Chapter 73 third quarter

Decker rang the bell a fourth time and banged on the door again.He was overjoyed when he saw the lights in the room turned on.He and Esperanza tried calling, but after the phone rang four times, all they heard was the answering machine.They figured the man Decker needed to talk to hadn't left the city because it had only been 12 hours since they last saw him.They decided to go directly to the man's place to find him.Esperanza knew where he lived.His house is a simple adobe house on a narrow street off Zeya Road.Like many areas of Santa Fe, this one has no street lights.After the light above the door came on, Decker and Esperanza carefully stepped back from the door so that anyone who opened it could see that they were not dangerous.They wait for the door to open.

A window opens.From the shadows behind the window, FBI Agent John Miller asked, "Who's out there? What are you trying to do?" "It's Officer Esperanza." "Esperanza? Then why—it's only 4 in the morning, what are you doing here?" "I have something to talk to you about." "Can't we just wait and find a suitable time?" "Urgent situation." "That's what you said this afternoon. I haven't forgotten how you make me look good." "If you don't listen to me this time, you really have to make yourself look good."

"Who's with you?" "The one who was with me this afternoon." "damn it." A few more lights came on in the house.After a scratching sound of the lock being unlocked, Miller creaked the door open.He wore boxer shorts and a T-shirt, showing strong, lean arms and legs.His unkempt hair and sideburns were a stark contrast to his bureaucratic clean-cut appearance from the previous afternoon. "I have a guest," he said, blocking the doorway with his body and pointing to a closed door at the end of the passage.Esperanza had told Decker that Miller was divorced. "She's not used to people banging on the door at 4am. I hope it's the last time."

"I want to know about Diana Scolari," Decker said. "Who?" Miller said blankly. "Diana Scolari." Miller looked puzzled. "I've never heard of her." He began to close the door. "If that's what you're here for—" Decker blocked the door with his foot. "Diana Scolari is Beth Dwyer's real name." Miller stared down where Decker had blocked the door with his foot. "I don't know what you're talking about." "She is protected under the federal witness protection laws." Miller's eyes condensed to a point, and suddenly became sharp and alert.

"That's why my house was attacked, hers was bombed," Decker said. "I still don't know what you mean." "Of course, the FBI is not as directly involved in enforcing witness protection laws as it was in the past," Decker said. When a key witness was relocated to Santa Fe, they wouldn't have told you. On the other hand, they didn't notify the local police because they didn't have to know. The fewer people who know, the better." Miller's countenance grew harsher. "Even if what you said is true, why do I have to admit everything to you?"

"Brian McKittrick," Decker said. Miller stopped closing the door. "Beth was the one who drove Beth out of the back of the house before the house exploded," Decker said. Miller is clearly skeptical. "How do you know this man?" "I've worked with him in the past." "That's ridiculous. You mean you used to be a federal court marshal?" "Law enforcement officer?" Decker didn't understand what Miller was referring to at first, but then suddenly realized. "McKittrick is a federal court marshal?" Miller, who inadvertently spilled the news, appeared devastated.

"No," Decker said, "I've never done it for a federal court." Due to time constraints, he had to convince Miller by surprise. "McKittrick and I met while working in the CIA." As he expected, Miller was taken aback.He looked at Decker with a new understanding.Then he turned to Esperanza, looked back at Decker, and gestured for them to come in. "We need to talk."