The Green Trap Read Online Free

Cochrane’s at home, but she’s not taking calls. This has been something of a shock to her.”
    Cochrane nodded. “Me, too.”
    â€œI suppose so. Of course.”
    â€œWhat’s Washington doing in this? Why are you involved?”
    â€œActually, it’s the Department of Homeland Security who’s interested in your brother’s murder. I’m just a local field agent.”
    â€œHomeland Security?”
    â€œYour brother’s office was ransacked, either just before or just after he was killed.”
    â€œRansacked?” Cochrane knew he was making an ass of himself, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
    â€œDid your brother confide in you? Did he tell you anything about the work he was doing?”
    â€œMike’s a biologist, for chrissake! He wasn’t involved in anything dangerous.”
    â€œAre you certain of that?”
    â€œHe worked with algae and cyanobacteria—”
    â€œCyano…?”
    â€œCyanobacteria,” Cochrane repeated.
    â€œThat sounds ominous.”
    He didn’t know whether to laugh or scowl at her ignorance. “They’re harmless bacteria that produce oxygen.”
    â€œThey’re not dangerous, then?”
    Cochrane shook his head. “They’re on our side.”
    Sandoval tilted her head slightly to one side, as if trying to determine if he was telling the truth. Cochrane realized she was very pretty, beautiful even.
    â€œSomeone murdered your brother for a reason. I think it has something to do with his research.”
    â€œMike said he’d hit on something that would make him rich, but—”
    â€œSomething? What?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t tell me. Made me go out to Palo Alto to see for myself.”
    â€œAnd?” she asked eagerly.
    Cochrane felt his insides go hollow. “I never saw him. The receptionist wouldn’t let me in. He was murdered while I was in the building’s lobby.”
    She pursed her lips, disappointed. “So you didn’t get to see what he was working on.”
    â€œNo. But you should be able to check it out on his computer.”
    â€œThe laptop computer he worked on is missing. Stolen, we presume. His office was thoroughly looted of any paperwork that might have held his notes, his references, anything pertaining to his work.”
    â€œWhat the hell were they after?”
    â€œI was hoping you would know,” said Sandoval.
    Cochrane didn’t know what to say. Then his cell phone began playing Mozart. He pulled it out of his shirt pocket, flicked it open, and put it to his ear.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œPaul, it’s me.” He instantly recognized the voice of his brother’s widow.
    â€œIrene! Are you okay?”
    â€œHe’s dead, Paul. Somebody killed Mike.”
    Glancing at Sandoval, who turned away slightly and pointedly stared out the window, Cochrane said, “I know. I was there when it happened. I went to your house.”
    â€œThe police told me. I should have phoned you earlier, Paul, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.”
    He could hear the tears in her voice. “It’s okay, Irene. I was starting to worry about you, though.”
    â€œI’m fine. Well, not really, but I’m all right. I got home from the school and there were a pair of police detectives on the front steps. That’s how I found out.”
    â€œI must have just missed you,” Cochrane said. Sandoval turned in her chair and studied the spines of the
Astrophysical Journals
on the top shelf of his bookcase.
    â€œMy carpool dropped me off around five-thirty. We had a teachers’ meeting after classes.”
    You don’t need to give me an alibi, Cochrane thought. Aloud, he said, “Lousy thing to come home to.”
    Irene sighed heavily and Cochrane realized she must be struggling to hold herself together.
    â€œI’ll come out there tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll help