Blood Moon: A Rowan Gant Investigation (16 page)

I feigned innocence with a forced chuckle and
said, “I haven’t.”

“
T
hug tú
d'éitheach
.”

“Seriously, honey,” I appealed. “I have no
idea what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” she replied then clucked her
tongue. “Why don’t you show me what’s in your jacket pocket that
has your hand so occupied then?”

I stopped pacing again and looked at her. She
caught me flat-footed with the comment, and denying her observation
wasn’t going to do me any good. My right hand was stuffed into the
pocket, and I had been fidgeting with the small jar ever since we
arrived. It had been completely subconscious on my part, but she
had certainly noticed it. Still, I wondered how she knew what it
was.

“So, you’ve been going through my jacket?” I
asked, trying to turn the table.

She shook her head. “No. I was right behind
you going through the metal detectors downstairs when you had to
empty your pockets, remember? I’m not blind, you know.”

I hung my head and sighed at my attack of
stupidity then looked back at my wife and muttered, “Duh.”

“That’s what I was thinking, but I wasn’t
going to say it.”

I pulled the jar out and looked at it. “I’m
kind of surprised they let me bring it in, actually.”

“I guess you were convincing enough not to
make them suspicious.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I replied as I stuffed it
back into my pocket. “So, you pretty much just played me just now
to see what I’d say?”

She shrugged and said, “Yes.”

“Any conclusions?”

“That you’re predictable.”

“Great…” I huffed then said, “Okay, so what
makes you think I didn’t bring it along just because of the
meeting?”

She didn’t say a word. Instead, she mimicked
my earlier action by holding up her hand and thumbing her wedding
ring as she smiled.

“Touché,” I said. “Guess I should have
known.”

“Yes, you should have…” she agreed. “So would
you like to tell me why you’re still so fixated on that?”

“I already told you. I’m sure it has
something to do with Miranda and her connection to you.”

“I know. But you still haven’t told me
exactly why you think that.”

“Well, actually, I can’t. Not yet,
anyway.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“A little of both I guess.”

“Well, if it’s because you’re worrying about
me you can stop. I’m fine.”

“If it’s just the same to you I think I’ll
worry anyway.”

“Why? I said I’m fine.”

“I know you are,” I said, pausing for a
moment then adding, “Now…” I spoke the word with emphasis, not to
belittle, but to remind her that I knew all too well what it had
taken for her to be able to say that and actually believe it. I
followed the punctuated acknowledgement by saying, “And, whatever
it takes, I plan for you to stay that way.”

“You’re being overprotective again,” she
grumbled.

“That’s a matter of opinion.”

“No. It’s a matter of fact.”

“So sue me.”

“If I do I’ll win,” she jibed, playfulness
once again edging out her annoyance.

She apparently wasn’t going to give up trying
to lighten the mood, so I caved and tried to play along. “If you
win then I guess I’ll just be at your mercy.”

She shot me a disarming grin and said,
“Aren’t you always?”

While I was a far cry from being at ease, I
couldn’t help but chuckle lightly and return the smile. “Yeah, you
have a point, I usually am.”

“Okay then… So, since you agree, what do you
say when we get home we put that to the test?”

“Just so I’m sure I’m not misunderstanding,
was that a proposition?” I asked.

“Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all.” I shook my head. “It’s been
awhile, you know… What with everything that happened… And… Well, I
guess I just wasn’t expecting it. Especially here…”

“I know,” she replied and shot me a sheepish
grin. “But the mood just came on me a little while ago…”

“Don’t get mad at me for asking this, but
since this seems a little sudden I just need to know… You aren’t
experiencing any kind of identity crisis right now, are you?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “No. I’m
still me. You don’t have to worry.”

“Okay, that’s good to know. So, what sort of
test did you have in mind?”

There was a familiar fire in her eyes that
told me she was already getting herself worked up the more she
thought about it. “Well, I was just thinking that I already cleared
my schedule, so if this meeting only takes a couple of hours we’ll
have plenty of time to explore a few things.”

