Free Relentless (Elisabeth Reinhardt Book 1) by Nancy Alexander Page B

The clatter of plates and the smell of hamburgers and fries filled the space around them. They could hear orders being shouted back and forth across the pass-through between the kitchen and the dining area. Waitresses in pink uniforms with white aprons hustled about with trays of food and drinks. On the counter displays of homemade cakes and pies sat on raised plates with domed lids. Gus’s Diner was one of the town’s most popular spots for homemade desserts. Also featured was the usual homey fare, eggs and bacon for breakfast, hamburgers and fries for lunch and the fried chicken special for dinner. Food wasn’t much on their minds, as they drank their coffee and watched each other.
    Calling in the FBI had been a big step for Chester, but he knew this was bigger than the Putnam County Police Department. Once he recognized these killings spanned a multi-state area and the Task Force pooled their information, he knew it was a crime for the FBI.
    “They got ta have roots around here somewhere,” Chester was saying. “Two out of five is higher than average, don’t ya think? The first and most recent victims were from around here. That can’t be a coincidence. These guys are locals, I’d say.”
    Lou nodded thoughtfully. Listening was one of his best qualities. He listened and absorbed while those around him chattered away. Chester continued, “How about if my department focuses on just this area, you know Putnam County area.” He wanted to talk privately with the lead FBI guy, this Lou Fairmont. He seemed like a nice enough guy; a no bullshit kind of lawman. Chester could get with that. He watched Lou check his cell phone, frowning as he sped through messages. Lou Fairmont had worked for the FBI his whole career and had been with the BAU for the last fifteen years. Originally from rural Ohio, he had grown up in a ‘Mainline Protestant’ family for whom religion was pivotal. Lou’s father had two main interests: Farming and church-going. Both required a strict schedule with no deviation. Those were the rules. You got up at 5AM and started your farm chores; you went to prayer meetings every Wednesday and Friday night and Sunday was G-d’s day when you went to church from morning to evening. Louis Bedford Fairmont was the middle child of 9 boys and 2 girls born to a kind but tired mother who spent her life raising her children and cooking or sewing for her family. Very little emotion was tolerated in the Fairmont home. Every blessing or tragedy was G-d’s will and accepted without question, joy or undue grief. Violence was a sin and any expression of anger was forbidden. Other kinds of emotional expression were also inhibited. Joy was restrained. Happiness was for little children. Pride was sinful. Affection was rarely shown and never in public. Even hand holding was considered too intimate unless it was necessary to keep track of a child. Touching occurred only when necessary to care for someone who was young, old, ill or infirm. Children were taught to remain quiet and adults spoke rarely and only when practical matters needed to be addressed. Dancing was prohibited; music curtailed unless it was church music and laughter was frowned upon. The family atmosphere was polite but repressed and very task-focused. Children were commended for completing farm tasks, learning bible and getting good grades in school. Obedience, chastity and prayer were the three hallmarks of the Fairmont family.
    Lou lived with his family until at age 28 the FBI transferred him to Quantico. There he met and married his wife of 30 years. She too worked for the FBI until her car accident three years before. Lou and his wife, Gretchen had one child, a daughter now married and living in Rockville. He was looking forward to his upcoming retirement so he could spend more time with his family, especially his two young grandsons. As he put his phone away content to see that Gretchen’s physical therapy appointment had gone well, he looked across at