Page 64 of State of Suspense

“I want to talk to you about Young.”

“What about him?”

“What’s his story? I just called Leslie, and he answered the phone.”

“I’m not surprised. They’re tight.”

“Where’s he from?”

“Minneapolis, but he came here for college and never left. He’s worked for Main Justice for twenty years and with Tom the whole time he was the USA.”

“I still find it odd that I work with you guys every day and had never heard of him before Tom was killed.”

“He works in the background. You wouldn’t have encountered him.”

“Have you ever picked up a vibe from him?”

“What kind of vibe?”

“The what-you-see-isn’t-what-you-get kind.”

“Never. He’s a super supportive colleague and friend. He’s the glue that keeps our office humming on all cylinders. He’s the first one to show up when someone has a baby or a death in the family or anything like that. We all love him.”

“Hmmm.”

“You can’t possibly be looking at him for this.”

“Not actively. Just trying to figure out the players and the various relationships.”

“It’s not him, Sam. There’s just no way. He’d have taken a bullet to protect Tom.”

“I appreciate the insight.”

“Promise me you aren’t going to let him think you suspect him. That would crush him.”

“I’ll be mindful of that.”

“Is anything popping?”

“Not yet. We’re still sifting through a mountain of messages and other data.”

“I heard some people here talking.”

“About?”

“It’s a rumor. There’s no way it’s true.”

“What, Faith?”

“That he was involved with someone outside his marriage. I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Who said it?”

“I’m not sure exactly.”

“Faith, come on. Of course you know who said it.”

“It was one of the admins.”

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