Eleven (35 page)

“Answer the question directly. Did you plant these in the agent’s home?” Jack’s hand reached out to the plastic tube. “All it takes is one small bubble of air.”

The chimes on the front door of The Pawnshop sounded. Paige and Zachery rose to full height.

“Are you agents all right?” It was a Sarasota police officer, and he had let himself go around the middle. His hairline had receded, and the hair he did have was parted perfectly centered. He stood there poised with both hands on his hips.

“We’re doing fine in here,” Paige answered.

“I just didn’t see either of you or hear anything.”

“We’re fine.”

He waved a hand at him and he left.

Paige snapped her head to face Zachery. “What was with that?”

“I believe that was a cop trying to either cover for himself or someone higher up.”

“Did you notice how he said agents?”

“It’s almost like he sees us as elevated in status and doesn’t respect the fact.”

“We have to find out what’s going on here. I’m not going to face investigation or have a mark on my record because some eager ass-kisser wants to smear the bureau’s name.”

Robinson’s body shook. “Please don’t. I told you. I didn’t do it.”

Jack held the plastic tube in his fingers. “Didn’t do what?”

“Any of the things you’re accusing me of. I didn’t kill those people. I didn’t go into the agent’s house.” He turned to me. “Please believe me. Make him stop.”

Jack released the tube. “See all you have to do is cooperate. Now tell me where you were back in ’71.”

“’71?” Robinson’s breath was choppy. “You’re the FBI how can you not know?”

“Answer the question.”

The record on Robinson didn’t show much more than the charges brought against him for beating his wife. The records showed that he lived in Sarasota all his life and that he had a means of travel. He owned a Toyota Prius, and his financials showed a substantial rate of return.

“Here.”

“Does the name Anna Knowles mean anything to you?”

Robinson blinked slowly. He opened his eyes to Jack. “The name does sound familiar.” His eyes widened. “How could I be so stupid?” The question came out as a monologue. “Those murders discovered a while back now.” He looked to Jack. “That’s what you think I did?”

“She was murdered in ’71. Her body and ten others were found in ‘’86.”

A hand waved back and forth. “Nope. I didn’t do it.”

“You keep saying that but haven’t convinced me of it.”

“Isn’t your job to prove I did it?”

Jack took a seat back in the chair that was still near the bed. He leaned in toward Robinson. “I will.”

 “Just because there’s strapping there doesn’t mean a gun was.” Zachery looked at Paige.

“Robinson was reaching under the counter when I told him to stop. There was a gun there, and he planned on pulling it on us. You can’t convince me otherwise.”

“Don’t you think we have enough on our hands with this case? Let’s just do the job we came here to do—”

“I need to know.”

“I’m not sure what you’d expect to find. You suspect a cop removed it.”

“Please, just one quick look around.”

“Quick. Then we have to watch that video and make sure Robinson was here the time of the break-in.”

“Deal.” Paige let her eyes wander, starting up close and then taking in more of the store.

Zachery stepped from behind the counter and Paige followed him. They moved methodically. Paige’s cell phone rang, and she answered, “Special Agent Dawson…yeah…we’ve got it. We’re about to watch it. We’re on it…oh, Jack…I need you to ask Robinson something.” She stepped into the office, out of Zachery’s hearing range, and told him about the strapping under the counter. She didn’t elaborate on her suspicions, but Jack would have pieced it together.

She hung up and called for Zachery to join her in the room. “Let’s watch the video.”

“You asked Jack to talk to Robinson about what was behind the counter didn’t you?”

Paige focused on the video player. She didn’t even want to consider the shot not being a good one.

“You do realize if he had a gun there, he’s not going to admit it.”

“Just hit play.”

Zachery hit the button and the screen filled with the counter of The Pawnshop with Robinson as the leading actor.

“With such archaic machinery how do we know the date and time stamp are even accurate?”

Zachery tapped the current readout which was correct and smiled.

Paige returned his smile and took a deep breath.

They continued to watch Robinson manage the counter. He took a five-minute siesta in the afternoon. They forwarded through the video.

“Not too busy here is it?”

“From what we’ve actually watched maybe five customers so far.”

They kept watching, forwarding periodically, and Robinson was where he said he was the entire day.

“There was no way he could have been in Woodbridge planting surveillance equipment in Brandon’s house,” Paige said.

“We’re going to have to let Jack know the guy didn’t do it.”

“You volunteer to tell him? He’s not going to be happy about this one. He came all the way down here certain we had the unsub.”

“There’s still more to prove. And we’re where everything started. Either way it’s advantageous being here. Besides, you and Pending wouldn’t want to be alone when it comes to the church congregation list.”

“If Nadia ever gets it put together.”

“I know she never normally takes this long. But remember it’s not current church records either.”

“And she does have a lot of evidence to sort through and analyze. She has the photos we recovered from Royster’s computer still for one.” Paige looked around the office, then back to Zachery. “Why do you always call Brandon Pending? He hates it.”

Zachery smiled. “Maybe that’s why.”

Paige rolled her eyes and dialed Nadia. “I know you’re swamped, but I need you to do something for me.”

Robinson watched as Jack slipped his cell phone into a pant pocket. Jack latched eyes with the man, and his mouth opened to say something when the phone rang again.

Jack answered, “Supervisory Special Agent Harper.”

I observed Jack’s facial expressions, how they ranged a full spectrum of emotion from surprise to disappointment to anger. This is where the range ended. He closed the cell, held it in his hand, and looked at me. If I was reading his eyes correctly, Robinson wasn’t our unsub. Jack’s next words confirmed it. “Your alibi for four days ago stands.”

Robinson smiled. “See I told you.”

“We need to know who you sold these too.” Jack held out the bags containing the surveillance equipment.

“I don’t keep names.”

“We need to know when.”

“Five days ago. Yes, that’s it.”

Jack looked at me. “So Tuesday. Do you remember who you sold them to?”

“Why would I—”

Jack rose and moved to the morphine drip.

“Stop.” Robinson’s chest heaved. “I don’t remember. Truthfully I don’t.”

“We need to see the video feed from that day.”

Robinson’s face tightened in a wince. “I don’t have it.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s to save the environment. Every four days I record over the previous.”

“So today’s tape would have had Tuesday on it?”

Robinson gave it some thought. “Yeah, that would be right seeing as I wasn’t there to change the tape out last night.”

“We’ll be taking it.”

“Sure whatever you need to do. I didn’t kill those people.”

“We’ll have it analyzed by specialists. If there are ghosted images for them to recover, they will. You better hope you’re on there selling these surveillance pieces.” Jack dragged the chair back to the corner where he originally took it from. The legs scrapped on the linoleum causing a high-pitched squeal. “Do you own a .38 Special?”

Robinson didn’t say anything.

“Answer the question.” Jack patted his shirt pocket and pulled out the package of cigarettes.

“It’s licensed.”

“Where is it?” Jack’s phone calls obviously tipped him off on more than one thing.