Removal by Peter Murphy Read Free Book Online

head raised off the pillow a little. She kissed her first finger and placed it on his lips, shaking her head to tell him to go back to sleep.
    ‘The same jurisdiction we always have in the District, joint jurisdiction with the D.C. Police. You know how it works.’
    ‘Well, yes, Sir, but we would generally defer to them unless there’s something…’
    ‘As I said, Kelly, Chief Bryson didn’t want to go into it on the phone. But jurisdiction isn’t an issue as far as he’s concerned. There’s something there he needs us to take a look at, and at this point, I have to assume it’s important.’
    Kelly struggled to pull herself upright, and again tried to signal to Frank to go back to sleep.
    ‘Sir, with all due respect, jurisdiction may not be a problem for the Chief, but I need to know it isn’t a problem for us before I go trampling all over a D.C. Police crime scene.’
    ‘It’s not a problem for us. He’s asking for our cooperation. He understands what’s involved, and he assures me he’ll take care of it. Get something to write with and I’ll give you the address. I want you over there right away. You’re not to discuss whatever this is with anyone except me. Call me at home as soon as you can get to a secure line.’
    Kelly made a note of the details.
    ‘Any questions?’
    Frank was fully awake now, and his look was one of irritation. She turned her back to him and lowered her voice.
    ‘Director, is there any chance you could send someone else? Frank just got back into town, and we…’
    Her voice trailed away, and there was silence on the other end of the line.
    ‘I’m on my way, Sir,’ she said.
    She turned back to Frank, replacing the receiver.
    ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart.’
    He was climbing angrily out of bed. She held out her hand towards him.
    ‘No, Frank. You don’t need to get up. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Go back to sleep.’
    He was searching for his clothes.
    ‘Maybe, one of these days, we can have some kind of life.’
    Kelly tried to keep calm, but her own fatigue was kicking in, and she felt her voice become sharp.
    ‘What are you talking about?’
    ‘You heard me. God damn it, we can’t even get a few hours of good sleep without the phone ringing off the hook.’
    Kelly shook her head.
    ‘Hey, I’m not the one who’s at the beck and call of a senator twenty-four hours a day, and who goes out of town without saying goodbye. What are you making such a big deal about? I have a job too, you know. I’ll be back by the time you wake up.’
    ‘I’ve already woken up, in case you haven’t noticed.’
    ‘You know what I mean, Frank. Don’t do this. Go back to sleep. I’ll be back soon. It’s probably nothing.’
    But he was getting dressed as quickly as he could.
    ‘No. I’ll get out of your hair.’
    Kelly sat down miserably on the side of the bed.
    ‘I don’t want you out of my hair. Frank…’
    He was stepping into his shoes, and taking his car keys from the dressing-table.
    ‘I don’t want to discuss it,’ he said.
    ‘Fine,’ she replied. ‘Neither do I.’
    Helplessly, Kelly watched as he opened the bedroom door.
    ‘Frank, please don’t go. Not like this.’
    He turned back towards her, and for a moment, Kelly thought she saw a look of guilt cross his face.
    ‘Call me later,’ he said, closing the door behind him.
    She wiped her eyes.
    ‘Oh, sure,’ she said.
    * * *
    Kelly drove quickly through the deserted early-morning streets of the District. It was cool and overcast, and a light drizzle was falling. She wore a thick sweater under her black FBI jacket. The address Lazenby had given her was an upmarket apartment building in North West, just off Wisconsin Avenue. She knew the building. It was one which had become fashionable with some members of Congress as a Washington base. She had visited it before, on occasions when she had found it necessary to ask a legislator one or two questions which called for a certain degree of discretion,