“Did you see the men who killed Draymont?” asked Decker.

  Davidson shook his head. “No. When I got there, there was a strange car in the driveway. The rear door was open. I went in, and there they were. At first I thought they were doing it right there on the floor. She barely had any clothes on. Then when I saw the blood I knew something bad had happened. I was going to try and help her. Call the cops. But she saw me, and screamed at me, accused me of killing the guy. Then she said all these horrible things about me, and then it hit me that she had never really loved me at all. Then I just snapped. I grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer and…chased her upstairs. And I…did what I did. Then I put the blindfold on her and I wrote out the words on a piece of paper and left it on her chest.”

  “‘The thing speaks for itself’?”

  “She used to use that term with me. Every time something got messed up, she blamed me. That tax thing? It was just a misunderstanding. But no, she could never see it that way. Res ipsa fucking loquitor. She always threw that in my face. Oh, something got screwed up? It must be Barry. It fucking speaks for itself.”

  “You used the ruse with the voice memo to establish an alibi. You sure you didn’t go there to kill her?” asked White.

  “I swear I didn’t. Part of me…a little part of me thought we might, I don’t know, hit it off that night. Maybe get back together.”

  Decker and White exchanged glances at the utter absurdity of this comment.

  Decker said, “No fingerprints of yours showed up at the house, Barry. No footprints either. There were no prints on the card you left with the legal phrase. No prints on the handkerchief you used to blindfold her. You took the knife you used to kill her, and presumably the pen you used to write the note. For someone in a daze you were pretty damn careful.”

  “I…I watch cop shows. I used another of her handkerchiefs so my prints wouldn’t show up. I took that and the knife and pen with me. Later, I threw them all in the ocean.”

  “And your footprints?” asked White.

  “I smoothed out the carpet on my way out and used the handkerchief to wipe out any marks on the hardwood floor.”

  “I think you did go over there to kill her, Barry,” said Decker.

  Davidson glanced at him. “She pleaded with me, you know. The woman who was always in control, always was right about every little thing, was on her hands and knees begging me not to do it, not to hurt her. But it was too late. And once I started…I couldn’t stop. Then I just looked down at her lying there.” He stopped and choked back a sob. “And…and maybe I did go over there to hurt her. But…now that it was over, I couldn’t believe what I’d just done. It was like somebody else had done it.”

  “Why did you put the mask on her?” asked White.

  “So…I thought the cops would think whoever killed her did it because she was a judge. You know…justice is supposed to be blind, but not really. I thought that would confuse everybody, especially since she had been telling people she needed protection.”

  “So, again, you were thinking that clearly at that moment in time?” said Decker as he stared impassively at the man. “To try to throw suspicion off you?”

  “I…I don’t know what I was thinking. I was scared. I’d just killed Julia, for God’s sake!”

  “You might have been scared, after the fact, because of what you’d done. But Julia must have been terrified. You stabbed her ten times, Barry. You took your son’s mother away, in the most brutal way possible.”

  Davidson composed himself and said, “But Tyler had nothing to do with this. I’ll say anything, sign anything, but only if nothing happens to my son. I’ve ruined pretty much everything, but he still has a life to live, and he’s going to get a chance to live it. If you can’t promise me that, then I’ll deny everything and fight you like hell in court.”

  White looked at Decker, who kept his gaze on Davidson.

  “I think we can promise you that,” said Decker quietly. “You must have been shocked when you found out your gun had been used to kill Lancer and Draymont.”

  “‘Shocked’ is too mild a word,” he said dully.

  “Did you go over there to kill yourself that night with the gun?” asked Decker.

  “I thought if I did it where I killed her, it might, I don’t know, equalize things.”

  “It doesn’t work that way,” interjected White.

  “Do you have to tell Tyler what I just told you? I…I don’t think I can live with that.”

  Decker said, “I’m not sure he can either, Barry. But I think I might know how to do it best. For him, not you.”

  Chapter 95

  S​HOULDN’T YOU BE IN CLASS?” Decker called out to Tyler.

  Decker was leaning on the fence that surrounded the football field, and was watching Tyler run pass routes all alone.

  “Teacher workday—thought I’d get in some reps.”

  Tyler glided over to Decker and wiped down with a towel he pulled from his duffel. “You know they let my dad go, right?”

  “Yeah, I heard.”

  “I told you. You just wouldn’t listen. And now our neighbor said the same thing.”

  “Right. Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, what?”

  “Did you really want your dad to get away with it?”

  Tyler slowly let the towel fall to the ground. “Wh-what?”

  “Could you really live with the knowledge that your father murdered your mother?”

  Tyler’s lips started trembling and he looked away. “What are you talking about?”

  “He confessed, Tyler. He…he couldn’t live with the guilt anymore. So he did the right thing. He came in and confessed. He asked me to come here and tell you that. And that he was sorry for everything. He didn’t mean to do it. He just snapped.”

  “He…my dad confessed?”

  “Yeah. He’s in custody now.”

  Tears slid down Tyler’s cheeks as he cried out, “Why couldn’t you just let it alone?”

