laughed. “I thought so, but I could be wrong. This is embarrassing. I’m probably at the wrong bank.”
Lexie smiled. “There are one or two others in town, but ours is the best.”
“I’m sure it is. Sorry to trouble you.” Sidney walked out the lobby, wondering why Russell Mullins used his real name at the Hampton Inn but set up his appointment under an alias. He could only conclude that the hotel required a photo ID and a bank interview didn’t. Why would Mullins meet with a bank president using a phony name?
Sidney sat in the Audi, uncertain what to do. His first reaction was to return to the bank, identify himself as a reporter, and confront Archer. But he might be blowing a key strategy of Mullins’ investigation, an investigation that could net Sidney an exclusive. He decided to confront Mullins instead, maybe force him to reveal his plan. If Mullins was headed back to D.C., then he had over an hour’s lead. Sidney started the car. He’d take advantage of the Audi’s superior horsepower and find Mullins as soon as possible.
***
Archer’s handwritten report took five pages of his legal pad and he composed it carefully for accuracy in case he ever had to testify in court. The bomb scare had unnerved him. He suspected the incident was tied somehow to Mullins and the mysterious call from Agent Nathaniel Brown. He looked at his phone. The agent was due to call and give him his next set of instructions. Archer had cleared his schedule and he hoped once he’d completed his task, he’d never hear of Russell Mullins or Nathaniel Brown again.
The buzzer from his intercom startled him. “What is it, Linda?”
“Lexie called from downstairs. She said someone had come in saying he was supposed to meet your morning appointment.”
Archer felt his stomach knot. Was Agent Brown in the bank?
“Did you tell him Mr. Thomson had gone.”
“Yes, but that wasn’t the name he gave. He was looking for Russell Mullins. I just wanted to see if the right name had been entered in your appointment calendar. I wasn’t the one who put it in.”
The knot tightened. Someone had been following Mullins. “I don’t know that name,” he stammered. “I met with Mr. Thomson.”
“Thank you, sir. That’s what I told her.”
Archer grimaced. He hadn’t wanted his lie to go beyond his assistant. “So, you were correct. Anything else?”
“Yes. A Mr. Brown is on line two. He says you’re expecting his call.”
Chapter Nineteen
The history of Roanoke, Virginia is forever linked with the railroad industry. The Norfolk and Western line not only made Roanoke a major transportation hub, but it also produced the finest steam locomotives in the world. Jobs and commerce roared through the city like a freight train thundering through the Shenandoah Valley. Soot and cinders weren’t dirt, they were signatures of prosperity.
Until the coming of the diesels—cleaner, quieter, and made elsewhere. Over two thousand workers were laid off, and as the railroad industry abandoned the power of steam, it also abandoned Roanoke. When Norfolk and Western merged with Southern Railways to form Norfolk Southern, the headquarters of the new company was established in Norfolk, Virginia. Roanoke remained an important hub, but the clout of manufacturing and leadership had evaporated like steam from a leaky boiler.
Some remnants of the golden age survived as part of Virginia’s Transportation Museum. But other warehouses and industrial buildings fell into disrepair.
Craig Archer was a little surprised that Treasury Agent Nathaniel Brown suggested they meet behind one of the railroad ruins. The old Virginia Railway passenger station near the South Jefferson Street Bridge had been abandoned for years. A fire had done extensive damage, and although it stood beside active rail lines, a chain-link fence had been erected around it while funds were sought for preservation and renovation.
Archer pulled his Cadillac Escalade to the back corner of
Lexie smiled. “There are one or two others in town, but ours is the best.”
“I’m sure it is. Sorry to trouble you.” Sidney walked out the lobby, wondering why Russell Mullins used his real name at the Hampton Inn but set up his appointment under an alias. He could only conclude that the hotel required a photo ID and a bank interview didn’t. Why would Mullins meet with a bank president using a phony name?
Sidney sat in the Audi, uncertain what to do. His first reaction was to return to the bank, identify himself as a reporter, and confront Archer. But he might be blowing a key strategy of Mullins’ investigation, an investigation that could net Sidney an exclusive. He decided to confront Mullins instead, maybe force him to reveal his plan. If Mullins was headed back to D.C., then he had over an hour’s lead. Sidney started the car. He’d take advantage of the Audi’s superior horsepower and find Mullins as soon as possible.
***
Archer’s handwritten report took five pages of his legal pad and he composed it carefully for accuracy in case he ever had to testify in court. The bomb scare had unnerved him. He suspected the incident was tied somehow to Mullins and the mysterious call from Agent Nathaniel Brown. He looked at his phone. The agent was due to call and give him his next set of instructions. Archer had cleared his schedule and he hoped once he’d completed his task, he’d never hear of Russell Mullins or Nathaniel Brown again.
The buzzer from his intercom startled him. “What is it, Linda?”
“Lexie called from downstairs. She said someone had come in saying he was supposed to meet your morning appointment.”
Archer felt his stomach knot. Was Agent Brown in the bank?
“Did you tell him Mr. Thomson had gone.”
“Yes, but that wasn’t the name he gave. He was looking for Russell Mullins. I just wanted to see if the right name had been entered in your appointment calendar. I wasn’t the one who put it in.”
The knot tightened. Someone had been following Mullins. “I don’t know that name,” he stammered. “I met with Mr. Thomson.”
“Thank you, sir. That’s what I told her.”
Archer grimaced. He hadn’t wanted his lie to go beyond his assistant. “So, you were correct. Anything else?”
“Yes. A Mr. Brown is on line two. He says you’re expecting his call.”
Chapter Nineteen
The history of Roanoke, Virginia is forever linked with the railroad industry. The Norfolk and Western line not only made Roanoke a major transportation hub, but it also produced the finest steam locomotives in the world. Jobs and commerce roared through the city like a freight train thundering through the Shenandoah Valley. Soot and cinders weren’t dirt, they were signatures of prosperity.
Until the coming of the diesels—cleaner, quieter, and made elsewhere. Over two thousand workers were laid off, and as the railroad industry abandoned the power of steam, it also abandoned Roanoke. When Norfolk and Western merged with Southern Railways to form Norfolk Southern, the headquarters of the new company was established in Norfolk, Virginia. Roanoke remained an important hub, but the clout of manufacturing and leadership had evaporated like steam from a leaky boiler.
Some remnants of the golden age survived as part of Virginia’s Transportation Museum. But other warehouses and industrial buildings fell into disrepair.
Craig Archer was a little surprised that Treasury Agent Nathaniel Brown suggested they meet behind one of the railroad ruins. The old Virginia Railway passenger station near the South Jefferson Street Bridge had been abandoned for years. A fire had done extensive damage, and although it stood beside active rail lines, a chain-link fence had been erected around it while funds were sought for preservation and renovation.
Archer pulled his Cadillac Escalade to the back corner of
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