Grounds to Believe Read Free Page A

stacked the files and spread the contents of the first one on the blotter. He hated reading this stuff.
    The autopsy report on the so-called SIDS baby, Andreas Wyslicki, lay on top of a transcript of a police interview with the pediatrician, Michael Archer. Ross started with the interview, reading slowly. His approach to such a witness was to absorb details not of medical procedure, but of per sonality, of speech patterns, of hints to the habits and pre occupations of the speaker. And Archer was definitely preoccupied.
    Archer advises the baby arrived by ambulance approx. 18:40 March 12th. Parents reported that the baby alarm had gone off because he had stoppedbreathing. They had done CPR to no effect. Paramedics could not revive him, and he was pronounced DOA at the hospital.
    Ross took another sip of tepid coffee.
    Archer cannot account for victim’s death. Has been victim’s pediatrician since he was born two months ago. Archer requests he be allowed to view autopsy report when completed.
    No doubt.
    The station clerk’s voice penetrated his concentration. “He’s in Lieutenant Bellville’s office, Harry.”
    A uniform leaned in the door. “Investigator Malcolm?”
    Ross put his hands on both arms of the chair and levered himself to his feet. “Yes. You’re Harry Everett?”
    “The same. Glad you could join us.”
    “I’m not. I was two days into a five-day leave.” The other man looked intimidated until Ross smiled. Then Everett smiled back.
    “Sorry about that. But these kids…well, we needed the help.”
    “Yeah. I’ve been reading the reports. I’d like to get some background on your informant.”
    “No problem.” He leaned out the door. “Jenny, would you bring me the fink file on Rita Ulstad?” Ross watched as the station clerk, a pretty blonde with a Meg Ryan haircut, sashayed out to the records room and returned carrying another manila folder. That short skirt did less forher than she probably imagined. “Thanks.” Everett smiled absently and opened the file she handed him.
    “Anything for you, ” Jenny crooned to Everett as she moved away, but her glance remained on Ross, sparkling with interest. Ross had no doubt about the message. He considered it briefly and rejected it. If there was a woman in his future, he hadn’t met her yet. That was one thing he was happy to leave up to the Lord.
    “So.” Ross tilted back in the chair and laced his fingers behind his head. “What do you have in mind for strategy?”
    Harry Everett handed him the file to give himself a moment. “I’ve heard about you,” he said finally. “That you got broken in at Waco.”
    Ross frowned and moved restlessly. “You heard wrong,” he said shortly. “That was long before my time.”
    “But you’re a cult specialist, right? The only one the Task Force has. You did that bunch of Aryan wanna-bes in the hostage situation in Spokane, right?”
    Ross fought against the memories that welled up out of the dark place inside him, a place he tried to keep scabbed over and undisturbed. His last sight of Annie and Kailey floated in his mind’s eye for a moment, the way it did every time he busted into a run-down apartment or staked out a house, searching for evidence of the organized crime these little cults were so good at hiding. The kids were the worst. Big frightened eyes. Utter distrust. Just like Kailey, screaming at the sight of him.
    Ross came back to the present with a jolt and struggled to remember what Harry Everett had been talking about. Oh,yeah. Spokane. “I was involved.” He got the conversation back on track with an effort. “Tell me what you need.”
    Everett backed off and got to the point. “I think we need an undercover. I think you need to buddy up to one of the members and find out as much as you can. I’d suggest our informant, but she’s lost their trust and doesn’t interact with them anymore. There’s got to be a reason for these deaths, but no one knows enough about the Elect to