logical about fear Emerson the mind can play incredibly cruel tricks on you it can make you do or not do what you couldn’t have imagined yourself ever doing or not doing you sound like you speak from

Experience do you really think being married to Kurt for all those years was a walk in the park no one who knew the man would say that but what more could you have done that’s the police’s job noted Campbell oh dear Emerson there is always more that could

Have been done to Jenny her father walked on water if Curtis silw well wanted it done it would be done she paused all I can tell you is that after it happened he was never the same man again he had failed his sweet innocent child for him there was no greater

Crime so Jenny basically came here to throw all that in your face and state that she was going up there to finally see the truth come out something like that yes did you tell anyone what Jenny was going to do anyone at all no Emerson I swear not a

Soul she added but if we had done our duty back then she never would have had to deal with it she would still be alive this is our fault Emerson Curts and mine she put a shaky hand to her face to wipe the tears away he reached across and gripped her

Arm what happened to Jenny is the responsibility of one person and one person only and I promise you that we will find him she calmed and nodded you must have great confidence in your Master Divine I do more than perhaps even he knows chapter 49 dine was in his Cottage the next day

Studying the satellite images that he’d received on his laptop from Campbell he’d enlarged the pictures as much as possible on his computer frustratingly there was no detail of the other vehicle that stood out and there was no image of the person driving it because the Palmer’s car car

Was blocking it Campbell had confirmed that this was the only picture of the two vehicles passing each other that the set had captured it had spun onto other sectors and left a mystery down on Earth but wait a minute as he looked more closely he could just make out what looked like a

Small dark pyramid on the door panel of the other car pyramid what could that be the Palmer’s vehicle was a Jeep the shot of the license plate as it passed by was head-on but there was nothing on the other car once it had cleared the Jeep because the satellite then spun and

Pointed in the direction the Palmers were heading and its tracking path was narrow if only the satellite had swiveled its electronic eyes a bit the plate of the other car might have been visible detection like football was indeed a game of the most minimal of distances and the most slender margins of

Error the images of of the man and woman in the Jeep were also relatively clear before it passed by facial recognition had been performed and had confirmed they were Steven Valerie Palmer Divine peered as close as he could at their faces they seemed to be looking at the car as they passed were

Their expressions surprised yes they seemed to be but they had found Alex after this interaction with the car only then would their suspicions have been aroused but had something in the other driver’s expression given away what he had just done Divine was also convinced that the Palmer had known who

The man was if it had been a stranger someone from outside of putam who had attacked Alex they would surely have reported seeing the man in the vehicle fleeing the scene of a crime they were just about to discover but they hadn’t had they tried to Blackmail the man as he had

Theorized and got in their house burned down with them in it as their reward he was heading to his SUV when he ran ran into Pat Kingman in the front of the Inn she looked upset you okay he said I heard about Earl it was a real

Tragedy I wish he had talked to me I would have helped him considering what he did for me what do you mean did for you asked Divine curiously you remember I told you about my husband’s boat going down in an accident a number of years back yeah I

Do well Earl worked on that boat had for decades as good a Stern man as there ever was Earl tried to save Wilbur but he drowned rocked the whole town I can tell you that they recovered his body and we had the funeral and all and they

Held a ceremony out at sea for Wilbur to honor him I cried my eyes out for 6 months it seemed like and so did Earl poor thing he was hanging on to some debris for hours in that cold water water almost died hurt his neck and back

He couldn’t work after that now I didn’t think I could get byy without my wilper but I used his life insurance proceeds to buy this place and fix it up I mean you have to go on living right yes you do said Divine and I’m sure Wilbur would have wanted that well

Earl and I really became close after that I even gave him some of the insurance money though he fought me tooth and nail over that now birdie and I had been friends for decades we’d sit and clean Barnacles off the cages before the new season started put the new tags

On check the runners repaint the buoys and repair the hog rings but after that I was friends with Earl too he was a real hero for what he tried to do but he never talked about it just said he was lucky to be alive and that it should

Have been Wilbur who’ made it not him I understand that said divine thinking about how the same philosophy worked in the military she said you’d think a man like that would be able to find some peace that the Lord would Grant him some Solace but instead he loses his son and

Daughter-in-law and then his wife and now this life rarely works out the way we expect it to though I was raised Catholic I’m not a churchgoer but I’m heading there today to say a prayer for his soul see taking your own life is immortal sin you’re not

Supposed to get into heaven with that hanging over your head or be buried in consecrated ground or at least it used to be that way my thinking is God should cut Earl some slack she gave Divine a raised eyebrow as she said I mean we’re only Human After All yes we are replied

Divine chapter 50 what are you doing here asked Al as she opened the door to her Studio there were paint smudges on her hands and a broad charcoal stroke on her nose Divine looked down at her thought I’d check up on my favorite local artist she grinned and then looked

Skeptical why don’t I believe that can I come in pretty cold out here you’ll have to watch me work I’ve got a tight deadline my pleasure he looked at the easel with a 4×4 ft canvas on it coffee’s fresh she said pointing to the pot on an electric plate and some cups

Next to it he poured himself a cup and leaned against the table to watch as she went back to work seems pretty sedate for you he noted as he looked over the painting of a Lake’s surface with colorful water lies floating on top no male genitalia or anything she

Laughed the client loves Monae but can’t afford that sort of artwork not that you can just go buy an original Monae these days they’re either in a museum or owned by billionaires but I’m a good chameleon I can imitate lots of styles but you prefer your own style

Every artist does but you have to pay the bills too did you mention to anyone that I slept here that night she shot him a glance no why Harper knew about it he arrested me for breaking and entering at least that was one of the charges she lowered her pallet and brush

You’ve got to be joking I wish I were he let me out but he could pick me up anytime I’ll talk to him and tell him it was fine that you were here but like I said those weren’t the only charges what else urinating in public

From what I’ve seen you could get half the male population up here on that that one he debated whether to say it actually involved a piece of evidence from your case she looked startled my case he accused me of stealing it why would you do that I wouldn’t and didn’t

But the evidence is missing someone took it she set her pallet and brush down and came over to him what was it he glanced at her before answering she seemed equal parts angry and frightened it was your rape kit Alex looked down her facial features tight her body rigid where it had been

Relaxed and loose while painting why would anyone take that she asked her gaze still averted from him I don’t know but it would make it impossible to compare anyone’s DNA to it so there is is that he waited for her to say something but when she didn’t he

Added your sister came up here because I think she had figured out who had attacked you H how could she possibly have done that after all this time she used some of her resources at the CIA to work the case what she told her mother that she came

Up here for unfinished business and she asked you about the attack Alex started to crumple but but she never told me that that she knew who seeing how she was being affected by this Revelation he said quickly I’m not saying she knew for certain but I think Jenny might have

Suspected she looked up at him in a way that made his skin tingle she seemed wobbly and dazed and divine felt like an insensitive idiot for having brought all of this up I just meant that if she really knew who it was and had proof of that she would have just contacted the

Authorities I don’t know what the statute of limitations up here is but I doubt it goes back 15 years for what happened to you Alex did not appear to be listening then while Divine Was preparing what he would say next she slumped to the floor Alex he cried out kneeling down next to

Her her eyelids were fluttering and her breathing was erratic it was like when he had unwittingly brought her to the place where she’d been attacked only this time was worse Divine gripped her hand breathe in and out nice and slow in and out come on you can do it instead

The woman went completely rigid and her eyelids stopped fluttering and closed get off me he let go of her and sprang back stunned Alex I’m just trying to stop it stop it let me go let me go you’re hurting me I I don’t want to do this

Stop she started writhing on the ground punching with her arms and kicking with her legs Alex I’m not touching you I’m over I will kill you let me go stop it don’t don’t stop please she screamed again and then fell silent her body now still and then she

Started to weep softly agonizingly her whole body shuttering with the effort Alex I’m Divine stopped and looked helplessly down at her she grew still and the cries stopped she opened her eyes and looked around in a Daz when she saw him she said quietly what happened she looked around

And noticed that she was on the floor she slowly got to her feet putting a hand on a table to help lever herself up on shaky legs while the vine just stood there stunned why was I on the floor I remember talking to you and then nothing he looked at her

Closely you just sort of passed out Alex do you not feel well are you dehydrated no I mean I’ve been drinking water and coffee but I haven’t been feeling all that well lately and I do get anxious maybe fainting is my self-defense mechanism do you feel all right now yes I feel fine

Now Divine didn’t want to upset her unduly which was why he had not told Alex what she had said while she had been on the floor he didn’t think she was dehydrated or had fainted from anxiety she seemed to be reliving what had happened to her when she had had been

Attacked something occurred to Divine as he connected one thing to another Alex has this ever happened to you before you you sort of faint and then don’t remember anything what no I mean not that I remember but wait okay one time I was at birdie

Studio I was working on a sketch that I was later going to turn into a painting she was helping me to get my three-point perspective and Vanishing points just right I was doing a building with people walking in front but there was tricky trajectory to work out and my 3D boxing

Skills on the people weren’t all that Stellar especially getting the middle point right I hadn’t really done something that complicated before I won’t even pretend to understand what you just said she smiled there’s more math in art than most people think but the world is three-dimensional and art has to be as

Well there are skills of the trade to get that effect and having a grasp of geometry and other disciplines helps anyway I I was sketching it and birdie asked me something what did she ask you as a matter of fact I don’t really remember she said I had just

Collapsed do you recall when that was it was a long time ago my senior year of high school I do remember that the painting was going into a school competition is that the only other time this happened to you besides with me just now she frowned

No come to think of it the same thing happened here birdie was with me again she was over helping me on a sculpture I was doing the piece was just physically hard to maneuver and she was very strong boom I just collapsed and the next thing I knew she

Was kneeling next to me shaking me were you talking to her about anything before you fainted She thought for a moment birdie was asking me if I was ever going to leave putam look it was probably all the paint fumes I was breathing when Divine looked worried she

Added don’t worry I’ve been to a doctor and gotten checked out no brain issues or anything like that and I had my air filtration and ventilator systems here upgraded you have to be careful with all the fumes and such it can be toxic what doctor did you see a franois

Gom she checked me out thoroughly I’m fit as a fiddle Okay so so when did the last episode happen with birdie Alex let out a protracted sigh and her expression darkened it was the last time I saw her actually she was killed by the hit and run driver two days later chapter

51 Divine drove back to the in his phone buzzed as he opened the door to his Cottage it was Campbell he told Divine about his visit to Clare Robards the previous evening so Jenny thought her parents hadn’t done enough to find whoever had attacked Alex yes and she

Wanted to make that point clear to her mother and also let her know that she was going to solve the crime by the way Claire blames herself for Jenny’s death she said if she and Kurt had pushed harder Jenny wouldn’t have had to do what she did and sacrifice her life in the

Process Divine said that’s a lot of guilt to carry around in addition to people feeling Clare abandoned her former husband during this hour of need she told me some things I didn’t know about that said Campbell quietly a distinct level of chagrin in his voice so are you second guessing your

Opinion of Clare Robards sir she devoted most of her life to him Divine carried and raised three children fought every political battle with him side by side the former General paused I guess I don’t have the right to judge her because I’ve never been in her circumstances the bottom line is she’s a

Good person who did right by Kurt for a long time and he was not easy to get along with now that is something I can opine on having known him all those decades he was as loyal a friend as you would ever want but if he got on his bad

Side it was a battle to the death and as a politician he was ruthlessly ambitious sometimes to an extent that it clattered his judgment and the higher up he went went in the political food chain the more he was apparently willing to do in order to stay there he and I had

Sharp words on the subject but still maintained our friendship sounds like the Marine who never could take losing on the battlefield carried that same standard to running for office opined Divine yes but if one compromises one’s principles in the bargain you have Victory without honor at least in my opinion yes sir so

Anything new to report report asked Campbell I met with Alex I told her about Jenny using her government resources to find out who had raped her what did she say to that Campbell wanted to know it’s not so much what she said as what she did I’m not following what

Did she do Divine explained about her collapsing at first I thought she had passed out but when I went to help her she started screaming at me to leave her alone to get off her then she started punching and kicking my God was she having some sort of seizure did you make

Her understand that you were not attacking her the thing is I don’t believe she was addressing me who then asked a clearly confused Campbell I think what I told her prompted her to have some sort of an unconscious memory episode that’s the only way I can think of to describe it

Said Divine wait do you mean you were discussing the attack again made her what relive it yes I think she was defending herself against her attacker when she finally came around she had no memory of any of it I didn’t tell her what she said or did I’m not a

Psychiatrist I didn’t want to mess her up even more no you did the right thing now Divine did she mention a name or give you any clue as to who it might have been no nothing like that and you’re certain that whoever killed Jenny attacked Alex asked Campbell not only am

I sure of that but also based on something else Alex told me I’m pretty sure the person who attacked Alex and killed Jenny also murdered Alberta Palmer Campbell blurted out how do you figure that Alex had an episode like she did with me today with birdie two days

Before she was killed only I think birdie got lucky where I didn’t you mean Alex named the person who attacked her said Campbell or at least gave enough information that allowed birdie to figure it out you think she confronted the person I do and if I’m right we saw

The person’s homicidal reaction noted Divine two murders tied to Alex’s rape which means you could be a Target added Campbell I’ve been a Target ever since I stepped foot in this place okay since you brought that up anything new on the mole or the woman from Geneva yes and no Campbell paused I

Blame myself what do you mean said Divine sharply my my admin assistant has vanished what’s her name and what happened asked Divine Don Schuman and we don’t know what happened to her she didn’t show up for work yesterday we called and then sent the team to her

House her car was missing and it seems as though she had packed a bag we have alerts out on her everywhere but so far nothing and why do you blame yourself because I knew something was off and I did nothing about it she’d gotten divorced and there was a custody to

Spute over her kids and she was struggling finan finally she had confided in me some of these personal issues I should have followed up with our security folks to keep an eye on her but I didn’t because her personal issues could have compromised her yes and now

With her disappearance I think she might well have been compromised and she knew about my movements said Divine she arranged your travel while you were overseas and also your itinerary for Maine but why run now asked the vine they might have asked for something she was unwilling to give or

She felt guilty or scared that we would find out once we began our internal security audit ironically her fleeing was what made us look at her they might have grabbed her and made it look like she left voluntarily trust me Divine I had thought of that possibility should I send you

Reinforcements no that’ll just spook our killer and then the guy goes even deeper underground we be careful I’m not sure that’s going to get it done sir replied Divine before for clicking off chapter 52 Divine could not sleep that night the rain beating down on the roof normally a

Soothing White Noise simply served to pound relentlessly into his head and also into his thoughts a mole in Campbell’s organization had likely helped put a bullseye on his back there were forces up here who wanted him dead and he had a murderer that hopefully he was closing in on and while he had

Fought battles on on two fronts before it had never been quite like this he gave up the attempt at sleep got dressed grabbed his gun and headed out running to his SUV through the rain and cranking up the heat once he got inside the trip

He was about to take was not all about his insomnia he needed to follow up on a possible lead that he had failed to do before he headed through the darkened streets he didn’t know if he would again see what he had glimpsed once before but

He had his fingers crossed that he would it might not be connected to Jenny’s death but he couldn’t rule it out until he knew a lot more and it was intriguingly odd that alone deserved scrutiny dine approached the spot where he’d been when he’d lost sight of the

Boat he’d seen before that time he’d become distracted by seeing franois Guam drive by and following her to the mansion where she lived with her brother no distractions theight at least I hope not he parked off the road killed his lights and waited and an hour later he

Had just about given up hope and was getting ready to head back to the Inn when he saw it the light was quite a ways out on the water but as he watched Divine judged that it was definitely heading toward Shore he started the SUV and driving without his lights on he

Moved slowly down the road in the direction of where he had roughly calculated the landing spot to be it was a long ride at a slow speed while his Focus was on the light out at Sea a few minutes later the rising winds cleared the dense cloud coverage and the light

Which Divine had lost sight of for about a minute reappeared farther down the coast he pointed his ride that way and soon the light became more and more Vivid like a star falling into the ocean he finally pulled to a stop along an isolated stretch of Coastline he

Figured he was about 6 miles north of putam at this juncture directly east across the Gulf of Maine lay Nova Scotia directly north was New Brunswick which which Divine knew was separated from Nova Scotia by the Bay of fundi his gaze fixed steadily on the approaching boat light Divine got out of

The Tahoe hurried toward the rocky Shore and took up position behind a stand of White Pines that had been battered and deformed by the stiff ocean wind he placed a hand against one of the lean bristly trunks he thought if this is just a fishing boat and I’ve wasted time and sleep for

Nothing Divine tensed as the boat Drew ever closer to shore he wondered how they were going to manage it because the coastline here was every bit as Rocky as the one back in putam and the breakers were not going to be easy to navigate he once more Drew out his

Military gr Optics they were the latest generation of surveillance technology cost a fortune and were worth every dime he squared up on the boat The Vessel didn’t appear to be a lobster boat at least not like the ones he’d seen at the harbor in putam it was larger and sleeker and had sophistic

Icated satinav Tower modules mounted on the pilot house roof he didn’t see anyone on deck and the Pilot House glass was darkened he scanned the port side of the boat for ID markers but saw none the boat had been powering along all this time but as it grew closer it suddenly

Slowed and then stopped so abruptly a stiff Stern wake jostled it as he watched a smaller boat was lowered from the port side and he saw three figures board it and then several crates were passed down to the people on the smaller boat one of them sat in the rear and

Operated the outboard motor and Tiller the small boat headed directly to shore Divine took out his phone and filmed this through his Optics so it was as magnified as possible he looked to the spot on land where the boat was headed and thought he saw movement there he looked through his Optics and

Confirmed at least one person standing at a spot near the shore the person was moving a light up and down clearly signaling to the boat right as the vessel reached the breakers Divine heard something behind him coming from the south on the road were twin lights as a vehicle raced through the

Dark he used his Optics and saw that it was a black Cadillac Escalade the same type of vehicle in which he’d been kidnapped [ __ ] dine hoofed it to his SUV jumped in and fired it up he saw in his rear view that the Escalade was bearing

Down on him now he pulled onto the road and punched the gas making his tires squeal against the pavement as they strained purchase the Escalade countered this move by speeding up his ride was lighter and nimbler than the Escalade but had nowhere near the horsepower he knew this

To be true because despite his pressing the accelerator to the floor the Escalade closed the Gap with authority and rammed him from behind Divine fought to keep control of the Tahoe but it was difficult on the rain slicked Road and then a sudden gust of wind sent Dead Leaves and other

Debris barreling across the road nearly blinding in him that was troubling but manageable far more problematic were the shots fired through his back glass shattering it the bullets passed uncomfortably close to him on either side before exiting out the windshield leaving three small holes and one larger

One and an accompanying long crack in the glass as Grim evidence of their passage Divine slipped out his gun rolled down his window pointed his Glock behind him and fired six shots left-handed and blindly at the caddy it did absolutely no good a crescendo of shots pinged all over the interior of

His SUV forcing him to duck while still trying to see to drive his vehicle went off the road before veering back on as Divine tried desperately to get out of the way of the shooter’s sight line as he got the Tahoe back under control the Escalade sped forward and came up next

To him his window was now parallel with the front passenger side window of the Escalade the window on the other vehicle slid down and divine saw a man sitting there wearing a black ski mask he didn’t Focus long on the man but turned his attention to the biting end

Of the side-by-side shotgun which was pointing right at divine’s head theine slammed on the brakes a split second before the shotgun roared and The Buckshot load passed harmlessly in front of his windshield Divine put the Tahoe in Reverse punched the gas and hurdled backward for about 50 yards he next

Performed a j turn by tapping the gas and break at precisely the right moments and spun the steering wheel just as he’d been taught in the military during evasive maneuvers training he’ done it back then in a 3- ton armored Humvee the size of a hippo by comparison the Tahoe

Was not much of a challenge he drove off going south back toward putam however the Escalade driver performed the exact same maneuver and impressively did it even more tightly than dine had managed in his rear view dine saw the rear driver’s side window come down and the muzzle of an MP5 poked

Out as the Escalade soared after him divine wasn’t sure what he was going to do about this development only that he wasn’t going to sit there and go down quietly he dropped back and was about to ran the larger vehicle when it came up beside him when a series of shots rang

Out only the shots weren’t coming from the Escalade the big SUV immediately swerved and went off the road in a swirl of mud and flying leaves Divine checked his rear view again the Escalade appeared to be out of the Chase he floored it and drove straight

Back to putam when he got to his room he texted Campbell he didn’t expect an answer but he got one a minute later glad you’re all right hunker down for the night divine texted back a reply and then started to wonder who had fired the

Shots that had saved his life and then a moment later he realized he had forgotten all about the boat coming to shore he slumped back on the bed and groaned and then his phone rang the retired General must have thought of something else only it wasn’t Campbell

