She wanted to say, “Beer, go have a few.” The man was obsessing over the case. If he thought there was a legit connection, why weren’t there more agents on it? It was like he wanted the search for the twenty million not to go beyond her. If she found the code and gave it to him, would she be in danger?

Then there was Douglas sitting in his car less than fifty yards away. Was he working for Bradshaw or for himself? She envisioned a scene where she might have to protect herself. Actually take him out. Her defense would be he’d been on Norwood’s team. Maybe he’d come to Ethel’s to be close to Finch. She’d remind any review board that Douglas had the skills to have knocked Jesse out with one well-placed punch. His hands were lethal weapons.

Lisa sent Director Hauser a reply:

Followed her and Jesse to Richmond. At funeral home and they must be helping with arrangements.

She decided not to mention Douglas or Jesse’s computer. Hauser could overreact and blow things prematurely. If she were to succeed, she had to do things her way. She was in the field; he was behind a desk.

Douglas’s car eased onto the street. Lisa started her SUV. The caravan was on the move.

***

Jesse turned onto Finch’s street “Where do you want me to park?”

“Might as well park in the driveway like we’re supposed to be here. And neighbors might recognize the car from before and think nothing of it.”

Jesse stopped behind the green Forester still in the carport. “She must have ridden to Fredericksburg with her sister.”

“Or her Secret Service escort.” Ethel bent over and rummaged through her bag. “Bring your backpack.”

“What are you getting?”

She held up a small leather pouch. “Our ticket in.”

***

Douglas Gray stopped a block behind them. He’d not been in the neighborhood before, but he assumed Ethel and Jesse had gone to the Finch home. Maybe the wife and boy had returned from Fredericksburg, and Ethel was running errands for them. First the funeral home, then something for the house. He pulled a pair of compact binoculars from the glove compartment and trained them on Ethel’s car. He saw the old lady get out with a large wallet or small purse. Jesse had his backpack. Instead of going to the front door or the door from the carport, the two walked around back and out of sight. Maybe Mrs. Finch was resting and had left the back door open for them. But where was the assigned agent? Where was that agent’s vehicle?