“There’s no reason I’m aware of.” I don’t add that Doug Wade in his khaki suit isn’t that kind of IRS employee.

If he were empowered to investigate suspected criminal tax offenses he would have a gun and a badge. Special agents for the IRS also usually travel in pairs. I don’t say there’s something fishy about who Doug Wade is and why he’s here. But I’m quite sure it’s not for reasons that meet the eye. The FBI has an agenda. It won’t be one that’s palatable or in this case even justified.

“More to the point?” I’m saying to Donoghue loud enough for everyone to hear. “The Feds have a right to anything that’s mine? Just because it happens to be inside Lucy’s house?” I already know what she’ll say but that doesn’t stop me from hoping for a loophole, and I’m in a mood to remind the FBI that I won’t be bullied.

“Anything on the premises they have a warrant to search and it’s open season,” she says. “They would argue that they have no way of knowing whether laptops all over the place are Lucy’s or belong to someone else such as Janet or yourself. They would argue that the only way to be certain is to examine the contents.”

“In other words they get to do what they want.”

“In other words yes,” she says. “They pretty much do.”

Outside the house in the stifling heat I don’t see any agents walking about, and I look at the vehicles parked in front, a caravan of four white Tahoes. Behind them is a black Ford sedan and I wonder who it belongs to. Maybe the phony IRS agent.

The helicopter is gone, and I hear the wind in the trees and the distant kettledrums of thunder. Clouds to the south are rising like the Great Wall of China, building formidably like an edifice you can see from outer space. The air is humid and ominous.

“Why?” Donoghue looks up at the threatening sky.

“Why what?”

“Why did they have a helicopter here? What the hell was it doing? It circled for how long?”

“The better part of an hour.”

“Maybe they’re filming everything that goes on down here.”

“For what reason?”

“Political caution,” Donoghue decides, and what she means is public embarrassment or looking bad.

“I suggest we head down to the dock.” I point out every lamppost and some of the trees that have cameras with audio.