Chapter 55

Hannah Mitchell's "accident" was a pivotal for the media, a twenty four hour feeding frenzy. By morning The James file had flattened by an inch. People who were unwilling to talk just days before were suddenly  coughing up ever memory they had of  the James's family, Filling TV screens, clogging up the FBI tip lines.

"Mom beat Brandon, Brandon beat mom" Dean said. "Brandon killed Christie, Mom killed Christie. Mom was pregnant before Brandon. There is even one faction out there talking about the grand father now, that he was some how responsible for Christie's poor health."

Bull shit, followed by, Bull shit, followed by bullshit.

Brian started out the door, he couldn't stand around for one more meeting. when a secretary intercepted him, "Mr Fuller." she said. "There is a call for you. It's a Brandon James."

Silence, then everyone moved at once, whispering, gesturing, calling into headsets, trying to get a trace. Brian's heart kicked into high, and he lunged to the phone on the conference table. He stopped, looking as if it were a snake dripping poison from it's fangs. "How long as he been on hold?"

"I came right in," The secretary said breathless. " I told I wasn't sure if you were here. It has been maybe twenty seconds, and it would of taking another thirty or forty getting through the phone tree up to this office."

"Don't answer yet." Oryen said. " String him out a til they can get a trace."

"He is to smart for that." Harrison said. "Take it, man , Take it. That bastard isn't going to sit on hold."

A nerve jerked in Brian's jaw. He looked at Dean, got a nod.

He lifted the phone and pushed the hold button. "This is Fuller," He said

A second of silence, then Brandon amused condescending voice came through, "She is a fake, you idiots, But its funny."

"Fuller?" Dean's voice ."What did he say?"

She is a fake....Brian's blood ran cold. "Get Lexi on the phone."

"What?" Dean asked

"Lexi!"

Dean punched in Lexi's number on his cell phone. Brian waited hardly able to breath.

"No answer," Dean said and tried again. "Christ"

"Lexi has been hit," Brian said heading for the door."Go!"

Action exploded. A wild furry of energy, chaotic yet organized. Orders spewed from Dean, phone rang down the hall in response. Teams poured from the building, and Phil shouted into his phone  as he ran through the parking lot behind Brian, ordering the nearest cops to Sarra's house on Bayhead rd.

"No way he could get to Lexi," Harrison called keeping up.

Brian stopped for half an instant, looking at all the people trying to reach Lexi.

"He said she was a fake, Gotta be talking about Lexi."

"Could be a set up.,"Dean warned. He pressed a headset to his ear, pushing the microphone to his mouth. "Wait for the SWAT team to secure the house, then send in the entry unit." To the rest of them. "Lets go.'

Dean got into the house thirty seconds ahead of Brian. He passed Brian on his way out, his face colorless that left no doubt about what he had seen.

Lexi was on the kitchen table.

"Holy hell" Phil said from a step behind. He rubbed his head, paced away a few steps, then came back. "Holy, Holy Hell."

Brian wasn't listening. The tang of blood and human waste clogged his nostrils. A stream of people moved in past the SWAT and entry teams and began there work as if in another dimension. Crime scene investigators collected like scavengers, securing the scene, flashbulbs popping in an uneven strobe. Except for the snap of camera's Sarra's home was deathly silent.

"Anyone call Lexi's husband?" Brian asked, But no one answered. and then he realized the words must not have cleared his throat. He tried again louder.

"You can do it." Someone answered. "Heard you know the guy right?"

"Ray," Brian said. "He is a Math teacher. Boxes on the weekends.'

Control broke. Brian let out a howl, spinning on his heel.

Someone had sat a black duffel bag on the floor in the foyer, and he kicked it out of his way, barely noticing the shocked blond who rushed in to pick it up after it smashed into the wall. She grabbed it and carried it protectively out the door, and Brian ignored the astonished stares and walked outside. He couldn't stand the smell of Sarra's kitchen any longer, like the butchers section of a grocery store.

He paced the yard as the task force members continued to arrive. Stard pulled up last, just as the first county van pulled away., and Brian heard the driver of the van say ."Hope ya didn't eat yet." Two minutes later looking nauseous Stard joined the others.

"Forensics says Lexi had been dead for several hours." Dean said

" So he got her in her sleep?" Phil asked

"Had to." Harrison agreed. "That is the only way he could of overpowered her."

"But how did he get in?" Phil asked "Through all the surveillance, disguise?"

surveillance units would have seen him, no matter how he was dressed." Harrison said. "There were no solicitors, no newspaper boys, no neighbors, not even a dog came near this house this morning."

"But Brandon got in anyways," Dean said "Somehow that son of a bitch got i___"

"He was already there." Brian said.

For a second everyone went still, then Brian's words hit home. Dean actually trembled as he lifted his radio "Secure the perimeter, secure the perimeter," He said in a frantic hush. "The perpetrator might still be on the premises."

"A CSI van just drove away," Brian said, feeling that if the truth had hit him by the throat. "Who was in it?"

Dean lowered his transmitter and gaped at the empty spot on the driveway ."Son of a Bitch."