Savich heard a sharp intake of breath from Lodner, saw his expression was cold, hard, his hand fisted around his coffee mug. He saw tears pool in Carlton Grace’s eyes, and he looked away.

Hendricks said quietly, “I’d say we’re all very sorry, Olivia. At least Agent Creamer’s recording clears the air for us. There need be no more suspicions. Carlton, Fulton, I’m charging you with finding Agent Creamer, though I doubt it will be easy.” He paused a moment. “No, it won’t be easy at all, very probably impossible.”

The director studied Fulton Lodner’s face. “I need hardly say there will be no reprimands for either Agent Kingman or Agent Hildebrandt. In fact, I will see to it they both receive commendations for their valor. Mike, Olivia, don’t underestimate the importance of what you accomplished. I thank you. The CIA thanks you.”

Hendricks paused a moment, smiled. “Agent Savich, it’s been a pleasure to work with you and your team. Perhaps you should consider coming over to the CIA?”

Savich smiled as he slowly shook his head.

51

Mia

Valley Forge National Park

Near Pauley’s Farm

Saturday morning

Dooley, the three-year-old beagle cadaver dog from the Philadelphia Field Office, whined softly, his body quivering, as he slinked over a low mound of bare winter earth. The sound was heartrending. His person, Special Agent Gil Payne, knelt down and hugged Dooley against him. “You did good, Dooley, you did really good. Come away now, come away.”

A disparate group of people surrounded the grave of Serena Winters as the forensics team began carefully digging.

“Agent Payne tells me Dooley’s never wrong,” Creighton’s police chief, Moseley, said.

NYPD Detective Hoolihan, a born doubter, said, “Well, he must have smelled something. There are a bunch of old graves around here from the Revolution.”

Mia stood beside Tommy, squeezing his hand tightly. “This is where Kent Harper said Serena was buried, so we’ll find her. He wouldn’t lie with death sitting on his shoulder. He was heavily drugged, but still it was obvious he regretted what happened to Serena.” She paused a moment, swallowed. “He cried.”

Tommy said calmly, “Doesn’t matter. Both he and Harrington deserve to rot in hell for what they did to Serena. I want them in a cell where they’ll have years to think about it every single day. And we’ll know they’ll never have the chance to hurt another woman in their miserable lives.” He swallowed, stopped talking. Mia squeezed his hand tighter.

Detective Hoolihan said, “Amazing Kent Harper’s still alive. His surgeon is even hopeful now he’ll make it. The D.A. actually smiled, I’m told.” He looked at Mia. “But what really surprises me is Harper believed he was talking to Serena, who called herself a gaming character, Aolith, and gave himself and his puppet master away. You must be some actress, Ms. Briscoe.”