And divine wasn’t going to be hunkering down chapter 53 Annie Palmer sounded stressed Travis can you come over I know it’s late but I really need you okay where do you live not my place I’m still at Alex’s she asked me to stay what’s wrong is she okay that’s why I’m calling

She’s I don’t know what to call it but she’s not in a good place should you call 911 she’s not sick or injured or anything she’s just mentally something is going on please can you come I’m leaving right now where’s Dak I have no idea I checked he’s not asleep in his

Room and his bike isn’t here he’s probably out getting drunk and screwing somebody please hurry he drove his SUV as fast as he could while still maintaining control it was freezing inside with the back window shot out and the crack in the windshield was spreading he cranked the

Heat up high and tried to ignore the chill he slid to a stop in front of Joselyn Point jumped out and double timed it to the front door Palmer was waiting for him there where is she in her room she led him up the stairs and

Tried to open the door but it wouldn’t budge she looked fearfully at Divine I left it unlocked Divine pushed past her and wrapped on the wood hey Alex it’s Travis you in there you okay there was no answer but Divine could hear an odd sound coming from inside the room I just

Want to talk okay I’ve got some things to tell you stuff I found out open the door okay there was no response Divine put his ear to the door and listened for a few moments while Palmer stood there Frozen her eyes filling with tears Alex do do you think began palmer but

Dine wasn’t listening he stepped back a few feet and then charged forward throwing his bulk against the door it burst open and he was inside the room he scanned every inch and saw that the window was open and the drapes were flapping In The Wind that must have been

The sound he’d heard he raced to the window and looked down his heartbeat thumping in his ears please God no no she wasn’t down there he breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at Palmer who was standing next to him was she here when you came down to answer the door

Yes she was lying all curled up in the bed her bathroom down this way they rushed out into the Hall when they both heard a noise overhead what is that dine looked up at the ceiling and then it dawned on him oh my God what what’s wrong Cried Out Palmer as Divine rushed

To the stairs and ran pelm up them where are you going she called out running after him Divine burst through the door leading outside and then pulled up abruptly Palmer ran into him and bounced off Divine like she’d hit a wall Divine didn’t even notice the impact with the

Woman his attention was in front of him hey Alex she was standing there in a white night gown that swirled around her long pale legs with the rush of the wind she didn’t turn or acknowledge Him Palmer came to stand next to Divine oh Lord her fright was understandable

Unlike them Alex was standing on the outside of the Widow’s walk right near the edge of the roof it was at least a 40ft drop to the ground hey Alex it’s me Travis can we talk she still didn’t look at him but her head turned just a bit as though she

Had H him over the wind he took a few steps forward I’ve got some things to tell you about your sister I think you’ll be happy I’m making progress I really am but I could use your help Palmer gripped his sleeve as Alex took a step toward the edge Divine had been in

Kandahar when a young woman had walked up to him he thought with a request for food Andor water all the locals assumed American soldiers had plenty of food and water and he had some extra Provisions that he carried for that very reason he had reached into his pocket and when he

Looked back up she was holding a Detonator in her shaky hand all she had to do was push the button and they were both dead he could have done many things in that situation tried to shoot or knife or grab her before she blew the bomb pack plead for his life which was

Out of the question for him call for backup and hope that it arrived in time or do what he ended up doing he had held out several packages of food and two bottles of water and added a smile on top of it as though his initial assumption was actually the correct one

And that she was not going to see for them both to an early grave in her native language he said for you and for your family God be with you and she had taken the water and the food and divine and the woman had lived to

See another day in a calm voice he now said Alex I know you don’t know this about me but a woman I really cared for was found hanging in an office where I used to work he saw her bare shoulders tense and knew he had her attention now

Next to him he heard Palmer gasp but we later found out that she didn’t kill herself someone killed her he glanced at Palmer like someone did Earl Palmer and he Palmer’s mouth dropped open with that statement and Alex turned a bit so she could see him and he could see her

Especially her eyes wh what Earl I know how incredibly frustrating it must be not to remember something Alex I have memories from the Middle East that I’ve tried for years to forget and I just can’t I may never be able to he tapped his head but to have something

That you know is up there and you can’t find it he shook his head it’s not fair she started to rock back and forth I if I could have remembered Jenny wouldn’t be dead if I my my fault he took a step toward her you were the victim Alex not the cause of

Anything you were attacked and left for dead and then your mind played tricks on you to try to get you through the mental trauma in one piece but in doing so it might have made things worse fat tears formed under Alex’s closed eyes as they slid down her cheeks she shook her

Head Jenny shouldn’t be dead she was so perfect she turned and took another deliberate step toward the edge there was nowhere else to go now except down Palmer moaned and clutched his arm in Fright Divine said she loved you Alex she loved you so much that she refused

To stop trying to find the truth even after all these years she risked her life to help you you you can’t answer that love that devotion by voluntarily taking your own life when Jenny’s was stolen from her I know you know that in your heart as Alex hovered near the edge

She opened her eyes fully and looked down as the gusts of wind stronger up here than at ground level swirled and throbbed around her slim fragile figure you just can’t Alex repeated Divine you know that Jenny was a fighter and so are you I know you are I believe in you I

Believe in you along long moment passed during which both dine and Palmer were holding their breaths then Alex slowly took a symbolic step away from the edge a moment later she turned toward them Divine hopped over the widows walk railing rushed to her side slipped one arm around her waist and gripped her

Hand with his free one come on he said you must be exhausted and freezing Divine let her off the roof and down to the second floor where he and Palmer got her into bed at the doorway divine said to Palmer do you know what triggered this Palmer looked

Unsure I heard her call out so I went to see if she needed anything I don’t think she was awake I mean she was lying in bed but she was moving around sort of jerky and saying stuff what kind of stuff I don’t know I mean it seemed like

She was having a nightmare but where it seems so real you’re punching and kicking in bed you know what I’m talking about he glanced at the now sleeping Alex yeah I know he looked back at Palmer anything you can remember her saying it’s important and agitated Palmer thought for a few

Moments I remember her saying something like why are you doing this to me I thought we were friends in his anxiety Divine gripped Palmer shoulders she said that you’re sure friends yes why she exclaimed looking both confused and uncomfortable Divine didn’t answer her he just turned and stared over at

Alex a friend who tried to kill you chapter 54 dine awoke with a start and looked around at the somewhat familiar surroundings he was in Jenny’s old room where he had fallen asleep he checked his watch a mere four hours ago he yawned and slowly stood pressing down

His rumpled clothes he hadn’t bothered to disrobe because he had been too tired and the room was too cold he washed his face in the bathroom down the hall tried and failed to smooth down his hair and slowly opened the door to Alex’s bedroom after knocking quietly

And not getting an answer she looked to still be asleep he leaned in close enough to make sure he could see the steady rise and fall of her chest he glanced over at a sha against one wall where Annie Palmer lay fast asleep under a heavy blanket

She had insisted on staying in Alex’s room and divine had decided to sleep on the premises just in case something else happened he quietly closed the door and headed down to the kitchen he didn’t see Dak he made himself coffee and drank it while staring out at the ocean through a

Rear-facing window the tide was coming in and Breakers were exploding against the rocky Shore you’re a Bly he turned to see Alex standing there barefoot and in the same white night gown her hair was sleep tousled and her eyes and face were puffy just woke up and couldn’t go

Back to sleep he held up the coffee want a cup she shook her head and walked over to stand next to him she gazed out the window her features troubled her eyes seemed to be searching for something out there thank you for what for not letting me do I don’t

Think you would have regardless of whether I was there or not Alex looked up at him why why do you say that because you’re stronger than you think because you reached a Tipping Point but didn’t go over the edge why do you believe that was because you have a lot more you want

To accomplish in life the look she gave him was Soul breaking even for for the hardened seen all the bad in life former Soldier I’m really really screwed up Travis tears slid down her cheeks and I don’t know if I can ever get back to where I

Started he put down his cup turned to her and gently took a hold of her shoulders for the record and I’m not just saying this we are all screwed up Alex all of us including me it’s only a matter of degrees what happened to you was horrifying and traumatizing and

Unfair as hell none of it had anything to do with you and everything to do with the person who did it so with that said I’ll answer your question can you ever get back to where you started the answer is no she shivered and started to say

Something but he put a finger to her lips you will be better you will be stronger you will be able to take on far more than you ever thought possible that’s the thing with life Alex it tests us all the time it wants to see how much we can take before we

Crack you sound like you speak from experience the Army’s fundamental concept is based on breaking down every Soldier to nothing absolutely nothing and then rebuilding that soldier in the version of the human fighting machine they want and need to do the job I’m not saying it’s perfect or right or anything

I’m just saying that’s the deal only I volunteered to be put through that transformation what happened to you took place without your consent but the end result can be similar you come out of it changed but you come out of it tougher because you took the worst [ __ ] life can

Throw at you and you’re still standing I don’t feel very tough right now you do your art you teach kids you get out of bed every day and go about life you’re a caring and compassionate person with a huge heart when you have every reason not to be any of that

That’s an enormous Victory Alex don’t let anyone ever tell you it’s not she looked unsure but gripped his arm and said I think I’m starting to remember some things about that night I think you are too but it’s still not there yet I can’t I don’t know who she looked at him

Miserably there’s no rush on this Alex none at all you take your time and just let it happen naturally or as naturally as it can be he drew closer but look one thing you can’t do is tell anyone that you’re starting to remember things okay

She looked up at him and he could tell Alex knew exactly what he was leaving unsaid because Divine felt to say it out loud now might do damage to her real damage image but he didn’t want anyone stopping her from fully remembering either it was a tricky balance and

Divine was not confident in his ability to get it right what did you remember he knew what she was going to say because Annie Palmer had told him but Divine wanted to hear Alex say it if she remembered that it was a friend that it was someone I knew

Who hurt me she kneaded a finger into the side of her head it’s right up here Travis the name I know it is if I could only make it come out sometimes the harder you try to make something happen particularly with your mind the tougher it becomes to actually

Get to where you want to go you will remember who it was Alex and when you do you tell me and then that person will be held accountable do you really think he was the one who hurt Jenny he hesitated but he couldn’t bring himself to lie to the

Woman not now not in the precarious State she was in I think he was yes when it happened I was stunned I couldn’t believe it believe that someone anyone could do that to Jenny she was so strong so Invincible she looked up at him with her big sad eyes

Yes the thing is Alex none of us are invincible a single one of us and that includes the person who hurt you and killed your sister and when we find him he will come to realize that clear as day I give you my word on that I’ve never met anyone quite like

You she said a smile breaking through the Gloom in her expression I can say the same about you she slowly wrapped her arm arms around him and leaned her head against his chest thank you Travis and divine held the woman as tightly as he could because he knew

Better than most that either of them could be gone tomorrow which was promised to no one chapter 55 my God dine you are a one-man trouble magnet exclaimed fuss as she examined divine’s shot up car outside the police police station did you get a good look

At him the shooter I saw had on a ski mask I already told you about the vehicle I didn’t get the plate because there were no plates they had at least one shotgun and one MP5 how in the hell did you get away again he didn’t want to tell her about

The unexpected aid from quarters unknown out drove him but this happened last night and you didn’t call us she said why I didn’t want you guys walking into into a trap where you were outmanned and outgunned I did pass it along to my superiors they’re following

It up same people as the other time you figure probably with a fresh crew noted Divine where’s the closest airport the closest major airport is in Bar Harbor from here they have twin asphalt runways and Commercial and private jets can land there then my people can check the

Flight data there for the last couple of days and see if something pops what are you going to do for Wheels you’ll freeze to death in that thing and the windshield cracks gotten so big I’d have to ticket you and there’s no rental place around I made other arrangements as he finished speaking

Annie Palmer drove up in her grandfather’s old pickup truck her scooter was tied down in the truck bed she rolled down the window it’s not fancy but it does run and the heater works and it has one of those old track tape player things and a box of tapes my

Granddad was a big fan of some guy named Hendrick and a band called The Doors Divine cracked a grin Jimmy Hendricks and Jim Morrison what more does one need I’ll drive you back to the brew and offload your scooter thanks Divine turn to fuss I’ll let you know what we find

Out thanks and don’t get this truck shot up okay warned fuss Palmer looked surprised and then noted the shattered condition of divine’s Tahoe with particular focus on the small holes in the windshield wait are those Divine opened the driver’s side door slide over you have hungry customers also craving

Caffeine and I’m one of them as they drove off she said what did you mean last night when you said someone killed my grandfather I’ll explain all that later I promise but I need to think it through and then dig up some more facts okay okay she said though she didn’t look or

Sound happy about it he dropped Palmer and her scooter off at Main Brew had some breakfast and got back into the truck he saw Earl’s box of tapes which was on the floorboard damn he said to himself as he looked at the array of works by iconic musicians a master sergeant he’d served

With overseas had taught him about 60s rock and roll and it was now divine’s favorite genre of music a minute later he was listening to Hendrick’s Bang Out The Star Spangled Banner like no one else ever could even with the left-handed Hendrick playing the right-handed guitar upside down and The

Kinks The Who and the Grateful Dead were all up on Deck he tapped the steering wheel in rhythm with the music while he drove to the location where he’d seen the light on the shore he pulled onto the shoulder got out and walked in that direction and then he understood why

This spot had been chosen amid the rock there was a short stretch of sandy beach he didn’t think anyone would want to Wade through waste High icy water to get to shore once the Rocks kept the smaller boat from proceeding any further but here they could have run right up on the

Beach dropped off whatever and the boat would have returned to the larger vessel out in the Gulf of Maine he walked around to see if he could find any evidence of the people who had been here the previous night like a cigarette butt or a footprint but there was nothing

They had come and Gone without leaving a trace Divine figured this was not their first rodeo doing whatever they were doing he got back into the truck and drove the short distance to where the Escalade had rammed the Tahoe and started firing at him he saw lots of

Shiny glass shards from his back window and the windshield and the part of the Tahoe’s rear bumper that had been torn off with the impact between the two trucks he found some shell casings and pocketed them he doubted he would ever find a gun to match them to but one never

Knew Divine then walked to the spot where the Escalade had spun off the road the ground was all chewed up here but he could see the tire tracks clearly he also noted where the SUV had gone back on the road so it had not been disabled

But merely knocked out of the chase by the anonymous shots he stood off to the side of the road and tried to recreate the scene in his mind Divine had performed a j turn and was heading in the opposite direction the Escalade had mimicked this maneuver and was speeding

After him when the shots had struck the larger SUV he looked in front of him and then behind trying to configure a rough trajectory of the third party shooting Lanes in his head the vine walked along the side of the road about 100 yards and stopped then looked up and down the road

It was all open field except for this spot where a towering multi-limbed Evergreen sat he walked over to it and looked all around a nice spot to do some decent sniping and not be seen he concluded but not a single shell casing could he find so they had policed their

Brass or maybe their polymer but how had they gotten here he’d seen or heard no other vehicle and surely he would have under the darkened isolated conditions and they couldn’t have been simply waiting here guns ready for divine and a Chase car to just happen by there was

Clearly more here than met the eye and then a thought occurred to him he called Campbell is there a reason you didn’t mention you sent backup to cover my rear flank you had enough on your plate but I saw or heard nothing and the only possible sniper position had no Trace

It wasn’t a person come again it was an armed drone employing AI to fire a machine gun on a Target Divine seriously said Divine yes and real soldiers will be obsolete before long did you catch the guys then agent Saxon and man were close but they found nothing couldn’t

The Drone follow them or shoot out the tires it would have but it suffered a mechanical failure and had to be recalled it might have been shot for all I know and those things are not cheap let me tell you they’re examining it as we speak we also checked the film

Footage from the drone’s camera but there was nothing helpful Nifty piece of driving on your part by the way they might have flown into Bar Harbor Airport that’s the closest for jets we’re already checking the flight logs got anything new to report Divine told him about Alex starting to remember details

From that night it was a friend someone she knew think there’re still in town I believe Earl Palmer would say they are if he could but again we come back to how would someone leverage Palmer to pretend to find Jenny’s body does a man have skeletons in his closet by all

Accounts he’s a standup guy everybody has some [ __ ] that stinks Divine everybody so find his and maybe that leads you to where you need to go Oh and about saving your ass last night you’re welcome but don’t take that to mean you’re special or anything I just don’t

Have time time to train a new one Campbell clicked off chapter 56 Divine later drove to putam Harbor and looked around the air was a little warmer today and the skies clear the Salt Air smells filled his lungs as he watched Men work on the few boats still

Docked here and another man was taking a dinghy stacked with lobster traps out to one of the mored vessels he looked over when someone called out to him it was the same man that Divine had falsely accused of being a government informant his first night here hey dude how’s it

Going said the man walking over name’s Phil Cooper by the way folks call me Coupe okay CPE I’m Travis I saw you on a lobster boat leaving out of here a few mornings back you must have been up real early then said Cooper with a grin I

Thought you would have been out to see today noted Divine Cooper’s grin faded damn motor on the boat burned out I told the owner he needed to get the thing overhauled he said that cost money well so do having your boat sitting over there and not being able to catch

Lobster can you get on with another boat while his is down probably can’t tomorrow at least th Cruise these days not many guys want to take up the trade some captains go out by themselves now back breaking work and the money ain’t what it used to be Earl Palmer was

Telling me that too damn shame about Earl her he hung himself [ __ ] I mean I know he was depressed about birdie but still he had Annie he had friends now I wish I had spent more time with him gone by to see him shoot the [ __ ] about the

Old days drink some beers with him we all have regrets like that Coupe hey got a question okay Travis far away that night outside the bar Dak left before I did and he passed you and your friends I’d seen him give a high sign to

An old guy to leave a stool so I could sit down did Dak by any chance give you boys the sign to come after me this query wiped the smile right off cp’s face look I don’t want to get in no trouble with the fed you won’t because

You just answered my question now I’ve got another one okay said Cooper wearily what would a boat be doing out in the middle of the night with a smaller boat lowered off that and heading to sh where it could Beach and then offload something where the hell

Did you see that asked a startled Cooper Divine told him the general location the other man slowly shook his head I don’t know nothing to do with obster fishing or orster farm and I could tell you that maybe it the government Coast Guard I thought about that and looked it up

There’s a coast guard station at Booth Bay Harbor but they have a thousand square mile area of responsibility along the coast that ends far to the south of here Cooper scratched his head yeah that’s right there’s another Coast Guard Station in South Portland it’s part of sector Northern New England it covers

Multiple States works with Homeland Security performs search and rescues and helps keep the maritime Lanes running smooth my people can check in with them to see if they had an op in the area but it really didn’t look like that to me Cooper glanced out to the water youd

Think somebody might be smuggling stuff in I don’t know I guess it’s possible Divine looked out at the water too and a question occurred to him what can you tell me about Wilbur kingman’s boat going down really tragic hell come to think Earl was on that boat when it sank

He and Wilbur worked together for decades I know how exactly did it happen Cooper sat down on a bench and said it was a real foggy morning couldn’t see a foot in front of you most boats didn’t even head out but Wilburn knew these Waters like nobody else at least we

Thought he did what do you mean by that there are rocky outc crops everywhere along the coast here and some are farther out in you would think just a quirk of Maine’s Oceanic topography he grinned didn’t expect those High fluting words come out of my mouth did you

Anyway we all have sonar and depth finders and whatnot on our boats so we don’t run into stuff we shouldn’t including other boats well apparently somehow Wilbur’s boat hit one of those rocks out there hard enough to cave in the hole most commercial lobster boats

Ranged from around 22 ft on up to over 40 Wilbur’s boat the Kingman was a 30ft closed Stern Beal a nice size and they handled real well on the water but he didn’t have a hydraulic holler so they brought the traps up the oldfashioned way with muscle how do you know it

Handled well in the water whenever Earl was sick or couldn’t go out I’d beat a Stern man for Wilbur he ran a good operation real safe until he didn’t noted divine right anyway the thing was apparently loaded with lobsters and holding tanks full of water it went down

Fast didn’t even get a distress signal or anything from them weren’t they wearing life jackets Cooper said you’re supposed to sure but you’re pulling up heavy traps all damn day last thing you want is something restrictive like that on you I just wear my orange overalls and heavy gloves but all boats carry

Life-saving gear it’s required what did Earl say happened then he didn’t say much which is very much like Earl but he did say in the Collision that he got thrown overboard and Wilbur got knocked out cold he said he swam back to the boat and tried to get a life jacket on Wilbur

But the damn boat was sinking so fast and stuff was sliding all around so much that he couldn’t and Wilbur was a big man hard to Corral dead weight like like that when you’re in the water Earl barely had time to grab a floatable himself before it all went under and

