“Sam had a couple. They’re upstairs in the closet.”

“You know how to fire one?”

“You’re asking a girl from the mountains if she knows how to fire a gun?”

“Okay, I’ll take that as a yes. You said you had a couple of guns. Mind if I borrow one?”

“I can’t think of anybody right now who needs it more.”

They went in the house and Stone got the pistols. He loaded them both and handed one to Abby.

“I’d like to keep in close contact with you, but I don’t have a cell phone.”

“You can use Danny’s. I brought it home from the hospital.” She looked at his filthy clothes. “You can’t go see Charlie like that. You can shower here and change your clothes.”

Stone looked toward the truck. He hadn’t thought to check. He looked in the cargo bed. His duffel was gone.

“I, uh, I don’t have any clothes to change into.”

“Come on. You’re about the same size as Danny.”

She led him to Danny’s room and picked out some clothes for him. When he came out of the shower they were all neatly packed in a bag except for a pair of pants, shirt, socks and skivvies.

Dressed with phone and gun in hand, Stone gave Abby a hug. “Thanks, I’ll meet you at the hospital later,” he said.

He watched her drive off. Then he sped off in the opposite direction to keep his appointment with Trimble. Then he would go see Tyree. He had to play this just right. Or the only future he’d have would be either six feet under or else making calendar scratches on the walls of a federal prison.

Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

A TRUCK DROVE UP and a man got out and sprinted to Knox’s front door. He answered and the man handed him a package and left.

Knox sat in his office, put the DVD into his computer, and the images spread over the screen. The artist and Leroy had finally hooked up. The digital sketches of presumably a bushy-bearded John Carr looked back at him. The artist had also, on Knox’s instructions, done images where the beard and glasses were removed. Knox compared these to old photos of John Carr from his military days along with more recent pictures that he had obtained from CIA files. They looked like the same guy to him. He printed out multiple color copies and hustled out the door.

The wheels squealing on his Rover, Knox sped out of his driveway.

From down the street, Caleb started the van and followed.

“Looks like our hound might have a lead,” Annabelle said as she lowered her binoculars.

Knox went to National Airport first and Annabelle followed him in. An hour or so later he got back in his truck and drove off.

Annabelle jumped back in the Chrysler.