Nosing forward, I cut the wheel at a tight angle. I park at a slant, almost perpendicular to the SUV, not even three inches from the rear bumper. If the agent backs up he’s broadsiding me. If he pulls ahead and turns around he’s no better off.

“Let’s go.” I cut the ignition.

Marino and I climb out and I lock the doors. Click. I drop the keys into my shoulder bag.

“Hey!” The agent is animated now, giving me direct eye contact, glaring like a vicious dog. “Hey! You’ve got me blocked in!”

“See how that feels?” I smile at him as we move past through the open gate, Lucy’s house about a quarter of a mile from here.

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT,” MARINO SAYS.

“Why not?” The relentless churning of the helicopter is building on my nerves, and I’m struggling.

Lucy’s house is on a rise high above the Sudbury River, and the driveway is steep in this direction. It’s not an easy walk. It’s not possible for me to keep up with Marino’s thoughtless long stride. He seems to forget what happened not that long ago. Maybe because he wasn’t there. Maybe because he’s in denial. It would be like him to suppose he could have saved me, and for his focus to be that instead of what I’m left with and how I feel.

“Well one thing’s for sure. There’s not a single cop in Massachusetts who would tow a medical examiner’s truck,” he says next.

“It weighs almost five tons and could have dead bodies inside. So not a good idea.” I’ve resorted to walking several yards behind him, forcing him to slow down and turn around to talk.

“Yeah no kidding.” He looks back at me, then up at the helicopter. “What the hell? This is what we’ve been hearing since Cambridge? You think it’s the same chopper?”

“Yes.”

“It’s no news crew, that’s for sure. It’s the damn Feds and they followed us from that scene to here. Why? What’s their interest in Chanel Gilbert or us?” he asks.

“You tell me.” Pain shoots through my thigh.

“Obviously they knew we were headed here.”

“I don’t know what they knew.”

“It’s like they escorted us to Lucy’s property.”

“I don’t believe that’s what they’re doing. I got the distinct impression a minute ago that we’re not welcome here. They may have followed us. But they’re certainly not escorting us.” I have to stop for a moment.