“Enjoy the flight. It’s a comfortable airplane. Oh, after you arrive, if you make any calls to the States, use the landline in the cottage, instead of your cell phones, and be circumspect about your location. Don’t even mention the country.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Does your house have a garage?” Stone asked.

“Yes.”

“Open it tomorrow morning to let in the car that’s picking you up. Strategic Services is providing an SUV and armed men up front. Load the car in the garage.”

“Got it.” Hank Parker left.

Stone called Ed Rawls and told him about his meeting with Parker. “He’s thoroughly briefed about what to expect, and there will be two security people with them at all times.”

“That’s a relief,” Ed said.

“Have you had any further contact with St. Clair’s people?”

“No, but I’m ready if they show up.”

“Don’t kill anybody if you can help it. That would be a lot more trouble than it’s worth.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I expect they won’t bother you again, but if they do, they’ll send more than two people.”

“I’ve still got their shotgun, and a little arsenal of my own. You might think about going armed yourself, Stone, until this is over.”

“That’s good advice.”

“My house in Islesboro is already framed. They’re moving fast.”

“When you go back, use my place until you get yours in shape.”

“Thank you, I’ll take you up on that. Now, if we can just get the Parkers out of the country, we’ll be in good shape.”

“I hope you’re right.”

50

ERIK MACHER ARRIVED in Cape May, New Jersey, late in the evening and spent the night in a motel. At dawn the following morning he got a call on his cell phone.

“Yes?”

“They’re stirring in the house.”

Macher had had the Parker residence under surveillance since noon the previous day, shortly after his search had proved fruitful. “I’ll be over there in a few minutes. Call me if anybody goes out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Macher cleaned up and got dressed, then drove to the quiet neighborhood where the Parker family lived in a small Victorian house. He pulled up behind the surveillance van half a block away and got inside. “What’s going on?” he asked the two men.

“Nothing yet. The boy came outside and got the newspaper, then went back inside.

“Was he dressed?”

“Yes.”

“Then they’re moving,” Macher said. “Why else would a man who’s retired get his family up this early?” He looked at his watch: five-fifty. Then, as he watched, a black SUV with tinted windows approached the house and turned into the driveway. A garage door opened, the vehicle drove inside, and the door closed.

“That’s pretty weird,” one of his agents said. “Is something being delivered, do you think?”