I took a deep breath trying to control myself. "Howie, that's Quinn's stuff. I have no business messing with it. We each did our own thing and the machines were solely his responsibility."

"But he skipped out and left all the stuff."

"I'll ship it back and safe keep it, but I don't want anything else to do with it. We don't know that he won't pop back up sometime soon and want it."

Howie turned away, mad as hell at me. He failed to acknowledge my departure as I returned to our room. While I detested closing our nine month incredible relationship on so sour a note, I felt the decision was his. He didn't even thank me for going out of my way to Philadelphia on his behalf.

My cell phone alerted me to a message. I didn't at first recognize the New Hampshire number but remembered I'd given mine to Detective Jackson. I returned his call.

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"The FBI is all over the place," he said after our mutual greeting. They're okay with your statements but they wanted to talk to your other pals, the LeBlancs. I told them what you said; they're like hiding out. Any chance you have a contact number?"

"No. I'm not holding back," I said, sounding a tad defensive. "I have no idea where they are."

"The guys in suits have gone all over the Abbott house and found zilch. They'd like to search the LeBlanc's place on the off chance our boy broke in there too and maybe got careless. Only they can't get a search warrant and no owners, no permission."

"I'll give you permission," I said without thinking. While I had no right to do so, if Martha and Quinn had effectively abandoned their home, why not? Allowing stranger to paw through their quarters might seem tactless but I suppose I harbored animosity at their abrupt departure. "I'll do you one better," I added. "Lift the back-left tile on the patio and you'll find a key. I was there when Quinn hid it after Martha locked them out and he had to pry a window."

"Gotcha, pal. I'll go over there now. I'll let you know if we find any startling revelations. That is, if the FBI feels generous and tells me anything. Don't get sunburned."

As long as I had the phone in my hand, I dialed Dan Brennan. "I've been officially summoned," he said.

"What's that mean?"

"I have to report for interrogation tomorrow morning. I'm a private citizen so my old bosses can't directly help but they managed to get me a good lawyer. I'll keep my mouth shut and my attorney thinks in time it will all go away. I haven't done anything illegal and it's his opinion I have no legal responsibility to tell them anything I know about you people. You're not accused of any crime so I'm not harboring any fugitives. This is all a new fishing hole and that's all these government guys are doing."




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