  “It’s not my job to let things like that alone. It’s my job to catch people who commit crimes. He used your electric bike, did you know that?”

  Tyler slowly nodded. “I keep a really accurate record of mileage because it’s part of my training. It had four extra miles on it that morning.”

  “Right, over and back from your mom’s. And ‘res ipsa loquitor’?”

  “She was always saying that to him. I never really knew what it meant. When I found out it was on a note left beside her body…”

  “But you knew what he’d done before that, right? The laundry? You spilled your dad’s drink on purpose so you’d have an excuse to run another load of clothes while we were there. The clothes he wore from that night were in the machine when you tossed in the clothes you spilled the drink on, weren’t they?”

  Tyler shook his head, his eyes clenched tight. “He washed his clothes that night, which he never did. I heard the machine going from my room. But there were still some stains on them when I checked them early that morning. I…I didn’t know what they were.”

  “I think you did know what they were, Tyler. I think you saw the mileage on the bike and the bloodstains on the clothes. And then your dad showering at three in the morning? You said that was normal, but I don’t think it was. And, I spoke with Drew James earlier. He confirmed that you didn’t run with them that morning. Before you supposedly even knew your mother was dead.”

  Tyler’s eyes glistened with tears. “I’d seen a CSI episode where they check the drains for blood. I thought if I ran it multiple times and used bleach…”

  “It’s harder than you think to get rid of that evidence.”

  He finally looked up at Decker. “Look, I didn’t want to think that my dad…”

  Decker’s tone softened. “I know.”

  “I…I was hoping it was all in my head. That I was just thinking crazy stuff. I made myself believe that my mom was fine. That I’d see her soon. Right until the police showed up to tell us she was dead.”

  “I understand, Tyler.”

  “No, you don’t fucking understand anything. Now, thanks to you, I’ve lost my mom and my dad. I’ve got nobody. I’ve got nothing. I’m all alone,” he screamed.

  Tyler threw his duffel at Decker and sprinted flat out to his car. He slid into his BMW, fired it up, and roared off.

  Decker just stood there and watched him go before slowly walking back to his car.

  Chapter 96

  T​HEY HAD CHECKED OUT OF the hotel and were heading to the airport after saying their goodbyes the night before to Agent Andrews, who was doing well in rehab. He offered free golf lessons to Decker and White should they ever be back in his neck of the woods again.

  “Is it relaxing?” White had asked.

  Andrews had grinned. “Only if you play well. So, not really.”

  On the drive to the airport White asked, “So, why was Langley trying so hard to work up an alibi for that night if he didn’t kill Cummins?” asked White.

  Decker said, “Gloria Chase called me. She hired a detective to do some more digging because she was puzzled about that, too.”

  “And?”

  “And turns out Langley had another relationship going. He left from the liquor store to have a quickie with a married client while her husband was out of town.”

  “What a scumbag.”

  “I don’t think that term actually goes far enough.”

  They dropped off the car and walked into the terminal.

  And found Tyler Davidson inside waiting for them.

  He looked like a pale shadow of his former self, but he walked resolutely up to them and said, “I found out you were leaving from Agent Andrews. I…I just thought I’d come out to see you.”

  Decker said, “Okay, Tyler. How are you holding up?”

  He shrugged. “My dad has a good lawyer. They might plead insanity or something like that. I don’t know what that will do. He’s going to go to prison, I know that.”

  “I’m sorry,” said White. “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you.”

  Tyler looked up at Decker. “I just wanted you to know that my dad isn’t really a bad person. When I was a kid my parents really got along. We had so much fun. We were a great family, we really were.”

  “I’m sure, Tyler. But sometimes life is good and sometimes it’s bad, and sometimes it’s good and bad at the same time. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be real. And you can’t assume either one will last forever. So while things look really bad now, that won’t last, Tyler. I promise you.”

  “I don’t know if I can believe that.”

  Decker took this in and said, “I played ball against a guy in college. Best pure football player I’ve ever gone up against. He was a running back at the University of Texas, and every time we played them the guy killed us. He was a finalist for the Heisman his junior year, and he would have easily won it his senior year.”

  “What happened? Did he go pro early? What’s his name? If he was that good, I probably heard of him. I follow stuff like that.”

  “He never played a down of pro football.”

  “Why? If he was that good.”

  “He got framed for murder and spent twenty years in prison. Over half of that time was on death row.”

  Tyler gaped. “Holy shit!”

  “His innocence was finally established and he was released. He got a big payment from the government for what they did to him, and he’s now married and living a wonderful life in California.”

  “He deserved it.”

  “He never got to realize his dream of going pro, of being maybe one of the best of all time. But my point is, Tyler, no matter how bad it ever gets, it can also get better.”

  “I…I guess if things turned out okay for him, they could turn out okay for me.”

  “And, remember, you have a lot of money coming your way,” pointed out White.

  “I don’t care about that. I don’t even want it.”

  White said, “But your mother wanted you to have it. And it won’t be coming for quite a few years, so make no decisions until then. You can start that business that Decker told me you talked about. Or you can give it away to worthy causes. The choice will be yours.”

