Chapter fifty-nine

Standing in front of the floor to ceiling one way mirror Hughes stood with his arms akimbo staring at Charles Walker and his lawyer. Sitting at the table in the interrogation room Walker looked completely at ease. Watching his every move carefully Hughes tried to determine if Walker was going out of his way to act casual or if he was genuinely unconcerned about being at the FBI. Most people, even the perfectly innocent ones, were at least somewhat anxious to be surrounded by authority figures. Sitting back in the metal chair Walker was making small talk with his lawyer as if he was waiting for a board meeting to start. The lawyer answered the pleasantries in as few words as possible, unlike Walker the lawyer was on full guarded alert. Jones stepped into the observation room and stood next to Hughes.

"What do you think?" Jones asked.

"I think I don't like him, but I don't really have any evidence to back up why."

"A gut feeling?" Jones raised an eyebrow. "Peter would be proud."

"He did gamble his career more than once on just his 'gut'."

"True, but to his credit he was rarely if ever wrong."

"Did Walker give you any trouble about coming here?"

"None. In fact he dropped whatever it was he had been doing."

"Yet he did still feel the need to bring his lawyer."

"Actually he had been in a meeting with the lawyer when I arrived. After I introduced myself he refused to leave. I'm sorry about that, I didn't realized he was Walker's lawyer until it was too late."

"It's fine. Sometimes lawyers do more harm than good for their client by being too eager to hide stuff. This lawyer looks like an easier read than Walker."

"Yeah, if Walker's calm is an act it's a really good one. Although I have to say that something about him seems forced."

"As the head of a charity he's a very practiced socialite, he knows how to deal with people but that not the same as being genuine."

Hughes tensed slightly as Walker leaned forward to take one of the glasses of water that was on the table. Walker picking up the glass was exactly what Hughes was waiting for as it would give him access to fingerprints and DNA if he drank from it. Seeing Walker going for the glass the lawyer slapped his hand away to keep him from touching the clean glass.

"The lawyer is on to us." Jones sighed.

"I'm going in there, no sense in making them wait now."

Jones nodded and stayed in the observation room as Hughes circled around to the other side of the interrogation room. Diana was waiting by the door with a blue file folder that he took. When Hughes stepped into the room Walker looked up and smiled at him brightly as if they were old friends. Walker got to his feet and offered his hand to Hughes to shake. When Hughes simply narrowed his eyes slightly at the offer Walker's smile turned to one of apology as he put his hand back down. The lawyer reached up and guided Walker to sit back down. Hughes sat across from the two men, making a point of only making eye contact with Walker. Walker didn't look away or even blink, he stared right back at Hughes without a trace of fear. It was the sheer confidence in his face that tipped Hughes off, he was instantly convinced that Walker was their man. The problem was going to be proving it, that was going to be extremely difficult, something Walker clearly knew. Like so many of the rich men Hughes had taken down in his career Walker believed himself untouchable. Hoping to prove him wrong Hughes prepared to attempt to verbally trap his prey.

"My client has absolutely no comment." The lawyer said coldly before Hughes could even introduce himself. "You are wasting your time and more importantly you are wasting his."

"Easy there, Phil," Walker said "no need to be so confrontational."

"Confrontation is the only thing Feds understand. They have no right to drag you down here."

"No one dragged me down here." Walker corrected. "I was politely asked to come here and I did. I'm sure this is about their missing Agent. I brought this on myself by contacting his wife, for that I am truly sorry. I was just trying to hel…"

"Charles, please, please stop talking." The lawyer begged. "You have to stop right now."

"Phil, I came down here to cooperate, I can't do that if I don't talk. Relax." Walker smiled as he turned back to Hughes. "I'm not under arrest or anything. Right, Agent?"

"Of course you aren't under arrest." Phil answered for Hughes. "That doesn't mean you aren't 'under suspicion'. Everything is being recorded right now and it can be used against you."

"Against me for what?" Walker chuckled. "I haven't done anything. I'm sorry about him, Agent. I would have left him behind but he happened to be in my office when Agent Jones came to invite me here and he invited himself."

"I know an FBI trap when I see one." Phil said bluntly. "Take that glass for instance: they aren't worried about your thirst, they want your fingerprints."

"Fine." Walker shrugged as he reached out and carefully grip the glass to give a clean print. "They can have my fingerprints."

"Charles." Phil sighed heavily.

"In fact, here…" Walker paused and took a sip at the water. "Have my DNA while you're at it."

"Seriously?" Phil growled. "Why do you even keep me on retainer?"

"My CPA insists, you know...your brother."

Hughes stayed silent, allowing the two men to ramble. Their interactions seemed natural on the surface but there was an under current of a heavily practiced 'good client/bad lawyer' feel to their routine. By seeming to cooperate Walker was trying to take the focus off himself and by being belligerent the lawyer was trying to take Hughes' attention off his client. Ignoring the lawyer Hughes kept his steady gaze on Walker. Seeing that their banter wasn't loosing the mood Walker and the lawyer fell silent for a moment.

"Are you two gentlemen finished?" Hughes asked like a disapproving parent.

"We are, Agent…" Walker trailed off so that Hughes could finally introduce himself.