Wilbur was gone but with Wilburn knowing the water so well and all the nav gear you carry how did he hit the Rocks Cooper Shrugged shouldn’t have happened but it does you lose focus you don’t look at your screen consistently enough fog rolls in you don’t know where the

Hell you are or what’s around you it’s like that condition a pilot can get up in the air on a cloudy night don’t up from down and don’t believe his own instruments it’s called spatial disorientation said Divine it’s what probably caused the deaths of JFK Jr and

His wife and sister-in-law in the plane he was piloting well I think Wilbur got distracted and the fog didn’t help none or his nav gear malfunction and Bam he hit the rock at speed hell he really shouldn’t have gone out that morning and he shouldn’t have been going that fast

But humans aren’t perfect we make mistakes particular in situations like that it’s not easy navigating in deep Waters and the fog even with all the whizbang nav stuff they got I’ve been on boats in real bad weather where I wasn’t sure the captain knew where the hell he

Was and we’ve had some real close calls but we never wrecked just bad luck for Wilbur real bad how was Earl rescued fog lifted and boats started going out they saw him and picked him up poor man was in the water for hours he’s lucky hypothermia didn’t get him he was in

Shock traumatized beyond all get out they said he was still trying to find Wilbur didn’t want to get out of the water till he found his captain fought the folks trying to help him into the boat finally had to hog tie the poor guy to save him they recovered Wilbur’s body

And he got a proper burial binging Sons went all out for it best of everything and didn’t charge Miss Kingman a dime for it that was good of them said Divine big loss for the town for sure but goes to show that no matter how much you

Think you know about what’s out there the ocean always has surprises in store for you just like this damn Town thought Divine chapter 57 a guy named Phil Cooper spoke with me about the accident involving your husband Divine was standing across from Pat Kingman at the front desk of the in

She was on the other side sorting some papers she looked up and slipped off her glasses her expression pensive and Far Away I’ve been thinking that it wasn’t just Bird’s death eating Earl up it was what happened with Wilbur even after all these years you said he did everything

He could to save him but you didn’t really know Earl he was as loyal as they come he told me many times over the years that he wished he could have done more to save Wilbur I told him he’d done all that was humanly possible but I

Could tell he didn’t believe me and then when birdie died it was too much so you think that’s why he killed himself well I can’t think of any other reason can you did he have any enemies Earl you must be joking everybody loved Earl and birdie so no grudges with anyone how

About any strangers that might have come into town why in the world are you asking these questions Earl killed himself nobody murdered him if that’s what you’re implying just the in investigator in me trying to cover all the angles she frowned well you can stop

At least with Earl poor man let him rest in peace getting back to the accident with your husband’s boat seems the theory is he got disoriented out there or his nav system failed or both what do you think happened she leaned on the front desk and shook her head if you

Want the God’s honest truth I think Wilbur had a heart attack or a stroke while he was at the wheel maybe he fell on the throttle and slammed the Kingman at speed right into those damn rocks his whole paint was found on him clear as

Day that boat was sturdy as a brick wall the hole would not have failed with just a light impact did he have health problems he was overweight smoked and drank too much had high blood pressure and suffered from angina I told him a million times to go get checked out but

He never would said doctors just wanted to find something wrong with you so they could make money I think that attitude cost him his life was an autopsy performed no everybody knew he drowned and if he had a heart attack beforehand what did it matter he was still dead

You’d think they’d want to know the cause of the accident well as far as I know they spoke with Earl and he told him what happened I guess if Earl hadn’t survived they would have done autopsies on both of them if they recovered the bodies but he did survive she added

Emphatically did Earl see him having a health episode or slump over no he was in the stern cleaning the deck had his back to the pilot house next thing he knew he was in the water the impact knocked him overboard Earl hurt his neck when that happened had to have surgery

Afterward I think it also messed up his back and knees too he hit the side of the boat as he went over Divine left her and drove to the police station thankfully Harper and fuss were out Mildred James greeted him with a smile and he asked asked her if he could look

At the file for Steven Valerie Palmer can I ask what for she said wearily he leaned forward and spoke in a low voice what with Earl’s death and Bird’s recently before that it’s gotten my suspicions up but Earl killed himself did you know Earl sure did all my life

Divine knew he was taking a risk with his next question but he had a few options he needed to see that file do you think Earl with all his physical ailments could have climbed up on a chair stood there stable while he put up a noose wrapped it around his neck and

Then kicked the chair away is that how it happened you didn’t know I didn’t know the exact details no so what do you think Earl had one of those lift chairs put in his house right I was there once when he used it and he couldn’t do the

Stairs anymore so he slept in what used to be the dining room on the first flooor and he had those special gadgets put in his car so no agent Divine I don’t see him doing that at all her eyes widened appreciably you don’t think you think someone might have killed him I just

Need to rule it out or not and four unnatural deaths in the same family that’s a little much don’t you think James nodded yes now that you put it that way it is I’ll get the files for you she settled him in the same room as

Before and then left him to it Divine went methodically through the postmortem report smoke inhalation was the cause of death the report concluded there were no other indications of violence on the bodies though they had both been badly burned even the hardened Divine was repulsed by the graphic photos of the

Couple’s Remains the official conclusion had been accidental death then he came to the official signature of the medical examiner at the end of the report and his suspicions spiked to a whole new level franois Bing Chapter 58 Divine walked into the funeral home spoke to a woman at the front desk and

Was directed back to Guam’s office she was just rising from her desk I have an embalming to perform this can’t wait Gam studied him for a moment oscillating back and forth on her feet as she did so then follow me she led him down a hall

And through a door that she used a pass key to open inside was a long metal table with equipment on a rolling rack next to it under a sheet on the table was the body to be embalmed Divine assumed I hope that’s not another suicide or homicide no a 90-year-old who died

Peacefully in his sleep we should all be so lucky she readied the equipment and some instruments I hope you don’t have much to ask unless you really want to see this procedure take place I’ve never met a lay person who did in answer Divine pulled out a copy

Of the postmortem report on the Palmer he held up the signature page you told me you were still in medical residency out of state 15 years ago so why is your signature on Steven Valerie Palmer’s autopsy report this was obviously before you were married since you used your

Maiden name on the form she stared at the page for a few moments he could almost see the inner Machinery of her brain in high gear as it processed all this oh now I remember I was home on vacation the state had no one available

To do the job they asked me and I said yes I wasn’t certified yet and hadn’t taken the oath of office but I was a licensed MD in the state of Maine the chief medical examiner can make temporary appointments when the need arises and it did in the Palmer case

Besides it was a fairly straightforward matter no evidence of Foul Play but under the circumstances a postmortem of sorts was legally required a postmortem of sorts what does that mean a full autopsy wasn’t required I determined the cause of death smoke inhalation if I remember correctly they

Were dead before the Flames reach them lucky for the Palmers I wouldn’t call that lucky who suggested you for the job I don’t remember maybe your uncle Benjamin Bing he was police chief back then right okay yes I guess that makes sense Uncle Ben would have done that in fact I recall

Now that he did contact me and told me the situation he knew I was home so that worked out all right she smiled tightly forgive me for not remembering right off it was a long time ago only you didn’t do a talkx report or any blood

Work like I said a full autopsy was not conducted there was no need agent ofine they weren’t poisoned since you didn’t do the necessary workup we don’t really know that for sure do we her neutral expression devolved to a scowl I really don’t like what you’re implying just stating facts I’ll leave

The implications for another time I need to get to work so if you look excuse me she pulled back the sheet revealing the body of an aged man however Divine wasn’t finished so if you were in town then were you also in putam when Alex was attacked probably since that event and

The Palmer’s deaths were only 3 days apart what are you going to accuse me of sexually assaulting Alex now do I need an alibi but I guess the statute of limitations has long passed oh so you looked that up okay get out now Divine turned and left but before he

Shut the door he looked back at Guam who was looking down at the body she had to embalm to Divine at the moment it didn’t look like the woman even realized it was in front of her he saw Fred being at the front desk talking with the person there

He was dressed all in black except for his white shirt his black tie was neatly done and his hair was slicked back funeral said Divine Bing looked over and smiled sadly yes she was in hospice but she lived a good long life she doesn’t have

Much family left in the area so it will be a small Affair but we will do her proud I heard about your handling of Wilbur kingman’s funeral that was so sad Wilbur was a fine man he and my father used to go deep sea fishing together before my dad retired to Florida Pat

Really had no money at the time for an elaborate funeral but we made the decision to cover the cost it was the right thing to do we my sister and I and my father called from Florida and voiced the same opinion he actually came up for the service Bing looked

Chagrined only time he’s ever been back I guess visiting his own children isn’t a high priority he glanced in embarrassment at the woman at the front desk and motioned divine over to a corner of the hall for privacy what brings you here he asked in a hushed tone I had some questions for

Your sister was she helpful asked Bing more than she probably knows I have a question for you okay Benjamin Bing what can you tell me about him ah the law man of the family he said with a grin Uncle Ben liked guns liked to tell people what

To do and liked to wield power over others he rose quickly to Chief and stayed there until his retirement which I understand he’s doing in Florida yes is he still alive asked theine Bing blinked um yes well as far as I know I mean no one has told me otherwise would

They necessarily the fact is our family is not particularly close could you make a call to your father and confirm one way or another well certainly if it will help I can’t guarantee when I might hear back the last time I called my dad it was around

A month before he texted back whatever you can do I would appreciate it of course said Bing now I understand that your Uncle Ben has quite a nice house in Naples and he only had the policeman’s salary I’m assuming your grandfather’s trust didn’t extend to him Bing looked

Uncertain I suppose not I guess I’ve never really thought about that so I was just wondering how he could afford a Naples Beach House yes I suppose you are I could ask my father the simplest answer would be that his two brothers gave him money to buy it bing shook his

Head my father and Uncle John are many things agent Divine but generous is not one of them and frankly I don’t think the two of them really like Uncle Ben he made it clear that he thought what they did for a living was at best a joke and

At worst revolting and that he had taken a far higher Road in life he would even ticket them for illegally parking during funeral services so he was kind of an [ __ ] Bing laughed more than kind of his expression turned serious why are you asking about all this I mean if you

Can tell me not right now I can’t so if they didn’t get along why did he move down there with them another good question to which I don’t have a good answer maybe they reconciled okay did your Uncle Ben know the silk Wells oh sure he and Senator silw well were good friends

Uncle Ben locked up the police vote for him he was very involved in police Union politics in Maine did your uncle know the children well I believe Dak interviewed for a job with the police here when he got out of the military it didn’t work out I don’t think Dak likes

To take orders he added with a grin and the sisters asked deine I know he wrote a recommendation letter for Jenny when she was applying to college and then I think he did another one when she wanted to work for the federal government and Alex now being looked uncomfortable again any particular

Reason you’re asking all this there is a reason I just can’t share it right now Bing blew air out of his mouth and rubbed at his neat hair musing it a bit well I’m sure they knew each other that’s it no personal contact like he had with her siblings Bing looked even

More conflicted but he finally said no oh none that I can think of divine stared at him for so long that the other man finally dropped his gaze to his highly polished shoes let me know when you hear back from your father Yes yes absolutely said Bing

Hastily Divine left the man there a numb looking Fred Bing turned and slowly walked back down the hall chapter 59 Divine drove to Joselyn point when Alex answered his knock he said you have time to help me with something sure what I’ll show you it’s right down the

Road they drove to Earl Palmer’s house while Alex looked anxiously out the window they didn’t go to the house but rather into Bird’s old studio is this where it happened she said looking around and nervously tugging on the yellow and gray scarf around her neck yes this place represented so many happy

Memories for me and now birdie would be so sad that Earl she wandered around and took the cover off an easel set in the corner my God I can’t believe she kept this what is it said Divine walking over to join her the first painting I did under Bird’s

Tutelage Divine took a look at it the image was clear enough he shot her a glance it’s you you started out with a self-portrait she nodded only it was Birdie’s idea what was the reasoning behind that Alex leaned against the wall put her hands in her pockets and stared at the

Painting it wasn’t that long after I was attacked birdie wanted me to know that I was still there that I had meaning and value that the person who did that to me could never take that away ever that Alex silw well was alive and would thrive in addition to being an artist

Birdie sounded like she would have made a great counselor she helped me more than all the fancy shrinks ever did but it was more or less what you told me too when I was on the roof so are you a great counselor as well depends on who I’m

Counseling Alex stepped forward put her hand out to the painting and gently traced her jawline and nexted the curve of her right eye I had just turned 16 when I painted this I’m twice as old as that now still a young woman with most of her

Life ahead of her I’m a very different person now Travis experienced changes all of us no matter whether we want it to or not and like I said before you’re stronger and better than your younger version and like you said I guess the fact that I’m still standing is a victory of

Sorts in the Army it was the only one that counted you never told me why you left the military some days I don’t even know he lied she seemed to sense this and looked away you expect truthfulness from everyone except yourself she said coldly Divine sighed and nodded you’re right I’m being a

Hypocrite the truth is I left the Army because I had to officially it was my decision but I really had no other pathway why someone committed a wrong a horrible wrong against a fellow colleague of ours and was never held accountable for it I tried to work through the proper channels to write

That wrong and I was stonewalled so I took matters into my own hands but by writing a wrong I committed one of my own after that I felt I didn’t have the right to wear the uniform The Honorable thing to do was leave and so I did my

Penance was giving up the thing I loved the most she stared at him for an uncomfortably long time before saying I’m sorry that happened to you but thank you for being honest with me you deserve it she looked around and said why did you bring me

Here I want you to see if you notice anything different from when you were here last working with birdie why just bear with me and I’ll explain later go ahead use your artist ey for detail she Shrugged and walked around looking at everything then she stopped and pointed toward the ceiling

Rafter that wasn’t there before he looked where she was motioning a blackened pulley had been screwed into a roof joist directly above where Earl had been found hanging it was the same color as the board it was attached to and thus Blended right in Divine wasn’t certain he had even noticed it before

You’re sure it wasn’t there very sure we could have actually used something like that to lift up a few of the heavy sculpture pieces birdie and I did here lift up she eyed the pulley and then glanced at him on the Widow’s walk you mentioned that someone might have killed Earl

Yes why I’m not sure yet Divine quickly formulated a rough trajectory that carried him back to a large bolt that was screwed into the wall over the top of a wooden workbench set there he bent down and examined the bolt more closely with his phone light

Was that a rope fiber on top of the workbench things were starting to make sense still there were unanswered questions lots of them was that helpful she said drawing Divine from his Ry he looked at her oh Alex you don’t know how much thank you chapter

60 Divine and Alex next drove to the police station where Mildred James greeted them Alex I haven’t seen you in some time Alex looked down at her boots yes I’ve been pretty busy I’m sure and I am so sorry about your sister hun Jenny was so perfect said Alex

Looking up with a sad expression I know everyone says that but she really was you know she glanced nervously at divine at least she was to me she looked after me and supported me when others were preoccupied James looked a bit confused by all this and divine hastened to move things

Along the evidence file for Earl Palmer can I take a look at it certainly she led them back warned Divine that he couldn’t let Alex touch anything and then left them he figured she would have been far more hesitant to let the two of them have access to this

Evidence if Palmer’s death had not been officially ruled a suicide despite her agreeing with divine’s Theory as to it possibly having been a murder what are we looking for divine proceeded to tell her about his theory of the case with Earl’s death having been a homicide because of the man’s physical

Limitations and you’re seeing the pulley bolsters that that all makes sense Travis you would think Chief Harper could see that too when he was Sergeant Harper he accessed your evidence file why I guess he wanted to see if he could solve it but your rape kit was missing as I told you

Before who would take it whoever didn’t want your attacker to be found do you have any idea who that is Travis I’m getting closer I can feel it he looked over the evidence that had been gathered from the Palmer studio and focused on the news he took pictures of it with his

Camera God that is a gruesome looking thing between World War II and 1961 the US military executed 160 soldiers for various offenses they were all hanged and the Army was responsible for 157 of them an eye for an eye not really 14 offense are punishable by

Death during times of war or peace every Soldier knows what they are or should so long as he or she avoids them they have no problem he didn’t tell her that one of them was for rape and for times of War only for including desertion and willfully disobeying or assaulting a superior

Officer I suppose you never willfully disobeyed or assaulted a superior officer not a superior officer no said Divine thinking of Kenneth Hawkins who had like Divine also held the rank of Captain he drove Alex back to Joselyn Point she got out of the truck and then

Poked her head back in I heard about your rental Annie said it was shot full of holes it was but I’m not she visibly shuddered at his flippant remark do you know why they’re trying to kill you is it connected to what happened to Jenny I don’t know honestly it could be

Connected to something totally unrelated old enemies please be careful I always am Alex it’s why I’m still here Divine watched her walk inside then started back down the drive but as he was doing so he noted for the first time that the drive also had a branch off to the right heading towards

Some of the other buildings he had seen on his first night here he hung a quick right and drove off the first three buildings he reached were abandoned or falling down and otherwise uninhabitable the fourth one was not he parked in front and looked back at the

Main house it was not visible from here because the trees and large bushes neatly blocked this building from both The house’s View and from the Coast Road he got out and approached the door the walls were Stone while the door was wood it was locked the windows were blacked

Out and seemed to be painted shut he tried his lock gun but the lock was Superior to his skill and Equipment he walked around the building and quickly found that was the only door he studied the path to the building’s entrance well worn so well used and

Recently he stood at the window and took a quick inhale he had done this in the Middle East Munitions and explosives all had distinct odors he wasn’t smelling anything like that if there was some sense sent in there that he couldn’t readily identify and there was also a humming

Was it insects bees was there infestation in there he waited listened no it was too consistent same sound same Rhythm mechanical not natural he concluded he took out his phone and Googled something it took a few minutes of searching before he found what he was looking for closest place was 20 M from

Here he jumped into the truck and sped off nearly 2 hours later dine was back with what he needed he returned to Joselin point but stopped short of the entry driveway he made the rest of the trip on foot as darkening clouds gathered above him he slipped in and out

Of tree lines and waited behind bushes to make sure there was no one about it felt like he was back in the Afghan mountains hunting the Taliban and its iterations all while they hunted him he reached the building found a good spot and set up what he had purchased the

Surveillance camera was motion operated so it wouldn’t be on continuous feed and was capable of being synced with his phone which would alert him if there was any activity he performed all the necessary tasks including securing the tiny camera to the trunk of a tree with

A direct sight line to the door now he just had to wait for his trap to be sprung but while he was waiting for that he had things to do he drove off however he was just about about to run into an obstacle chapter 61 Harper and fuss passed him going the

Other way in their patrol car the cruiser whipped around the roof lights cranked on and the siren ruptured an otherwise quiet day in putham Maine an exasperated Divine slammed a fist against the dashboard and barked I don’t have time for this [ __ ] he steered the truck over to the shoulder cut the

Engine and waited for them to to pull in behind he didn’t get out Divine decided to let them come to him and they did step out of the truck Divine said Harper his hand once more on the head of his baton Divine poked his head outside the

Truck window are you arresting me again what was wrong with the first time out now Divine climbed out just as it began to rain come back to the cruiser and get in ordered Harper before we all catch amonia Divine sat in the back seat with Harper next to him fuss leaned over the

Front seat to face them what’s up Divine asked what’s up is why you think it’s your job to go around riling people up not sure what you’re talking about then let me give you an example you basically accused franois gam of dereliction of Duty if not outright conspiracy I never

Said that and and I heard that Alex silw well nearly killed herself because as you were throwing around wild accusations about her sister and the attack on Alex all those years ago who the hell told you about Harper continued to talk right over him and you’ve pretty much convinced Mildred that Earl Palmer

Was murdered when there is no evidence NADA of that being the case Divine flicked his phone screen and tapped an icon then he held up the phone on it was the picture he’d taken of the Noose eight coils plus a round turn and two half hitches what the Noose eight coils

And then it was secured to the rafter with a round turn and two half hitches it’s typically used to secure a rope to a stationary object so Earl was a lobsterman he probably knew every damn knot there was I took Alex to Birdie’s Studio she remembered everything that

Was in it while she worked there with birdie which was mere days before she was killed the only thing she saw there that she had never seen before was a pulley bolted into another rafter directly above where Earl was hanging from it had been painted black to match

The color of the wood so as to blend in I don’t even remember seeing it and then there’s an iron bolt set into the wall over the workbench under the iron bolt was a fiber looked to be a rope fiber what are you saying Divine demanded fuss

I’m saying someone strung Earl up using that pulley who the hell would have done that barked Harper whoever got Earl to lie about finding Jenny’s body that made him a loose end oh okay here we go again with your [ __ ] Theory said an exasperated Harper even if you think a

Crippled Earl could climb up on that chair set the Noose and then kick the chair away how did he do the eight coils on the Noose and the round turnning two half hitches he was a lobsterman he’s been tying knots since he came out of the womb barked Harper not lately he

