confirm that the license tag matched the bike Lee Adams had borrowed
from his brother’s shop. Then they drove to the other end of the
street, hit the lights and talked it over.
“Maybe it’s as simple as me going in the front and you going in the
back,” Reynolds said as she studied the dark house. Her skin was
tingling with the thought that a bare fifty feet away were two or
possibly the three key people in this whole investigation.
Connie shook his head. “I don’t like that. The Honda being there
means Adams is in there too.”
“We’ve got his gun.”
“A guy like that, first thing he would’ve done is get another one. And
we go in, even if we surprise him, he knows the lay of the land better
than we do. He might get one of us.” He added, “And you don’t even
have a gun, so were not splitting up.”
“You’re the one who said you thought Adams wasn’t a bad guy.”
“Thinking something and being absolutely certain of it are two
different things. And that difference is not something I’m willing to
risk anybody’s life over. And rushing in on anybody, good or bad, in
the middle of the night, mistakes can happen. I intend on getting you
back to your kids in one piece. And I wouldn’t mind doing the same.”
“So how do we play it? Wait for daylight and call in
reinforcements?”
“Calling in the locals will probably mean every TV station down here
will be on the block an hour after we do. That won’t earn us many
points at HQ.”
“Well, I guess we can wait for them to ride off on the Honda and then
pull them.”
“Other things being equal, I’m inclined to watch the place and see what
happens. If they come out, we move in. If we get real lucky, Lockhart
will surface without Adams and we can take her. After that, I’m
figuring we can bait Adams out pretty easy.”
“And if they don’t come out, together or singly?”
“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“I don’t want to lose them again, Connie.”
“It’s not like they can just take off down the beach or swim to
England. Adams went to a lot of trouble to get those wheels. He’s not
going to abandon the bike because he doesn’t have another way to
replace it. Where he goes, that Honda goes. And that Honda ain’t
going anywhere without us seeing it.”
They settled down and waited.
CHAPTER 49
HIS PISTOL RESTING ON HIS BELLY, Lee had spent a few fitful hours on
the couch downstairs. Every few minutes he thought he heard someone
breaking in, and each time it proved to be nothing more than his very
tired imagination doing its best to drive him crazy. Since he couldn’t
sleep, he had finally decided to get ready to leave for
Charlottesville. He grabbed a quick shower and changed his clothes. He
was packing his bag when a soft knock came on his door.
Faith was dressed in a long white robe; her puffy cheeks and
tired-looking eyes were stark testaments to her inability to sleep.
“Where’s Buchanan?” he asked.
“Actually dozing, I think. I never came close.”
“Tell me about it.” He finished packing and closed his bag.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I don’t want you anywhere near this guy and his
goons if they show up. I got through to Renee last night. First time
I’ve talked to her in I don’t know how long and I have to tell her she
might be the target of some psycho because of something her stupid dad
did.”
“How did she take it?”
On this Lee brightened. “Actually, she seemed happy to hear from me. I
didn’t tell her everything that was going on. I didn’t want to panic
her too much, but I think she’s looking forward to seeing me.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m really happy for you, Lee.”
“The cops at least took my call seriously. Renee said a patrolman came
by and a marked car’s been cruising the area.”