Part 45 (1/2)

”Nora?” I asked. ”He's the brother of Nora Sinclair?”

Chapter 70

AGENT BRUBAKER STARED across the table at me. I'd just mentioned Nora, and in return, she hadn't said anything. Not yes, not no, not boo. There was no nod or even a touch to the tip of her nose. Nothing.

Instead, she simply folded her arms, tan and fit as they were.

”Do you happen to know the name of James Joyce's wife?” she asked.

Strange time for a pop quiz on world lit. ”No,” I said. ”I don't.”

”Nora. Her name was Nora Joyce,” she said. ”Do you know who directed the movie You've Got Mail?”

That one I did know. What can I say? A Netflix subscription gets you watching a lot of movies you normally wouldn't have time to see. Plus we had a pattern going here.

”Nora Ephron,” I said.

Agent Brubaker seemed a bit surprised by my movie trivia prowess, but kept going. ”And have you ever heard of the Nora Whittaker Band?”

I shook my head. ”No.”

”Me, neither. They're a small group out of Philly. No major hits, but they do write some interesting lyrics,” she said. ”More important, do you know who has heard of them?”

”I give up.”

”Ned Sinclair.”

”Nora's-”

”Brother, right. He's been leaving me clues with every victim, although I highly doubt he thought I'd get here before he did,” she said. ”I just got lucky.”

”Sounds like we both did.”

Agent Brubaker went on to detail Ned's escape from the psychiatric hospital and the chief administrator happening to mention Nora's name. Somehow Ned knew of my involvement with her.

Of course, he wasn't the only one.

Once Sarah had Nora's name, connecting her to the FBI was as easy as a criminal database search. After a few internal calls Sarah was sitting in front of Frank Walsh's desk. I could just picture his face. As if you didn't have enough problems, huh, O'Hara? You're the target of a serial killer?

”Like I said, Ned Sinclair probably blames you for Nora's death. The fact that on his way to get you he's murdering innocent guys with your name only underscores his anger,” she said.

”So what does that make me, the guilty John O'Hara?”

Sarah looked at me incredulously. ”Nora Sinclair was killing her lovers for money and it was your job to prove it. Instead, you gave new meaning to being an undercover agent and ended up in bed with her. Would you like me to continue?”