Where's Ellen? (Mystery) (MPP A JOE MCFARLAND / GINNY HARRIS MYSTERY Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

a formal case file yet. So there isn’t even such a case yet. And why did you say ‘known as Ellen Sanders’? And how do you know anything about this? And why is the FBI already involved? And…”
    “Hold on, Detective. Keep it in your pants.” interrupted Martin. “The FBI is not already ‘involved’ as you so nicely put it; the FBI is now IN CHARGE of this case. And I mean FULLY in charge. We need you to turn over all your notes and whatever evidence you have, and tell us all you know.”
    “Chief,” pleaded Joe. “What’s going on? Please explain to these big-city super special agents that, at least for now, this is a local situation. We don’t need, haven’t asked for and don’t want any so-called help from the FBI.”
    Before the chief could reply, Martin again explained to the chief and his two detectives that the FBI would be completely taking over the case starting right then. “We’re sorry for taking over like this, but these orders came directly from FBI headquarters in D.C. If you have any problems with this, I suggest you check with your superiors; I’m sure our SAC has already been in touch with them.”
    “Bull,” said Joe. “I can only imagine how sorry you are to be taking the case from us.”
    “Believe me when I say that we’ll keep you in the loop as much as we can,” added Martin.
    “What’s this all about?” asked Ginny in her sweetest, most cooperative-sounding voice. As was often the case, Ginny and Joe were able to play “good cop-bad cop” off each other without any advance planning. In fact, maybe they were just acting their normal selves, not play acting at all. And, not surprisingly, Ginny always had the good cop role.
    “Sorry. We can’t tell you. National security is involved.”
    “What!” yelled Joe. “That’s bullshit! That’s how you’ll keep us in the loop? I don’t get it. At first it looked like this lady either snuck off for a quickie with her boyfriend or got whacked by her husband. Or perhaps both. But now that you guys are so insistent on taking over the case, it probably does somehow involve national security or something else really big. It would sure help if you’d tell us what this is all about.”
    “Sorry, but we’ve already told you more than we should have. Now please give us all your notes and any evidence and bring us up to speed so we can get out of your hair,” said Martin.
    “Gimme a couple of minutes to make a few phone calls,” said the chief as he got up and walked out of the conference room to return to his office. Without the chief’s presence, the tension only built. Joe and Ginny sat silently, alternating between glancing at each other and glaring at the two FBI agents. The two FBI agents stared directly ahead; they might as well have been store mannequins.
    After a couple of minutes, Ginny got up and asked, “Would anyone like coffee or water?”
    Before saying, “Not me, thanks,” Joe gave Ginny a quick look that clearly meant “no need to be so gracious to these two SOBs.” Ginny returned a look to Joe that said, “Who cares? Give ’em a break.”
    Both of the FBI agents simultaneously responded, “No, thank you.” Ginny sat back down next to Joe.
    A couple of minutes later the chief reappeared. Speaking to Joe and Ginny, he said, “I did check and, yes, for some unknown reason or reasons, this case now belongs to the FBI. We are to turn over everything we have and then stay off the case and out of their way unless we’re asked to help.”
    Joe and Ginny gave each other one of their “can you believe this?” looks just before Joe blurted out, “I don’t get it. There’s probably something big and important going on, but I’ve got no idea what. Seems to me that this should be a local police matter until we’re told enough to agree that it should become a case for the Feds.” After a few more minutes of moaning and groaning, he and Ginny summarized the whole morning for the two FBI agents and gave