“Okay, so by
things
you mean…” I let my voice
trail off.

“Yes, by
things
I mean we could…”

Before she could even start into what was certain to
be a far more detailed description of her ideas for the afternoon
activities, she was interrupted by the sound of the conference room
door swinging open. I already had a good inkling of where she was
headed since we had discussed it before. Under the circumstances, I
didn’t know whether to be slightly relieved or greatly disappointed
by the untimely intrusion. But, given that our carnal activities
had been nonexistent since Miranda’s interference, I had to admit I
was leaning toward the latter. Besides, making her happy was my
prime concern, so in effect I was already well on my way to the
role she wanted me to play.

Oddly enough, whatever had triggered her amorous
mood must have been contagious. Because, the more I thought about
it, the more I wanted to forget about this meeting and make a
beeline for home, immediately if not sooner.

Abandoning the libidinous thoughts that were forming
in my head, I turned to see a man and a woman following the door in
as it pivoted along its arc. They were roughly in their early
fifties although the man might have been younger or even older, I
couldn’t be sure. His features were just nondescript enough to
leave you wondering. They were both dressed business casual,
carrying briefcases and, not surprisingly, sporting FBI ID’s.

While there was nothing in particular about either
one of them that I could readily identify as setting me off, I felt
my body tense of its own accord. All I could say for sure is that
the moment they entered, the exact same sharp chill I had felt
earlier once again ran along my spine, and my ethereal defenses
came up automatically.

“Sorry we’re running a bit behind,” the woman
greeted me, extending her hand as she spoke. “You must be Mister
Gant. I’m Doctor Ellie Jante.”

“Nice to meet you, Doctor Jante,” I said, taking her
hand.

“And this is Agent Douglas Hanley,” she offered,
nodding toward her partner.

While I was almost certain I didn’t need to worry
about any sort of paranormal threat from the pair, taking notice of
the briefcases, I wondered for a moment if I might need to put in a
quick call to our attorney just in case the danger was something
mundane. However, I had learned better than to second-guess my
intuition. What I felt wasn’t a corporeal kind of chill. There was
something far more ethereal and sinister connected to my sense of
alarm, and it was a good bet her name was Miranda.

“Are you okay, Mister Gant,” Agent Hanley asked,
apparently noticing my distant introspection as he shook my
hand.

“Fine,” I said, nodding as I quickly formulated a
lie. “I’m just preoccupied with something from work is all.”

“Oh yeah, I know how that goes,” he replied with a
grin. Whether or not he actually believed me I wasn’t sure.

I shot a quick glance over to Felicity who had
already stood up and was making her way around the end of the
table. I could tell by the look on her face that she was sensing
the same thing I was and that her own defenses were up in force.
Simply knowing that allowed me to relax somewhat, but I still
wasn’t about to drop my guard where she was concerned. And, while
she was usually much better at masking her expressions than me, I
had the distinct feeling she was suddenly very relieved that I was
here with her rather than letting her go it alone as she had
earlier suggested.

“And obviously you would be Miz O’Brien. It’s nice
to meet you,” Doctor Jante said, making a half turn toward my wife
and reaching to shake her hand. “I spoke with you on the phone this
morning. Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with us on
such short notice.”

“It’s no problem,” my wife answered. “Although I’ll
admit I’m at a bit of a loss about why you would want to speak to
me.”

“We’re just doing some information gathering,”
Hanley explained. “Doctor Jante and I are with the BAU out of
Quantico. That’s the Behavioral…”

“…Analysis Unit,” I finished for him.

“Exactly,” he replied with a slight grimace creasing
his face. “So you’ve heard of us.”

“It’s hard not to.”

“Yes, these days I suppose you’re correct. But
please, don’t buy into the fiction you see on that television
show.”

“What television show?” I asked.

He gave me a sideways glance, raised an eyebrow as
if he was trying to determine whether or not I was yanking his
chain, then smiled and said, “Well, any of them actually, but I was
specifically referring to…” His voice trailed off as he cut the
explanation short and shook his head while muttering, “Never mind…”
Then he reached past me to shake Felicity’s hand. “Miz
O’Brien.”

