The Innocent (Will Robie #1)

by David Baldacci

And he had things to think about. He had two cases going simultaneously. Jane Wind was dead along with her young son. She was with the Defense Department. She’d traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan and probably other hot spots. Robie’s handler had been turned and had ordered Robie to kill her. Now the handler was missing and Robie was investigating murders that had occurred when he’d been present. Nicole Vance was sharp and Robie had to be extra careful he didn’t slip up around her. Rick Wind had been found with his tongue cut out and hanging upside down in his pawnshop. No leads there either.

And then he had Julie Getty. Parents murdered and the crime scene policed. Killer on the bus to finish the job. Bus blows up. Robie’s gun was found at the scene, which made the Feds believe the cases were connected. And the guy who’d attacked them in the alley had disappeared. The Broomes’ apartment had been scrubbed too, and Robie didn’t know where they were. Or if they were still alive.

The man swallowed, took a slurp of coffee, and shrugged. “What you want?” “Everything you saw or heard.” S’mores took another, smaller bite of his sandwich. “Boom,” he said. “Fire. Holy shit.” He took another sip of coffee. “Anything more detailed than that?” Robie added slowly. “Did you see anyone around the bus? Maybe get off or on?” S’mores crammed another handful of hash browns in his mouth and chomped. “Boom,” he said again. “Fire. Holy shit.” Then he laughed. “Grilling out.”

“That’s not really an answer.” He locked his gaze on hers, figuring that not to look at her now would be simply an exclamation point on his underlying deceit. “It’s the only one I have to give. I’m sorry.”