Kellogg turned to the CBI chief. “Have to say that was a good call of yours yesterday, checking out the restaurants. I never would’ve thought of that one.”
Overby hesitated, then said, “Actually, I think I told Amy Grabe that Kathryn here came up with that idea.”
TJ softly cleared his throat and Dance didn’t dare look his way.
“Well, whoever, it was a good idea.” He turned to Dance. “And what were you suggesting just now?”
Dance reiterated it.
The FBI agent nodded. “Getting the Family back together. Good. Very good. They’ve gone through a process of deprogramming by now. Even if they haven’t seen therapists, the passage of time alone would take care of any remnants of Stockholm syndrome. I really doubt they’d have any loyalty to him. I think we should pursue it.”
There was silence for a moment. Dance wasn’t going to bail out Overby, who finally said, “It is a good idea. Absolutely. The only problem is our budget. See, recently we—”
“We’ll pay,” Kellogg said. Then he shut up and simply stared at Overby.
Dance wanted to laugh.
“You?”
“I’ll get a bureau jet to fly them here, if we need one. Sound okay to you?”
The CBI chief, robbed of the only argument he could think of on such short notice, said, “How can we refuse a Christmas present from Uncle Sam? Thanks, amigo.”
Dance, Kellogg and TJ were in her office, when Michael O’Neil stepped inside. He shook the FBI agent’s hand, and they introduced themselves.
“No more hits on the forensics from Moss Landing,” he said, “but we’re hopeful about the Pastures of Heaven and vineyards. We’ve got health department people sampling products too. In case he’s adulterated them with acid.” He explained to Kellogg about the trace found in the Thunderbird during Pell’s escape.
“Any reason why he’d do that?”
“Diversion. Or maybe he just wants to hurt people.”
“Physical evidence isn’t my expertise, but sounds like a good lead.” Dance noted that the FBI agent had been looking aside as O’Neil gave him the details, concentrating hard as he memorized them.
Then Kellogg said, “It might be helpful to give you some insights into the cult mentality. At MVCC we’ve put together a general profile, and I’m sure some or all of it applies to Pell. I hope it’ll help you formulate a strategy.”
“Good,” O’Neil said. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen anybody quite like this guy.”
Dance’s initial skepticism about a cult expert’s usefulness had faded now that it was clear Pell had an agenda they couldn’t identify. She wasn’t sure that the killer was, in fact, like any other perp she’d come across.