Page 42 of The House of Cross

“Where?”

“Here.”

“Then you should go and kind of get her out of that meeting,” Mahoney said, the smile fading. “This is a double-homicide investigation and the FBI’s highest priority.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She hurried away.

A few moments later, Ms. Little returned, apologized, and led us through a maze of desks to a conference room.

An extremely irritated-looking woman with close-cropped black hair came into the room through another door. “This better be good,” she said. “I’m losing ground by the minute.”

“Edward Mahoney, FBI. This is my colleague Dr. Alex Cross. We’re working the murders of federal appeals court judges Franklin and Pak.”

That sobered the woman. “Sorry, I’m Allegra Dennison, director of transition personnel. How can I help?”

I said, “An anonymous caller said that the incoming administration had been considering nominating Judge Franklin to the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Dennison frowned. “There’s no opening that I know of.”

Mahoney said, “But there must be lists you keep, files of possible candidates.”

“I’m sure,” she said. “But we’re not in the habit of discussing those with the public.”

“We’re not the public, Ms. Dennison,” Ned said, getting that hard-ass edge to his voice again. “We’re the law.”

“Yes,” she said, holding up her palms. “And I am not here to obstruct you in any way, Mr. Mahoney. I’ll tell you that as far as I know, Judge Franklin was not on any transition-team list of possible Supreme Court appointees.”

“Okay,” I said. “What about Judge Pak?”

“Pak? No. He was a longtime supporter of President-Elect Sue Winter, but no.”

“Supporter?”

“The president-elect knew Mrs. Pak in college and attended the Paks’ wedding. Both Judge and Mrs. Pak made regular donations to her campaigns over the years.”

“Huh,” Mahoney said. “And that didn’t get Pak on a list?”

“If it did, it has not crossed my desk,” she said firmly. “I want to put this rumor to rest. The office and work of the transition team is in no way, shape, or form connected to the tragic deaths of Judge Pak and Judge Franklin.”

CHAPTER 30

DECEMBER SLIPPED AWAY ANDJanuary began bitter cold for the nation’s capital.

The Cross family Christmas tree came down on New Year’s Day. Damon left on January 2 to see his new girlfriend in Nashville before going back to Davidson. A few days later, Jannie returned to the dorms at Howard. And not long after that, Ali’s Christmas break was over.

At breakfast after dropping Ali off at school, Bree said, “I can’t believe how empty the place feels with just us.”

Alex nodded. “There was a whirlwind and now the calm afterward.”

“I’ll miss it until next Christmas,” Nana Mama said.

“Wish me luck getting in,” Alex said as he left.

“Getting in where?” Nana Mama asked Bree.

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