The Heart of the Jungle, стр. 61
"Sir," she said, "I have had a very difficult night. I've been cursed at, screamed at; some woman even threw her ticket in my face. The second the grounding order is lifted, I will get you on the next flight headed anywhere near Seattle, but as I've told you and the hundreds of other people trying to get out of this godforsaken city, that's the best I can do. I don't have any control over the weather... or the FAA."
Frank had come up behind him. He flashed his badge and an apologetic look at the infuriated ticketing agent. "My apologies, ma'am," he said kindly. "My partner here is a little on edge. Working a difficult case, you know."
She stared at Frank for a moment, probably deciding whether or not her continued outrage was warranted, then finally bobbed her head, accepting his apology. "As soon as the weather clears, I'll get you out of here. Just keep an eye on the board."
Frank pulled Jason away from the counter. "Come on, kid," he said.
"I have an update." They veered out of the thoroughfare, and Frank clasped his arm reassuringly. "Seems like your hunch about MacQuery was spot-on. Smart move shaking him down like you did---it'll make him antsy if he's the one behind all of this. Might make him stumble."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "You found something?"
"While you were beating up that poor woman, I had a conversation with a Chelan County detective by the name of Guthrie. He was the investigator assigned to look into the traffic fatality that killed David and Marie James. The car was mangled pretty badly, and even though they eventually had to chalk it up to mechanical failure and close the case, there were aspects of the crash that made it look pretty suspicious."
"Like what?"
"Scrapes on the driver's side door and black paint, for one thing.
Looked to him like the car had been sideswiped. Brake lines were cleanly severed---that almost never happens on its own. Chemical analysis was inconclusive for explosives, though, so it's hard to say. Said he suspected a couple of small well-placed charges but wasn't able to prove it one way or another."
"That's interesting, but what's the connection to MacQuery?"
Jason asked.
"While they were working over the wreckage, he started looking for a suspect and motive. He thought it was damn suspicious that in the weeks prior to the accident, the attorney of record on all of David James's legal affairs was changed from George MacQuery to Thomas Brooks. From Brooks, he learned about the diamond mine and that MacQuery and James had some kind of argument. His team wasn't able to prove that the accident was foul play, and when questioned, MacQuery gave them the same story about the fight he gave us. Ultimately, he had to close the investigation, but he said he always believed MacQuery had something to do with it."
"So he's known about the diamond for a long time. Why not grab it while Chris was institutionalized? He was in control of Chris's affairs then."
"Just a hunch, but if David James knew he wanted that diamond, he would have been very careful about how he passed it along. He knew Chris trusted George, and I'd be willing to bet he told him all about his misgivings in those letters---the same ones Chris handed over for safekeeping after his breakdown."
Jason was pacing, his mind whirling with this new information. "I took a big risk tipping MacQuery off like I did. If he is behind this whole thing and Brunner isn't up to some kind of double-cross, Chris will rush straight into his arms," Jason said anxiously. "He trusts him completely."
Frank nodded. "I've got surveillance on MacQuery's residence and his office. He goes anywhere, they'll be right on his ass."
"Frank, we have to get to Seattle." Jason's voice was half an octave higher. "There has to be a way."
Frank shook his head sadly. "I wish there were, son, but you heard what the lady said. We're not going anywhere until this weather clears."
Just then, a stocky man in a blue captain's uniform approached them and reached his hand out to Jason. "Captain John Abel," he said.
"Couldn't help but overhear you're having some trouble getting out of Vegas."
Jason nodded, cautiously taking the man's hand. "That's right."
Abel pumped Jason's hand. "Special Agent Kingsley, it's a real honor to meet you. Recognized you when you were talking to the ticket agent. You---" The man's voice broke with emotion. "You put away the monster that killed my son."
Jason's mind worked as he tried to recall the particular case.
"Cooper Mitchell," Abel reminded him, "the teacher. He killed my boy Matthew and four other kids."
Jason's mind drifted back to the investigation. Cooper Mitchell had been a PE teacher who had engaged in inappropriate contact with several of his students. When one of them had threatened to talk, he'd killed the boy. After that, he had begun to systematically hunt down his other victims to keep them from talking too. Jason had caught him and stopped him---too late for the five he'd already murdered, but not for the rest.
There had been sixteen more that had come forward once word got out he'd been apprehended. Cooper Mitchell had been convicted for his crimes and put to death.
"I... I know you couldn't save my boy," Abel said, his eyes bright with emotion, "and the other four, but you did save all the rest. I always wanted to thank you personally. Nothing will ever bring Matt back, but knowing that monster is dead and buried makes it a little easier to bear."
"I'm very sorry for your loss," Jason replied. He was embarrassed by the unabashed show of admiration. Awkwardly, he directed Abel toward Frank in an effort to deflect some of the uncomfortable attention.
"This is Frank Marcus," he said as Frank reached out to shake the