CHAPTER 27
On Firesday morning, Monty waited at the bus stop and listened to the people around him.
“Crows gathering around schools and medical facilities in the Midwest. Why would they do that?”
“Spying. That’s what I heard.”
“Spying on what? Looking to snatch food from the children or pick through the trash is more like it.”
“All those people arrested for shooting birds. It’s not right.”
Not wanting to get entangled in the discussion by pointing out that killing crows was against the law, Monty felt relieved when the bus arrived.
Gods above and below. Shooting crows. Those Midwest towns might as well paint a target in the town square and have the government stand there shouting, We have something to hide!
The police force grapevine could be an effective tool. However, in this case, some people who shouldn’t have had gotten wind of the hunt. But the Lakeside police were discovering the grapevine had also revealed unexpected allies in other regions. Much of what Captain Burke received was speculation or rumor about halfway houses for girls with addictions, but it was becoming clear that many police stations across Thaisia were looking at Lakeside and wondering if the Chestnut Street station might provide a new model for working with the terra indigene. After all, Lakeside had come through that recent conflict with the Others with minimal casualties and damage to property.
It won’t mean anything if the east and west of Thaisia are divided by a scorched hole where the Midwest used to be, Monty thought. But we’ll keep trying. Clock is ticking, so we have to keep trying.
“Gods, Doug. What did you get me into?”
“Problem, Pete?”
“You’re damn right there’s a fucking problem! Someone e-mailed my wife’s itinerary to me to show they can find her at any hour of the day. Someone sent me a photo of my children’s school and a close-up of children on the playground during recess, with a black X over my kids! Someone doesn’t want me asking questions.”
“You want to back out?”
“The time to back out was when you called. But I don’t want to come home one day and find my wife and kids …” A choking sound. Then a shuddering effort to regain control. “I’m pretty sure I located Mr. Smith’s compound. It’s not in my town. It’s in the nearest city, which is on the main rail line.”
“We’ve been looking at the towns with railway access too.”
“I sent you an e-mail with all the information I have about Mr. Smith and his business. Here in town, there’s a facility that specializes in group housing for ‘those who can’t live on their own.’ It looks legitimate, but the administrator became ‘very busy, must dash’ as soon as I asked about blood prophets. In one of the farming hamlets nearby, there’s a government-run orphanage. It has a small medical facility attached to it and is the place girls who get themselves in trouble go when they’re giving up the babies.”
“Sounds like a good place to run a breeding program for cassandra sangue.”
Stunned silence. “What did you say?”
“Nothing you heard.” A long pause. “Pete? How are you set with gas coupons?”
A hesitation. “Eve and I have been conserving fuel since I got your call earlier in the week. I can spare a few gallons of gas from the family budget if you need me to drive somewhere and take a look around.”
“No, I want you to pack up your family and come to Lakeside. Now.”
“You said we had time. Doug, there’s still time—”
“To find someone waiting for you when you get home?”
“I … I need to cancel the newspaper, put a hold on the mail, hand off my cases or at least contact—”
“Someone who will tell the people who sent you your wife’s itinerary and pictures of your children at recess that you’re going to disappear?”
“Gods.” Rough breathing. “Will … Will we be able to come back here?”
“Hopefully I’ll be able to answer that by the time you get here. And Pete? Keep your eyes open. If you think you’re being followed, head into the wild country and make enough racket to draw the attention of whatever is out there. Right now, your wife and kids have a better chance with the Others than they do with whoever knows you were asking questions.”
“I’ll call you when we get to Lakeside.”
“Check in along the way. And before you leave, send me an e-mail with the make and license number of your car.”
“All right.” A pause. “Doug? Do you think it’s all worth it?”
“I think we’ll know in a few days, one way or the other.”