***
It was a cold winter day in early January. The barren trees swayed in the brisk wind that swept through the cemetery. Professor Swensen, Matt, Lynn, and Bill Ross were the sole mourners at Martha and Michael's funeral. Professor Swensen's pastor agreed to conduct the ceremony although he had never known Martha or her son. After a brief grave-site ceremony, Matt and Lynn began the short walk to their car, with Bill Ross leading the way.
Hans knelt down before a grave site a few hundred yards away and watched them. As they approached their car, Agent Radcliff appeared with another man. Bill motioned for them to stay back as he continued toward Agent Radcliff.
"Please get away from this car," Bill demanded.
Agent Radcliff pulled out his badge and flashed it in front of Ross' face.
"FBI?"
"That's what it says."
Matt and Lynn walked up next to Bill who looked confused.
"Good morning, Mr. Coleman," Radcliff said.
"Hello, Agent Radcliff."
Radcliff looked over at his partner and said, "This is my partner, Agent Shane."
"Hello."
"I'm sorry to bother you on such a sad occasion, but I'm curious as to why you and the professor attended this funeral. You’re not family, are you?"
"You've been watching me?" Matt said.
"You know we've been investigating your claim that someone was trying to kill you."
"Well, you found your first witness. . . . Too bad she won't be able to talk to you."
"What do you mean?"
Matt told Agent Radcliff and Shane all he knew.
"What a shame. The committee will be very disappointed that we weren’t able to talk to Ms. Simonton. But we will take a look at MidSouth Bank. Maybe there are some other employees who would be willing to talk."
“Hopefully,” Matt said.
Agent Radcliff and Shane didn’t move. Matt suddenly felt uneasy.
"Is there something else?"
"Yes, we wanted to give you some bad news."
"What's that?"
"Agent Shane and I have been assigned to question you about Wallace Green."
Matt’s heart sank. He regretted telling them about Ms. Simonton. They were there to get evidence to put him behind bars. "Jesus. It figures. . . . Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but I can't talk to you about that now."
"And why is that?"
"My attorney advised me not to discuss the case without him being present."
"Well, why don't you call him so we can all get together and discuss how you missed a hundred and fifty thousand dollars of cash on Mr. Green's Schedule B?"
"No problem,” Matt said sarcastically. “When would be a good time for you?"
"How about right now?"
"I don't think so. Let’s go with Monday morning at my attorney's office. . . . ten o'clock?"
"Who's your attorney?"
"Bruce Pierson," I replied. "If you call my office, my secretary will give you his address and telephone number."
"Fine. We'll see you Monday."
"Good. Now will you excuse us?"
"Sure, have a nice day."
Bill opened the back door and Lynn and Matt got inside. Bill gave the two agents a nasty look and then got in and drove off.
"What an asshole," Lynn said.
"You noticed."
"Why would they send him to Dallas to investigate you? I'm sure they must have local agents."
"MidSouth probably isn’t alone in this. A lot of financial institutions are in trouble. I saw something on the news just tonight about Eagle National Bank. Agent Radcliff obviously is doing somebody’s dirty work. Somebody who has connections in the FBI."
"What if they indict you?" Lynn asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
"There's no what if. They are going to indict me. You can bet on it."
"Oh Matt! . . . Do you think you'll be convicted?"
"I don't know. It's going to be Mr. Green's word against mine. It depends on who the jury believes."
"They have to believe you. I couldn't stand for you to go to jail."
"At least it would be a federal prison. . . . I'd have a lot of time to work on my tennis game," Matt laughed.
"It's not funny," Lynn moaned. "What are we going to do?"
"Bruce Pierson is an excellent criminal attorney. He worked for years in the District Attorney's office. I'm sure he'll get me off."
"I'm so worried," Lynn said.
"Don't worry, it won't do any good. You just need to assume everything will work out okay."
"I wish I could."
"It's too bad we don’t know who Frank Hill hired to kill me."
"Well, we might be able to figure it out." Bill interjected.
"You got some ideas?"
"Not yet. Give me a little time."
"I didn't know you were a detective?" Lynn said.
"I'm not officially, but I've had a lot of experience and training in criminal investigation. Don't worry, Lynn, I’ll find out who they’ve hired to kill Matt. And when I do, I’ll make him wish he was never born."
Matt and Lynn looked at each other and smiled. They liked Ross’ enthusiasm.