“All right. We’ve wasted most of the morning, and I have phone calls to make. Everyone get some lunch, but be back here this afternoon ready to work. We’ll meet in Task Force Central, and put some new sheets on the walls. During lunch, try and study Alex’s report; we’ll go over it in depth later. Any questions?”

“Yeah, ” David said. “Only Alex’s report? I handed mine in.”

“Yes, David, I know you did. But we both know you only copied Alex.”

This brought more laughter from the agents. “Not all of it, Cliff. I mean, I changed a few words here and there.”

“Yeah, like the name on the cover sheet.” More laughter. “All right, get out of here, get food, read the report, and I’ll see you at one.”

Alex gathered her papers and followed David down the aisle and out the door. Cliff was waiting for her, and pulled her aside.

“Your Coke.” He handed her the bottle. “Great job, by the way. All the facts set out, plain and simple.”

“Thanks. I don’t think Director Bishop liked it, though.”

“Don’t take it personally. The guy probably slept through most of it. He’s been known to sleep with his eyes open.”

They laughed.

“By the way, Alex, what time you plannin’ on leaving tonight?”

“I don’t know, Cliff, depends on when we finish the session, and when I get a couple of reports I’m waiting on. I should be getting a phone call from Philly at some point.”

“Well, if you can stick around till six, I’d appreciate it. One of my connections finally came through, and I’ve got someone from the CIA coming in. He won’t come during business hours, though, so we agreed on my office at six o’clock. I’d like you to be there. I’d ask David as well, but he insisted only one agent.”

“That’s fine. I can be there at six. Do you mind if I at least let David know? That way he’ll know to expect me at his place if we get anything important.”

“Fine. Just let him know that I could only have one of you at the meeting. I chose you ‘cause I thought he’d want to get home to his wife. After all, you two were gone for quite a while.”

“Yeah, we were. Wait, what are you saying, you chose me because David has a life and I don’t?”

“No, no, absolutely not.”

“Good.”

” It’s just that lately, your job is your life.”

“Oh, thanks, Cliff. You better watch it, I still have plenty of vacation I could use. How’d you like to lose me for a couple months?”

“I wouldn’t. If I promise you another bottle of coke at the meeting, would you delay that vacation?”

She grinned. “Oh, I see your game now. Offer Alex a Coke, and she’ll do anything.”

Cliff shrugged. “It’s the only bribe I have.”

Alex shrugged back. “Just make sure it’s cold. Vacation can wait.”

*******************************************************

She found David in his cubicle, on the phone.

“Right. Thanks, Rick. I’ll be waiting for the fax. Bye.” He hung up.

“What’s up, Dave?”

He turned to regard his partner. “Well, for one thing, Ken’s not sure about the diaper bag theory, but he’s willing to take it into consideration. He’s still waiting for Research, but they promised him a full report by the end of tonight. Rick called that clothes company. This is interesting. Kittredge is indeed their signature line, and it can be purchased at over a hundred stores on the east coast. However, the line of Klaser Coats, is a fairly recent release, and there are only four stores which sell that particular line.”

“And those four stores are located where?”

“Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, and Baltimore.”

“Baltimore?”

“Yep. I’m gonna give a call and find out what time they close. Feel like joining me on a short road trip?”

“I’d love to, but Cliff wants me to be at a meeting in his office at six. A contact of his might have information for us. He thought he’d give you the night to be with Miri.”

“That was kind of him. Would you rather we took the trip tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. Find out about their closing, and if you think it won’t take you too long, go tonight. If they close early, you and I can always go tomorrow morning.” She thought for a second. “On second thought, you might want to wait. Cliff seemed to think this contact might seriously have something. If he’s right, I might want to brief you tonight.”

David nodded. “Good idea. Should I pick you up tomorrow? Say, eight o’clock?”

“Eight-thirty.”

“Do I hear nine?”

“Aw, don’t tease, Dave, I’m still tired from the late flight. You’re just lucky I was on time today.”

“Okay, eight-thirty. But you’re buying breakfast.”

“Agreed. Now, are you ready for this bull session?”

“As prepared as I was for the previous BS session.”

“Yeah, well, do me a favor. Just don’t bring up the diaper bag, okay? I don’t feel like being laughed out of the room today.”

“I’m telling you, Alex, I’m right.”

“Okay. You’re right. But if you tell these guys that you have a suspect based on diapers that weren’t there…”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Now, where are we going for lunch?”

“Is that all you think about?” Alex looked at David with exasperation.

“No.” He waited a moment. Alex’s stomach growled. “But I think that’s all the monster in there thinks about. I just try to keep it satisfied.”

Alex?s face reddened, and she smacked David’s arm. They were both laughing as they headed for the elevator.

*******************************************************

Alex and her fellow agents were much more alert and enthusiastic at their afternoon meeting. Instead of jackets, most everyone was in shirt sleeves; there were also a few open collars and many loosened ties. The atmosphere was also different as people seemed more relaxed, and obviously paid much closer attention.

Alex again had to marvel at the team they had become. While the task force had originally consisted of Cliff and four agents, it had now grown to nearly three times that many. There were two agents for each victim, with several more helping out with research and organization, as well as staying in contact with other potential vicims. Today, the meeting mainly consisted of those pairs of agents who were working on each individual killing. Tom Jorgen and Rudy Wilkins had been two of the original team members, assigned to the murder of Steven Fletcher. Mark Garnett and Ben Cleves had drawn duty on the death of Max Rhodes. The drive-by shooting of Mario Arturo had been assigned to Bill Tucker and his partner Victor Juarez, who was a native of southern California. The bombing of Doug Wilson had been handed over to Steve Hentgen and Louis Baker, who were both bomb experts. Until the past weekend, Alex and David, along with Ken Thomas and several others, had been extra hands for the team. Now, with Dabir dead,they had their own victim and their own case.

Alex and David were both surprised to hear that there had been new developments not mentioned in the earlier meeting. This included fibers found in the magazine tube of the rifle used to kill Max Rhodes.

“What kind of fibers, Mark?”

“First impressions from the lab said they were a synthetic wool blend. They were dyed a beige, or tan color.”

“Have they made any matches with manufacturers?”

“None yet, Steve. It doesn’t help that we don’t know what they’re from.”

There was silence in the room, then Alex spoke up.

“Try overcoats.”

More silence.

“Any reason why?”

“Well, first reason, why not? It’s a starting place. Secondly, I know it’s a long shot, but the overcoat we found in Philly was a synthetic wool blend, and tan in color.” She shrugged. “Like I said, a place to start.”

“Good thinking. Anyone I should call on this?”

“Yeah, call Rick Price at the Philly office. He found the manufacturer for us, and David and I are going to one of their outlets tomorrow.”

“They have an outlet in DC?”