“Now that the introductions are over, is there
anything you need before we get started? Restroom break? Something
to drink? Coffee? Bottled water?” Doctor Jante asked.

“I’m fine,” Felicity replied.

“Nothing for me,” I added.

“Excellent. Then why don’t we all have a seat, and
we can get down to business,” she suggested.

“So, we’re it? Just us four?” I asked, shooting her
a puzzled look.

“I’m sorry, were you expecting someone else?” she
asked, wearing her own confused expression.

“I just…” I started, paused, then furrowed my brow
and asked, “I mean… Aren’t we going to talk to Annalise
Devereaux?”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head.

“But, isn’t that what you told Felicity this is
about?” I asked, glancing over at my wife. “Annalise?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “This is certainly about
Devereaux, but we won’t be talking directly to her. She isn’t even
being held in Saint Louis. What made you think that?”

Out of frustration I found myself preparing to ask
if they had received a call from Ben but stopped before the first
syllable was spoken. Obviously they hadn’t, and they were here for
something other than what I originally hoped. Besides, they had
never actually told Felicity that we would be speaking to Annalise,
just
about
her. Now, the reason they hadn’t asked for me was
becoming clearer, but what they wanted with my wife remained a
deepening mystery. In that instant I decided it would be prudent
not to show my hand just yet—especially if my friend was still
trying to pull strings for me. Because, as slim as my chances of
getting that meeting with Annalise already were, running off at the
mouth now could possibly erase even that.

I wasn’t sure if my moment of indecision made me
pause too long or not, but by way of answer I splayed my hands out
in front of me and said, “Sorry. I guess I must have just
misunderstood.”

“That’s all right,” Doctor Jante replied, cocking
one eyebrow upward as she spoke.

I could tell by her expression that she had just
mentally logged an observation about me. Without a doubt I was
being profiled, and she wasn’t being the least bit secretive about
it. I wasn’t so sure I liked being under the microscope all of a
sudden, but then given the situation and my verbal misstep, I
suppose I knew it was to be expected.

“Actually,” Agent Hanley began, directing himself at
Felicity, “The reason we asked you here is that we’ve been
conducting an ongoing criminal investigative analysis of Devereaux
in order to compile information for our serial offenders database.
It’s simply part of the standard procedure to interview relatives,
victims, friends, co-workers, and so on whenever possible. It
allows for a much broader and more detailed picture.”

“So you’re just getting all that out of the way
before sitting down with Annalise herself,” I said, nodding to
indicate I now understood where this was going—or so I thought.

“Actually, we’ve already been conducting one-on-one
interviews with Devereaux for over a week now,” he replied.

I screwed up my face with a puzzled expression and
asked, “How are you able to get away with that? She hasn’t even
been convicted yet. Isn’t her attorney objecting to that?”

“Oh, he objects all right,” he replied. “But she
requested the meetings with us herself.”

“She did?”

He shrugged. “I know, it doesn’t seem to make sense,
and we’re sure she has a hidden agenda. But it’s an opportunity we
simply cannot afford to pass up.”

“Yeah, I guess so…”

“So, I guess you’re killing two birds with me then,”
Felicity offered. “Victim and relative all rolled into one.”

“You are definitely a somewhat unique case,” Doctor
Jante agreed, giving her head a slight nod. “What with being her
half sister, and…” She allowed her voice to trail off and left the
second observation unspoken.

“
Unique
is one way to describe it,” my wife
replied. “But I prefer thinking of it as DNA being a
fekking
saigh
.”

“I’m sorry, a what?” Jante said.

“It’s Gaelic,” I offered. “Just think copulating
female dog and you’ve pretty much got it.”

“Copul… Ahh, okay, I see.”

“Yes… Well, obviously we have copies of the case
files and are very familiar with the situation,” Special Agent
Hanley interjected. “Your arrest for the homicides was
unfortunate.”