Hasn’t have you seen the size of his fingers how bent and stiff they are they’re full of arthritis when I was walking with him he could barely hold on to the head of his Cane and he can’t even look down which you’re going to have to do to make these knots he

Pointed at the picture of the complicated knots it requires dexterity he no longer had and why hang himself in the first place he had a shotgun why not just pull the trigger on that which he could have done even with those fingers why go to all that trouble I’ll tell you

Why faking a death by suicide using a shotgun is a whole lot more difficult than doing it by hanging you’ve got possible forensic Trace in the former that you really don’t have in the latter fuss eyed her boss nervously maybe worth checking out Chief Divine added and the knot used to secure

The Noose what about it demanded a still ey rate Harper it was chosen for a reason because the first part of the knot the round turn would keep the load in place until the two half hitches could be secured you mean if the killer used the pull

He’d have to secure Earl up there somehow until he finished off the knot said fuss yes he obviously couldn’t leave it strung through the pulley otherwise we’d know it was probably murder if Earl had used the pulley to kill himself there would have been no need to secure the news to the rafters

The pulley and bolt would have worked just fine in fact if they had just used the pulley and left Earl hanging from it I wouldn’t have been nearly as suspicious but they overthought it he paused I actually pictured two people one on a ladder next to Earl whose head

Is in the Noose after being hoisted there using the pulley and his feet on the chair the end of the Rope is secured to the bolt then the second person cuts the Rope but holds on to the end with all his weight while the first man holds

On to Earl who would have gone slack with the Rope Cut the two killers then work together to wrap the Rope around the rafter and managed to complete the round turn I’m not saying it would be easy but it is doable and if they strung him up with one rope put another noose

Around his neck and then cut away the first rope the subterfuge would have been discovered during the autopsy with the misaligned ligature markings and such they must have known that which means they might have some specialized knowledge in forensics then they can complete the two half hitches and let go

Of Earl completely kick out the chair and the man goes swinging you’re overlooking one obvious problem said Harper how did they get Earl there in the first place no signs of forced entry no defensive wounds no signs of a struggle Earl might have been crippled like you said but he was still

A big man he wouldn’t have gone quietly into the night he would if he’d been drugged franois found nothing like that said Harper dismissively she didn’t check for any of that retorted Divine she ruled it a suicide by hanging Harper started to say something and then stopped he eyed fuss who was looking

Concerned very concerned he glanced back at Divine how do you know so much about not tying the Rangers train in high altitudes because we have missions in those types of environments we climb and repel and do all sorts of things that require intimate familiarity with ropes and Knots ballets climbing stop

Descenders carabiners and the like Harper side okay let’s get over the funeral home and we’ll have franois run those tests okay thank you Chief said Divine quite sincerely but if it’s all negative will you stop with all this murder talk yes you have my word okay

Okay we’ll leave your truck here you can ride with us at the funeral home they found Fred Bing and asked where his sister was she’s just finishing something up should be done in a few minutes I’ll let her know you’re here thanks said Harper 5 minutes later Guam

Appeared she was wearing a full leather apron and was taking off a pair of sturdy gloves what’s up Chief she said after giving Divine a glare I want you to run some tests on Earl’s remains tests on Earl she said looking stunned yeah blood and talks we want to

Check to see if he was maybe drugged or something Divine has a theory probably won’t amount to much I’m sorry I can’t run those tests Divine stepped forward if you won’t we’ll find someone else who will you don’t understand no one can run those tests now why the hell not demanded a

Confused fuss because Earl’s remains have been cremated I just finished doing it chapter 62 Annie Palmer looked traumatized she was sitting in a booth at Main Brew with Divine next to her and Harper and fuss across from her they had previously taken Divine back to retrieve

His truck and then followed him here I signed the papers for them to cremate Gramps it’s what he wanted birdie was cremated and her ashes spread over the harbor I was planning to do the same with his Dr Gom called and had me come in she said everything was done and it

Was time to take care of the body I was happy that he wanted to be cremated I mean I don’t have the money for a casket and burial plot and all I was planning on having a celebration of his life here at the cafe for his

Friends I’m the only family left my mom and dad had no siblings Harper sighed and looked at Divine just unfortunate way I see it but nothing out of the ordinary either they’re running a business and they jumped through all the Hoops we knew the tests hadn’t been done and I didn’t

Order any buck stops with me we were a day late in a dollar short Divine rubbed his brow looking and feeling immensely frustrated I’m sorry if I messed up fuss took her hand with a gentleness that surprised divine she said you did nothing wrong hun you did what your granddad

Wanted they left Palmer there and walked out on the pavement Harper studied his muddy shoes before looking up at Divine so what now I don’t know Divine said frankly I need to think some things through Divine got into the truck and drove off he popped in a tape and started listening to

CCR he hied the sky where the sun was long gone and the Darkness was coming for them all he sang along with the lyrics on the tape well don’t go around tonight it’s bound to take your life there’s a bad moon on the rise he pressed the gas and went faster his

Phone buzzed agent Divine it’s Fred Bing I wanted to let you know that I heard back from my father a lot quicker than I had imagined what did he say that he hasn’t seen or spoken to my uncle in over 2 weeks is it unusual for your

Father not to have heard from him they’re not close but they do live near each other and they were scheduled to play golf together the other day but my uncle sent a text saying he couldn’t make it does your father know how long his brother has been away I don’t think

He has a firm date other than the two weeks not having heard from him until he sent the text about golf how old a man is Benjamin Bing he’s the youngest brother by a lot so 60 maybe my father is 72 but he’s the oldest and there was

A wide G between kids describe your uncle physically big man as tall as me but a lot broader strong as a horse they used to joke in my family that he could be all six Paul bearers in one you got a recent picture of him it was taken a few

Years ago I can text it to you thanks I understand there was some misunderstanding about Earl Palmer’s cremation yeah you could say that well I was surprised too if you want the truth said Bing what do you mean mean I usually call the family and arrange

Things and then I do The Cremation but not with Earl no why asked deine my sister wanted to handle it do you know why no I mean I didn’t ask her I was just happy to get it off my plate we have four funerals coming up I’m barely keeping my head

Above water Divine wasn’t really listening remember to send me the Pick of your uncle thanks he clicked off and kept driving his mind littered with possibilities he called Alex she answered on the second ring you hungry actually very and I don’t feel like cooking I’ll pick you up in 10 minutes

If that works it does along the way his phone dinged and he opened it his eyes going back and forth from the road to the phone screen Benjamin Bing had memorable features strong chin and jaw thick graying hair what divine referred to as Buzzard eyes the sort that immediately

Made you uncomfortable and slender lips just beneath a nose as sharp as a cabar blade damn if he doesn’t look like a soldier Alex was waiting for him in front of the house the wind slightly lifted the Hem of her knee length skirt long boots covered her calves her Parker

Looked warm and comfortable she slid into the truck and said how are you doing I was about to ask you that I got a lot of work done today so that’s good and everything else she eyed him pensively I had no thoughts of jumping off the top of the house if that’s what

You mean I didn’t mean that necessarily do you know why I went up there tell me it’s the place where I can see the farthest I don’t mean Out on the Ocean I mean in my head but you were very close to the edge I was afraid that you

Might I can’t say that the thought has never entered my mind but after what happened to Jenny she frowned shook her head and adopted a look of intense focus it was exactly like you said if I did something like that it would be as though what Jenny did was

Worthless she sacrificed her life to find out the truth about what happened to me I I could never do that to her to her memory I just couldn’t she faced away from him but he could see in her reflection in the window the tears sliding down the woman’s

Face you know you’re pretty much the most honest person I’ve ever met and I find I can’t be anything other than Frank with you even when I don’t want to be is that a good thing she asked now looking at him I think it is yes if a little unnerving they drove

On chapter 63 she directed him to a little hole in thewall Greek restaurant that was as far removed from the organic bulk of only real food as it was possible to be the interior was comprised of four tables and one waitress she greeted Alex with a

Warm smile and a lingering hug and cast Divine an intrigued glance Travis Divine this is Chloe samaris the three other tables were occupied and Samaras directed them to the fourth and most private table well away from the others and along the back wall she deposited the menus in front of

Them took their drink orders Mythos beer for divine and a glass of prco for Alex and left I didn’t think you came into town much when I do I usually come here to eat why is that Chloe and I went to high school together she’s really nice

Her Uncle Tony is the chef he taught me how to cook some really cool Greek dishes their drinks came after Alex took a sip of her prco she said so why dinner do you have more questions yes but I also wanted to see you make sure you were okay she fingered

The stem of her glass and sank back in her chair it started to rain the drops pattering against the restaurant’s plate glass window when I was little my dad and I would go up to the Widow’s walk and watch the storms roll in and out not if

It was lightning of course and we would talk about stuff it was really nice like when I would sit in his office and watch him right while I drew things in my sketch pad did you ever draw him she smiled all the time with varying degrees of success ever think you finally captured

The true essence of the man Alex’s smile faded no your questions why don’t we eat first might go better Divine ordered Kupa and pitada with beef while Alex had yig test beans to start and grilled vegetables with warm pea for her dinner dine took one spoonful of his soup and looked at her

Wow I know right the main meals were just as Savory okay said Divine I’m definitely coming back here thanks for the introduction to putnam’s finest Greek food you’re welcome now your questions he set his knife and fork down took the last sip of his beer and said you ever have any interactions with

Benjamin Bing her eyes narrowed what a strange question why do you ask he was the police chief back when you were attacked I was just wondering what you thought of him how he handled things I don’t remember dealing with him directly Chief Harper was a sergeant then I believe and they had other

Officers too but my family mostly dealt with Harper how about before you were attacked anything with Bing I’d see him in the little Christmas parade we have every year my father knew him quite well it was a political friendship I gathered I do recall that one of the

Boys I went to high school with stole a car for a joy ride and wrecked it while Bing was chasing him the story was Bing pulled the boy out of the car and and what well beat him up how did his parents take that they sided with the chief they thought Tim

Deserved to be taught a lesson it was so unfair he only stole that car to take a girl for a ride and if Bing hadn’t been chasing him none of that would have happened how do you know Tim wanted to take a girl for a ride Alex blushed and rubbed the

Condensation off her glass we were sort of seeing each other then nothing serious we were only 15 well he was 16 I was always the youngest in the class because of your late birthday and the fact that you skipped the grade she looked at him in

Surprise your mother told me with a lot of pride in her voice she said something like not even Jenny managed to do that Alex looked down and didn’t comment did Bing know you and Tim were dating It’s a Small Town Travis everyone knows your business but why is this

Important Benjamin Bing hasn’t been seen in Florida in about 2 weeks so so that means he could be up here why would he be in Maine as opposed to Florida in the winter he could have been up here when Jenny was killed when I was shot at and when Earl was

Killed wait you think Bing did those things it’s possible but what would be his motive why would he want to kill Jenny Jenny was up here on unfinished business but that was about what happened to me so she paused her eyes becoming rigid her gaze fixed for one off awful moment Divine

Thought she was going to have another episode and part of me hopes she does and names Benjamin Bing as her rapist you actually think Benjamin Bing attacked me Divine looked around at the other patrons and said let’s keep it between us okay no need to let others in

On this I I’m sorry I just I can’t comprehend what you’re saying look it wouldn’t be the first time a cop went bad and he chases down beats up your boyfriend what are the odds and then your rape kit goes missing he would have had unfettered access to that and then

The Palmer what if they saw him fleeing a minute before they found you there’s no proof of that actually there is or at least the Palmer seeing someone that night he went on to explain to Alex about Jenny having pulled the satellite footage showing the car and Steve and

Valerie Palmer crossing paths with another car right around the time of the attack on her but then why why didn’t they report it she said looking distraught they were having money problems maybe they were putting the squeeze on him Frederick Bing senior was an early disciple of Warren Buffett they

Could afford to pay so their good name would not be dragged through the mud and Benjamin was the police chief the Palmer might have been afraid to go up against him and they had no real proof but then Jenny comes up here looking for the

Truth and he gets wind of it he has to nip that in the bud that sounds very far-fetched and what about Earl you said someone killed him what possible reason would Benjamin Bing have to kill Earl because he got Earl to pretend to find your sister’s body and was probably

Afraid he would have a change of heart she looked Gob smacked how would he get Earl to lie about finding Jenny’s body that one I haven’t figured out yet Divine conceited but you remember remember nothing else with Bing nothing that would show he might have been infatuated with you no that’s gross he’s

My father’s age he was only 45 when you were attacked I wasn’t even 16 she said heatedly drawing stairs from some of the customers I don’t want to believe he was interested in you that way he gripped her hand but if he was Alex it was his

Issue not yours but I’m the one suffering yes you are said Divine but I will help you in any way I can to get through this chapter 64 he drove her back to Joselyn point they went out to the art studio where Alex had told him she needed to work on

A painting for a client that was due to be shipped out soon he watched her work away as the night fell more deeply around them her movements were fluid her concentration complete Divine had seen that level of intensity before me in combat what’s that look

For he came out of his musings to find her staring at him as she cleaned off a brush admiration for your obvious skills you’re such a sweet talker it’s sincere Alex she put down the brush and wiped off her hands I Know Travis my [ __ ] meter is pretty

Sophisticated and it hasn’t made a peep while you’re around but like all women you have so much more practice at it than men you really are far more evolved than many of your brethren she said smiling I try to see people for who they really are she drew a step

Closer and who am I really he could tell despite the flippant and flirty content and tone of their conversation Alex was now quite serious I see a young woman maybe at a Crossroads her features tensed go on there’s a military term for being in the wrong place at the wrong time though

It’s now used throughout popular culture no man’s land but if you dig deeper it gets more complicated how’s so typically to get to No Man’s Land you had to take action you had to move from where you were so now you’re in a bad place a place where you don’t think you

Should be and maybe your own Survival is at stake here Divine paused and contemplated stopping he wasn’t sure why he had chosen to bring up this topic and now that he was here he ironically felt like he was in no man’s land yet the look on

Alex’s face told him there was only one path to take with this conversation so you have three choices stay where you are go back or go forward and how do you know which one is the right one I wish I could tell you that there’s a foolproof way to figure that out but

There’s not sometimes it’s trial and error she slumped and looked beaten but sometimes there is a sign to tell you which way to go what he leaned against the table and said when I was pulling a tour of combat Duty in Iraq I would rotate through this same large Village looking for enemy

Combatants and forance people who just needed help or wanted to escape certain situations I’d go there regularly with a couple of squads and felt like I’d gotten to know some of the villagers pretty well established a rapport to the extent you can during a war one of my

Jobs was to memorize every detail I could during each visit so that on future trips I could see if anything looked off it was critical because my life and the lives of the men in my squad depended on it I can understand that she said in a

Tone that was equal parts Hollow and anticipatory it was sort of what you helped me do at Bird’s Art Studio I never would have seen that pulley without your help but you had been there many times before and noticed it right off anyway one morning we reached the

Village I did my scope of the village as we were walking through it looking for anything that looked out of the ordinary did you see anything no I didn’t but PFC Lura Diaz did what did she see a female villager came out of one of the Huts she seemed fine calm

Ordinary she walked toward us we had seen her before many times but as she grew closer Diaz called out bomb we instinctively all scattered and took cover a second later the bomb that was secreted on the woman detonated if Diaz hadn’t warned us we’d all be

Dead what did she see that made her believe the woman had a bomb I asked her that very thing Diaz told me her mother worked at a hair salon back in a small town in Texas as a child Diaz would often go to work with her mother her mom did hair makeup Nails

The whole shebang her mother told Diaz that women wanted to look their best in important moments weddings parties funerals at critical times they wanted to get their hair makeup and nails done so Diaz noticed that the Villager was not wearing her Dusty burka or usual hijab she had on a beautiful robe with

Intricate embroidery her hair had been immaculately braided and done up in a fancy style and her nails had been filed shaped and painted when they never had before the woman was sacrificing her life for her cause and she wanted to look her best that observation by Diaz saved my

Life and those of a lot of others CU I never would have seen it now you’re probably wondering what the hell that has to do with your situation but here it is for what it’s worth I’ve sort of been Laura Diaz up here observing you and others seeing things that maybe

People in putam are too close to everything to see clearly your mother and others think you can be world famous or rich or both somewhere else and you probably could but I don’t think those things are important to you so you’re saying I should stay here

In putam no I’m not I’m actually saying that you have gifts that you need to share with the world something terrible happened to you here Alex most people would want to get as far away from that as they could now you didn’t but I think you didn’t because you were too

Traumatized to embrace any part of the world you became fearful of going out of being around other people he looked out the window in the dire direction of the main house you go out but then you run back here where you feel reasonably safe but the thing is your fear is no longer

Out there he tapped his head it’s in here so you can’t outrun it you can’t really hide from it not even here then what do I do how do I get out of no man’s land you master it you take back control of your life you dictate

The terms of how you will live and where you will live not anyone else and certainly not the person who hurts you but what if he’s still out there I’m sure he is still out there it’s my job to stop him and I’m really good at my job

Alex he put his arms around her and held her tightly do you really think I can Master this I would not have suggested it if I didn’t believe you could you’re a lot stronger than you think you are I’m not as strong as Jenny was he moved her to arms length so we

Could stare into her eyes you don’t need to compare yourself to Jenny not ever again she loved you she came up here to help you to end this misery you were trapped in and it cost your sister her life the best way to honor that sacrifice is to cast off the

Devil that’s in you right now and move on with your life it’s what Jenny would have wanted and it’s what you should want which is what really matters Alex who had begun quietly sobbing stopped and her expression firmed she looked up at him I do want that and I want something else

Travis she kissed him and divine hesitant at first kissed her back the two were so focused on one another that they never saw saw the person who had been watching them mov slowly away from the window chapter 65 hours later Divine let himself out the front door of Joselyn point and made

Sure it’s securely locked behind him a light drizzle had started which the wind kicked around him as he walked to the truck he looked for dak’s motorcycle but didn’t see it he hadn’t heard anyone come into the house when he’d been up in Alex’s bedroom he sat in the truck and

Stared out the windshield at the house his first night here he had seen Alex standing naked in her bedroom window he had seen it as an act of defiance or at least her feeling of sanctity in her old family home he had just seen her naked again in

The most intimate situation two people could experience being with Alex at that moment in time had been the right thing to do the thing he had wanted to do they had taken it slow with physical and emotional Revelations by degrees rather than all of a sudden their love making

Had been assured but controlled it was as though they somehow already knew the Contours and rhythms of each other’s bodies and desires the instinctual Sensations that had delivered them to an ending point that had persisted long beyond the sexual climaxes they had Lain in each other’s arms talking quietly between kisses and

Caresses for far longer than their physical lovemaking had endured Divine had known the woman a full week and yet he felt like he understood her better than he did his own brother and sister quantity of time together meant nothing if the desire wasn’t there to learn and relate to someone the need to

Understand them it had been there between him and Alex like nothing he’d really experienced before as he fired up the truck his phone buzzed it wasn’t a call his surveillance monitor on the out building had just gone off someone was there he drove toward the out buildings

And then parked behind a stand of evergreen bushes making sure his truck was out of sight he was going to make the rest of the way to the building on foot the noise of the Waves crashing against the Burly main substrata followed him with each footfall he kept his exposure over open

Ground to a minimum just like the Army had trained him and then he’d gotten a PhD in that same subject out in the field of combat where mistakes didn’t mean a failing grade but rather a burial plot and white grave marker at Arlington National he surveyed all Compass points

In front of him it didn’t take long to reach the vicinity of the building Divine took up position behind a bulky overgrown hedge peering around it he observed a Toyota pickup parked in front of the building its lights and motor on the door to the building was open and a

Light was on inside this gave Divine a Clear Sight line into the space which he enhanced using his Optics a man was standing just inside the doorway with his back to Divine over his shoulder Divine could see large green plastic tubs set on tables and he heard once more the hum of Machinery

This time more distinctly with the door open he crouched down when he heard another vehicle approaching he recognized the throaty purr of the Harley before he saw it Dak pulled up next to the truck and climbed off his bike after shutting it down turned on the video recording feature on

His phone and started filming Dak said hey Hal the man turned around and divine could see he was in his 30s with a trim beard and glasses he had on Jean overalls and a ski cap pulled down over his ears their comingled breaths Rose above them in the frigid air I thought

You’d be here ahead of me I got tied up really what gal did the tying they both laughed at this comment and DX slapped the man on the shoulder how’s it looking in there DX said inclining his head toward the tubs all systems go I swear these Critters could survive an Adam

Bomb falling on them let’s hope one doesn’t hit don’t think we could survive it said Dak with a chuckle how long you reckon two days they’ll be here but we got the shipment to pick up tonight and the more they grow the more they weigh and Dak rubbed his thumb and forefinger

