Fenton’s face filled with rage. “You son of a bitch.”
Butler opened the rear door of his car and patted the roof as the doctor moved to get in. “Watch your head. I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.”
CHAPTER 80
New York Office, Department of Homeland Security, May 27, 9:37 p.m.
Max Garber stared at the blinking yellow dot on his screen as it started to move. The dot was the location of Detective Butler McHenry—or, more specifically, his phone. The detective was now retracing the route he had taken to the Pine Hill residence, which meant McHenry was returning to New York. What Garber had no way of knowing was whether he was returning to New York alone or with Dr. Fenton.
A simple Google search had revealed that Fenton was the founder and director of Harmony House, which was a government-funded facility in Woodbury. It seemed to be some kind of psychiatric hospital where Edward Parks was a patient, and where Dr. Skylar Drummond had started working less than two weeks ago. Garber, a closet gumshoe, wondered how a doctor and a psychiatric patient could have come into possession of classified technology. It was curious.
Detective McHenry was one of the lead investigators in the recent gas attack in the subway, which meant there was a connection between the fugitives and the attack.
But what?
He called Agent Raines to relate that Detective McHenry was returning from New Jersey. Raines responded that he didn’t care about the detective at the moment. Until the fugitives were in custody, they were to be Max’s one and only priority.
Max stood up, asking his ever-growing team of analysts keeping real-time watch over the city if anyone had anything worth relating. There was no response, other than shaking heads. Nobody dared to bring up any more low-probability catches. Nothing under 70 percent would be mentioned. Max spoke into the phone to his superior. “Sir, if they were still in the city, we’d have seen something by now.”
“I’m inclined to agree.” Agent Raines’s voice was reassuring. He seemed to want Garber to know that he still had complete confidence in him. “Focus your people’s attention on the subways, particularly the major stations. Get their images out there wide.”
Max smiled, because he had already done so. Every street cop and transit-authority officer had already received high-resolution images of the two fugitives.
CHAPTER 81
Secaucus Junction, Secaucus, New Jersey, May 27, 9:41 p.m.
Eddie had never been on a train. Given the number of firsts he had already experienced in the last ten hours, Skylar was reluctant to introduce him to another. But there they were, parked outside of Secaucus Junction, trying to prepare Eddie for his first train ride. He was tired, both physically and emotionally, but managed to keep his growing sense of panic at bay by memorizing a printed train schedule.
He was hungry. Night had fallen, and he should have eaten dinner four hours ago. Saturday was fish-stick night at Harmony House, and it was among the most consistent meals offered by the institution. While Eddie had never given any serving of fish sticks the prestigious rating of five, he had also never given one a score lower than three, and it was the only Harmony House entrée to hold that distinction. Fish sticks were consistently a three or a four, and consistency was what Eddie craved now more than ever.
“How much longer do we have to wait?” he asked Skylar as they waited for Kreitenberg inside his car, which was parked in a handicapped space near the station’s main entrance. The bird-shop owner had a ninety-three-year-old mother he occasionally drove to doctor appointments, and that gave him the legal right to possess the handicapped placard now dangling from the rearview mirror.
“As long as it takes Rupert to buy us the train tickets to Philadelphia.”
“Does it always take this long to buy train tickets?”
“It depends how many people are in line, and how many tellers are open.” The slightest hint of concern crept into her voice. Rupert was taking longer than expected.
“Does everyone who rides on a train need someone else to buy their tickets?”
“Only people who are playing tag like we are.”
“Because they don’t want anyone to say, ‘Tag, you’re it’?”
“Exactly.” Skylar kept a close eye on their surroundings. The parking lot around them was dimly lit. There was a nonstop parade of cars pulling up, with people getting into or out of them quickly.
The only sign of the authorities was a vacant police car that had already been parked by the main entrance when they had arrived. It was this vehicle that had prompted Skylar to ask the bird-shop owner to buy their train tickets for them.
To her surprise, Kreitenberg didn’t ask for an explanation. In fact, he answered with fatherly understanding that he’d be glad to help them. What shocked Skylar even more was that he refused to allow her to pay for the tickets. He told them he’d be right back, and then left them in the car, adding that there were granola bars in the glove box if either of them got hungry.
Eddie opened the compartment and devoured one of the bars. He cringed somewhat, but that didn’t stop him from eating the whole thing. “Two. Not good. Stale. Too crunchy. This granola hurts my teeth.”
“Didn’t seem to bother you too much,” she said, continuously scanning the area around them.
Eddie paused, staring at the empty wrapper in his hands. She was right. “Skylar, why do you keep looking around?”
“I’m wondering where Rupert is.”
As authoritatively as he could, he answered, “It depends how many people are in line, and how many tellers are open.” His imitation of her was getting better.
Skylar smiled until a shadow suddenly appeared outside her window. Panic set in. She quickly glanced around the car, wondering how to get her and Eddie safely out of the vehicle, until the shadow held two train tickets to Philadelphia up against the window. She sighed with relief as Rupert opened the door.
“Sorry if I startled you.”
“You came out a different exit.”
“I did.” He nodded, motioning to the empty police car. “I counted six officers and what looked to be the same number of agents, but they are harder to pick out. I saw at least one holding a phone with pictures on it, and I’m pretty sure they were yours.”
Eddie turned to Skylar. “Why would officers and agents have phones with our pictures on them?”
“Because they’re looking for us.”
“Are they playing tag, too?”
“Yes.”
Eddie asked, “How many people are playing tag with us?”
“More than I care to think about.” She glanced briefly at Rupert, who continued to surprise her. “Why aren’t you asking any questions?”
“If you were comfortable telling me what’s going on, you would have already done so.” She got out of the car, and he handed her the train tickets, along with two New York Mets caps and oversized T-shirts. “They’re looking for a doctor and her patient, not two baseball fans. The Mets are playing the Phillies tomorrow in Philadelphia. Now you two will fit right in.” He motioned to other fans making their way into the station. “Next train leaves at 10:22.”
She studied him, realizing her faith in New Yorkers had just been restored. “Did you really tell Eddie that you like birds more than people?”
He answered sincerely, “Not everyone is lucky enough to know someone like you.”
Skylar shook her head. “I’m not as nice as you think.”
Rupert smiled warmly. “All I need to know is the effect you have on him.” He gestured to Eddie as he got out to join them. “You know how special he is. What you don’t know is how special you are.”