Startled, Dr. Manfredi exclaimed, “You! You’re?—”
“Julia Washburn, Madam Secretary’s adopted daughter.”
“Adopted,” Dr. Manfredi muttered. “Yes, I knew that. So, is it possible? You’re Axis and Axalia’s half-sister?”
“It’s not only possible, it’s the biological truth. And now, thanks to you, they know my identity. My entire family is in danger. So, you’re going to share with us every bit of information you’ve gleaned from the Andersons in your sessions with them, so we can figure out where they might be headed.”
The interrogation lastedthree hours with a break halfway through it when Trey received word from the Feds in Kentucky and Missouri that there had been reports of vehicles stolen and two murders attributed to the Andersons. Trey passed the license plate numbers to Tex, hoping the computer genius would be able to track the siblings. The news reports sealed Dr. Manfredi’s fate. Trey arrested the psychiatrist, charging him with negligence and accessory to murder and a slew of other crimes that a good defense attorney could probably get thrown out, but Trey hoped the worst charges would stick.
“I wish my dad was prosecuting this case,” Trey lamented after Dr. Manfredi had been arraigned and posted bail. “He’d make sure that quack never saw the light of day again.”
“Axis and Axalia are heading west,” Julia remarked as she, Trey, and Miguel left the courthouse. “Do you think they’re on a track for Laguna Beach?”
Miguel spoke up. “I think they’re headed to Mexico.”
The implication wasn’t lost on Julia. However, before she could respond, she received a text message. “My SAC wants to see me immediately at headquarters. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
“Mind if I tag along?” Miguel asked.
“Not at all.”
“I’m flying to Kentucky,” Trey informed them. “See what I can find out. I’ll keep you posted.”
The trio headed in opposite directions.
On their way to the DEA’s headquarters located across from the Pentagon, Miguel broached the subject of Dr. Manfredi’s interrogation. “It must have been frightening for you to hear all that about the Anderson siblings.”
Julia clenched the wheel of the Suburban. Ithadbeen hair-raising, but she wouldn’t admit it. “Not frightening. Disturbing. Sad to say, I don’t feel anything for Axis and Axalia, not even pity. The only thing I have in common with them is half of my DNA. I’m just grateful that Lola and Julio had the courage to give me up and not look back. I do wonder though…”
“Wonder what?”
“If Lola ever tried to find me. With her money and resources, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.”
“Don’t give it a second thought, Julia. Continue to be grateful that she didn’t.”
When they arrived at the DEA’s headquarters, Julia parked the Suburban and shared some history about the impressive building. A few years ago, the DEA headquarters underwent a major renovation in phases. Housed in two buildings, every square foot of space required an upgrade into the twenty-first century, including IT and security. Now, plenty of large windows, glass-walled offices, and collaborative work areas provided a bright and inspiring environment. A spacious cafeteria served fresh, healthy food options, and the renovated fitness center offered the most innovative machines.
“We now have our own museum here on campus, a visitors’ center, a media room, and even two courtrooms,” Julia explained.
“Pretty impressive,” Miguel commented. “Shall I wait for you in the cafeteria?”
“No. Come with me. I’ll show you my workstation.”
They headed toward a bank of elevators. Julia used her ID to activate one of them, and they rode it to the fifth floor. Since it was after five o’clock, they stepped into a mostly empty, cavernous space with high-tech computers, gadgets, and open workstations.
Julia greeted one of her lone colleagues who said, “SAC Silver isn’t thrilled with your being MIA for two days. He’s on the warpath because he needs you on a raid going down tomorrow.”
“Thanks for the heads up.”
As Julia and Miguel approached SAC Jerrick Silver’s glassed-in office, they saw him speaking with someone on his cell phone and wildly gesticulating.
“Maybe you’d better wait out here,” she suggested.
“Good idea.”
When SAC Silver caught sight of her, he pointed at her, then at the door. Julia took a half step inside the office and shut the door behind her. SAC Silver ended the call and shouted, “Where the hell have you been, Agent Washburn?”
“I’m sure you heard my mother’s announcement—” Julia broke off when she realized SAC Silver wasn’t listening to her but staring at Miguel.
