Part 27 (1/2)
”But it was pitch-dark!”
”The light from the fire was intense for several minutes after the explosion. Or the enemy may have had night-vision capability.”
Lawrence let out a quick, frustrated breath. ”I don't understand how individuals armed with surface-to-air missiles could have gotten so close with all of your men around. Don't you sweep the area before I arrive?”
”Of course. Several times.”
”Then how in the-”
”I didn't want to have to tell you this.”
”Tell me what?”
”That there may have been help from the inside.”
Lawrence frowned. ”Go on.”
”You'll remember that I told you about a man we apprehended who was following Angela Day. We took him down one evening on a lawn across from her apartment in Richmond.”
”Yes.” Lawrence's eyes narrowed. ”And that man has escaped. You told me that.”
”Right. But what I haven't told you is that the guard who was on duty at the time the prisoner escaped is missing.”
”You think he helped the prisoner?”
”Yes. And this guard was in the group that thought you were actually coming in by helicopter.”
”You're right. That's not good.”
”And that's not all.”
”My G.o.d, what else is there?”
”I believe John Tucker may know something about the prisoner's escape as well.”
”What!” Lawrence rose from his seat and moved to where Colby stood. ”John Tucker?” he asked incredulously.
”Yes. I believe Tucker may have been involved in the incident on the mountain in Wyoming, and that he may know a great deal about what happened this evening, too. I suspect that John Tucker may have convinced a small cadre of my men to become soldiers of fortune, so to speak. I think Tucker may have been approached by people who don't appreciate the causes you involve yourself in. People who want to see you dead,” he said bluntly.
”Angela Day trusts him. Without him close to her I may lose her partic.i.p.ation.”
Colby cleared his throat. ”If you don't mind me asking, sir, partic.i.p.ation in what?”
Lawrence gazed silently ahead.
At first, Colby had a.s.sumed that Angela Day was simply a physical distraction. Now he knew that wasn't true. But it irritated the h.e.l.l out of him not to know what was really going on. ”Sir?”
”A matter of great importance.”
”Sir, I feel in this case that I must have full disclosure if I'm expected to protect you. I insist that you tell me what's really going on here. Otherwise, there could be terrible consequences.”
Lawrence shook his head. ”I can't tell you any more at this time.”
”Well,” Colby said after a short pause, ”perhaps it's a moot point.”
”Tucker hasn't surfaced either?” Lawrence asked, aware of what Colby was implying.
”No.”
”Were you able to apprehend any of the men who were involved in the attack on the helicopter?”
”Just one, and he isn't talking.”
”But you have ways of getting what you want, William.”
Colby nodded. ”I do, sir. And I will use those ways.” He hesitated. ”But the man we've apprehended may not really know much. If the people responsible for tonight's attack are as sophisticated as I believe, the foot soldiers will not be privy to any important information. They may not know who they're really fighting for. In fact, they may have been given misinformation to throw us off track.”
”I understand.”
Colby placed a hand on Lawrence's shoulder. It was the first time he had ever done so, and he saw the surprise in the other man's expression. ”Don't worry, Mr. Lawrence. You'll be fine.”
Lawrence nodded. ”I trust you, William.” He let out a heavy sigh. ”Is there any possibility that Angela Day was somehow involved in what happened tonight?”
Colby stared at Lawrence evenly. ”I think that's a very real possibility.”
It was after two o'clock in the morning, and Angela stood on the landing of her apartment. She and Tucker had hiked through the woods until they'd reached a house at the edge of a field. There they had convinced the elderly couple inside to allow them to dry off and warm up, and to call a cab-neither Angela nor Tucker could get a signal on their cell phones. The cab had taken almost an hour to arrive, and the drive to Richmond had taken another hour.
”Thanks for taking care of the fare.”
”No problem,” Tucker answered. ”It's the least I can do for the woman who saved my life.”
”Jake Lawrence is dead,” she said quietly.
”Yes.”
”That was one of the most awful things I've ever seen.”
”Terrible.”
”What will happen?”
Tucker shrugged. ”I don't know.” He looked into her eyes. ”I know you were counting on Mr. Lawrence to help you get your son back.”
Angela stepped forward, put her arms around Tucker's neck, and hugged him. It felt wonderful when he hugged her back.
”It'll be all right, Angela.”