Black Sun Descending by Stephen Legault Page A

murdered? Were you keeping an eye on her then?”
    â€œDr. Pearson—” started Agent Nielsen.
    Something occurred to Silas and he cut the agent off. “Were you watching Penelope?” The two agents were quiet. “I have a right to know. Do you have a file on her?”
    A long moment passed. “Yes,” said Nielsen.
    Silas felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. “You sons of bitches. Four and a half years I’ve been looking for my wife. Four and a half years of crawling around in the desert. How many times have I been interviewed by you, Agent Nielsen? And your boss Taylor? And here in Flag, before the congenial Mr. Ortiz was on the file? And now you’re telling me that the FBI was watching Penny before she went missing?”
    â€œWe keep tabs on a lot of people, Dr. Pearson.”
    â€œWhat does Penny’s file say?”
    â€œWe’re not going to discuss this right now.” Ortiz was still smiling amiably.
    â€œWell,” Silas stood up, “then you’re not going to discuss anything else right now. Ken Hollyoak will be in touch with the Bureau about getting a copy of my wife’s file.”
    â€œSit down, Dr. Pearson, please. We still have questions for you about Ms. Vaughn’s death.”
    â€œForget it. You’re on your own.” Silas turned for the door.
    â€œYour wife and Ms. Vaughn were working on the same things, Dr. Pearson. You tell us what you know about Vaughn and it may lead to information about the whereabouts of your wife.” It was Nielsen speaking.
    Silas had his hand on the door handle. He looked back over his shoulder. “If that’s the case, then I’ll find her on my own.”

SILAS LEFT THE FBI’S OFFICE, got into his Subaru, and drove back into Flagstaff. He gripped the wheel so tightly that he thought his fingers would go numb. He nearly ran a red light as he crossed the railway tracks and had to take a deep, calming breath before he could proceed.
    He got back to his hotel and packed. He called Ken Hollyoak.
    â€œWhat did I tell you, Silas?”
    â€œThis isn’t the time for I-told-you-sos, Ken.”
    â€œNo, you’re right. What do you want me to do?”
    â€œGet me that file.”
    â€œI can put in a request. It’s going to take some time. The FBI doesn’t just hand these things over, you know. The file is likely at the National Security Agency and the NSA isn’t exactly a—”
    â€œPenny is legally dead, Ken. That should make it easier. That’s all I’m saying.”
    â€œIt hasn’t been long enough. You’d need seven years before you can go to the courts and ask for a death certificate. I can argue that this is a civil liberties issue, but since 9/11 that’s become much more difficult. I’ll try. In the meantime, stay away from the FBI , okay?”
    â€œAll but one of them.”
    SILAS CALLED KATIE. “How did Jane Vaughn die?”
    â€œOh, Silas, I don’t think I can tell you that.”
    Silas recapped what had happened. “When I found those bodies in Arches and Canyonlands, you told me that cause of death was significant. Sometimes cause of death will indicate if a crime is personal or professional.”
    There was a long silence. “The trouble this time is the damage to the bones, Silas. The radioactive material Jane Vaughn was buried in did a lot of damage to the calcium in the bones. I can’t find any indication of a stabbing or a gunshot wound. The hyoid bone was recovered intact. What I have found is a number of hairline fractures to the skull. These suggest that Jane may have been beaten. I’m trying to date the fractures right now, to determine when they occurred. We may conclude that she was beaten to death.”
    â€œGood God.”
    â€œNot an easy way to go.”
    â€œIf what I’ve read in the papers over the years is true, it’s consistent with cases of