Page 38 of So Sinister
Faith pressed the start button and folded her arms across her chest as she watched the coffee percolate."Yeah.That's the missing piece.We know those bombs symbolized something, we just don't know what.Maybe the killer's saying that Entwhistle only looked badass, but really he lacked the courage necessary to utilize that talent.Meanwhile, Hayes had courage but didn't have the ability to back it up."
“You could go the opposite way just as easily,” Jessica pointed out.“Hayes looked the part but had no substance.Entwhistle had substance but was missing the key component, in other words, the spark.I don’t mean to be contrary, but I feel like we’re assuming the bombs are important because they feel like they should be important and not because they actually are.”
“They are,” Faith insisted.
“Fair enough, but we can’t just shoehorn an interpretation into them.We need more information before we know exactly what the message is.”
Faith sighed.“Yeah.You’re right.I just feel like that’s where we’ll find our answer.”
Jessica turned to her, slightly irritated.“If you have a different idea where to look, feel free to act on it.”
Faith lifted a hand in apology.“Sorry.I guess I’m still worked up.”
“We both are.This is a very exhausting case for both of us, and it doesn't help that we both got chewed out for doing our jobs.But we have to stay confident that following proper procedure will get us the answers, just like it always has.We can’t give into pressure or panic and start looking for easy solutions.”
Faith gave her a half smile.“Very wise words, Jessica.”
Jessica returned her smile.“I’m not just a pretty face.”She looked at her computer and brightened further.“And looky looky.What have we here?”
Faith raised an eyebrow.“Whathavewe here?”
"It appears that a certain Dr.Viola Martinez sued the TSA for unlawful breach of contract after said contract was terminated.Apparently, she came forward to say that the K9 units at Thurgood Marshall were overworked and inadequately trained at the time of the Unibrow Bomber's attack.She claimed to have filed several reports noting the inadequate training, improper working hours, poor working conditions, and poor accountability practices at the airport only for her reports to be ignored several times."
“What did TSA say?”
“Exactly what you’d expect.They denied the reports existed, claimed that she was lying, fired her, and filed a lawsuit against her for libel since she posted her comments in an open letter to the editor of theBaltimore Sun.”
“And how did those lawsuits turn out?”
“Well, Dr.Martinez’s lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice.The TSA’s lawsuit was upheld.Dr.Martinez was ordered to pay the victims ninety thousand dollars in damages.”
Faith raised her other eyebrow.“The victims as inourvictims?”
“Yep.Forty-five K each to Jackson Entwhistle and Raelynn Hayes.”
“Well, well.The number one motive for murder is a lovers’ quarrel.The number two is…?”
“Money.”
“Just like Pink Floyd said.”She pulled two paper cups out of the plastic sleeves in which the motel wrapped them and poured their coffee to go.“Turk?”Turk leaped up, instantly awake at the sound of her voice.“Let’s go, boy.We have another possible bad guy.”
Turk barked acknowledgement and waited by the door while Faith and Jessica grabbed their vests and gear.Faith wasn’t ready to say she was optimistic yet, but at least the climb ahead wasn’t daunting enough to make her stop.As long as she kept moving forward, she’d reach the finish line eventually.
Of course, there was no guarantee that she’d win the race.
***
Dr.Viola Martinez had a private practice in Arbutus, a suburb of Baltimore nestled in between I-95 and US Highway 1 just southwest of the city.According to her website, it closed at five o’clock, just about five minutes after Faith and Jessica arrived.
The only person in the office when the three of them walked in was Dr.Martinez herself.She was of average height but sturdy build with a barrel-shaped waist, powerful legs, and strong arms ending in thick-wristed hands.Her skin was on the darker side of tan, and her dark eyes and curly dark hair hinted at her Mediterranean background.
She looked at the three FBI investigators with mild annoyance but smiled politely enough.“Hi, guys.We’re closing in five minutes, but I’d be happy to help you set an appointment for another day.”
“That’s all right,” Faith said.“We only need a few minutes of your time.”
Viola’s eyes narrowed slightly.“About what, may I ask?”
“The murders of Jackson Entwhistle and Raelynn Hayes.”
