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“They did a few months ago. We were up at Bell Island on a case. I didn’t know that he’d been committed.”
“Technically he wasn’t. He’d lose his security clearance. He was treated for massive shock and hospitalized for a while with trauma counseling. I’m glad he spoke to Ray.”
“Yes, it was still frosty but they seemed to manage. He’s been back a couple of times since then so I guess they are doing okay.”
“I nearly fell over when I saw you, by the way.”
“Meaning?”
Jarrod reached into his pocket and withdrew a photo, small and worn as if it had been handled a lot over the years. “You might like to see this.” He finally passed the small square over and Connor did a double take, three men, all rather drunk, a younger Peter, free of the haunted look, Jarrod clearly recognizable and another man who Connor thought for a second was himself. “That was Nick. Old Regis had finally got married and we were at the reception; man, we were so drunk I think we slept in the hall that night.” Connor noted the interlocked arms around each other, hanging on for dear life and laughing hysterically, there was a peace and contentment about Peter, one that Connor was yet to see. And for a strange moment, he found that the loss of such innocence grieved him more than the brutal murders. Jarrod continued speaking softly and he was drawn back to the voice. “Peter lost everything when he found Nick’s body, Connor. Don’t be too harsh on him.”
After a few seconds he handed the photo back.
“Keep it next to my babies.”
“I didn’t know you have children.” Connor smiled.
“Three from two ex-wives and a Labrador. Nick was family, Connor; I want these bastards out of the way.”
“I’m beginning to understand.”
“I’m glad; don’t let him run again. It would kill him, no matter what he says.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Excellent. I’ll look in on Lindsay before I leave; see if she’s got the loop we need to pick them up.”
***
Anton chewed the end of his glasses and looked at the profiles on the table again. Long fingers idly flipped pages as he studied the photos that lay scattered in an ordered mess and he squinted as Peter walked in.
“Connor said you wanted to see me.” Axon looked tired, in fact he looked gray and Anton paled as he motioned the young man to a chair.
“Yes, I wanted your opinion on a few things. Are you all right?”
“No, not really.” Came the bluntly honest reply and Anton studied the man. He hadn’t expected this level of honesty and it shocked him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Having problems sleeping, I guess.”
“I can prescribe something for you, but it might be better if you told me what the problem is.”
“Old memories, Anton; I doubt there is anything you can do.”
“You want to give it a shot?”
“Sure.” Peter sounded defeated as he got up and closed the door.
“What memory in particular?”
“I worked this case before, Anton; long time ago, and a whole lot of people had already died around the country. Probably in Canada as well, but our resources back then were not as good as they are now.”
“Connor mentioned you’d run in with this cult before.”
“Did he just?” Peter’s demeanor took on an icy exterior before he continued. “What else did he tell you?”
“Not a thing, and I did ask. I’ll admit to being concerned about you.”
“Makes two of us, I guess. This is all off the record, right?”
“Of course.”
Peter seemed pleased with the response and relaxed visibly in the chair. “I became good friends with the FBI agent assigned to the case. He was Jarrod’s partner and when we met it was like we’d known each other our whole lives.” Peter sounded wistful to the elderly doctor, an observation Anton kept to himself for the moment.
Anton smiled. “A lot like you and Connor.”
“More, I guess. Nick and I argued over him being bait in the sting they were organizing and we didn’t fully appreciate how these people operated. They didn’t take the offer on the night of the operation. It was a couple of nights later when he got a call on his cell and he went off to meet them alone. He said it was just a meeting. He’d go back to the office when he was through and fill in the reports.”
“So you spoke to him before he left?”
“Yeah, I was in the room and I asked him not to go. He told me I was being paranoid and that we probably scared them off last time due to the rather obvious presence we exuded.” Peter smiled sourly. “I guess I knew he was walking into trouble, but I let him talk me out of calling Jarrod; and I told him that if he didn’t check in within two hours, I was going to come looking. He was wearing a tracer, had the cell, and was armed.”
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