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1086 Words
“I’m not sure of the precise time. But you probably noticed a canine unit at the north end of the park?”
“We did, on the video,” said Herbert.
“They don’t bring the dogs out for their health.”
“Would they typically cover the entire park?” asked Herbert.
“Yes. With a dog it doesn’t take that long.”
“So the dog would have detected a bomb?” said Anthony.
“That’s sort of the point,” answered Alex.
“Well, it’s also sort of the point that a b****y bomb did go off in the park,” she shot back.
“I’m just telling you what I know. I guess I’ll be going now.”
“Alex, this is not how I wanted things to go down,” said Herbert.
“Yeah, but they did, didn’t they? I hope you make it, Oliver, I really do.”
A moment later he was gone. A few seconds later they heard his car start.
“Nice group of mates you have. Seems like they really care about you.”
“And I care about them.”
“Who are they really?”
“Not important.”
“Who was this Milton bloke the little fellow mentioned?”
“A friend.”
“But he’s dead. How? Accident?”
“No, large-caliber rifle round.”
Anthony was about to say something when Herbert’s cell phone buzzed. It was FBI agent Birdman. Herbert listened and then clicked off.
“The woman from the park last night has turned up.”
“You mean they caught her?” asked Anthony.
“No, she walked into the FB
I all on her own.”
“I’M MARISA Mr. Green,” the woman said as Herbert and Anthony took seats opposite her and Tom Birdman in an interior office at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which all agents referred to as the WFO. Herbert took a few moments to study her. In good light and with only a few feet separating them he decided she was closer to thirty than forty. She was Anthony’s height or a bit taller, with blonde hair that curled around her neck. It was not her natural color, Herbert could tell. Her eyes were blue and striking, her face interesting with elegant bone structure, the chin sharply angled and the two sides of her jaw forming perfect bookends for the expressive mouth. Her clothes were clearly expensive but she wore them in a casual manner; minimal jewelry and makeup completed the attractive package.
Birdman added, “Ms. Mr. Green voluntarily came in when she learned we were looking for anyone who was in the park last night.”
Mr. Green shook her head and looked troubled. “I have to tell you I was shocked at what happened. I’d just gotten to H Street when the gunfire started. And then the explosion.” She shivered uncontrollably.
“How did you find out the FBI was looking for you?” Herbert asked.
“A friend of mine saw an item on the news and phoned me.”
Herbert looked at Birdman, who said, “In situations like this we call in the media and ask for their assistance in getting the word out. Usually very effective.”
“Well, it certainly was in my case,” said Mr. Green.
“In any event you probably would’ve assumed the police would want to talk to you,” said Herbert.
“I guess so, yes, although I don’t have any experience in things like this. My home was broken into years ago, that’s really the only contact I’ve ever had with the police.”
“Can you tell us what you saw?” asked Birdman.
“Smoke and people running and screaming.” She looked at Herbert and her voice shook. “I’ve never been that frightened in my life.”
“But before all that you were sitting on one of the benches in the park?” said Herbert.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Little late at night for that, wasn’t it?” asked Herbert.
“My office is located in the line of town houses on the west side of the park.”
“Jackson Place?” said Herbert.
“Yes. Most of the offices there are linked to the White House, but I was able to snare one of them for my business through more luck than skill. I was working late. Left the office. The night was so nice I sat down and might’ve even dozed off. I don’t usually do that, but I did last night. It was a long day and I was tired. And I know the park is about the best-protected space in the city, so I felt very safe.” She gave a hollow laugh. “That turned out to be quite ironic. It really was bad timing all around,” she added with another little shiver. “Nice relaxing time in the park that turned into a war zone. For a minute there I thought I’d stumbled onto a movie set.”
“Only the bullets and bomb were real,” said Herbert.
“Yes.”
“What is your business?” asked Birdman.
She flashed a smile. “In this town, that close to the White House you’re one of the two Ls.”
“Lawyer or lobbyist,” answered Herbert.
“You win the prize.” She crossed her legs and flicked at the hem of her skirt, revealing briefly a glimpse of her pale bare thighs. From the efficient way she did it, Herbert deduced this was a tactic of hers during a meeting, at least a meeting with men. He glanced at Birdman and saw that it had gotten his attention too. When he looked at Anthony she was just finishing rolling her eyes at this same act.
Mars, Venus, thought Herbert.
“So which are you?” he asked Mr. Green. “Lawyer or lobbyist?”
“Both, actually.”
Birdman cleared his throat. “And who do you lobby on behalf of?”
Her gaze shifted to the FBI agent. “Lobbyists are the most regulated beasts on earth, so my client list is a matter of public record. But it has no relevance to last night. If I hadn’t decided to sit on the bench instead of going right home I wouldn’t even be here.”
“We still need to check,” said Birdman.
- Writer
