To push it aside, she started thinking of their next steps. She knew it had to be the husband of Maria Ramirez. And even though Stanhope had warned he was likely going to be difficult, that was fine. It was Rachels experience that once the difficult ones were made to see they werent as special or as tough as they thought they were, they often gave the best information.

CHAPTER SIX

Rachel did her best to shrug off that overwhelming feeling of selfishness as they made the drive from the Webber house to Frank Ramirezs workplace. Theyd called ahead based on Deputy Stanhopes description of the husband and were glad they did; instead of wasting about an hour heading to his home to find out he wasnt there, they knew at once that he was at work, at a construction site in a neighborhood that was less than ten minutes away from the Webber Home.

Frank Ramirez worked for a window company, and the receptionist was able to give them the address of the house he was working on. When they arrived on site, it appeared that the window company and a small crew working on the back deck of the new home were the only people on site. The home was going up on a corner lot of a well-to-do neighborhood, all homes landing in the mid-six-figures. They parked behind a beaten-up old work truck and crossed the expanse of dirt that would be a grass-filled yard soon. Rachel could already see where someone had come through to trench out the lines for a sprinkler system.

There were two men currently inside the house, visible through the still-empty window frames. Both men saw the agents approaching and it was easy to figure out which one was Frank Ramirez. He looked surprises and then annoyed. And though it was clear he knew they were there to see him, he continued working. Rachel took the lead, walking directly up to the window frame and peering into the house.

Mr. Frank Ramirez?

Frank was peeling a protective cover off of a pane of glass, looking up as if hed not seen them approaching. Yeah, thats me.

Jack beat her to the punch on showing the badge this time. Agents Rivers and Gift, FBI. Wed like to ask you a few questions.

The look of frustration on his face backed up the little bit Deputy Stanhope had told them. Apparently, this was a failed marriage that had no hope of being repaired. Im sort of working here, he said.

Yes, we are, too, Rachel snapped back. Well keep it short. I assume you know why were here?