Chapter 71

Paisley Floyd lived at 9021 Seminole st. The scene looked alarmingly like that unfolded at Sarra's house when Lexi died, yellow ribbon, strobes of blue and red so dense they could be seen even in the afternoon light, swarms of uniforms fighting back camera's and shouting at reporters.

Brian pushed through them with Harrison and parked the car in the park. They jogged to the sidewalk, meeting up with Dean and three other men and a woman, all wearing FBI jackets.

"Everybody evacuated?" Brian asked, looking at the houses on either side of Paisleys's and across the street.

"Yea."Dean said. "One block in every direction has been emptied. No one around."

Except the ever increasing crush of people gathering around the yellow ribbon hoping for a freak show. "You gotta move everyone off the street." Brian said.

"We are doing it, we are doing it." someone answered.

"Infra reds didn't pick up anyone inside." Dean said his hands riding low on his hips. "They are  setting up the mikes and amps now."

"OK." Brian said. It took a few minutes, while they all stood around with their fingers up there noses and nothing to do but wait. The TAC unit had secured the exterior of the house to  let the FBI's entry team work. The entry team used thermal imaging camera's to sense collections of heat that indicated a live being, then placed sound equipment on the outside of the walls. The microphones could detect any sounds in rooms with exterior walls, Beyond that....

Brian shook his head. "It doesn't feel like a trap. I don't think he is in there waiting to spring something."

"He still has those guns he picked up from Damien's." Harrison said. " Could of decided to bring you over here looking for a gift and then pop you from the front window."

"Excuse me." Said a woman in uniform. she was a local cop. "My partner and I were in the area when you rolled up. Agent. " She said to Dean. "We would like to help, on behalf of lieutenant Phil Mead."

Dean put his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you. Hold tight, there will be something to do soon."

"I found a neighbor who knows the house."

Dean looked at her, cracked a smile. Phil's team was good. "And?"

"She says there hasn't been anything going on the past few days. Except she saw the owner's Lexus in the driveway yesterday, wondered about it because Paisley always put it inside."

"Floor plan?"

The officer pulled out a ruff sketch. "Front door opens into a small living room, then straight back to the dining room and opens to the kitchen on the right. Two bedrooms, Both have outside walls. This bathroom doesn't, though, and there is a basement."

So if someone was in either the bathroom or the basement, the FBI's equipment would'nt be able to pick it up.

Brian inhaled, nostrils flaring. No one was in there. Not alive anyway.

But they listened for another few minutes before Dean decided it was time to go in.

"So how is it going down there?" The female officer asked Brian. "Stealth or force? Phil always said the FBI likes stealth."

Brian laughed. Stealth, with forty agents and officers on the scene in broad daylight and tv camera's from here to the moon. Screw you Phil.

And so they took a minute to organize, with Dean calling the shots into a handset, and then the entry team took down the door. Every door in fact, and  every window, all at the same time. In less than 5 seconds, 12 people were in Paisleys's house , and in another 60 , the all clear was given.

Now, to find out what Brandon had left.

Something was happening. Something that had taken Brian away without a word except an cryptic message to Eddie. "I will call her." Something no one was telling Sarra and that her feeling helpless and guilty and worried.

And exhausted. She had been up much of the night. Not that she would trade those blissful hours with Brian, but a little sleep would go a long way.

Instead she sat on the stool, icing the cookies with Carol Dillon and Abby.

'Mommy, what's wrong with you?" Abby asked. "Want a cookie?"

"What she wants is some rest." Carol said wiping icing on her apron. "For heavens sake, Sarra why don't you go on up to the apartment? No one has used it lately, and Abby and I are fine. Your guard dog here can wake you if Brian call's."

Eddie looked at Sarra. "Woof."

She smiled a little. "I guess. I wish I just knew what was going on."

"I am sure the FBI will tell you when you need to know dear." Carol said.

"Right," she said sending Eddie a look of sheer skepticism. She went to Abby. "You stay with Carol alright, Honey?"

"OK, But Uncle Evan bought me a kite for spring break, and we never got to fly it. He said it was windy enough today. Can we please?"

Sarra looked at Eddie, who tickled Abby under her chin. "Is there a place we can fly it here at Foster's?

"In the field behind the gallery. We tried there once before but I let the kite get to close to the trees. It ripped up."

"Bummer." Eddie replied. "A couple of my friends will go with you, OK? And stay close to your Uncle Evan."

Abby made her face into a frown. 'He 's not really my uncle, you know."

"You don't say." Eddie said.

Sarra showed Eddie the way to the apartment in the carriage house and flicked off her shoes in the living room. His phone rang a minute after they entered, and instead of going into the bathroom, she eavesdropped without shame at all.

Eddie looked at her as he talked. "Yea Carol Dillon Evan Foster's mom just bullied her into taking a nap. We are in the carriage house," Beat. "No man, she is still awake. Hold on." He handed the phone to Sarra.

"Brian? Where are you?'

"I am sorry I ran out on you, honey. I got a call."

"What kind of call?"

"Never mind I just wan__"

"Damn it Brian! You promised not to shut me out."

Silence pulsed for three seconds. "Brandon called me. He killed another woman."

No. Oh god." The woman....was she___"

"She was just a place for Brandon to stay a car to drive. We found the teenagers Ford Excort in her garage."

"Then he didn't leave a doll?"

"He did but__"

"I will come look at it."

"You don't need to see this one." He went silent for a few seconds, and she could almost feel the weariness in his bones. "Its not an antique, sweetheart, we are working on the house, waiting for results from the crime lab. You are doing the best you can right now gathering with Hannah's friends, getting some rest, Keeping Abby happy. I will call you again later, and I will stay in touch with Eddie."

Damn it, there were the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Sarra?"

She pulled herself together."Yes?'

"I love you.'