Chapter Seven

"Dammit Christopher, what don't you understand about 'wait for me?'" Pride yelled as LaSalle opened the door.

"She came on her own. I didn't want her to get scared off," he said. "Besides…" he trailed off.

"Yes?" Pride hissed.

"You don't seem impartial on this," he said. "You just do what she says at the hospital; then you interview her offsite." He paused and began to take a softer tone. "Now we have two dead bodies, King, and with this evidence and anyone else, you'd be all over it."

"My gut tells me she's not a killer," he said.

"Well, it probably has something to do with her son," LaSalle said.

Pride frowned. "Let me ask her." He said. "You stay here."

Pride entered the room. He sat down on the table next to Rachel.

"Pride," she exclaimed, visibly relieved.

"Mrs. Norton," he said quietly.

"I'm so glad you're here. I hope you can talk some sense into that LaSalle," she said.

"I need you to explain what happened. We still have questions," he looked into her eyes.

She looked away. "I can't explain, because I don't know," she turned to him. "Why would I give you the list if I was involved? Why would I even want to kill these people?"

Pride silently placed Matthew Norton's photo on top of the others.

"Sometimes, a mama will do anything to protect her son's reputation," he said softly. "Did you know he was under suspicion for drug use and possible dealing?"

She stared at the photo and spoke deliberately. "My Matty? Never!

"Our lab found that DuBois had an especially high level of creatinine and an previously unidentified synthetic anabolic steroid-a designer drug," he said. "Also, he had kidney and liver damage related to these drugs. And, a quick check of the other men's medical records show many of the others had similar organ damage."

"So now, you want my permission to exhume his body?" she said staring straight at him. "Let me make this easy for you. No. Way."

"Not even if it clears you?" he said, then added gently, "Even if it clears him?"

"I have done nothing to be cleared of!" She crossed her arms. "My son died a hero, rescuing other men when he was killed by an IED. That's all I ever need to know."

Pride got up and stood at the other side of the table facing her.

"These types of drugs are popular with servicemen because it enables them to be stronger and have more stamina." He paused. "Our theory is that Hollister created this drug and then gave it to the men in his practice who were going overseas-for themselves and to sell."

"I have nothing to do with this," she repeated. "I left his practice over eight years ago." She looked up at Pride, her eyes glistening. "I took my children out of the practice too. Matt didn't go to Afghanistan until a year later."

"Why'd you leave the practice?" Pride pushed.

"My husband lost his job, and I needed to get something better paying."

"Still, some women work at the clinic and the hospital," he said. "Like, Ginny Dow."

"Well, she's single. I still had three children at home, I could only have one full-time job," she replied.

"Actually, she told us it was a lover's quarrel." Rachel's face turned crimson.

"I cannot believe they are still passing those lies after all these years!" She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She looked Pride in the eyes again. "The doctor and I, never, and I repeat, never, had any kind of relationship outside of employer and employee. Except, he… he kept harassing me-making suggestive comments. That's why I took my kids out of the practice."

Pride looked over her head into the one-way mirror.

"Do you know of anyone else who might have a part in this?" Pride asked.

Rachel thought for a few minutes, then snapped her fingers. "Yes. I do, yes I do." She leaned in over the table, suddenly excited to have some information. "Leland had a brother, Davis, who used to be a compounding pharmacist - until he lost his license for filing fake prescriptions."

Pride furrowed his brow. "What's that mean?"

"Most pharmacists fill prescriptions from larger bottles of pills," she said. "A compounding druggist know how to make drugs from scratch. You know, if someone needs a special medication."

"Anything else, " Pride asked.

"I only met him once, but I do recall remarking on their close resemblance. I could have seen him and just assumed it was LeLand." She sat back, satisfied.

Pride pursed his lips. He had interrogated countless people over the years, and had gotten pretty good at evaluating suspects. Some of deputies at the Sheriff's Department called him "the human lie detector." All his indicators told him Rachel Norton was telling the truth. Still, like the machine, he had been fooled a few times over the years.

"Let me check on this information," he said finally. He went to the door. "Can I get you some coffee?"

"Sure. A little milk if you have it," she said relaxing. "Agent Pride, I just want to get out of here. I don't want to be late for my shift."

"I'll see what I can do." He said and left.

LaSalle was already coming out of the observation room. The two men headed for the kitchen.

"You really believe her story about this brother?" LaSalle asked.

"That's what you're going to find out," Pride said slipping the file into LaSalle's sling. He went into the kitchen and began preparing the coffee as he watched the door across the courtyard.

After a few minutes, Brody stuck her head in. "Pride, we got something."

He followed her into the office, where the other agents were standing and staring at the plasma. It displayed a picture and record of a man who did have a striking resemblance to the man Pride saw inside the trunk, sans bullet holes.

Brody narrated, "This is Davis Hollister. His info checks out, just like Rachel Norton said."

"Any address or info on his whereabouts?" Pride asked.

Brody shook her head. "He drifted around after he lost his license. But, there is an old address for him." She clicked the remote and brought it up on the screen.

Percy looked up at Pride. "That's a popular neighborhood for meth makers. It's secluded, near the waterway for easy access."

LaSalle added, "The proverbial cabin in the woods."

Pride nodded his head. "Good work. Brody, you and Percy go out there, maybe get some backup from ATF."

"LaSalle, I suggest you go home and rest," he said.

As the young agent began to protest, Pride lifted his hand. "That's an order. You've done enough here today."

With that, Pride turned around and went back into the kitchen. As he was pouring coffee, he looked up for a minute and saw the interrogation room door ajar.

"Son of a bitch, can't anyone do what I tell them today?" he yelled.

He ran out to the gate just in time to see Rachel turning a corner. She was not alone.