There were too many things in her last statement for me to even articulate a question.
After a minute she added, “He did make a call, after the mansion blew. I tried to listen, but I couldn’t hear him very well. I think he spoke to someone named Joel or Noel . . . something like that.”
Joel? The one on facial recognition. I had to wonder if he was Brother Timothy and Sister Lilith’s son. Were the Shadows made up of supposedly banished members of The Light? Ones Father Gabriel entrusted to hold important positions in the dark, supporting The Light’s activities?
As I contemplated, I walked to the door and motioned for Special Agent Adler to come in. Turning toward Stella, I smiled. “Special Agent Adler, I’d like you to meet—”
“Agent McAlister’s wife,” Stella interrupted. “I’m Stella Montgomery McAlister.”
Agent Adler was shaking her hand. “Ma’am, it’s nice to meet you. You had us all very worried.” He tilted his head toward me. “This one in particular. I don’t think he’s slept in nearly two days.”
“I don’t think he’s showered either,” she said with a grin.
“I just spoke with the doctor,” Special Agent Adler said. “Now that they know your eyes are all right, you can be released. The FBI would like to put you both up with your own security detail for a few days. We can assure you each a secured hotel room with room service. Once you’ve rested, we’ll send you to Virginia. You both have a long debriefing ahead.”
“Agent,” Stella said, “please tell the FBI thank you. If it’s all right with Agent McAlister, I’d just as soon save our government the additional charge. I believe one room is sufficient.”
“You heard my wife,” I said with a grin.
“Then it’s settled,” Adler said. “Oh, and another thing, that friend you mentioned on the phone, Mindy Rosemont, we’ve confirmed her identity as one of the women still on the Northern Light. It will take some time to get everyone to Anchorage.”
Stella looked from Special Agent Adler back to me. “I want to see her. I want to help her. I tried talking to her after my memory came back, but she didn’t know me. Once her medication is gone, I want her to know we were looking for her.”
Was she asking? For once I didn’t have the answer. Instead I looked back to my handler.
“It’ll take some time,” Agent Adler said, “but I’m sure we can get that worked out. Also, we’ve contacted your parents. They’re on their way to Detroit as we speak.”
Stella’s face suddenly paled.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I wanted to speak to my mom. It’s Dylan”—her eyes filled with panic—“he mentioned that she’s been calling him every week. If she knows I’m all right, she might try to call him. Then he’ll know the medicine didn’t work.”
“I’ll call your mother’s cell phone right away,” Adler said. “Don’t worry. No one will know your location.”
“The Shadows?” I asked, not wanting to know the answer.
“I’ll personally screen the agents protecting the two of you.”
I reached for Stella’s hand and nodded. “We’ll be all right.”
She nodded. “Since I dropped Dylan’s phone at the mansion and it likely blew up, I doubt my mother could reach him. Dylan said the Shadows are everywhere. Does that mean they’re in the FBI?”
I took a deep breath. I’d promised her truth, but at this moment I didn’t want to be truthful. I wanted to make her feel safe. Nevertheless, she deserved honesty. “We believe that it was a member of the Shadows who tipped off Richards. If that’s the case, the call came from within the FBI.”
Agent Adler shook his head. “That hasn’t been confirmed. We’re investigating. But like I said, we’ll keep your location undisclosed.”
“My parents?”
I squeezed Stella’s hand. “Sorry, Agent. I can testify that she never stops asking questions.”
Agent Adler grinned. “We’re happy you’re both safe. Let me get you a phone.”
“Thank you,” Stella said, her cheeks pink and her eyes down.
I reached for her chin. When our eyes met, I said, “I’m looking forward to a lifetime of them.”
CHAPTER 40
Jacoby McAlister
Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Two months post-raid:
CONFIDENTIAL FINAL REPORT: THE LIGHT