Chapter 59 Chapter Fifty-Nine

Puller spent about an hour explaining to Kerr most of what he had learned in Washington.He told her about the DHS's attention and involvement, but he didn't tell her that Drake was actually being used as bait for a group of terrorists who might be operating in the area.The reason why she didn't tell her was that if Cole knew, she would definitely be obliged to inform the local residents of the situation and ask everyone to be vigilant.With that, Mason's plan to catch the guys who were talking encrypted in Dari would be doomed. Still, Pooler really wanted to tell her everything.

"It would have been nice to know about this sooner," Kerr grumbled. "Are these high-flying guys always playing tricks like this?" "It's not a game of tricks for them. They're sitting on a wall and can't make up their minds, and they don't know who to trust." "I couldn't even sit in their seat for five seconds. I don't get on well with people." "Maybe you'll do so well that you'll surprise yourself." "No, maybe I'll be tempted to shoot some guy. Now what shall we do?" "Go to the crime scene. I had an idea on the plane back."

When they pulled over, Landry Monroe was coming out of the house where the Reynolds family had been killed.The kit he was carrying bumped back and forth against his short legs.Seeing Pooler and Cole stepping out of the car door, Monroe smiled happily and raised his free hand. "Welcome back, Puller," he said. "Glad to see you weren't eaten alive by Washington." Puller glanced at Cole and asked in a low voice, "Have you always kept this secret?" Cole looked uncomfortable and said to Monroe, "Is your business here over?" "Yes. The alert can be lifted."

Cole nodded, watching Monroe put his gear back in the car. Puller looked at the police car parked ahead.He recognized the policeman named Devoney sitting inside.Just then, DeVoney threw a cigarette butt through the open window. Cole said quickly, "They're not supposed to be smoking on duty. But DeVoney's been trying to quit, and he's a complete jerk when he's not. I'm more—" She fell silent as Puller stepped forward suddenly. "Hi." Cole yelled and followed. Puller walked between Reynolds' parents-in-law's and the adjoining house.He stopped and looked carefully at the open-air platform behind the house next door.It is made of pressure-treated planks that have been dulled by years of wind and sun.

Cole came after him. "what are you doing?" "It seems to have suddenly appeared." "You mean that idea that came to you on the plane?" "No, it came out five seconds ago." He stared at a large, heavy glass ashtray piled high with cigarette butts on the railing of the landing.He didn't understand why he hadn't spotted it earlier. "Who lives in this family?" "Old couple Docter, old man's name is George, old lady's name is Rhonda, if I remember correctly. I talked to them when we were doing our round neighbourhood."

"Which of the two of them smokes?" "It's the old man. When I went to inquire, I found that his wife didn't let him smoke in the house, so the ashtray was placed on the outside platform. What's the big deal about smoking? You plan to stand alone at the forefront of the times, To save the fallen souls of all us smokers?" "No, it's just that this ashtray is placed on the platform where you can see the jungle behind." Puller gestured to two points. Cole looked in the direction of his fingers. "what do you mean?" "How old is Docter? The old man, I mean."

"Almost eighty. Not in good health, overweight, frail, with kidney problems, that's what he told me when I went to investigate. Normally he talks non-stop about his health. I reckon old It’s easy, otherwise there’s no way to pass the time.” "That is to say, at night he got up to go to the toilet at night, but he couldn't pee. He was very annoyed and couldn't sleep, so he came out to smoke. He couldn't smoke here during the day, it was too hot." "Maybe. He told me that during the day he starts the car, turns on the air conditioner, and gets in the car and smokes comfortably. But what's the matter?"

"Are they home?" "There's a car parked in the driveway. That's the only car they have." "How about we test my ideas?"