Where they going to bring in the dog?

Aiden’s stomach clenched. He darted deeper into the woods and began to backtrack through the upper reaches of the park. It led to the prime real estate of Halifax’s ‘deep South End’. He cut through the property of a sprawling home, and headed north toward the railway tracks. At this hour of night, there weren’t many pedestrians. The houses were dark, lit by security lights mounted on porches and garage doors. He felt invisible in his black clothing—yet exposed at the same time.

But police vehicles would be exposed, too. That thought comforted him as he hurried along the park side of Francklyn Street, keeping close to the shadows cast by the trees.

Only two cars drove by him as he walked. He had held his breath, hoping he melted into the shadows, wondering if they were unmarked cars. But no police officers materialized.

If the police were searching for him, they were keeping their search to the park.

That’ll keep ’em busy. The park was huge.

He turned up Pine Hill Drive. The railway cut ran along the length of the north side of the street. He leapt onto the scrubby border by the chain link fence. It took only a few minutes to find a place to squeeze through. And then he was on the tracks.

Home free!

He needed to make a new plan. It was 0238. Harry Owen should be on his way to the park—

What if the police picked up Harry Owen as he tried to make the rendezvous?

He yanked his phone out of his pocket, his fingers frantic as he texted: Change of plans. Cops in park. Meet me at airport departure @ 0500.

He would walk down the tracks until he was near the shopping mall. He should be able to get a cab from there to the airport.

And then he would make the ‘exchange’ with Harry Owen and take the first flight out of Halifax, with half a million dollars of Bitcoin waiting for him.

* * *

There were very few people in the hotel lobby at this hour. Business execs and a few well-heeled travellers clustered around the bar, trading the war stories that were generally aired at the time of night when enough cocktails and beer had been consumed to make everyone your best friend.

Kate threw a cautious look at her friend, mentor. Law partner. He walked heavily, sweat dampening his forehead. Should she have brought him?

But how could she have left him?

They rode the elevator to Matt’s floor in silence. When they stepped out into the corridor, Eddie cleared his throat. “I’m sorry you found me like that, Kate.”

“It’s okay.”

Was his drinking precipitated by disappointment, or was it something that Elaine suspected and thus had cancelled her trip?

So many questions.

So few answers.