Together they locked up the building climbed into the pickup and set off theine ran back to his truck and followed chapter 66 as soon as they were on the main road Divine knew where they were going the same spot along the shore he was driving with his lights off which wasn’t a

Problem even with the poor visibility he just followed the tail lights ahead of him to see the Contours of the road the truck pulled off and divine did the same albeit a couple of hundred yards short and behind a stand of trees growing near the road he flitted along until he reached a

Good surveillance point in time to watch through his Optics as Hal carried large plastic containers toward the water Dak was hefting some other apparatus that Divine could not really make out dine headed forward and then cut toward the beach he looked out to the water and though it was F and gloomy

He could see a solitary boats running lights slicing through the darkness out on the Gulf of Maine Divine crouched along a ledge of Rocky Shore took out his Optics and surveyed the field in front of him once more a smaller boat was lowered from the larger boat it then traveled swiftly

Toward Shore breached the breakers and came to a stop bow up in the sand he could now see that the vessel was actually an rib or rigid inflatable boat much like the kind he had used in the Army there were two men on board they jumped off the bow onto the sand and

Greeted Dak and Hal with handshakes and back slaps then the four of them proceeded to unload the cargo it was placed in the containers Hal had brought to the beach Dak bent down and inserted the devices he had brought with him into each container Dak handed one of the men an

Envelope and they parted ways Dak and Hal hefted the first container it must have been heavy since both men struggled with the weight of it they reached the truck loaded it in the back and then went back twice more to get the other containers they drove off as the rib was

Swiftly making its way back to the larger boat Divine had already gotten into his vehicle and was waiting as they passed him Divine pulled out behind them they drove straight back to Joselyn Point into the same out building They Carried the containers into the building and had set down the last one when

Divine appeared in the doorway hey guys nice gloomy night for some smuggling both men Whirled around and Hal’s hand went to a pocket on his coat but then he was staring down the barrel of divine’s Glock he let his hand drop to his side you’re trespassing Divine

You have no business or right to be here I saw a suspicious Act take place in a public area and the fruits of that act are right behind you in those containers there’s nothing illegal with what we’re doing as though all legal business is done in the middle of the night on

Deserted beaches and involving boats coming into Shore with a payoff for whatever’s in those containers he pointed at one with his Glocks muzzle what is it drugs we’re not drug dealers for God’s sake blurted out a surprised Hal what then Dak looked at Hal and then back at Divine it’s unagi come again

Unagi it’s made from elvers Divine cocked his head elvers sounds like something from The Hobbit we’re buying and selling glass eatles said Hal he pointed behind him at dozens of large tubs set up on low tables Divine could now see that they were all hooked up to aeration equipment he

Assumed that was what Dak had been carrying on the beach is it illegal not if you have a license and do you um yeah I do [ __ ] then why the middle of the night shipment why hide your operation here do I need a lawyer I didn’t come up

Here to bust illegal elvers I came up here to find out who killed your sister so did Jenny know about all this said Divine pointing his gun around the room I don’t think so you don’t think so Divine shook his head had he been focusing on completely the wrong thing

This whole time he looked at Dak tell me how this all operates you tell me the truth and I’m not going to come down on you like a ton of bricks but you lie to me you’re done and your ass is going to jail and his too said Divine indicating

Hal who seemed to be attempting to shrink into the floorboards Dak started talking fast elvers are a huge Market the Japanese eat tons of eels but over fishing depleted the Japanese populations and there was an earthquake there about a decade or so ago that wiped out most of their aquaculture operations so they

Turned elsewhere to Europe and America chimed in Hal who now also seemed eager to explain things to Divine but the European El population knows dived and the eill was listed as an endangered species and exports from the EU were banned so that left us and a few other

Countries in the Caribbean as the primary sources and the prices skyrocketed and that made for a big black market then that all came crashing down because the feds and the states stepped in Most states banned the fishing here in Maine they started issuing licenses and imposing and quotas

And arresting and finding people eels don’t breed in captivity so all farm-raised eels have to be first caught in the wild and there are lots of them in Maine he pointed behind him it takes up to two years to grow an eel a harvestable size that’s normally done in

An eel fishery how’d you two hook up Hal and I were in the Army together he moved up here from South Carolina and told me about the eels I researched it and we put a business plan together where was the boat tonight coming in from New Brunswick Canada also has a lot of

Elvers so are you running an eel fishery we don’t have a license for that and who wants to wait two years to get your money so how do you make your money Dak looked at Hal look I think we need a lawyer we’ve said too much already what

If this is connected to Jenny’s murder it’s not she was a Fed she came up here for some reason she was murdered are there bad people involved in this eel business is it enough money to kill over Dak looked once more at Hal and closed his eyes for a moment before saying the

Price for elvers really sank during Co but now it’s back up to around $2,300 a pound what you see in all those tubs are worth about $250,000 Divine stared in disbelief at the tubs you’re [ __ ] me nope and you can make a lot more money off elvers than you ever can off

Lobster and you don’t need a boat and all that other equipment if you have a license you set big Fike or dip Nets in a stream and you wake up in the middle of the night and go down there with five gallon buckets and load up your catch

And then go buy a house or a fishing boat it’s like Main’s version of the California Gold Rush okay who buys them from you guys who come into town on a regular basis what kind of guys mostly Asian said Hal well they’re all Asian really how do they pay cash bank wires

And checks don’t really work in our business a quarter million in cash what do they bring it in suitcases yeah they actually do admitted Hal and they put the elvers in other suitcas they typically put a legal export fish in refrigerated bags over them like muscles so long as they have an oxygen

Supply elvers are fine they breede through their skin dine walked over and looked in one of the tubs he recoiled at the sight of what looked like hundreds of strands of bright white and yellow spaghetti albeit with pairs of Inky black eyes flitting spasmodically through the water in massive

Hordes so it is illegal the way you’re doing it well it’s not exactly legal no why not just set up a licensed eel fishery or get a fishing license the fishing licenses are given out in a lottery and capped at around 400 or so believe me there are a lot more folks

Than that who want to do this and it ain’t Fair interjected Hal they say it’s a lottery but I say with that much money at Stakes some Palms are getting greased for damn sure and as an El farmer it takes years to make your money back and you have to

Have the capital to build a facility and buy the equipment and then you need to hire a bunch of people and there’s a limit on how many pounds you can legally process each year we can make far more money faster this way so this is how you

Get your Capital to invest Divine said to Dak not Partners in Boston yeah but I’m using that money to invest in local businesses that employ lots of people and are bringing some pride and dignity back to putam don’t go all altruistic on me you’re doing it to

Get rich well that too you got Coupe Phillips and two other Knuckleheads to come after me the night we first met in the bar didn’t you I you believed I was really up here investigating you right the thought had crossed my mind so this El stuff is a big business globally it’s

Billions of dollars a year and I’ve been to China and Japan once the elvers get there man they are dumped into this supply chain that is full of corrupt [ __ ] Smugglers Killers Chinese Mafia has their fingers all over unagi and maybe some of them came over here

Because your sister was getting ready to expose them and so they killed her said Divine Dak shook his head no way I can’t believe that’s what happened did she ever say anything that made you suspect she knew you were involved in this never not once my swear okay so you get your

Supply from Canada why not here we also deal with people here but Maine has gotten pretty good about faring out folks like us and Nova Scotia is right across the gulf and New Brunswick is just a little bit north lock this place up please Divine do not shut us down

I’ve got big plans for putham I could give a [ __ ] about that and you said you were going to make millions off selling this property hopefully yeah but that could take a year or two to complete again I don’t care now lock it up Dak was about to respond but he didn’t or

Rather couldn’t the bullet zoomed through the open doorway and hit Dak in the arm he slumped to the floor bleeding and screaming in pain Divine already had his Glock out and fired multiple rounds in the direction of where the shot had come before taking cover behind the

Wall then silence until he heard a vehicle start up dine was about to run to his truck and take up Pursuit when Dak screamed help dine looked over to see Hal on the floor blood pouring from his chest he knelt beside the stricken man only one shot had been fired so it

Must have ricocheted off Dak and hit Hal concluded Divine he didn’t have time to even locate the wound before Hal gave a long rattling breath that Divine had heard on fields of combat is out is he going to be okay said a sobbing Dak holding his bloodied arm and

Crawling over to them is he breathing no he’s not said Divine curtly he’s dead chapter 67 it’s been raining so much any Trace from the vehicle is gone said Sergeant fuss she and divine were standing in front of the out building where Hal had been killed and Dak wounded Dak had been

Taken to a trauma Hospital in Bangor Hal’s body had been transported to Augusta via helicopter for a high priority postmortem Guam had accompanied the flight Dawn was breaking and divine was so tired he felt he was back in Ranger school did you find a casing asked deine

Yep NATO or polymer the latter looks to be the same shooter as with Jenny but NATO was the one that almost killed me said Divine really to himself fuss eyed the outbuilding so elvers huh apparently so always wondered where he got his money to his mind he’s reinvesting it in the

Town and I guess he is so what are you going to do about it Divine said nothing it’s not my jurisdiction so what are you going to do about it I’ll have to confer with the chief I expect you would but if we do nothing

No skin off my teeth unless what Dak was doing is connected to his sister’s murder you think I don’t know one way or another I certainly have no proof okay we’ll let you know what we find I’m heading over to Joselyn point to make sure Alex is okay I already

Filled her in on what happened but I wanted to give her an update right Alex answered at his first knock she must have been watching from the front window thank God she whispered weeping quietly into his shoulder after he gave her a positive update on her brother I I can’t lose Dak

Too she led Divine to the kitchen and made him coffee you must be exhausted she said watching him closely I’ll catch some sleep later when can I see Dak he’s having his surgery now we can drive up after he’s out of recovery bullet went in and out

If it had HIIT an artery he wouldn’t have made it she paled at this Stark description and he said I’m sorry I shouldn’t have been so blunt I guess I just got used to doing that in the Army no I’m fine thank you for telling

Me so did you know dak’s friend Hal I didn’t get his last name Hal Brockman I knew he worked with Dak but I didn’t know how or with what he’s come by quite a few times he seemed very nice he was from the south I think she rubbed her

Eyes who could have done this Travis Divine didn’t provide an answer because he had none he left there with a promise to pick her up at 11: and drive her to Bangor halfway down the road his phone buzzed it was Francois gam she sounded exhausted she told him the post on how

Brockman had just been completed it was a 300 caliber Norma Magnum round pretty much intact despite it having Kine through one body and entered another F already found the polymer casing so I was pretty sure it would be the Norma so maybe one shooter for Jenny and the shot taken at Dak out

Of my professional jurisdiction but personally I would agree with that assessment but I had the round fired at me so was it connected to the people who kidnapped me and then chased me the other night that seems logical anything else um could you come to dinner at my

House tonight I I sense things have gotten off the rails between us and I’d like to talk to you and I might be able to share some things with you insights okay sure she told him a time and he clicked off I wonder if you know where your

Uncle is maybe around a certain Elver smuggling operation early this morning shooting a 300 Norma Magnum round into two people he didn’t have time to think about that right now he had another mission to complete before driving Alex to Bangor he had to find a secret in Earl

Palmer’s past bad enough to Blackmail the man chapter 68 you want to look through my grandfather’s things asked Annie Palmer Divine was sitting at the counter in main brew and she was standing across from him restocking the refrigerated cabinets yeah why to see if I can find a reason for what

Happened he was depressed Travis depressed people sometimes kill themselves granted but I’m not sure he took his own life you mentioned that before when we were up on the roof at Joselyn point with Alex but you never bothered to explain to me why you thought that she said her

Face Twisted in Anger even though you told me you would and we both saw him [ __ ] hanging there okay it’s time for me to lay out my theory for you better yet I’ll show you divine stood walked over to one of the tables grabbed a chair and brought it back behind the

Counter what are you doing she said staring at the chair the place was still relatively empty at this hour although the cook in back and two waitresses were readying the place for the morning crowd that would be arriving soon proving a point he replied he climbed onto the chair and then stood on

His tippy toes while she stared goggle-eyed at him he reached up and gripped a metal pipe that was attached to the ceiling what the hell are you doing next Divine tried to kick the chair away while still standing on it to do so he had to partially lift himself

Off it and kick at the chair back and seat he made several spirited attempts flailing some before finally managing it on his fourth try he dropped to the floor a little out of breath with the exertion and red the chair now I’m 32 a former Army Ranger I work out all the

Time she stared at the chair and then back at him he continued now what if I had a few spine bad knees a pair of wrecked hips oh and I’m about 50 years older and one more thing I didn’t have a noose around my neck choking me to death

At the time and the Noose that was used I’d have a hard time fashioning it and I don’t have arthritis in my fingers Palmer stared at Divine for a few moments before she plopped into the chair and Drew a long breath Tears shimmered In Her Eyes [ __ ] someone killed him I believe

They did yeah yes she stood marched over to the counter opened a drawer pulled out a set of keys and tossed them to Divine these are to my grandfather’s Place find the son of a [ __ ] who did this I plan to chapter 69 does it ever stop raining in this

Damn Town thought Divine as he ran from the truck to the front door of Earl Palmer’s Cottage he’d done deploy ments in tropical climates where it was drier he unlocked the door and went inside Divine was about to undertake a methodical search that would require several hours what he was looking at

Were the remains of a life of a family that had once lived here cried here and died here the place was neat on the surface but when Divine opened drawers he found the Clutter of decades that often times folks just gave up on and rather than tossing it all they stuck it

Away and places that could not be seen and as the years piled on so did the detritus out of sight out of mind the closet in the main floor bedroom still held Alberta Palmer’s clothes and shoes and a large assortment of women’s hats the latter were well

Used billowy some touched by the sweat and grime that came with hard work but Earl he was sure would never have gotten rid of any of these things you could imagine him opening this door every day to see the material reminders of the woman he loved there were lotions and a glass

Bottle of perfume on the bathroom sink two toothbrushes were still hanging from the holder built onto the wall in a drawer in the small Den he found piles of notes that Alberta had written to her husband most also had drawings of some kind that clearly showed the skill and talent of the

Artist who had created them she had signed all of them with love your birdie Divine sat down in the only chair in the room and found his eyes watering as he read one note after another have a good lobster day don’t forget sunscreen this ain’t the 70s

Anymore he lingered on the longest over a drawing of what was clearly Earl and his Ms walking handin hand down the rocky Shore the accompanying note read simply happy retirement to us my love he carefully folded the notes and replaced them in the drawer as he looked

Out the window the rain picked up and there was even a slash of lightning and an accompanying crack of thunder to go along with it he went back into the front room and looked over a shelf of tattered VHS tapes and DVDs some were commercial movies but others looked to

Be of family and other personal events he looked at the labels on the cases birthday parties weddings anniversaries then his gaze held on one the label read Wilbur kingman’s funeral he pulled out the DVD case and looked around under the TV was a DVD player he popped the disc in and turned

On the TV he sat back in a chair and started the DVD the scene opened in what looked to be a church the coffin was brought in and set up near the altar the place was packed and divine paused the movie so he could see who was there in the front row

Was Patricia Kingman surrounded by what was probably her family her black dress hung off her as though the woman had suddenly shed weight after losing her husband he saw a Year’s younger Fred bing up near the coffin directing the black clad Funeral Home crew then he saw

Two older tall men standing together off to the side they looked so much like Bing that he reckoned they were his father and Uncle who had inherited the business from their father before passing it on to Fred and France Wiis and there was franois gam near the door

Greeting people as they entered in another row were Dak Jenny and Alex silw well this was the first time Divine had seen Jenny other than in a still picture or as a corpse on a table she was sitting between her brother and sister and seemed to be consoling Dak while

Alex stared straight ahead with the look of a woman who wasn’t really sure where she was CLA Robards and Senator silw well sat next to their adult children Harper was in the back row dressed in a Sergeant’s uniform Divine didn’t see Wendy fuss anywhere there was a whole group of

Burly tough-looking men in ill-fitting or ancient suits he figured they were kingman’s fellow lobstermen there to pay their respects to one of their own who had fallen Their Eyes Were red their faces puffy and to a man they looked stricken a fresh-faced Annie Palmer sat next to her grandparents she must have

Still been in college Divine thought Alberta was holding Earl’s hand and looking anxiously at him Divine could imagine the words of support she was probably saying to him Earl’s face was bandaged and his neck was in a support brace as was his left knee his right arm

Was in a cast aain leaned against his chair he sat very stiffly and divine knew the man would soon undergo unsuccessful surgeries to try and repair the damage on the other side of Earl was a tall man in a police chief’s uniform he had a face as Granite likee as the

Bluffs that formed the extreme edge of the Town Shoreline his physique was impressive his chest and shoulders filling out his uniform Divine knew from the photo he’d seen at the police station and the one that Fred Bing had texted him that this was Benjamin Bing the third and youngest

Son of the founder of Bing and Sons as Divine looked closer he saw something on Bing’s chest that was stunning damn so he was a soldier Divine let the film run again and he watched as Bing leaned in next to Earl and started talking in Earnest there was so much background noise on

The film that Divine could not make out what the man was saying however Earl’s reaction was one of surprise even shock later as the service ended Fred Bing directed The Paul bearers out with the coffin The Grieving attendees filed out after them as Benjamin Bing and Earl

Left Bing had one arm around the older injured man as he limped the on with his Cane and all the while Bing was talking and each word seemed to be like a body blow to Palmer divine’s attention now turned to Alex who had hung back from the others

She seemed to be staring at the backs of Bing and Palmer then she visibly shuddered and put a hand on a Pew to steady herself Jenny hurried up put an arm around her sister’s waist and helped her out they were followed by Dak and their parents next from franois gam came back

Into the picture she looked first in the direction that her uncle had gone with Earl and then she turned her attention to the silk well sisters as they exited the space then alone yam left too the film ended and divine popped the DVD out and pocketed it though he hadn’t

Been able to hear anything what he had seen was telling very telling as was Alex’s reaction to being close to Bing he had to find the former policeman and fast before someone else died a violent death Chapter 70 Divine phoned Campbell and told him about the video Benjamin Bing had a

Purple Heart pinned to his chest presumably he was in the military at some point and was wounded I need you to find out all you can about his service record on it said Campbell before clicking off Divine locked up the house and walked back to the truck fingering his West

Point graduation ring the United States Military Academy had been the first school to issue class rings they were awarded to Cadets right after the start of their senior year at the point after that ceremony was the Hop a formal dinner and dance for Cadets and their guests during Ring Weekend Divine had

Invited his family but none of them had shown up he had hung out with a fellow Cadet and his parents and siblings not the way he had envisioned this career Milestone playing out but life was always taking swings at you he found and he couldn’t always duck in time but

Bing didn’t have a ring on and a man who wore a purple heart around certainly would have worn his West Point or other service Academy ring so he presumably hadn’t gone through West Point but he still might have been an officer since there were other Paths of commissioning

In the Army Divine pulled off the road while the rain poured down turning the roads a muddy Brown from all the runoff off the coast the Atlantic thundered against the rocky Shore with all it had and still the main Coast stood firm against every punch he looked down at his ring it was

More than an accessory or prize to show off it represented a connection to the long gray line and the cadet’s opportunity to join that esteemed group on graduation day he remembered one of his instructors telling him that while Divine continued to work toward his commissioning as an officer in the world

World ‘s most powerful military his past present and future were all wrapped up at least symbolically by this thin band on his finger it was an eternal bond to the core to the long Gray Line allegiance to duty honor and Country well my eternity turned out to be a lot shorter than

Most there was an annual ring melt ceremony held at Eisenhower Hall theater rings from army officers were donated and placed into a crucible there were photos and information about the donors every donor or their family received a handwritten letter from a Cadet in appreciation the Rings were then taken to Bartlett Hall Science

Center where they were melted into gold ingot Divine had dreamed about his ring being donated one day either as the last full measure given by him on the battlefield or many decades into the future as he died of old age technically he could still donate it he supposed but

He no longer thought thought he had the right to do so and it wasn’t like his family cared one way or another okay that’s enough self-pity for one day so Bing was former military Divine wondered why no one had mentioned that to him he wasn’t sure how it

Exactly figured into all of this but someone with military ties could presumably get access to an experimental normal round easier than most he checked his watch and pulled back onto the road when he drove up to Joselyn Point Alex was waiting for him out front with a small

Bag she settled next to him and they headed to Bangor thanks for driving me no problem do you even drive I’ve just seen you on your bike she looked out the windshield I never saw the point he snatched a glance at her at the same moment she looked at him she then

Said last night was wonderful yes it was I haven’t that is to say I I I really wanted to be with you that night I had to be with you but I’m afraid I might have taken advantage you were in a vulnerable position if anything I took advantage of you

Travis and so what we’re human beings sometimes sometimes you just can’t help yourself she turned away and they drove for a bit in silence as they headed Inland he he finally said I was watching a video of Wilbur kingman’s funeral she turned to him a video it was

