Free The Sixth Man by David Baldacci Page A

before visiting hours were over. In quite the rush he was.”
    “Okay, but maybe he never made it.”
    “No, he did. Because he came back here. Had a cup of coffee. I asked him how it went. He said okay, but he didn’t really seem like it had gone okay.”
    “What time was that?” asked Sean.
    The husband looked at him suspiciously. “What does it matter to you?”
    The wife added, “You two ask a lot of questions.”
    Before Sean could say anything, Michelle spoke up. “Okay, we should have told you before.” She paused and then said in a low, girlish voice brimming with awe, “We were the ones who found his body.”
    The couple looked at her and then Sean. He nodded. “We did,” Sean said quite truthfully.
    The words tumbled from Michelle’s mouth. “And it was awful. But exciting at the same time. I mean nothing ever happens to us like that. I’ve never even seen a dead body before. And certainly not one that was murdered.” She shivered. “I absolutely hate guns,” she added with a completely straight face. But then her features lit up. “But it was so exciting. It’s weird, huh?”
    The husband said derisively, “Well, it’s excitement I can do without.”
    “We found the body around midnight,” prompted Sean. “But he must’ve gotten back from seeing Roy long before that.”
    “Oh yeah, about eight. He didn’t have any dinner. Said he wasn’t hungry.”
    “Did he talk to you before he left again?”
    “No. I didn’t see him leave either. I know he was here around nine. Saw his light on in his room. But I got busy after that.” He looked at his wife. “You didn’t see him either?”
    “No. Told the police that too. I was back in the kitchen cleaning up.”
    Michelle said, “So it was after nine when he left. But when you talked to him after he got back from Cutter’s Rock, did he mention going out again? Or where he might be going?”
    “No. Nothing like that.”
    Sean asked, “Did Bergin get any phone calls or packages that day?”
    “Phone calls, no. Most people have cells now, of course. And no messages or package at the front desk, nothing like that.”
    After asking a few more questions they thanked the couple and left.
    Outside, Agent Murdock was waiting for them.
    “Playing detective?” he said in a surly tone, nodding toward the couple through the window.
    “Just having a cup of coffee. It’s chilly today.”
    “Yeah, a cup of coffee with the owners of the lodge where your guy was staying.”
    “Another coincidence,” said Michelle.
    “Let it be your last one,” replied Murdock.
    “Can I have my gun back? I’m feeling kind of naked without it.”
    “Ballistics isn’t done yet. I’ll let you know. Could be a while. Paperwork gets backed up. You know how it is.” He stared up at Sean. “I’m hoping I don’t run into you two again. Why don’t you get back to Virginia? Nothing to keep you here.”
    “I thought you said we were material witnesses and couldn’t leave the area.”
    “I changed my mind. So go!”
    “It’s a free country,” said Sean.
    “Until it’s not free,” shot back Murdock.
    After he left, Michelle headed over to the gas station attendant. “Where’s the closest gun shop?”
    “About two miles north of here, right on this road. Place called Fort Maine Guns.”
    “Nice assortment of pistols?”
    “Oh yeah. You shoot?”
    “Only when I have to.”

CHAPTER

11
    M ICHELLE SLIPPED the 9mm Sig into her belt holster and let out a prolonged sigh of satisfaction.
    Sean stared at her in amusement. “Smoke ’em if you got ’em.”
    “Why do I think having a gun up here is a really good idea?”
    “Because it is.”
    “I’d just gotten used to the H&K, but I have to say I’ve always been partial to Sigs.”
    “You carried a Glock for a while, too.”
    “You know what they say: some girls like shoes, some girls like guns.”
    “I’ve never actually heard anyone else say that.”
    She stuck a couple boxes of ammo in her bag and