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Chapter Three:
Thompson:
"Give us names!" I shouted.
"Don't talk to our client like that!" one of his lawyers said.
I left and slammed the door.
My teammate Irina Cole, stood outside the interrogation room.
"That went well," she said sarcastically.
"Look, even if these creeps don't know who did it, they're impeding our investigation by not giving us access to their membership lists!"
"They don't strike me as being stupid enough to leave bodies at their own temples."
"They must know something, but they're afraid of persecution! The guy has inverted cross earrings!"
The door to the hall opened. Morris, and none other than Diana Reid appeared.
"How's the interview going?" Morris asked.
"The guy knows something, but is hiding behind his lawyers," I said.
"Everyone, Dr. Reid is consulting on the case as an expert in the occult studies. Dr. Reid, you do as we discussed, are we clear?"
She nodded.
They entered the interrogation room.
"That's Diana Reid," Cole said slowly.
"Let's see if she's like her old man," I said.
"This is Dr. Reid," Morris said.
"Hello, Mr. Cain," she said as she sat down.
"I know who you are," he said. "You the lone survivor of ten-fourteen-thirty."
"Then you and I have something in common: People have preconceived notions of who we are before we even open our mouths."
"Most people only assume good things about you. The daughter of a hero genius FBI agent. You've lived up to his name too, catching bad guys around the world."
I groaned. "How come I wasn't treated with that level of respect?"
"Mr. Cain, one of the tenets of your religion is to seek justice. Agent Morris has agreed to narrow the scope of the investigation only to active members of the last six months, payroll, online comments, and visitor logs."
"What guarantees do I have that you won't save those logs? That some corrupt administration won't use them against my community in the future?"
"You know it is in your best interests to cooperate. Someone is framing your faith and the public doesn't care about the truth as much as some might think. Help us, and we'll help you."
Cain refused to look her in the eye. The lawyers looked elsewhere.
"I know Adam Cain isn't your real name. Is this more personal than the FBI thinks?"
Reid leaned in. "Mr. Cain, people stole my trash as a kid. They broke into the explosion site, took soil samples, and sold them as relics online. My picture was painted on votive candles. People have prayed to me in public. I was seen as a miracle figure. I know how scary all of this is."
"My father did things to me in the name of God," he said. "I have a son from when I was a teenager in the community. They claim they're going to kill in the name of my religion, until I confess who I am."
Cain was shaking now.
"How the Hell did I read this guy so wrong?" I asked.
"It took someone else's perspective," Cole said.
Reid offered her hand. "We're going to help you, Mr. Cain."
"How? You don't even have your credentials yet."
"But I'm here because Agent Morris trusted me. A little trust goes a long way. Think about that."
"Let's take five," Morris said.
At the last second, Cain grabbed Reid's hand.
"Thank you."
She smiled and left.
"Well, I feel like a jackass," I said.
"That makes two of us," Cole said. "I thought the guy was a pretentious jerk. I never would have guessed he actually had another life."
"Lots of Satanic Temples member were victimized by other religions," Reid said.
"Let's dig up who the guy used to be," I said.
"I wish it were that easy. The original cofounder has been dead for ten years, and people are still guessing as to who he was before he took on aliases. Asking him directly would be a more efficient use of time."
"Esper is getting an update from forensics," Morris said. "How would you go about apprehending this unsub, Dr. Reid?"
She looked shocked.
"You really want to hear a strategy from me?"
"I want your input as an expert."
"We construct a story with Cain about us breathing down his neck. Have him release a diatribe about be persecuted by Christians. Get him to claim we threatened to arrest him. Then go on air and ask for tips. This is an example where the unsub will be tempted to insert himself in the investigation."
"Are we still going after visitation logs?" Cole asked.
"I want them," Morris said. "Cole, start examining film of the crime scene protesters. Thompson, check in on the tip line. I'm going to get coffee and have another go with Cain alone. Can I get you anything, Dr. Reid?"
"If you don't have any cold brew, I'll take an orange soda," she said.
"I'll be back."
Morris left. Cole and I looked at Reid.
"Welcome to the team," Cole said.
"Talk about being tossed in the deep end," I said with a smile.
"I'm not part of the team yet," she said with a note of hesitancy I hadn't heard while she was talking with Cain.
"You did good in there," she said. "I'm Irina Cole. Your dad would be proud."
"Phil Thompson," I said. "I only act like a jerk when I'm frustrated."
"There was a satanic afterschool program at my school. My parents had a huge fight about it. My mom only agreed to allow me to attend after she visited one of the sessions."
"That's why you have such a soft spot for this religion," I said.
"People judged my father as being weak and immature when he started out as an agent. He, and my mom, taught me not judge people, period."
"The FBI has changed a lot since your father was a rookie agent," I said. "We know what you're capable of, so don't ever feel underestimated here."
"What he said," Cole said.
"We better skedaddle before Morris finds us lingering. With one look from him, I feel like I'm a kid again with a bad report card."
"My twin had the report cards flagged as spam in my dad's email," Cole said.
I rolled my eyes.
Reid waved as we left.
"What do you think of her?" I asked Cole.
"Very articulate and mature for a twenty-two-year-old," Cole said.
"Also, kind of angry," I said. "Not something I was expecting."
"Some view anger as a more 'productive' emotion."
"You think she'll stay with us?" I asked.
"I don't know," she said a we reached the elevators.
"That makes two of us," I said as the doors closed.