"Hughes."

"How can I help you, Agent Hughes?"

"Do you know this man?" Hughes asked as he opened the file Diana had given him and pulled out a photo that he showed Walker.

"Of course." Walker answered instantly. "That's Harold Collins. I was at his funeral."

"Surely Agent Hughes knew that." Phil said sourly.

"Phil, be quite." Walker growled.

The lawyer stiffened at the sudden dangerous edge to Walker's voice. Looking like a chastised dog Phil fell deathly silent. Feeling like he had just gotten a peek behind Walker's facade Hughes made sure not to tip his own hand. Walker tried to cover up his slip by painting on a concerned expression.

"Is that what this is about? Was Harold's death not a suicide?"

"Talk to me about the twelve million dollars Mr. Collins donated to your organization." Hughes said purposefully avoiding answering Walker's question.

"I don't know anything about that." Walker said with a shrug. "If you could give me a date I could have my accountants look into it. They will be able to find a sum that large easily enough. There is a good chance that if Harold sent that money to Light for the Lost shortly before his death that he did so 'anonymously'. Harold always believed that charity wasn't really charity if you bragged about it."

"I will get the date for you." Hughes assured.

"Anything I can do to help. Harold and I weren't all that close or anything. We knew each other mostly through business, but I did feel for the man. Tragedy followed him. First the disappearance of his wife, then his son's sudden death. I really didn't question it when he killed himself, I just wish I had known him better. I could have helped him."

"You seem like a very compassionate man, Mr. Walker."

"I've dedicated a great deal of my time to helping people who have lost loved ones."

"Have you suffered a similar loss?"

"What?"

"I see you acquired Light for the Lost rather than founded it. How did you choose that organization? Usually when people devote their lives to a charity it's because they've been touched by the cause personally."

"No, I've lead a blessed life, Agent." Walker flashed Hughes a hollow looking smile. "I just saw a need and filled it."

"Very noble."

"I just want to help. There's no crime in that."

"True." Hughes nodded thoughtfully. "Although in this case your reputation has done some real damage."

"Excuse me?" Walker asked caught off guard.

"You mentioned that you're sorry for contacting Elizabeth Burke."

"Yes." Walker nodded. "I should have known better, but I would like to point out that she and my volunteer coordinator have become friends which I'm sure has been invaluable to her during this dif…"

"Elizabeth is not who concerns me." Hughes interrupted. "And although approaching her was inappropriate, your actions aren't what concerns me either."

"Then what does concern you?"

"What concerns me is that my office has a leak." Hughes answered. "Agent Burke's disappearance was a strictly confidential information. If you really wanted to help this Agency you will tell me the name of your friend who told you about Agent Burke's situation."

"I can't do that." Walker shook his head.

"Can't or won't?"

"Is there a difference?"

"A big one." Hughes said darkly.

"In that case I 'won't' tell you." Walker said firmly. "I have to protect my friend."

"At the cost of lives? A leak of this magnitude is a life and death matter."

"I'm sorry, Agent, I have my loyalties."

"I bet you do."

"What exactly are you insinuating, Agent?"

"I'm insinuating that I don't think you have any friends here."

For a split second a smile twitched at the corner of Walker's lips as if he impressed with Hughes' suspicions. The reaction to the veiled accusation was exactly what Hughes had been looking for. The downfall of most criminal geniuses was the need to flaunt their skills. Caffrey had taught Hughes that every forger signs his work in some way, and experience had taught him that every truly gifted con artist secretly desired to be recognized. The excitement in Walker's eyes at finally coming across a worthy advisory was clear. Walker had been casually amused before but he looked to be truly enjoying himself now that he knew Hughes was on his tail.

"I have to protest this line of questioning." The lawyer spoke up anxiously.

"It's okay." Walker smiled coldly. "The FBI is just looking under every rock for their stolen Agent. I can't blame them for getting desperate."

"I'm not desperate, I'm determined." Hughes corrected calmly. "The FBI never forgets, never gives up."

"No mercy, no forgiveness." Walker chuckled. "I respect that."

"We are not without mercy. In fact…"

Hughes was cut off as there was a sudden rapid knocking at the door. Grinding his teeth in irritation at the interruption Hughes didn't even get a chance to ignore it as Jones opened the door. Hughes glanced over his shoulder at the perfectly dead pan expression on Jones' face. Jones stared at Hughes silently for a second with the unreadable poker face. Getting the message that he was needed Hughes got to his feet.

"Stay here." Hughes growled.

"I wouldn't dream of going anywhere, Agent Hughes." Walker smiled sweetly. "Things were just starting to get interesting."

Resisting the sudden urge to punch Walker in the face Hughes turned and headed out into the hall. Jones and Diana were both in the hallway with an air of urgency and excitement radiating off of them. Hughes furrowed his brow and took a breath to ask what was going on however Jones stopped him by shaking his head. Jones motioned for Hughes to follow him down the hallway to make sure they were out of earshot of Walker. Finding himself increasingly angry considering he was just getting somewhere with Walker Hughes was in no mood for games as he glared at Jones.

"I hate to sound cliché but this had better be *damned* important!"

"Caffrey was just found alive."