At Earl’s Place I don’t know where it came from you were in it along with pretty much everyone else in town it was all very sad Wilbur was a good man who wrecked his boat on a sh he should never have hit what is that supposed to mean does anyone really know

What happened out there of course Earl told us and now Earl’s dead Wilbur’s death was years ago that can’t be connected to anything happening now I wish I was as sure of that as you are Benjamin Bing was in the film he was seated next to Earl Bing was talking and

Earl was listening and he didn’t seem too happy about what was being said they went off together you know anything about that no no how could I I thought you might have seen or heard something you walked out right after they did he paused to see if she might

Annotate his statement with what she might have been feeling that day while in the vicinity of Benjamin Bing like Terror but she said nothing Bing was in the military oh wait he was you didn’t know that about him um maybe I I don’t remember I just remember him as the

Police chief you remember nothing else about him didn’t you ask me that before she said a bite to her words sometimes you get new information when you keep asking the same question over and over because people recall more I don’t want to talk about him what you said before gave me the

Creeps the rest of the drive went by in silence chapter 71 the surgery had gone well they were told and Dak was awake and alert when they came into his room Alex sat next to him and gripped his hand while Divine stood behind her are you in much pain

Probably but the morphine or whatever it is is doing the job he looked at the Vine I can’t believe this happened I can’t believe how is dead do they know anymore have they found whoever shot us no but it was the same type casing that was discovered near where your sister’s body was

Found Harper told me the bullet that hit me then struck how and killed him that’s right [ __ ] Dak shook his head and his eyes glimmered Harper tell you anything else he was not in Alex’s line of sight so he added raised eyebrows to the question to let Dak know what he was referring

To uh yeah he said he’d get back to me on what he decides what are you two talking about nothing important how are you doing Alex hanging in okay not if stuff like this keeps happening she said with a glare it was clear that she did not like

Being left out of whatever was going on between her brother and divine how well do you know Benjamin Bing Benjamin Bing what’s he got to do with anything I think he has a great deal to do with everything that’s been happening Alex turned to scowl at him

I’m going to go get some crappy Hospital coffee which will still be preferable to listening to this she rose and left what is going on Divine sat in the chair Alex had vacated and said let me postulate a theory for you okay divine proed proceeded to tell Dak his ideas about

Benjamin Bing being the one who had attacked Alex all those years ago and then how he believed the Palmer had seen him leaving the area so they had to die too the Palmers were in tough Financial Straits back then Annie told me so I think they saw Bing and after they found

Alex they put it all together they tried to blackmail him the family is rolling in money only Bing doesn’t play that game so their house Goes Up in Flames Divine didn’t mention that franois yam had performed the autopsies on the Palmer because he wasn’t sure whether she had any culpability Bing

Could have poisoned them or otherwise incapacitated them and divine now knew that Maine did not do full autopsies on people who died in fires that looked purely accidental whether that was the procedure 15 years ago though he didn’t know your sister told your mother that

She came up here to take care of some unfinished business he explained about her use of the satellite footage she figured out that it was Bing but he’s retired and living in Florida no I spoke with Fred Bing and asked him to check on that his father told him that he hadn’t

Seen his brother in at least two weeks how would Bing know that Jenny had fingered him to be the one who attacked Alex that part I haven’t figured out yet but if he did it gives the man a motive to kill her look I’ve ven diagrammed

This thing from every angle I can think of I don’t believe this had to do with what Jenny did for the government this stems from from what happened to Alex all those years ago and Benjamin Bing was in the military he was wearing a purple heart on his police uniform in a

Video I saw he could probably get access to a still in testing 300 Norm round with a polymer casing easier than most he looked directly at Dak do you remember Bing being around your sister showing her more attention than he should Dak looked troubled look Ben Bing thought way too

Much of himself okay he was built like a stud and thought he was the handsomest coolest guy in town and yeah he wore his purple heart and some other medals on his cop uniform although that’s against military RS and probably the police RS not that he cared he always brags to the guys

About the heroic [ __ ] he did in the Army and how he nearly died in combat but he was always short on specifics so it was the Army and not service Branch yeah but I can’t recall him acting inappropriate around Alex they wouldn’t have had much direct contact

Actually but you were away in the army during that time that’s true Alex told me that he personally busted her boyfriend for a traffic infraction beat the kid up I don’t think that was a coincidence what’s Alex’s take on all this she doesn’t want to believe it or

Talk about it it’s why she walked out just just now I was actually hoping that my raising it with her would cause her memory to come back and we would finally have Alex being able to ID her attacker but it didn’t happen you think he took a shot at you

Because you’re trying to find out the truth makes the most sense so far but why would he shoot me because what you’re saying is he had to be the shooter from last night he might have been aiming at me but I don’t really believe that so why me then you’re thinking of

Selling Joselyn point so Alex would be leaving here maybe he got wind to that but Bing lives in Florida what does he care where Alex lives it’s hard to get inside the head of someone like him maybe he’s afraid if she leaves here her memory will come back and the truth will come

Out maybe and how does this tie into Earl I think Bing put Earl up to finding the body for Myriad reasons I didn’t believe his account of finding Jenny now I saw a video of Wilbur kingman’s funeral in that video Bing was sitting right next to Earl and whatever he was

Saying Earl was not happy about I think he had something over Earl and he used it all these years later to make him pretend to find Jenny’s body and then what Earl killed himself from the guilt no there is no way that Earl could have hanged himself holy

[ __ ] you think Bing killed him him too not only that I’m pretty sure he killed Alberta as well with that statement Dax sat up in bed so fast he nearly ripped out a fluid line what divine gently pushed him back down and explained your sister had an episode in

Front of Birdie just days before she was killed now she had one of those episodes with me and one with Annie and in the one with me and the event with Annie she was clearly fighting someone I think she was fighting her attacker 15 years ago

She didn’t say his name but Annie told me that Alex called the person a friend but I think with birdie Alex named her attacker birdie might have told someone and word got back to bang so he comes up here and takes care of that problem and Alex’s rape kit disappeared from the

Department’s evidence room years ago and Bing as the chief could easily have done that but isn’t there a statue of limitations on rape and if you can’t prove he killed anyone so what if the truth comes out about Alex the law couldn’t touch him I did some quick research this morning after remembering

Something Alex told me what that she wasn’t 16 yet when she was raped now in Maine if the victim is under 16 when the ACT occurs there is no statute of limitation for rape so Bing can still go to prison for a long time maybe the rest of his

Life my God said Dak putting a hand to his face this is a nightmare he he looked at the vine so what are you going to do nail the guy Dak looked terrified but Divine Alex could remember the truth any minute and Bing knows that

And so if he did kill all those people what’s one more chapter 72 as Divine and Alex were driving back to putam through the rain Divine said I think I should come and stay with you as at least for a while why it’s a big house and with Dak not being there and

All he didn’t want to come out and tell her that he believed her life was in danger but Dak was right Benjamin Bing had every incentive to kill her are you going to tell me what my brother and his friend were doing at that out building when they were shot

And what were you doing there the source of the money your brother has been using to invest in the town it’s not partner from Boston what then he’s been dealing illegally oh please God not drugs no in elvers in what she said her brow furrowing glass eels which are

Apparently worth a ton of money he’s been selling eels you’re joking right I take it you know nothing about the illicit eel trade I didn’t even know there was such a thing well it is a thing and I’ve left it up to the local police to sort it out

But if I were a betting man I don’t think Harper will give him too tough a Time Dak broke the law and I can’t condone that but his intentions were good mostly do you think that’s why he was shot are there I don’t know rival gangs in the eel

Business no I don’t think that was it what then I don’t know for sure and until I do I really don’t want to say well thanks for telling me about Dak and what about me staying at Joselyn point if you want to that’s fine she hesitated but I’m not sure we can you

Know he touched her arm that is not why I want to stay at Joselyn Point your brother was just shot and for all I know someone has a beef against your family so I i’ like to be close by in case they come back do you really think someone is

So mad at my family that they do that it’s amazing what people are capable of given the right motivation he paused and studied her do you know how to shoot a gun she leaned away from him at this blunt segue no why I can teach you I have a spare

Pistol no I don’t want that I hate guns he nodded slowly okay but I want you to have something to defend yourself with he glanced at her as an artist and sculpturist you must have excellent hand strength as well as good hand eye coordination and finger

Dexterity so do you want me to gouge an attacker in the eye with a paintbrush not a paintbrush from under the sun visor he slipped out a knife in a leather sheath she looked at the weapon I don’t like you don’t have to like it Alex you just have to use it if

Necessary he pulled off the road un sheath the knife and then made a straight stabbing motion with it into the belly 2 in above the navl up to the hilt at the end of the thrust he twisted the knife to the left and right and then

Upward they won’t hurt you after that I can’t possibly he sheathed the knife and made her take it you have no idea what you’re capable of until you need to be capable of it you have one life Alex don’t let anyone take it away from you without a

Fight he drove back to Joselyn Point can I catch a few hours sleep here before I head out of course I have some things to do around the house you can sleep in my bed it’s a lot cleaner than dax’s 3 hours later his phone alarm went

Off Divine Rose and found Alex in the kitchen he said I’ve been invited to dinner tonight I don’t like leaving you I really don’t but my instincts are telling me it’s important now keep the knife with you at all times lock all the doors and do not go to your studio I’ll

Be back as soon as I can anything looks or feels weird and I mean anything call the cops and then call me I’ll be here in a Flash on his way back to the Inn Campbell phoned him Benjamin Bing was in the Army for a 11 years enlisted topped

Out in E6 he was still a staff sergeant after 11 years his career plateaued he was not going to move higher than that disciplinary problems hot-headed unmanageable those were some terms I found in his file why’d he leave I had to dig deep to find it he was stalking a

Woman who lived near the base where he was deployed there were some Communications written that went way way over the line there was also some vandalism at the woman’s apartment and a man that she was seeing was attacked and severely beaten but he couldn’t identify his attacker

How young was the woman a freshman in college so the Army cut him loose to go stalking and beating up other boyfriends they didn’t want the headache you know how that works so Mr angry and perverted comes back here to become police chief great how’d he get the purple he was

Shot in the ass seems to have been and friendly fire it was just a graze he was in and out of the hospital in a day or two and he wears it for everyone to see the son of a [ __ ] anything else yes and it might be the most important while in

E6 he successfully completed the army sniper School course how the hell did a guy with his record and temperament qualify for Sniper School apparently the dings on his record came after his acceptance there and there’s something else what I found a recommendation letter in his file from

A VIP it might have helped carry the day on his acceptance into sniper school who from asked Divine even though he had a pretty good idea then congressman and Military hero Curtis silw well okay so what are you going to do now I’m going to dinner dinner where and with whom with franois

Guam at at the beinging Mansion at francois’s invitation Divine you might be walking into a trap I’m sort of counting on it chapter 73 Divine pulled off the road and sat there for a while in Earl Palmer’s truck with the engine running and the rain

Falling he had a lot to think about and this was as good a place as any to do so the raindrops Pitter pattered on the roof in synchronicity with his cast ating thoughts he knew that the army sniper school was a 7-week course at Fort Moore formerly Fort Benning where infantry and

Armor trained together at the maneuver center of excellence in going through the course Bing would have learned a number of critical skills including fieldcraft application concealed movement Target detection sniper tactics and of course Advanced Marksmanship he’ had colleagues who had gone through it and divine had been

Impressed at the far better soldier that had come out the other end of the process he had to take that into account when sizing up Bing as an opponent he also wondered if Bing was still in the area if Divine was reading this whole thing right that is despite

All the evidence he had compiled it was mostly circumstantial in nature with a bit of conjecture and speculation thrown into the mix he texted Campbell to check on airline train and bus reservations to see if Bing had used one of those ways to get up here he could have driven from

Florida but that was one long ride pretty much the whole Eastern Seaboard however a few things puzzled theine knowing what he now knew about Bing in his past training maybe events to come would shed light on them he drove to the inn and took a shower while the rain continued to pour

Down outside then he dressed in his last set of clean clothes and hurried out to the truck as he got in a car pulled up next to him it was Chief Harper and a police cruiser Harper rolled down his window and divine leaned over and hand rolled

The passenger side window down what’s up Chief you decide about Dak I’ve been up to talk to him at the hospital I think we’ve worked things out I don’t think I want to ask how thing is it doesn’t seem fair how these El fishing permits are

Handed out they say by Lottery but who the hell really knows I can see that DX’s argument won you over well I don’t know about that but I do know that this town needs all the help it can get but I want to know if you’re going to get involved in this

Because it might make me think differently if the federals will be looking over my shoulder not my job you can have daak in the eels all to yourself thank you for that now where are you heading out tonight I’ve been invited to dinner at the Bings well

Aren’t you lucky I hear FR anuis is really good in the kitchen but did she give a reason for wanting to have you over just said she wanted to talk you still up in arms about Chief Bing I haven’t ruled anyone out he’s in Florida Divine decided not to volunteer

The information about Bing being awall for all I know he’ll show up at dinner well if he does tell him I said hello I will unless he tries to kill me Harper waved this off but I do think you’re right about something what’s that I’ve been given it a lot of thought

Everything you said hell I even went over there myself and tried it well to the extent I could not as easy as it looks and I don’t have the physical problems he did and then there were the knots you talked about and all I don’t see how R could have hung

Himself I think you’re right yeah Annie Palmer agreed with me too after I laid out the evidence only gam concluded that it was suicide despite all the contradictory evidence well sometimes the em wrong I’ve seen that before wrong or just covering up thought Divine he said how about Earl not actually finding Jenny’s

Body you ready to agree with me on that too I’m not there but I’m still thinking now that I know someone killed him it does give a motive so how’s Alex hanging in there I took her to see Dak it went okay she’s tougher than she knows if she

Could just remember who attacked her it would save us a lot lot of trouble it’s not that simple Chief I know I know wishful thinking any luck on tracing the noral rounds we know the manufacturer we just don’t know how those rounds came to be up here has to be the same person

Even with the Nato round shot at you I mean it’s all sniper stuff right Divine was about to agree but then what he had thought about before came back to him but they weren’t all the same sniper stuff were they am I wrong wrong about it being Benjamin Bing or am I wrong

Thinking he’s the only one if my theory is correct on how Earl was murdered a second person is probably involved he came out of these musings and said after I convinced her that her grandfather was murdered Annie Palmer gave me permission to search ear’s Cottage Harper perked up at this find

Anything dine told him about the video of Wilbur kingman’s funeral service Ben Bing was sitting right next to Earl and he was talking to him about something and Earl did not seem pleased he wasn’t pleased about anything that day retorted Harper the man he’d worked with every

Day for decades was dead and divine cut in did you know Bing was in the Army sure he didn’t hide his light under a bushel but did you also know he trained as a sniper in the Army Harper flinched no I didn’t know that well now you do a troubled looking Harper

Said um well you have a good night he added and please don’t get shot at or kill anybody I want to go to sleep at a decent time tonight and not wake up until morning he rolled his window back up and divine started to do the same with his

Window but he caught himself staring at the side panel of the police cruiser a few moments later the cruiser pulled away but not before quickly took a picture of it with his phone on his phone he pulled up one of the satellite photos that Jenny silw well had obtained a small pyramid shape

That the satellite had captured had puzzled Divine to no end but not anymore unless he was much mistaken Divine believed it was the end of the arrow point that the eagle was clutching in its claws the symbol of the putam main Police Department the car that the Palmer saw

Driving away from where Alex had been attacked was a cop car and divine was pretty sure he knew who had been driving it chapter 74 the gates to the Bing Mansion opened as dine approached them he slid past in the old truck and geared down as he went

Up a slight rise to the house he could hear the ocean roaring in the rear of the property as the tide pushed closer he looked up and saw another cluster of black clouds heading in he parked and got out and used A Lull in the rain to

Make it to the front door without getting drenched Guam answered his knock she wore a navy blue pants suit with tiny white Pinstripes and a white open collared blouse she seemed cheery and relaxed which put Divine even more on alert I thought a place this big would

Have a butler he said she smiled at his quip we run a lean operation but we do have a maid service three times a week and someone to look after the ground rounds but I like to cook however if I don’t we go out or just do

Leftovers we you mean you and Fred yes please come in she led Divine through a spacious foyer into a substantial great room with ceilings that seemed nearly high enough for him to parachute from a roaring fire blazed away in a fireplace nearly as tall as he was the Furnishings

Were unique enough to suggest they had been custom built there seemed to have been no expense spared in both building and Furnishing the place Divine wondered why Guam’s father had bothered dropping so much money on such a grand residence in a place like putham Maine yam seemed

To be reading his mind because she said he wanted to rub their faces in it of course Divine nodded okay and what do you think about that I wouldn’t have done it but then I didn’t have a say in the matter would you like a drink I opened a nice

Red I’m more partial to beer if you have it she got their drinks and they settled into seats in front of the fire Dinner won’t be long it’s a Crockpot stew hearty Fair on a cold rainy night sounds good will Fred be joining us he had some

Things to finish up he should be here shortly he works hard I take it yes he does running a small business is more than a full-time job but you juggle lots of balls too I suppose it runs in the family okay chitchat done let’s get to

It thought Divine he wanted to get back to Alex as quickly as possible you wanted to talk about something insights she lowered her wine glass and looked alarmed that her turn on the stage had come perhaps sooner than she had expected or wanted yes that’s right well I’m happy

To listen to what whatever you can tell me that might be helpful I take it you don’t believe that Earl took his own life no I don’t because he couldn’t have managed the chair and all you’ve been talking to Harper actually Wendy fuss filled me in on your

Theory Harper agrees with me now but you still think he killed himself I admit I did not take into account his physical challenges in making my conclusion I was looking strictly at the forensic evidence but not all the forensic evidence because you didn’t run blood or

Talk screens you just chocked it up to Adrenaline I explained that to you when suicide appears to be obvious there is no need if he’d been 50 years younger and wasn’t found hanging then yes I would have done a full postmortem so we’ll never know if he was rendered unconscious so they could

String him up I’m sorry I wish I could take it back but I can’t so insight prompted Divine who had a feeling now that this evening was going to be a waste of time she set her wine glass down and seemed to steal herself putam like many small towns has

Secrets the big one is who raped Alex silw well I’m not talking about that though it does involve the silw well family an intrigued Divine took a swig of beer I’m listening Curtis silw well what about him what would you say if I told you that many here believe he is Annie Palmer’s

Father I’d say tell me more Kurt and Valerie Palmer were attracted to each other everyone here knew it he was 20 years older than she at least but she was beautiful Annie took after her and she caught ctt’s eye he was quite the philanderer but I’m sure you knew that

No I didn’t is there proof DNA no no one ever talked about doing that but I can tell you that Kurt paid for Annie’s college education out of state before she came back here and I understand that deck helped with the financing of her Cafe but when Annie was born Kurt was a

Congressman with plans to one day Run for the Senate which he eventually did and won so it was all hushed up of course it was those sorts of Affairs always are and did Claire know she would have been blind not to and CLA was never blind and you’re telling me this

Why I know you’re interested in Steve and Valerie Palmer’s deaths around the time that Alex was attacked and they were the ones who discovered Alex after she was raped gam held up four fingers Steve and Valerie Palmer and Earl and birdie Palmer all dead fire a hit and run and lastly a

Hanging you did the autopsies on Steven Valerie I did and they died of smoke inhalation that was as far as the postmortem went meaning what like with Earl I did not do blood and talk screens because it was believed to be an accident she Rose and stood in front of

The fire her tall trim figure seemed right now to hold all sharp angles Divine noted because I was encouraged to do the test for smoke inhalation and that was all dine Rose and stood next to her letting the heat from the fire warm his chilled bones and he wanted to be right

Next to the woman when he asked his next obvious question who encouraged you to stop at the smoke inhalation test do I really need to spell it out for you Senator silw well why why would he care she didn’t respond so Divine filled in the answer because you’re

Saying he killed the Palmer what would be his motive she gave him a patronizing look like I just said agent Devine 15 years ago he was running for the senate for the first time any hint of Scandal would have derailed his campaign such things as adultery still counted with

Voters back then so someone threatened to expose his secret who I suppose the Palmer if you think he had them killed and then encouraged you to do a short shrift with the postmortem but that would have been a scandal for the Palmers too I can’t believe Steve Palmer

Would have wanted his wife’s adultery known to the world so where’s the motive for the Palmers to Spill the truth to such an extent that silw well would feel he needed to kill them money Steve Palmer was a lousy businessman and a gambler to boot he’d lose more money

Than he had at the Foxwoods and Mohan Sun casinos in Connecticut so he was blackmailing silw well but by then the family didn’t have any money oh they had some how else could they keep paying the taxes on Joselyn point and keep it running it’s not cheap and Kurt silw well had

