“Oh, yeah, like what?” asked Sean.
“Nothing you need to know about.”
“Oh, you’re a real tease, Murdock,” said Michelle. “Do they teach a class in that at Quantico?”
Sean added, “If it’s attorney work product I do need to know about it. That’s privileged.”
“File some papers then. The Bureau lawyers need a good laugh. In the meantime, you’re not getting the document.”
“So Roy is a zombie. Can he take a pee, feed himself?”
“He’s in good shape. Physically. That answer your question?”
He turned and left.
“That guy really likes us,” said Michelle sarcastically. “Think he’ll want to go on a date with me? I can dispose of the body pretty efficiently.”
Sean wasn’t paying attention to her. He was watching the guards escort Roy back to his cell. As the man passed, Sean could see that he towered over even the biggest of the four guards. Sean also noted that Roy moved under his own power, shuffling along with his manacles clanking. But in the face there was nothing.
Black dots.
Nothing.
Which was exactly what they had right now.
CHAPTER
8
IT WAS EASIER LEAVING Cutter’s Rock than it had been entering it, but not by much. Sean finally grew so exasperated with the level of scrutiny that he snapped at the last layer of guards, “Edgar Roy is not stuffed in our damn tailpipe.” He turned to Michelle. “Hit it!”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
The Ford left twin black stripes on the previously pristine asphalt ribbon of Cutter Rock’s entryway. Michelle even gave them a single-finger salute out the window.
As the car made the reverse trek along the causeway Michelle glanced over at her partner, who was lost in thought.
She said, “Your brain is obviously in overdrive. Want to share?”
“While you were getting probed on the way out, I had a chance to ask Duke’s assistant a couple of questions. Roy eats, though not much, and does his necessary bodily function duties during the day. He’s lost some weight, but he’s technically healthy.”
“So he can do all that, but he can’t communicate with anyone?”
“There’s a medical term for it the guy used, but I don’t remember what it was. In any event, apparently his body is working but his mind has shut down.”
“Convenient.”
“Okay, Bergin is dead. Murdered. FBI is on the scene. They’ve covered his lodgings. All his work product is in their hands.”
“So like the guy said, we file some papers in court to get it back.”
“The only problem is I’m not really Roy’s lawyer.”
“But you are a lawyer. You were retained by Ted Bergin, who was Roy’s counsel of record. Doesn’t take a big leap to get you as his legal mouthpiece. Bergin certainly can’t dispute it. So who’s to know or say otherwise?”
“I haven’t practiced in a while.”
“Your license is still active, right?”