Sherlock gave Mia a big smile. “Lucky until a pretty young reporter is assigned to cover your campaign for mayor of New York City. You’re happy to hear it, you believe she’ll write good things about you because, after all, you’re tall, good-looking, charming, who could resist you? You’re pleased when the reporter tells you she’s going to Boston to interview friends and family for the article she’s writing. Then you get a call from one of the people the reporter interviews, maybe the lacrosse coach at Bennington like you said, who tells you about some strange questions the reporter asked about an old photo she showed him. Coach describes it, a profile, couldn’t really tell who it was, but the boy had an ear injury, like yours. You’re a bit alarmed. You google her, find out she went to Godwyn University. Now there’s a nibble of panic. Was she at the rave? Did she know the girl who disappeared? You don’t remember her name, but Kent does when you meet with him. You call your fiancée. You don’t tell her the truth, of course, you tell her you think Juliet might have made up a story about you and you’re concerned. Whatever Pamela says, it’s enough. You decide you have to act before the reporter goes public. But with what? No proof of anything, you’re safe, but a hint of this getting out and your campaign is done before it gets off the ground. You want this. Pamela wants this. You arrange for your staffer to have drinks with the reporter at a specific time and place, pump her, find out what she thinks she knows, what her purpose is.”

Mia stared at Sherlock. “That’s amazing, it’s like you see it.”

Sherlock only shook her head, continued. “But as we’ve agreed, it’s doubtful it was either Alex Harrington or Kent Harper who tried to run you down. Much too great a risk. So that means we have to find someone close enough to Harrington to have done it, most likely for a price.

“Which brings us back to our problem. We have only circumstantial evidence, not enough to even make it worthwhile to interview them.”

Sherlock sat back in her chair and regarded Mia. “You know the easiest way to keep you safe is for me to go to Alex Harrington, tell him someone tried to kill you last night, tell him you’ve gathered information about him and Kent, and that information is now in FBI hands. That would keep you safer. Unless they’re insane.”