Invested what money he did have well indeed he invested in some of the industries he oversaw as a member of certain congressional committees as luck would have it his timing was amazing in getting into Investments and then out of them in the nick of time before the

Bottom fell out so he was trading on Insider information apparently many of them do to this day and how did you come to know all of this I made it my business to know and I had firsthand knowledge of part of it Ray you let someone encourage

You not to do your job I’m not proud of that but I was just starting out and these were people I looked up to I was afraid not to do as I was asked and of course Senator silw well is in no position to defend himself against these

Accusations she took the poker and nudged some Embers until they flamed up I’m not surprised you don’t believe me no one wants to think a war hero a great man could do bad things but if I’m telling the truth does that qualify as a motive for murder to your

Thinking you also mentioned Earl and birdie Palmer birdie spent a lot of time with Alex after she was attacked so birdie and Earl both knew about the affair Birdie started spending time with Alex after she was attacked 15 years ago but birdie was killed a few weeks ago

And ear just days ago so why wait that long and Kurt silw well couldn’t have been involved in either of their deaths he’s been in a hospital for a long time but CLA hasn’t has she and I understand she married a very wealthy man man a man

Who might be able to hire certain people to do a certain job you’re very well informed I find that’s far better than being ignorant but I’m not sure how much sense it all makes why would Claire after all these years care about an affair of her husbands from nearly 30 years ago coming

Out particularly if you had other such trist and now she’s remarried and put all that behind her Kurt being Annie’s biological father may not be the only secret the silk Wells are covering up what else she retook her seat while Divine continued to stand people around here have long

Wondered where Dak got the capital to invest in all these local businesses theine leaned against the mantle his mind racing ahead DX’s smuggling might come out after all you have any theories birdie was over at Joselyn point a lot over the years what if she stumbled on to his source of capital so

Dak ran her over and then killed Earl in case she had told him I’m not saying it’s true but you have to admit it’s a plausible Theory so who shot Jenny and then Dak the polymer casing links them if it was in retaliation somehow for him killing

Birdie and Earl how does Jenny tie in Divine had an advantage here he knew about the satellite images that Jenny had found showing that the Palmers had seen what divine believed to be a cop car racing past right before they found Alex but for that Guam’s line of reasoning would be far more

Compelling I guess it’s your job to find that out assuming there is a connection do you have a theory tying them all together dine had known that query was coming and it confirmed for him what this whole dinner invitation was partly about the first part had been shifting

Potential guilt onto the silk Wells and the second a fishing Expedition ironic in a coastal town that makes its living off Lobster and Eels I’ve got lots of theories but I need proof like you said before I’m listening and I can give you my expert opinion I bet you can and then you’ll

Run off and tell your uncle wherever he’s hiding which might be right here the front door opened and closed and Fred Bing walked in his hair and coat wet she looked at him why didn’t you pull into the garage Fred my damn remote didn’t work again he looked at

Divine hey sorry I’m late for dinner I hope you two went ahead and ate no we waited for you and I’ve been having an interesting discussion with Mr Divine Fred took a long sniff well your beef stew is calling me they all went in to eat Guam only had

Eyes for divine and for his part he was certain ctitious watching her every step of the way at the same time he was on the lookout for the hulking Benjamin Bing to jump out with a gun chapter 75 the stew was excellent and divine watched in some amusement as bing sopped

Up every drop of it with his bread before pushing back from the table The Tall Man was as thin as a rail but had eaten three helpings the burial business must burn lots of calories but then he recalled that the man was also an outdoor Enthusiast gam Rose and started clearing

Dishes brushing off both men’s offers to help you two just sit here and chat I’ll make some coffee she disappeared into the kitchen a couple of minutes of silence ensued Bing finished his water and wiped his mouth with his napkin before running his own amused gaze around the dining

Room table that could easily have sat 20 a little much offered up toine after watching him there are plenty of rooms in this house I’ve never actually been in replied Bing Divine grinned I’m sure his expression turned serious hey what else can you tell me about your Uncle Ben like what just your

Overall impression Bing sat back and played with his napkin well for starters my grandfather was a brute ruthless and greedy there I said it and I’m not ashamed he smiled briefly the three sons were the recipients of all that my Father Ted and my uncle John were all

About doing what my grandfather wanted he wanted them to follow him into the business so they did and Ben wanted no part of the funeral home world or my grandfather he joined the army and then came back here and became a policeman and he loved to throw that in his father’s and brother’s

Faces do you remember will ber kingman’s funeral sure the whole town came out for it I watched a video of the service Earl had a DVD yes we film the service if the family requests it and then make copies available to whoever wants one doesn’t it make people uncomfortable having a

Camera at a funeral and I’m surprised a church would allow it no the service was at our Chapel not a church I believe Pat was raised Catholic but the Kingman weren’t churchgoers and folks never see the camera equipment it’s built into the wall of the chapel it was my father’s

Idea he actually charged for it but we give him out for free now not a video or DVD of course now it’s just a downloadable copy anyway in the video I saw your Uncle Ben talking to Earl what about I couldn’t hear but whatever your uncle was saying to him

Earl looked like he wanted no part of it after the service they left together do you know where they went Bing shook his head no my d duties would have involved organizing the coffin into the hearse arranging the procession and getting the family and attendees to the cemetery

That was my focus You Take Your Eye Off the ball and things can get out of hand quickly I’m sure look when I asked you about your uncle and Alex you seemed flustered no I mean I just didn’t have anything to say I don’t know anything about that not that there was anything

Stop talking Fred you’re making a fool of yourself Divine turned to see Guam standing in the doorway of the dining room holding a tray with coffee and cups Bing glanced at his sister and then looked down at his lap gam sat down across from Divine and handed out the

Coffees Mr Divine I leave you for a few minutes and I find you in here making allegations against our family I don’t remember making any allegations replied Divine as he took the offered cup latent not patent to use a forensic term Alex was attacked and raped and I believe Jenny knew who had

Done it and that’s why she was killed how could Jenny have known a stranger attacked Alex no I think it was someone she knew maybe knew very well gam seemed taken AB back what proof do you have of that I didn’t say I had proof yet and don’t go cremating Hal

Brockman’s remain without checking with me first Guam’s face Twisted for a moment in Anger she shot her brother a glance and then put her Palms on the table as though to steady herself I’ll ignore that remark because it was spoken in ignorance no I really mean it Dr

Guam what exactly are you suggesting that I would do something improperly everyone in this town is close to what happened both years ago and today I just think we need more objectivity inserted into the process that’s not unreasonable sis interjected Bing particularly in light of your admission that in the past you

Might not have carried out your professional duties to the fullest noted Divine I’ll take your request under advisement she said coldly while her brother stared at her in bewilderment it’s actually not a request I’ll make the formal ask to the ocme and what would Jenny know about

Anything she wasn’t there when Alex was attacked and it’s been 15 years I don’t see how it’s possible Jenny could figure complex things out on behalf of her country so why not this gam shook her head I think you’re sniffing up the wrong tree don’t you want that the truth

To come out I provided you with what I believe to be the truth a very detailed account Bing again glanced sharply at his sister and I listened and I’ll follow the evidence where it takes me gam simply glowered at him anything for dessert no Bing Rose and said well

I’ve got some work to do he eyed Guam and divine glaring at one another and fled The Room chapter 76 after finishing up at the Bing mansion and after once more instructing Guam to do nothing with Brock man ‘s remains Divine drove to Joselyn point or tried to halfway there the truck

Sputtered once twice and then died he tried to restart it but it wouldn’t catch he looked at the fuel level it was below empty [ __ ] he had checked the fuel earlier it was half full he leaped out and ran to the rear of the truck the smell of gas was

Intense and the underside of the truck was coated in fuel he used his flashlight to check a hole had been punched in the tank he looked back toward the Bing Mansion Benjamin Bing he grabbed his bag and set out at a steady jog to Joselyn point he phoned

Alex on the way over but she didn’t answer he looked at his watch she might be asleep he finally reached Joselyn point and knocked on the front door Alex didn’t answer slightly worried now he phoned her again again she did not pick up he pounded on

The front door to no avail he tried to open it but it was locked he stepped back and looked up at her bedroom window he tossed some loose gravel up there where it clattered against the panes of glass he waited but the light didn’t come on and Alex did not appear at the

Window he hustled back to the front door and used his pick gun to get inside he dropped his bag and Glock out ran up the stairs calling her name he reach reached her bedroom and opened the door dreading what he might find the room was empty her bed was

Unmade and it appeared as though it hadn’t been slept in recently he searched every room in the house and the widows walk and came up empty he raced outside to the studio the door was not locked Divine stepped in turned on the lights and looked around

Just like the house it was empty just like the house there were no signs of a struggle no blood thank God but still nothing he was about to leave when he noticed something he walked over to the canvas set on an easel this was apparently a new work and progress done in

Charcoal the outline was of a man’s face the interior was mostly blank but there were some elements that had been drawn in an eyebrow the beginnings of a top lip the lower curve of the left eye but that was all and not enough for divine to recognize the person it was like the

Hazy remains of a dream after you woke up he ran his gaze over the canvas he bent forward to read the word that had been written near the bottom in pencil him Divine called Harper the man answered on the third ring please Divine do not tell me that

Alex is missing what I arranged to stay with her at the house while Dak was recovering in the hospital she’s not here I’ve looked everywhere and she’s not answering her phone and someone sabotaged my ride any signs of a struggle forced entry no nothing like

That when did you see her last about 4 hours ago can you get out an APB on her yes and I’ll phone the state police any idea what might have happened to her Divine was about to accuse the entire Bing family including gam but didn’t think that would elicit extra

Effort from Harper to find Alex no call me if you hear or see anything what will you do asked Harper but Divine had already ended the call Divine took a photo on his phone of the partially done picture and ran back to the main house he had noted that

Various Keys hung from a key holder in the kitchen he found the key to dak’s Harley and ran back out Harper had had the motorcycle brought back here after Dak was shot Divine pulled off the cover fired up the bike and first drove to the out buildings on the possibility that

Alex might have gone there for some reason but they were all empty except for the skittish goldplated elvers in their tubs he tried calling her phone again without luck then he phoned Campbell and told him what was happening he gave his boss Alex’s phone number see if you can

Track it and let me know as fast as you can he drove aimlessly on the Harley for a few minutes while trying to get a handle on what had happened [ __ ] diversion in combat the forces Divine was fighting against would often use diversionary Tac tactics to achieve their tactical goals the classic example

Was detonating a small bomb to draw in First Responders and then setting off a second larger explosive to kill as many Americans as possible the dinner invitation was a diversion while I was filling my face and listening to [ __ ] from Guam her uncle was snatching Alex but then Divine

Thought some more did I say or do anything that could have prompted their taking Alex because it was a risk a big one to do so when they probably knew that Divine had no proof of anything that would harm them he went back over everything he’d said until he arrived at

The answer and groaned you told her that you believed it wasn’t a stranger that attacked Alex that it was someone she knew and maybe knew well and Guam figured the only way you could have known that was if Alex told you so they know she’s starting to

Remember he turned the Harley around and hit the throttle chapter 7 77 the gates to the Bing Mansion did not open this time so he nimbly scaled the fence and dropped down to the other side the rain had lessened but the black clouds and the approaching growls of

Thunder and flashes of lightning in the distance promised a hell of a storm and a short while the house was dark the only illumination the landscape lights he looked in one of the windows but saw nothing helpful he ran around to the side and found a wall encircling the

Entire rear of the property he quickly scaled it and dropped to the grass the rear grounds were impressive with a pool now winterized a large fire pit a Putting Green teered Landscaping as the ground sloped toward the Bluffs overlooking the ocean and what looked to be a guest house that resembled the main

House but in miniature he checked the guest house first the door was locked but he quickly picked it he found the place empty he tried to pick the back door of the main house but the lock wouldn’t open he went around to the front and tried to

Do the same thing with the same result Divine eyed the window next to the door he tried to remember something yes there had been an alarm pad next to the front door he looked in the window and in the reflection of a mirror on the opposite

Wall he saw that the alarm was not on he put his elbow through the window reached in and unlocked the door breaking and entering for a good cause I doubt Harper will see it that way he stopped just past the foyer he was waiting for Guam or maybe her

Brother to rush in see him and the shattered glass and call the police but no one came he heard nothing except his own breathing this place would take a long time to search thoroughly and he didn’t have time he eyed stairs going up and stairs going down he doubted they would

Have hidden Alex on the main level so up or down heaven was up hell was down So Divine went down to hell sometimes it was as simple as that Alex blinked once twice and then managed to keep her eyes open she rubbed at her arm where it hurt and felt the

Slender mattress under her she didn’t remember much lying in her bed trying to sleep and then waking up and being surprised to find a masked person looming over her she had dressed hastily at the intruder’s instructions then at some point it all went blank like when she had woken up on

That field near the woods after having been Alex felt around the darkened space with one of her hands but feeling clumsy and slow her fingers weren’t really registering what they were touching she shivered because it was cold she clearly sensed this was not a safe place but seemed to lack the energy

To do anything about it she strained to hear any noise someone else’s breathing movement a car or plane or even the smell of the ocean Alex understood she should be afraid fearful for her life deep inside her fuzzy thought she had concluded that this was connected to what had happened to her 15

Years before she lay back on the mattress in her mind she saw the image she had started to sketch the man who had attacked her robbed her of much of her life made her afraid to do the things that anyone would want to do travel get a job make friends find romantic

Companionship she had decided that her art might lead her mind to pluck the memory out of her freeing it and her at last Alex had finally concluded that the limbo she was in could only be broken by remembering who had done this to her then and only then could she move on

With her life she hadn’t gotten far on it but she had commenced the painful Journey letting her mind guide her hand going back over familiar and yet unfamiliar ground a line here a shadow there she felt it coming together she really did this represented progress

When she had been at a standstill for so long and now she covered her face with her arm where the needle had gone in to deepen the darkness even more Alex felt herself shrinking away to nothing then she heard someone coming chapter 78 the stairs to the lower level emptied

Into a large room set up with an old-fashioned bar and Billiard and pingpong tables behind a set of leather covered double doors Divine found an elaborate home movie theater there was also a lavish bathroom and a well equipped gym and sauna next to these spaces was a wine cellar with a glass

Door that allowed Divine to see that it was empty of anything except wine he reached one end of the basement found nothing useful and turned to go the other way he searched quickly but comprehensively calling out Alex’s name periodically at the opposite end of the basement was a large ceramic wall with

Each block about 2 ft Square set at one end of the wall was a large hanging clock on the other end was a floor to ceiling mirror in the middle of the wall recessed shelves held vases and knickknacks and another section contained rows of photographs of what looked to be the main

Coastline [ __ ] was I completely wrong about all of this thought Divine but then he still had the upstairs to search Heaven is Alex in heaven depressed he put one hand against the wall dropped his head and noted his muddy feet he had tracked dirt in on a highly polished marble

Floors forensic evidence to nail me on a felony and then his gaze drifted to the set of footprints that were situated right in front of the wall where the recessed shelves were those were not his they weren’t muddy and they were bigger than his and there was another even more critical

Difference they are heading out of the wall dine instantly started running his fingers along the ceramic blocks grabbing every crevice that could find he did the same with the knickknacks but found them secured to their spots on the shelves and then he found the pictures were fastened in place as well he looked

At the clock the hands were at 6 and 12 he put his ear to the clock he heard nothing thinking quickly he took the hand on the six and moved it to the 12 to match the other hand there was an audible click and a door siiz section of

The wall opened up on stainless steel pivot pins Divine held his gun in front of him and peered around the doorway he couldn’t see much because there was little light he did a silent count to three and plunged in his Glock making wide arcs as his gaze swept for threats

Divine had imagined many things this space might contain some outlandish others quite possible he had never thought of anything like this a hospital bed was tucked against one corner it was empty next to the bed was an IV stand with empty bags on hooks an automated medication dispenser was also attached

To the IV stand it had been turned off bed covers were on the floor along with a pillow it seemed like someone had made a quick exit he looked around the room some more under the bed he saw some lengths of rope he examined them and then set them back down he spotted

Something else that might or might not be important blood a few drops by one of the beds Wheels the upstairs search took longer than he wanted it to especially after he found nothing he opened a door off the kitchen and found himself in the garage there were four Bays two were occupied he

Walked around the four-door Chevy Equinox and then eyed the Massachusetts plates he opened the driver’s side door and sat in the seat he checked the glove box found the Herz rental agreement and confirmed that Benjamin Bing had leased the vehicle at Logan Airport under the passenger seat he found a fully loaded

Sig sour 9 mil with an extended mag and a pair of brass knuckles he would have had to check those in his baggage if he had indeed flown up here he got out and popped the trunk and in there he found zip ties duct tape and a serrated knife

That had Bings Nam stencl on the handle standard abduction toolkit but no sniper rifle he leaned against the car and wondered if any of these things had been used on Jenny had they taken her here strapped her to the bed fed her a truth drug concoction to make her talk and

Then killed her here before dropping her onto the Rocks he turned to where a white van was parked in the fourth Bay he noted the painting equipment and metal working supplies that were positioned next to it he opened the van’s door and checked the glove box he

Found the registration and saw the name Bing and Sons he shown his light around the van noting that the right front fender and bumper in the headlight frame were in the process of being repaired he knelt down and hit the underside of the van with his light next he got on his back

For a closer examination that looked like blood on the underside of the bumper and was that human hair and bits of clothing yeah it probably was he now knew who had hit and killed Alberta Palmer he called Campbell who answered on the first ring and filled him in add

Benjamin Bing to your bolo Divine said he next called Chief Harper and told him what he’ found holy [ __ ] no sign of Fred or franois none said Divine you think their uncle has them I’m far more concerned about Alex I’ve got the state police out looking I’ll tell them about

This Divine hung up and called dak’s cell phone the man miraculously picked up in succinct sentences Divine filled Dak in about everything [ __ ] exclaimed Dak before Divine even finished you hang in there Divine I’m coming let me get dressed I’ll be ah [ __ ] I’m bleeding [ __ ] you’re not going anywhere Dak it’s

Not why I called you ring for the nurse to fix your dressings while you’re waiting can you think of any place they might have taken Alex Dak was breathing hard and divine could even hear some sobs from the man come on Dak I know this is hard but just focus I need some

Help here time is not on our side okay okay he could hear Dak draw in one long breath and and then let it go look if Benjamin Bing is behind all this do you think Harper is involved too I hope not but I don’t know for sure I told him

That your sister is missing he said he has the state police looking what about franois and Fred where are they they might be dead Ben’s rental car was in the garage so they had to know he was there I have no idea what the secret room was originally designed for but

Someone was clearly being kept in there against their will Alex maybe or Jenny but they wouldn’t have held her there long she was seen leaving the putam in close to eight and her death was only a few hours later so our FR SW and Fred helping him do all this I think their

Uncle might have them under his power at least franois he seems like the sort to threaten and intimidate and then carry out those threats and he had an infatuation with Alex if he attacked her way back then he would know there was no statute of limitations so Jenny comes

Snooping around up here and he gets wind of it he travels here kills her somehow frames Earl and into finding the body then kills him as a loose end you really think he killed Birdie too maybe but someone is fixing up the van and I doubt

It was him he could have flown up here to do that and then returned to Florida before coming back to putham my people checked the airline database but he could have used a fake identity so any places come to mind would he have taken her to the

Funeral home it’s the only other place up here with a connection to the man he could hardly take her to the police station good idea thanks thanks divine please find her I will only Divine didn’t know if she would be dead or breathing chapter 79 Divine didn’t make it to the funeral

Home not at first on the way he looked to his right and saw something blowing around in a field on the side of the road he parked the Harley jumped off and snagged the item he recognized it instantly it was the jacket Guam had been wearing at dinner he looked around

And saw a path through a stand of woods he hustled down it then his training kicked in and he stopped dine listened as he crouched there in the pitch dark main Woods he kept his Target silhouette as narrow as possible and his viable sight lines the opposite of that he

Checked his breathing and willed his heart rate to ratchet down to a level where he could do what might need to be done he moved forward clearing every square inch in front of him and not forgetting to sweep his rear flank every few seconds he could hear nothing and he

Could see no one and that was not making Divine feel good about anything he made it to the edge of the bluff without encountering anyone then stealed himself and looked down his heart sank as he saw the body splade against the Rocks he slowly took his

Optics out of his pocket and Drew a magnified bead on the body it was franois gam he pulled his gaze from from her and closed his eyes for a moment you need to slow down for a minute and think running around like this and being solely

Reactive is what they want you need to get ahead of them not stay behind from the jumble of facts and theories and suppositions swirling in his head Divine forced himself to focus on finding some concrete conclusions he thought back to his theory that the sniper scenarios had been different

