centre entrance. The motorcade eased past it and headed for
the parking lot. The fences were decorated with bunting
and there was a large crowd already assembled, maybe three
hundred people. The church tower loomed over all of them, tall
and square and solid and blinding white in the winter sun.
‘I hope this time they checked every inch of it,’ Froelich said.
The five cars swept onto the gravel and crunched to a stop.
The back-up agents were out first. They fanned out in front of
Armstrong’s car, checking the faces in the crowd, waiting until
Froelich heard the all-clear from the local police commander on
her radio. She got it and instantly relayed it to the backup
leader. He acknowledged immediately and stepped to
Armstrong’s door and opened it ceremoniously. Reacher was
impressed. It was like a ballet. Five seconds, serene, dignified,
unhurried, no apparent hesitation at all, but there had already
been three-way radio communication and visual confirmation of
security. This was a slick operation.
Armstrong stepped out of his car into the cold. He was
already smiling a perfect local-boy-embarrassed-by-all-the-fuss smile and stretching out his hand to greet his successor at the
head of the reception line. He was bareheaded. His personal
detail moved in so close they were almost jostling him. The
back-up agents got close, too, maneuvering themselves so they
kept the tallest two of the three between Armstrong and the
church. Their faces were completely expressionless. Their
coats were open and their eyes were always moving.
q’hat damn church,’ Froelich said. ‘It’s like a shooting
gallery.’
‘We should go check it again,’ Reacher said. ‘Ourselves, just
to be sure. Have him cculate counterclockwise until we do.’
q’hat takes him nearer the church.’
‘He’s safer nearer the church. Makes the downward angle too
steep. There are wooden louvres up there round the bells. The
field of fire starts about forty feet out from the base of the tower.
Closer than that, he’s in a blind spot.’
204
Froelich raised her wrist and spoke to her lead agent. Seconds
later they saw him ease Armstrong to his right, into a wide
counterclockwise loop round the field. The new senator tagged
along. The crowd changed direction and moved with them.
‘Now find the guy with the church keys,’ Reacher said.
Froelich spoke to the local police captain. Listened to his
response in her ear.
¢rhe churchwarden will meet us there,’ she said. ‘Five
minutes.’
They got out of the car and walked across the gravel to the
church gate. The air was very cold. Armstrong’s head was
visible among a sea of people. The sun was catching his hair.
He was well out in the field, thirty feet from the tower. The new
senator was at his side. Six agents close by. The crowd was
moving with them, slowly changing its shape like an evolving
creature. There were dark overcoats everywhere. Women’s
hats, mufflers, sunglasses. The grass was brown and dead from
night frosts.
Froelich stiffened. Cupped her hand over her ear. Raised the
other hand and spoke into her wrist microphone.
‘Keep him close to the church,’ she said.
Then she dropped her hands and opened her coat. Loosened
her gun in its holster.
‘State cops on the far perimeter just called in,’ she said.
qhey’re worried about some guy on foot.’
‘Where?’ Reacher asked.
‘In the subdivision.’
‘Description?’
‘Didn’t get one.’
‘How many cops on the field?’
‘Forty plus, all round the edge.’
‘Get them facing outward. Backs to the crowd. All eyes on the
near perimeter.’
Froelich spoke to the police captain on the radio and issued
the order. Her own eyes were everywhere.
‘I got to go,’ she said.
Reacher turned to Neagley.
‘Check the streets,’ he said. ‘All the access points we found
before.’
205
Neagley nodded and moved out towards the entrance drive.
Long fast strides, halfway between walking and running.
‘You found access points?’ Froelich asked.
‘Like a sieve.’
Froelich raised her wrist. ‘Move now, move now. Bring him
tight against the tower wall. Cover on all three sides. Stand by
with the cars. Now, people.’
She listened to the response. Nodded. Armstrong was coming
close to the tower on the other side, maybe a hundred feet away