going. The neighbouring houses were spattered with random
bursts of light, blue and red and white. Stuyvesant stood still in
the open doorway.
‘We weren’t supposed to get any more messages,’ he said.
Bannon was on his knees, looking at the sheet of paper.
q’his is generic,’ he said. ‘We predicted we wouldn’t get
specificity. And we haven’t. The word soon is meaningless as to
time and place. It’s just 8taunt. We’re supposed to be impressed
with how smart they are.’
‘I was already impressed with how smart they are,’ Stuyve
sant said.
Bannon looked up at Froelich. ‘How long have you been
out?’
236
‘All day,’ Froelich said. ‘We left at six thirty this morning to
meet with you.’
‘We?’
‘Reacher’s staying here,’ she said.
‘Not any more, he’s not,’ Bannon said. ‘Neither of you is
staying here. It’s too dangerous. We’re putting you in a secure
location.’
Froelich said nothing.
They’re in D.C. right now,’ Bannon said. ‘Probably regrouping
somewhere. Probably got in from North Dakota a
couple of hours after you did. They know where you live. And
we need to work here. This is a crime scene.’
q’his is my house,’ Froelich said.
‘It’s a crime scene,’ Bannon said again. ‘They’ve been here.
We’ll have to rip it up some. Better that you stay away until we
put it back together.’
Froelich said nothing.
‘Don’t argue,’ Stuyvesant said. ‘I want you protected. We’ll
put you in a motel. Couple of U.S. Marshals outside the door,
until this is over.’
‘Neagley, too,’ Reacher said.
Froelich glanced at him. Stuyvesant nodded.
‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I already sent somebody to pick her
up.’
‘Neighbours?’ Bannon asked.
‘Don’t really know them,’ Froelich answered.
q’hey might have seen something,’ Bannon said. He checked
his watch, qhey might still be up. At least I hope so. Dragging
witnesses out of bed generally makes them very cranky.’
‘So get what you need, people,’-Stuyvesant called. ‘We’re
leaving, right now.’
Reacher stood in Froelich’s guest room and had a strong
feeling he would never come back to it. So he took his things
from the bathroom and his garbage bag of Atlantic City clothes
and all of Joe’s suits and shirts that were still .clean. He stuffed
clean socks and underwear into the pockets. Carried all the
clothes in one hand and Joe’s cardboard box under the other
arm. He came down the stairs and stepped out into the night air
237
and it hit him that for the first time in more than five years he
was leaving a place carrying baggage. He loaded it into the
Suburban’s trunk and then walked round and climbed into
the back seat. Sat still and waited for Froelich. She came out of
her house carrying a small valise. Stuyvesant took it from her
and stowed it and they climbed into the front together. Took off
down the street. Froelich didn’t look back.
They drove due north and then turned west all the way
through the tourist sites and out again on the other side.
They stopped at a Georgetown motel about ten blocks shy of
Armstrong’s street. There was an old-model Crown Vic parked
outside, with a new Town Car next to it. The Town Car had a
driver in it. The Crown Vic was empty. The motel itself was
a small neat place with dark wood all over it. A discreet sign. It
was hemmed in by three embassies with fenced grounds. The
embassies belonged to new countries Reacher had never heard
of, but their fences were OK. It was a very protected location.
Only one way in, and a marshal in the lobby would take care of
that. An extra marshal in the corridor would be icing on the
cake.
Stuyvesant had booked three rooms. Neagley had already
arrived. They found her in the lobby. She was buying soda from
a machine and talking to a big guy in a cheap black suit and
patrolman’s shoes. A U.S. Marshal, without a doubt. The Crown
Vic driver. Their vehicle budget must be smaller than the Secret
Service’s, Reacher thought. As well as their clothing allowance.
Stuyvesant did the paperwork at the desk and came back
with three key cards. Handed them round in an embarrassed