  Decker gave Tyler one of his cards. “And let me know where you land for college. I know more about football than most people. I’d be happy to help you any way I can. And not just with football, but anything, or you just want to shoot the shit. Call me, anytime, anywhere.”

  “Really?”

  “We husky football guys have to stick together.”

  Tyler slipped the card into his pocket. “My dad told me what you did for him. How you managed things for…me. So nobody would…the police…would leave me alone.”

  “You didn’t ask for any of this. And what you did, or didn’t do, under those circumstances? Well, I don’t know that I would’ve handled it any differently, particularly at your age. So what right do I have to judge you?”

  “Thanks for that, Mr. Decker.”

  “Call me Amos. All my friends do.”

  This drew a surprised look from White.

  Decker put out his hand, but Tyler bypassed that and hugged him. Decker could feel the young man squeezing him with all his strength, even as he trembled like a frightened child. Like Decker was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality.

  Decker closed his eyes, and in his mind he was holding his daughter after a bout of night terrors. Holding her tight, saying soothing things into her ear. Making her feel safe. And Decker felt himself starting to tremble, and then his eyes filled with tears as he hugged the young, frightened teenager as tightly as he could.

  After Tyler left, Decker just stood there, while White, her gaze averted, waited with him.

  Finally, Decker picked up his bag and lumbered off to the security gate, wiping at his face.

  White followed silently.

  Chapter 97

  T​HEY BOARDED THE PLANE AND flew back to DC. Right before they landed White got an email.

  “Uh-oh.”

  “What?”

  “SAC Talbott wants to see us as soon as we get in.”

  “Okay, this is not looking good.”

  “But we solved the case, Decker. What can he do?”

  “He can do anything he wants.”

  They landed and took a cab to the WFO.

  Talbott was waiting in his office. He rose with a smile on his face and his hand held out. “Just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done.”

  He shook Decker’s hand but did not acknowledge White. She managed a smile while Decker just stood there like a stone wall. He said, “You might have missed my partner standing right there. But for her, I’m lying on a morgue slab in Florida.”

  Talbott changed color and glanced at White. “Yes, thank you too, Agent, um, White.”

  He turned back to Decker. “Our sister intelligence agencies are very pleased with us. They had their suspicions of Senator Tanner for a long time, but could never prove anything. You solved that problem for them.”

  “Yes, we did,” said White, but Talbott kept his gaze on Decker.

  “We were thinking that a promotion was in order for you, Decker. Since you’re not an actual special agent, our options are somewhat limited. But you are a valuable asset to the Bureau and we will find a spot for you. You have my word on that. It won’t be in the DC area, but I know that you’re from the Midwest, so maybe Kansas or Nebraska?”

  “Agent White has young kids in school on the East Coast. She can’t make that transfer.”

  Talbott glanced at White and then back at Decker. “I was just speaking of you.”

  “But you just made us partners. You pulled her down from Baltimore.”

  “We’re actually promoting Agent White as well, for the exemplary work she did.”

  White looked surprised but pleased. “Promoting?”

  “Absolutely, and it’s well deserved. You will be the head agent overseeing a dozen other FBI special agents. It’s quite a career move up for you.”

  “My God, sir, thank you. And where is it?”

  Talbott smiled. “In Boise, Idaho. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”

  “Idaho!” barked White, looking stunned.

  “There is crime in Idaho,” said Talbott.

  “My kids. I can’t—”

  Talbott’s look turned stern. “Well…that’s your choice. But the Bureau is cutting back on field agents. Budget concerns and all. Everyone has to tighten their belts. So it’s either Idaho or…”

  “She’s not going to Idaho,” said Decker.

  “That really isn’t your concern,” said Talbott sharply.

  “Well, considering that we’re partners, it’s very much my concern.”

  “Decker,” interjected White. “It’s okay. I can work this—”

  “No, it’s really not okay. So we’ll just stay here and remain partners and do our job.”

  “That is not your call,” Talbott barked, the kid gloves now off. “You’ll do what you are ordered to do, or—”

  “Or you’ll can my ass, which is what this whole bullshit thing is about. Fine. Do it. Like you said, I’m not a real agent or anything, which means I’m not bound by the same crap as real agents are.”

  “What exactly do you mean by that?” exclaimed Talbott.

  “What I mean by that is the media would love to hear our story.”

  “What story?”

  “Two heroic FBI agents who solved a major crime and a decades-old spy case get kicked to the curb because they won’t play the stupid reindeer games to suit the fucking stuffed shirts that run this place.”

  White stepped back, closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer.

  “What did you just say to me?” barked Talbott.

  “Maybe your sister intelligence agencies, who are so grateful for what Agent White and I did, would like to take us on. I mean, don’t they love it when they can kick the Bureau in the nuts? And they have media people there who I’m sure could get the word out about what the FBI does to people who just do their job and keep the country safe. But maybe, since you’re just biding your time until you retire so you can go and sit on your ass somewhere, or play fucking golf, you don’t want to deal with all that shit, because it might end up getting your pension screwed. You know, budget cuts and all, so be prepared to tighten your belt if you go that route. But there’s a way for you to avoid all of that, and you know exactly what it is. Your call.”