Page 54 of So Sinister
“Hi,” Faith said, smiling.“Where’s Mr.Hartford?”
Stevenson didn’t answer the question.“You’re that FBI agent,” he said.“You’ve been looking for me.They sentyou!”
His lips pulled back from his teeth.Faith lifted her hands and said quickly, “Yes, it’s me.I’m Faith Bold.They sent me because transporting you to safety is going to be difficult, and they needed an FBI agent to make sure we’re not pulled over or harassed by other law enforcement officers.”
His lips slowly closed.“Is that true?”
“It’s true,” Faith said.“The FBI outranks other law enforcement agencies.I can make them let us go.I can take you… Well,almostanywhere you want.”She smiled.“White House is off limits, I’m afraid.”
Stevenson returned a sickly grin instead of laughter, but it was a start.It was a step toward trust.
“Can you tell me where Mr.Hartford is?”
“No.”
Okay, that was a step away from trust.
“Robert… Can I call you Robert?”
“Sure.Whatever.”
“Okay.Robert, I can’t get you out of here unless I know that Mr.Hartford is alive.I also need to know where that bomb is.”
“I told you, I’m killing him today.The bomb is with him.Hewilldie.Do you hear me?Hewilldie!”
He lifted the hand holding the detonator, and Faith said, “Okay.Okay.All right.But I need to know that he’s alive right now.Can you call him, or—”
“We’re leaving,” Stevenson interrupted.“If you don’t believe the bomb is real, then push me and see what happens.”
He laughed that time, a nervous titter accompanied by a rolling of the eyes that Faith very much didn’t like.She didn’t like any of this.Without eyes on Hartford or the bomb, they couldn’t be sure he was still alive or that securing Stevenson would really allow them a chance to disarm the bomb.
But that was something they would have to figure out after they subdued him.The number one task was to get a hold of that detonator.
“All right,” Faith said.“You win.Let’s go.”
Stevenson hesitated.“How do I know you’re telling the truth?How do I know you’re not just lying to me so I’ll do what you want me to do?”
Faith gestured to herself."No vest.No gun.No taser.No pepper spray.Nothing.I came down here unarmed.It's called a gesture of good Faith.I was hoping you'd make a gesture of good Faith and prove to us that Mr.Hartford is still alive, but like I said, you win.Your thumb is on the detonator.You're in control."
Stevenson relaxed a little.That was the key.Letting him believe he was in control.
“The bottom line is we need to make sure that innocent people don’t get hurt,” she continued.“We don’t want a repeat of the Baltimore incident, do we?”
Stevenson’s lips pulled back and he released a cry that sounded like a muffled scream.“That wasn’t my fault!I told them!”
“I know,” Faith said, kicking herself for bringing that up.“I know.You’re right.You told them, and they didn’t listen.They should have listened.”
He calmed again.“They should have.But they’re incompetent.”
“Yes,” Faith agreed.“They are.And they’re cowards.”
Her honesty must have come through.Stevenson calmed further and lowered his hand, still holding the detonator button down.“He has to die,” he said.“You understand that, right?The Great Incompetent has to die.”
The conversational tone of his voice, temporarily free of the insanity he’d shown up until now, disturbed Faith.She’d met many insane people, and it always surprised her how that insanity seemed to come and go as needed.Only in Steven’s case, his wild eyes, ragged clothing, and unkempt hair broadcasted who he was even if his tone was ordinary.
Faith gestured for him to leave the restroom.“Let’s just get you out of here.We’ll worry about the rest later.”
Stevenson frowned.“Hehastodie.”