Jenny and the attempt on his life had been undoubtedly done by a pro someone who knew what he was doing the person who had shot Dak not a pro not even close then and only then did all the puzzle pieces fall into place for divine why would the Palmer have been

Surprised to see Benjamin Bing in a police cruiser before they found Alex answer they wouldn’t he was a cop what other car would he be in no they were surprised because it wasn’t Benjamin Bing driving the police cruiser Benjamin Bing didn’t rape Alex he was just the cleanup guy

He took out his phone and called Harper and told him about finding Guam oh my God said the police chief you think it was Ben who killed her I don’t know but I think he was the person who shot at me and killed Jenny and Dak another B and that same beinging raped

Alex but there’s only one I know I’ll be there in 5 minutes with a retrieval team I won’t be here wait why not my job is to find Alex I haven’t finished that job yet Divine wait Divine had already ended the call and was running for the Harley

10 minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of the funeral home and saw two cars there one was Guam’s big Beamer the other was a tan Jeep the Jeep’s driver side door was unlocked he checked the registration Fred Bing of course I’ve been looking at this whole case upside

Down and sideways the funeral home was was of course dark at this hour he could see or hear no one else in the vicinity he tried the front door but it was securely locked he jogged around to the back and noted several out buildings two were large garages where he assumed the

Herses and other vehicles used by the funeral home were housed and then there was the large crematorium facility at the very rear that’s when he heard a scream and then a gunshot and another scream a cluster of more shots followed all from the main building Divine started to combat

Breathe as he ran back there he hoped it wouldn’t come to that but in his world it almost always did a moment later he got a text from Harper gam strangled where the hell are you divine put his phone away and kept right on walking there was a window that yielded to his

Ministrations with the Swiss army knife he always carried Fred Bing was in there he hoped at least two other people were in there too and that one of them them was still alive Alex he slid inside and knelt on the floor then surveyed each end of the

Hallway he was in people had been born with all the necessary tools for survival in most situations senses of sight smell taste hearing and touch and amydala glands that would stimulate your body to do amazing physical Feats when threatened and a brain that could figure out most things in order to keep you

Upright and breathing and he was using every one of the those senses now plus his brain all the while keeping his amydala at Bay because he didn’t need it at least not right now he moved forward in a Crouch his breathing slow and even his heart beating around 60 pops a minute his

Brain as focused as it was possible for human gray matter to be dine knew very little of the Interior setup of the funeral home he’d seen the front reception area the chapel on the video Guam’s office and the room they had used to show him Jenny and Earl

Palmer’s bodies plus the embalming space but that left a lot that was completely unknown to him and unknown to rain was always a problem but there was no alternative at least that Divine knew of the muzzle of his gun poked into the first room on the right he flicked on

The light it was empty so were the next three spaces behind doors he turned right and one of his senses picked up something a foul odor not so unlikely in a funeral home but there was something about this one that was giving him paw next he heard a groan it was male

Guttural and prolonged Divine had heard such sounds before they all had the same cause pain and closer to life-threatening than not he edged forward and eyed the closed door the moan came again on the floor he saw the source of the foul odor a pool of vomit was next to the door and

Mixed with it was blood he eyed the pool of sick and the blood and tried to calculate how much blood had actually been lost from the sounds of the groan it was more than a little he stood to one side and slowly reached out and touched the door knob he

Turned it quickly and then pulled his hand away right before multiple bullets tore through the wood The Voice screamed I will [ __ ] kill you just give me the chance you little prick Divine didn’t recognize the voice but he knew who it was anyway chapter 80 I think you have the wrong prick in

Mind Divine called Through the Wood there was no reply for a count of five then [ __ ] Travis Divine is that you yes it is Mr Bing you don’t sound very good he grunted in pain that’s because I took one in the belly and I’m bleeding to death throw up and [ __ ] my

Pants anything I can do yes stand in the doorway so I can blow your ass away how about I call an ambulance instead so I can spend the rest of my life in prison no thanks Divine pulled out his phone moved through some screens and then set the

Phone on the floor against the wall your niece is dead somebody strangled her and threw her off a bluff that would have been you poor little thing what a way to go there was mirth not sadness behind his words Fred drove here in his Jeep you got here in your niece’s Beamer your

Rental is still at the house I guess you didn’t want any of her Trace in your vehicle and you killed Jenny and tried to kill me but your nephew tried to kill Dak how do you know Freddy tried to kill Dak sure Sherlock you went to sniper

School he screwed the shot on Dak even though it would have been a piece of cake to a shooter who knew what they were doing and you had no reason to kill Dak what did you care if Dak was selling out and Alex might leave here but your

Nephew cared and I was the one who told him about dak’s plan to sell Joselyn Point Freddy had it really bad for gorgeous Alex like she’d look at him twice he tried to appear helpful and friendly to me but he also tried to subtly convinced me that you were the

One interested in Alex hell I wouldn’t have minded getting in her pants too how did you know Jenny was close to figuring things out asked the disgusted Divine got a phone call from Freddy please big strong Uncle Ben come up here and save my skinny ass so he came up

Here assessed the situation got Jenny alone and shot her then dropped the 300 Norma to implicate what foreign enemies from her C I job oh see not so smart after all you got the first part right sure Jenny went to meet with Francois because she didn’t know the little [ __ ]

Was in on it but there I was instead she had figured out it was a cop car the rapist was in and suspected it was me or Harper I brought Freddy along for the ride so the little [ __ ] could see how it’s done properly Jenny always was a

Tough little gal took the round like a true warrior she actually flipped me off then we took her to the bluff and threw her off and the part I got wrong I never chambered the [ __ ] nor a polymer Divine I was an early investor in war

Arsenal and that would have been a red flag however this was known to certain family members including Freddy I’d even given him some of the fired polymer casings as souvenirs I used the good old Nato round to shoot Jenny and when I shot at you

Why dump the body at the same spot where Alex was attacked just to confuse the [ __ ] out of everybody we were making this stuff up as we went along it’s not like we had months to prep this sucker Divine tensed and her laptop and cell phone chucked them in the ocean figured they

Had classified [ __ ] on them I’m an [ __ ] but not a traitor Divine breathed a sigh of relief and jumped ahead because time was growing short you policed your brass with Jenny but Freddy dropped the polymer casing where Jenny was found to make it look like a longrange shot but

He didn’t know enough to get it right on the shot angle but franois said the round fired at Dak was a 300 Norma Magnum I gave the family some live rounds along with the polymer casings as well I thought I was going to make a killing and then I ended up being the

One killed he laughed and then groaned I would have policed my brass when I shot you too but you ducked just in time I had to get the hell out of there and franois did she know her brother raped Alex the whole family knew we circled the wagons it’s what we beings

Do I can understand why your brothers would go along with it but why would franois she didn’t want to labor all her good years in the mortuary business my brother Ted is a stingy jerk and he tied up the money his kids would eventually inherit the same way our old man did

With him and my brother John on but now with all that’s happened Francois cut a new deal with her father she helps get the family through this crisis little Franny gets an after tax $80 million payout right now enough money to live like a queen while she’s still young he

Coughed up some more of his dwindling blood only she didn’t expect to die he added grimly but you try and [ __ ] with me you get Dead Fred lied and Sid agreed to give her half The Inheritance even if she didn’t stay at bingan Sons screwing

People runs in the family I guess I saw you and Earl on film at Wilbur kingman’s Funeral Service were you telling him that you knew he was the reason the boat sank and Kingman died damn Divine you are good Bing said it was actually the only logical explanation Wilbert let Earl pilot the

Boat while he was fixing some gear the idiot got mixed up in the fog hit the throttle and ran him right into that sh but how did you find out Bing coughed up more blood and the pace of his conversation started to noticeably slow the day before the funeral Earl went to

Bing and Sons After the viewing was over and confessed his guilt to a corpse the recorders were on for some reason so my family got his confession on tape and told me about it at the funeral I told him we knew just in case I I ever needed

Something from him and boy did I Fred also killed Birdie Palmer in a hit and run he’s repairing the vehicle in the garage back at the house they told me that Alex had some sort of fit while she was with birdie and named Freddy as her rapist birdie went

Straight to Francois to see if this was possible I mean she had no proof only what Alex said during the seizure so franois tells her brother what happened with Alex and Fred takes care of Birdie yep then they waited to see if another shoe dropped but it didn’t happen Freddy

Didn’t want to kill Alex he was still head over heels for the chick but 15 years ago you killed St Valerie they tried to Blackmail the Bings so I took care of that too and got Franny to look the other way on the autopsy and now

Here I am bleeding out no more Beach no more Gulf life sucks and Earl dude was going to crack and tell all we gave Earl a Betty buy shot beforehand franois made sure no test would be run that might have detected it bing belly laughed and then ended up

Whimpering from the resulting pain then you found out about the polymer casings showing up that was when the little band of killers fell out Harper texted me he had no idea I was up here of course then I knew the little shits were set me up

To take the fall so you confronted your niece and nephew and the ungrateful little [ __ ] got the drop on me and they tied you up in the secret room put you on the drip to sedate you and were probably deciding how best to dispose of you but they didn’t factor in that I’ve

Taken a lot of painkillers in my time and built up resistance and I’m still strong as [ __ ] franois came in to give me another dose of happy juice I play La dead but I gotten my hands free and turned the tables on her she kept me

With a knife but I got the upper hand she told me what I needed to know and then I rung her Little Neck drove her to a secluded spot dragged her there and pitched her on the Rocks then I headed here Freddy came out of nowhere and shot me when I was

Searching the place for him hell he was probably aiming at something else and hit me he coughed for another stretch and said in a rattling Hollow voice now I’ve answered a lot of your questions answer one of mine how did Jenny figure things out satellite imagery Jenny dialed up from

Back then only she pictured you for it because of the police car in the picture I thought that initially but then I realized there was no way a careful guy like you would take a police car to rape someone and Alex lived you would have

Made sure she was dead and there was an image of the Palmers looking surprised as they passed the cruiser they wouldn’t have been if you were driving they hadn’t found Alex yet you see but they saw Fred driving it not you that’s what surprised them the little ass wipe went

Joy riding in it like some big shot saw the G of his dreams all alone and did what he did then he didn’t have the balls to finish the job where are Fred and Alex if I were you I’d check the crematorium he probably wants to get rid of the

Evidence and blame it on me he hacked one more time at the absolute limits of the human body [ __ ] this hurts the next instant Bing came up with his own painkiller solution of all solutions when the shot was fired dine snatched up his phone kicked open the

Door and saw the big man sitting against the far wall with most of his face missing next instant Divine was running for the crematorium chapter 81 Alex awoke suddenly and slowly looked around feeling groggy and out of sorts the room was large and filled with specialized equipment the smells were

Bitter and unpleasant and the sounds both erratic and ominous she tried to sit up but something was holding her down she saw the ropes around her she tugged against them but they were too tight she laid her head back and turned to the side and saw him hard at

Work Fred what are you doing he didn’t appear to hear her Fred he turned and walked over to her how are you feeling why are you doing this he touched her arm gently with one hand and adjusted his glasses with the other I’m sorry but there’s no other

Way as soon as he touched her Alex flinched as though burned by his grip she closed her eyes her head pounded and she suddenly started to gyate as though she were having a seizure Bing didn’t react to this at all he just stood there in silent acknowledgment of what was happening she

Finally stopped moving her breathing moderating she opened her eyes and turned her head to stare at him and this time she remembered all and from her look being understood this as well I never meant to hurtt you back then Alex you raped me and then tried to kill

Me things got out of hand and I didn’t know what to do I hope you can believe that you were my friend you knew my sister you taught me in high school and I loved you from the first time I saw you I loved you and I never

Stopped then how could you do that to me I saw you on your bike riding along you were so beautiful and I was in the police car I felt wonderful so free I wanted to take you for a ride but you didn’t want to go I believed you loved me too so I

Insisted you slapped me that made me angry very angry because all I wanted to do was take you for a ride so then you raped me I really thought you wanted to Alex but afterward you were so Furious that that you tried to kill me you left me for

Dead I love you if you love me you’ll let me go now he drew nearer I can’t do that deep down you know that you killed my sister no no I didn’t my uncle [ __ ] you and your uncle he took a step back and looked down I know that you’re upset yes

I’m upset because now you’re going to kill me I wasn’t going to even if you did remember what are you talking about but then you betrayed me what he drew closer and studied her you were going to let your Idiot Brother sell your home you were going to move away

Well I took care of that where I tried to but that wasn’t your worst betrayal what do you mean I saw you in your art studio with him who Travis Divine I saw how you both were looking at each other you kissed him you went to the house together I

Know what you did I know he shook his head in disappointment I thought you would have known better just stop it stop it and let me go Bing just kept shaking his head I would have kept the faith Alex if you had just stop it stop

It if there was any other way there is a way you can let me go and turn yourself in but I’d go to prison where exactly do you think I’ve been all these years I know this this has been so hard for you so hard then do the right

Thing let me go and call the police and tell them what you did he shook his head I’ve worked too hard to lose all this all what a funeral home you spend all your time with dead people maybe that’s the problem he grimaced people have always made fun of

What I do but it’s a necessary service I I don’t care I don’t give a [ __ ] about you or what you do okay just do what you’re going to do to me and go on with your pathetic life she closed her eyes and the tears curved over her quivering

Cheeks you won’t feel a thing I’m going to sedate you before of course it’ll be over soon okay I promise I wish things could have turned out differently okay she didn’t father to answer him he returned to the equipment and started to key in information in front of a screen that

Was attached to the cremation system a few minutes later he looked over at her it’s all computerized now input the weight and other necessary factors and algorithms determine the temperature and time Alex’s eyes were still closed and she was now mumbling something under her breath he continued turning back to his

Work anyway the body is is 65% water and it requires a large amount of thermal energy to vaporize it which must be done first in the primary chamber that chamber vaporizes the water and the secondary chamber takes care of any leftover organic matter then the cremulator reduces whatever is left over

To Ash that’s what we put in the ears to give to the families I thought I would scatter your ashes over Joselyn point is that okay you always loved it there right he paused and looked at her again she was still mumbling but only in a louder

Voice what’s that you’re saying he said a minute later he walked over and leaned in closer what are you saying she didn’t answer he put his arms under her lifted her up and carried her over to a long cardboard box set on a conveyor belt he

Laid her inside it he put a hand on her shoulder I’ll sedate you first of course of course then it’ll all be over in about an hour he went back over to the control panel and worked away a minute later Alex lifted her head slightly and looked

Around her gaze held on where the conveyor belt led a large metal chamber they’ll know they’ll find out the truth Fred Bing looked over at her they’ll only find out what I want them to which is my uncle was obsessed with you he kid napped you and took you somewhere and no

One will ever find out where then he came here and tried to kill me because I had tried to stop him but I shot him instead I’ll be a hero he next looked at the chamber into which he would be sending Alex on the conveyor belt and you can’t get DNA or

Anything else from ashes it will be like you never existed you’re sick no I’m just very careful Alex closed her eyes and started mumbling loudly and rocking from side to side banging into the sides of the cardboard box Bing glanced over and saw this Alex please stop he hurried over to

A table snatched a syringe off it and uncapped the needle just a little pinch then you won’t feel anything else but when he tried to administer it she was gyrating so fiercely he couldn’t do it stop it stop it Alex he set the syringe down and gripped her shoulders what are

You doing He barked are you having another seizure her eyes popped open and her right hand Broke Free of the cut ropes as she sat up and plunged the knife Divine had given her into Bing’s shoulder then with a long scream she Twisted it in the gaping wound and

Jerked it upward Bing cried out in pain looked at the blade quivering in his flesh and struck Alex so hard she toppled out of the box and fell to the floor where she lay stunned oh my god oh oh my God why did you do that it hurts oh God it

Hurts Alex slowly tried to stand but couldn’t manage it she fell back onto her knees Bing staggered around the conveyor belt and kicked her in the stomach she cried out and then her expression turned dark and violent she jumped up lunged at him and pulled the knife free from his shoulder blood

Started to shoot out of the wound spilling over the both of them being let out of shriek and punched her she fell against the conveyor belt and slumped to the floor it’s an artery you you CAU my artery i h to hell I did Bing grabbed a heavy wrench lying on

A table he raised it to strike her the shot struck him cleanly in the head and the round stayed there after destroying an irreparable amount of Fred Bing’s brain soft brain tissue the the dead man stood wobbling over Alex but only for a moment he fell against the conveyor belt

Bounced off it and fell to the floor a battered and bloody Alex looked over at the doorway where Divine was just now lowering his gun chapter 82 Dak was in a shoulder harness Alex’s physical wounds had mostly healed but her mental injuries still needed attention they had driven dine to the

Airport in Bangor for his flight back to DC dine had held meetings with both Harper and fuss and the federal agent man and Saxon going through multiple briefings he had done the same via Zoom with Emerson Campbell everyone had been complimentary of his work they considered the investigation a success

On every level and everyone was relieved that Jenny’s phone and laptop had ended up in the ocean he’d even gotten Benjamin Bing’s confession recorded on his iPhone Campbell had saluted him on the computer screen and said thank you divine job well done and it meant a lot to me personally yes

Sir Claire has been briefed she sent her thanks in gratitude to you and I I told Kurt I know he didn’t understand but it made me feel better maybe he understood more than you think sir however Divine didn’t agree with their assessment of a successful Mission

Because of the long line of dead people associated with it if he had lost this many soldiers during an OP it would have been an abject failure in his mind despite their achieving the mission goals the town had been informed by both formal and gossip channels about most of

What had happened to say that the citizens of putam were shock to their core did not even come close to describing it accurately Dak shook divine ‘s hand with his good one thanks man you did right by the silk Wells I can tell you that and you saved Alex’s life you’re welcome and

The El business asked deine while glancing at Alex I’ve applied for a proper permit but we may not need it really why not because we’ve got lawyers and they’ve filed a wrongful death action against the whole damn Bing family they were all in on it or at

Least knew about it as your recording of that dick Benjamin helped prove his brothers have already offered tens of millions to settle but I’m going to squeeze them for every last penny he looked at Alex and his happy expression faded and it still won’t be enough it won’t bring Jenny back no it

Won’t said the Vine D glanced awkwardly at his sister and said well I’ll give you two some alone time he walked off and divine Drew closer to Alex how are you really I don’t know one minute I think I’m healing in the next I don’t know it all takes

Time yeah that’s what everyone keeps telling me sure by the time I’m 80 I’ll be just fine you really didn’t need me to save you you took care of Fred all by yourself with the help of your army knife when he came to the house and

Kidnapped me I made sure I put on the coat that had the knife in the pocket he was an idiot not to search me but he probably figured I was still that same little scared teenager I didn’t manage to stab him in the gut like you show showed me but

After I cut the ropes and freed myself I did remember to twist the knife in the wound that did the trick she slowly shook her head in amazement I can’t believe I just said that it was like I was watching someone else do all of it I’m not a violent

Person everyone can be violent when violence is the only way to survive she touched his arm arm I guess your life has been full of that more than I would like yeah he paused I saw the drawing you had started will you finish it now I already did up here she tapped her

Head you know Fred said he loved me as he was methodically preparing to kill me love and Mer murder are not mutually exclusive in fact more murders are committed over love than hatred or jealousy or anything else God what a world we live in what will you do now grieve for my

Sister grieve for my father when the time comes and I plan to visit him I’ll go with you if you’d like me to she took his hand AB in hers yes I would I’m not sure I could face that alone I think you can face anything with her without me

Alex I was planning on seeing my mother too I think that’s a good idea she looked at him curiously you do why because as time goes on and you start to lose people dear to you you realize nothing should prevent you from being with them while you still can easier said then

Done Divine thought of his estrangement from his family yes it is but people can at least try so will you stay in putam no we’re selling the property there’s nothing there for me and I’m going to Italy Rome and Florence the cities of great artists I’d like to see some of the

Paintings and sculptures for real instead of in a book or on a screen that’s just to start like you said it’s a big world and I have a lot of catching up to do she hesitated looking anxious what I’m sure you’ve been all over the world and I was

Wondering any desire to maybe go with me to some of these places I have been all over the world but not with you let me see if I can make that work I don’t want you to go to any trouble I don’t do things I don’t want to do Alex she leaned against

Them neither do I they lingered with each other until the very last possible second then Divine sprinted to his gate to make his flight a couple hours later he was back in DC Divine grabbed his bags and headed to the taxi stand after weaving his way through large crowds of people in the

Airport he got into the cab and gave the driver his address when it came time to pay he reached for his wallet in his jacket pocket in pulling it out a slip of paper came along with it he unfolded it and looked down at the elegant handwriting on the

Sheet nice bumping into you in the airport former Captain Divine we missed getting you twice before but you know what they say the third time is usually the charm at least one can hope see you soon I promise XOXO the girl on the train