Page 157 of State of Suspense

When her words registered with him, he tipped his head as if trying to hear her correctly. “Did you just say you want to use a federal appeals court judge to bait a murderer?”

“Um, yes, but it sounded better when I said it than when you did.”

The chief huffed out a laugh. “I’m sure it did. Think of something else.”

“Hear me out… The guy we’re looking for has no phone, no local address, no ties to anyone here, and he has survival training. We’re never going to find him unless we do something to smoke him out.”

“You’re asking me to approve putting a federal judge in mortal danger, Lieutenant.”

“I’m trying to find the man who killed Tom and tried to kill Avery.”

“I understand the goal and the urgency, but I’m not liking the plan to use Sawyer. There has to be another way.”

“I think this is the fastest way to him.”

“Unless,” Faith said, “we use his stepmother to lure him.”

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

“She told us his father’s approval means everything to him, right? What if we put the word out that Amber has a message for him from his father and use her to get to him?”

“That won’t work because he could easily find out that she’s in our custody. He’d be immediately suspicious of anything involving her.”

“You’re right.”

Sam bit back the retort she would’ve given Freddie—I usually am. “I like the idea of using Sawyer. According to Amber, Willy Peckham blamed Avery, Tom and the judge for all their problems and was determined to get revenge when he got out of prison. He took Avery’s family hostage. Amber said if Avery had been at home that night, Willy would’ve gutted Avery like a pig and made his pretty wife watch.”

Chief Farnsworth swallowed audibly.

“He killed Tom Forrester, shot Avery and will be coming for Sawyer next. If we don’t stop him, he’ll try to finish the job with Avery as soon as he gets the chance.” She looked to Faith. “Who supervises federal judges?”

Faith used her phone to get the correct info. “The Federal Judicial Center, which is governed by a board of directors that includes the chief justice, director of the Administrative Office and seven judges chosen by the Judicial Conference. The FJC does orientation for new federal judges and provides continuing education for judges and court personnel. They also make recommendations to improve the operations of federal courts.”

“I had no idea how any of that worked,” Sam said.

“Me either,” the chief said. “The federal government is like an onion. Layers on top of layers on top of layers.”

“Indeed,” Faith said. “In order for us to be involved in this in any way, I need the AG’s approval.”

“In that case, how do you feel about us leaving you out of it until we have Harlan in custody?”

“I feel very good about that.”

They glanced at the chief, knowing it would be his call as to whether they went forward with Sam’s plan.

“I’d want to hear from the judge that she’s on board and willing to be part of this.”

“She’s my next stop.”

“Talk to her and let me know what she says. If she approves, then we’ll put together an airtight plan with no room for error.”

That had Sam swallowing hard, knowing from experience there was no such thing as a fully foolproof plan. Her experience undercover with the Johnson family had led to a dead child in a crack house. She’d never seen the kid in the house prior to the night they raided the place and had carried the grim lessons learned in that case with her ever since.

Freddie returned with Amber’s pizza and Coke. “George Terrell is here asking to see you.”

“Go see what he wants and keep me in the loop on the judge,” the chief said.

“Yes, sir.” She walked toward her office, where Terrell was seated in one of her visitor chairs. “Hey, how’s Avery?”

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