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inside the store. It was possible the very man they sought was right here in the room, eager to buy a book about the people he’d kidnapped.
    Or perhaps Michelle took her research to a whole new level and she and the mountain man behind her were responsible for the disappearances of the FBI agents. It would make one hell of a publicity stunt.
    His stomach knotted. Could that be what this was all about? Surely not. He hadn’t seen any publicity concerning the missing FBI agents and the book that was being sold. The various departments involved had been playing the details of each case close to their vests.
    As far as Alexander knew, no reporter had tied them all together to come up with a serial kidnapper at work. Until this morning, when it was reported that a task force had been formed. He’d like to get his hands around the neck of whoever had leaked that information.
    He glanced at Georgina and noticed that she was perusing the crowd with narrowed eyes. She was probably thinking the same thing he was, that the perp might very well be right here in this room, eager to buy a book about the people he held captive. Hopefully the author they were about to meet would have some answers.
    He breathed a sigh of relief as finally there was only one person in line before they’d be at the author’s table.
    “Professor Tanner,” Michelle greeted the man in front of them warmly. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
    “Now, how could I miss such a special event for one of my best students?” the tall, well-built man replied.
    “You’re part of the reason I’m where I am,” Michelle said as she signed a book for him. “Your classes were always so fascinating.”
    “Thank you. Let’s hope there continue to be plenty of students who enjoy my classes.” He took the book she’d signed for him and then Alexander and Georgina stood before the author’s table.
    “Hello, would one or both of you like a book autographed?” Michelle asked with a bright smile.
    “I’d like one,” Georgina said. “You can just sign it to Georgina.”
    “And we’d both like to have a little chat with you when this is all over this evening.” Alexander pulled his official identification from his pocket and placed it on the table. To hell with the idea of pretending to be a fan, he thought. He just wanted to cut to the chase.
    Michelle looked at it and then at him with a faint alarm on her pretty features. Alexander quickly tucked his identification away.
    “Can we talk someplace other than here?” she asked. “I’d rather not have any of my readers know that the FBI is questioning me about anything.”
    “There’s a coffee shop about three blocks from here at the corner of Magnolia and Mission Road,” he said.
    She nodded. “I know the place.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “I’ll be here for another half an hour or so. Shall we meet there in about an hour?”
    She appeared curious and a bit apprehensive, but not particularly scared or guilty. Alexander was eager to question her and find out what, if any, role she might have played in the crimes. “Make sure you’re there. Otherwise we’ll find you someplace where it might be less private.”
    “I’ll be there,” she replied, her lips morphing into a thin line as she turned her attention to Georgina. “Did you really want a book?”
    “Yes.”
    Michelle quickly signed the book and handed it to Georgina. “I hope you enjoy it,” she said as if by rote.
    The two of them left the table, paid for the book and then exited the still-busy bookstore. It wasn’t until they were back in Alexander’s car and headed to the coffee shop that Georgina spoke.
    “So, thoughts?” she asked.
    “I have several. My first thought is what a great publicity stunt it would be for the three agents she wrote about in her book to suddenly go missing.”
    He felt Georgina’s gaze lingering on him, could almost hear the wheels churning in her head. “It would be a great publicity stunt,