And Hayes too had some strong reason for getting Carr out of the way. He must’ve thought Carr was dead all these years. Reading the man’s face, Knox could tell he’d been out of the loop when the grave was dug up. And then to have no body in the coffin? All these years Hayes had probably felt safe. Now he didn’t, and he was using Knox to take care of the problem for him.

And what exactly had happened at the Capitol Visitor Center? Had Carr really killed all those men? If so, why? Were they trying to kill him? Knox thought back to the notes he’d read about someone dispatching retired Triple Sixes. Had Stone been on that list? Had they gone after him for some reason? That was part of the puzzle that he apparently was not going to be allowed access to. Well, he would see about that.

If Carr had something on Hayes? Something personal? Now, that might be an interesting line to hunt down, if only to cover his backside when the time came. But he’d have to straddle the fence. If Hayes found out—

He’d turned the radio on in his study while he’d been thinking, and the news story caught his attention. Authorities knew who the killer was. They were closing in. All escape routes blocked.

What the hell?

He made the call. Hayes picked up on the second ring.

“I just heard the news,” Knox said. “I thought the feds were being left off this one. If I’ve got an FBI posse breathing down my neck I’d like to know it.”

“Not to worry, Knox, I had that story planted. It would be inconceivable for a man like Carr not to be listening to the news carefully. I want him to think he’s trapped. Trapped men do stupid things. Then we move in. Just making your job easier.”

Hayes clicked off.

“My ass you are,” Knox said to the dead line.

The buzzing phone cut off his thoughts on what Hayes had just told him. He didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Knox, this is Susan Hunter. I’d like to meet with you, about Oliver.”

Knox sat up. “Can we do it over the phone?”

“No. You never know who might be listening.”

He couldn’t argue with her about that. Someone probably was listening.

“Fair enough. When do you want to do it?”

“Right now.”

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

ANNABELLE WAS STANDING on the street corner in Georgetown when Knox pulled up thirty minutes later. He popped open the passenger door and she climbed in. He drove off, heading east toward the downtown area.

Knox glanced at her. The woman’s face was flushed, her eyes red. He couldn’t know it was from a little rouge and a little eye irritant deliberately applied.

“You okay?” he finally said.

She wiped her eyes. “Not really.”