“When’s the last time you heard from him?” She told him. “I spoke to him before that. I haven’t heard from him since. It could be a burglary. You should call the cops.”

“Nothing of value was stolen. The two safes he had weren’t even touched.”

“I’m not sure what I can do about it.”

“What did he talk to you about?”

“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that.”

“Agent Ford, I am really worried about my dad. The last time I talked to him he sounded, well, he sounded like maybe he was talking to me for the last time. I really think he might be in trouble.”

Maybe that was why he’d gotten the visit from Hayes. His faithful dog had gone off the scent and the old man was operating blind. “When you talked to him did he give you any indication of where he might be?”

“He said something about being west of here, only a little more rural. I joked about terrorists in the hollers. And he said you just never knew.”

“This isn’t really my bailiwick, Ms. Knox.”

“I’m a lawyer in private practice with lots of connections, and while my dad has never mentioned what he actually does for the government, I know it’s not some State Department crap, that’s just a cover. Can you at least confirm that? Please?”

Alex hesitated, but the pleading sound in her voice finally got to him. “As best I can figure he was doing investigative work for the CIA, or at least in connection with them somehow.”

“Over something critical?”

“Critical enough. He’s trying to find somebody who doesn’t want to be found.”

“Can this person be dangerous?”

“Most people who don’t want to be found are dangerous.”

He thought he could hear a groan from her. “What should I do?” she said. “My mom’s dead. My brother’s in the Marines in Iraq. What should I do, Agent Ford? I don’t know anybody else to call.”

Alex sat there staring off. It was as though his nearly twenty years in the Service had simply disappeared from his memory. If Hayes had had his way, that would be more true than not. So why sit here waiting for the nuke to hit him in the head?

“Give me a number where I can reach you anytime. I’ll poke around and see what I can find.”

“Oh, God, thank you so much.”

“I can’t promise that if I find out anything it’ll be what you want to hear.”

“Agent Ford, I know you don’t know my father, but if you were in trouble there wouldn’t be anybody else you’d want covering your back more than Joe Knox. He’s as straight as they come. I hope that means something to you.”

“It does,” Alex said quietly.

Chapter 56

CHAPTER 56