“Yeah, I got it,” I said, and hung up the phone. I already knew what Page was trying to tell me.

Tomorrow was Mary Wagner’s day off.

Chapter 90

Chapter 90

I WAS ALREADY CONVINCED it was crucial that I try to speak with Mary Wagner before the trauma of an arrest. That was my strong gut response on this strange case. I knew LAPD was going to be under a lot of pressure to move quickly, though. It meant I had to move even faster if I could.

I hurried back to the Bureau and found Van Allsburg in his office. “Don’t ask me. Not my call,” he said, after I’d made my case for the interview. “If Maddux Fielding wants to move in on her —”

“Then do me one favor,” I said.

Minutes later, we were on the phone in Fred’s office. I knew Maddux Fielding probably wouldn’t take my call, but Van Allsburg got patched through right away.

“Maddux, I’ve got Alex Cross here. He’s making a pretty good argument for holding off on Mary Wagner, just long enough to interview her.”

“How much more do you think we’re going to get on her?” Fielding asked. “It’s done. We’ve got plenty to take her in.”

“It’s all circumstantial,” I said into the speakerphone. “You’ll have to let her go.”

“Yeah, well I’m working on that.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, already starting to fume. “What aren’t you telling us, Maddux? What’s the point of shutting us out?”

He ignored my legitimate question with one of his trademark stony silences.

“Listen, between LAPD and the Bureau, she’s under constant surveillance; she hasn’t shown any sign of making a move. We know her timetable. Let me just talk to her at home. This could be a last chance to get her in a nondefensive state.” I hated the conciliatory tone of my voice, but I knew the interview with Mary could be important.

“Detective, I know you and I have our disagreements,” I said, “but we’re both going for a quick resolve here. This is what I do best. If you’ll just let me —”

“Be at her house by six,” he said suddenly. “I’m not making any promises to you though, Cross. If she doesn’t go home after work, or if anything else changes, that’s the end of it. We grab her.”

By the time I had arched my eyebrows, there was a click on the line and the call was over.

Chapter 91

Chapter 91

SHE DIDN’T BOTHER to use the chain lock. I heard it rattle on the back of the front door as she opened it.

“Mary Wagner?”

“Yes?”

Her large feet were bare, but she still wore the pink maid’s uniform from the Beverly Hills Hotel. She smiled engagingly before she knew who I was.