Alex now seemed more relaxed in the front seat of the car, but Logan could tell something was wrong on the plane, and he’d also seen the way she’d reacted to Mike.
He wasn’t sure what it was, but something was still off. He could feel it. What kind of life had Alex endured here? Sure, her aunt sounded a little weird. Okay, very weird. But so what? The idea that a trained FBI behavioral analyst would fall apart when reminded of an uncomfortable childhood didn’t make sense. He’d been around Alex awhile now. She was sharp. Hard. Professional. Why was she so affected by this place?
She turned to face Mike. “Why did you say I was responsible for your decision to join the FBI?”
Mike chuckled. “You used to tell me all the time that someday you were going to join the FBI and catch all the bad guys.”
“All the bad guys?” Logan said from the back seat. “You don’t plan on leaving any for the rest of us, Alex?”
She actually laughed. He hadn’t been sure it was possible.
“Since then I’ve decided to leave a few for people like you, Preacher.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Mike looked at him in the rearview mirror. “Your nickname is Preacher? You got off better than me. After I graduated from high school, I discovered contact lenses. Thankfully, my days as Googly are behind me.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll lose my nickname as easily, but don’t worry. I have other things on my mind today. I won’t be trying to convert you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Mike said, grinning.
“So tell me more about your aunt, Alex,” Logan said.
Alex was so quiet Logan wondered if she’d heard him.
“Like I said back at the office, my aunt took me in when I was twelve,” she finally said. “After my mother died. She didn’t hesitate. I believe she really wanted me.”
“She was always kind to me,” Mike said. “She was just . . . different.”
“What does that mean?” Logan asked. He knew the larger details surrounding Alex’s aunt, but he wanted to hear more. Who was she really? Why didn’t Alex want to see her? Why hadn’t she visited her in all these years?
Another silence. “Look,” Mike said. “This is kinda tough for me.” He looked over at Alex. “I don’t want to . . .”
“Stop,” Alex said. “This is just like any other case. Be honest. It won’t bother me. We have to find that toxin before it’s too late. Hurt feelings are the least of our worries.”
Mike took a deep breath. “Okay. Well, she was a nice lady who wore flowery dresses and ballet shoes. Her hair was usually messy, and she would lose concentration in the middle of a sentence. I met her before Alex moved in. I was selling candy for my school once and went to her house. She asked me to come in so she could find some money. When she opened the door, the odor overwhelmed me.” He glanced at Alex again. “She didn’t seem to know how to clean a house. Something like a dozen cats were running around. And a big pot of cabbage sat on the stove that could have been there for days.”
He shook his head. “At least I think it was cabbage. How she ever got custody of you, Alex, is beyond me. I didn’t know anything about The Book or the Circle she was involved in until I was given all the current facts of this case. When I got wind you were coming and why, I asked to be assigned to help you here in Wichita—and to bring you the warrant you might need.”
“I appreciate that,” Alex said. “My aunt got custody because she was my only living relative. The social worker didn’t care what Willow or her house were like. Apparently, neither did the court or child services. They just sent me there so they could close their case in an overloaded child welfare system.”
“Wow,” Logan said. “I can’t imagine living in a place like that.” He couldn’t keep the compassion out of his voice even though he knew Alex wanted to keep the conversation professional.
“It didn’t stay that way for long,” Mike said. “Alex cleaned up that mess and kept it clean. She did all the housework and cooking. It was like she was the grown-up and Willow was the kid.”
“Do you have any idea what we’re going to find when we knock on her door, Alex?” Logan asked.
“I assume everything will be as it was before I lived there. Willow didn’t have any desire to be an adult.”
“How do you think she’ll receive you?” Mike asked.
“I really have no idea. She used to tell me she loved me, and in her own way, I think she did. But she never really took care of me. I mean, she gave me a room to sleep in and provided for my basic needs. Of course, she had only a disability check, so all my clothes were secondhand. And if I wanted anything besides food or clothing, I had to buy it myself.”
“My mom hired Alex to help around our house,” Mike said. “And she passed my sister’s clothes along to her.”
Alex smiled. “Yes, your mother was good to me,” she said. “She was more of a mother than Willow ever was. How is your mom?” She leaned toward him. “Does she still live in the same house?”
“She’s fine, and, no, she’s moved. Dad was killed not long after you left. Car accident.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks. Anyway, once my sister and I were out on our own, Mom stayed in the house alone for a while. But a few years ago, she relocated to a senior-living apartment complex. She’s really happy there. I’d like to tell her you’re in town, but I was told to keep this assignment under the radar. I wish you could visit her. She’d love that.”
“I would enjoy that too. But that will have to be a different trip. No time for anything besides getting The Book to the FBI lab.”
“Of course you’re right,” Mike said. “Maybe I could contact you when this is all over and see if you can come back for a visit.”
Alex didn’t say anything as she turned her head toward the passenger side window. Logan wondered if she really would come back to Wichita to see Mike’s mother. Alex was a loner. Yeah, she good-naturedly worked with other agents, but she rarely accepted an invitation to nonwork events. Many times she’d say she had to get home to her dog.
“Mike mentioned your aunt had cats. You have a dog, right?” Logan asked. “What do you do with him when you go out of town?”
“My neighbors take care of him.”
“I can’t remember his name.”
“Krypto. I named him after Superman’s dog.”
Logan couldn’t help but wonder why she’d chosen that name. Did she identify with Superman—someone who couldn’t be hurt?
“It’s great you have neighbors who will watch him,” Mike said.
She nodded. “Yeah, it is. They have kids who like playing with him. Sometimes I wonder if he would be happier with them.” She paused for a moment before saying, “But I need him in my life. And the truth is he’s really attached to me. Thinks he’s my protector, I guess. It’s a miracle he gets along with the other people as well as he does.”
Was there a hint of jealousy there? Or was it fear?
“This is it,” Mike said, slowing the car to a crawl.
Logan looked around. Not the best neighborhood. Lots of older homes, but for the most part the properties were well-kept.
Mike pointed to his left, at a large two-story house painted white with yellow accents. “That’s where we used to live.”
Logan turned to see Alex staring at a different house on that side of the street. He was shocked to see that her face had gone completely white.