“Good question. Montez is an interrogator by trade. When he interrogated me, he was working for the Sandinista holdouts. But now he could be working for anyone. One thing’s certain. Whoever hired him to take Kramer and the Daltons wants information. It could be a corporate espionage thing, maybe related to Kramer’s clean coal technology. Whatever it is, you can bet there’s serious money involved.” Nathan paused for a moment. “I’m only speculating here, but what if a scientific breakthrough has been made in clean coal technology? A breakthrough that solves the carbon dioxide problem you mentioned. It could change the global energy dynamics. The OPEC countries would be quite concerned. Oil exports would drop. How much, I couldn’t say, but I’m willing to bet we’re talking billions of dollars. Ask yourself this. What would the Saudis and other OPEC nations be willing to do to keep their oil empires healthy?”

“That’s an interesting take on things.”

“I could see that,” said Harv. “And it might explain why Thorny’s ‘people in high places’ want it kept under wraps and why they want Montez alive.”

“My assistant just handed me a note. I’ve got to take a call. Will you promise me something?”

They both waited.

“I don’t want you guys getting killed trying to collar Montez. He’s not worth it, even if it means letting him go.”

“That wouldn’t be my first choice.”

“Letting him go, or getting killed?”

“Getting killed.”

“Good, because my world’s much more interesting with Nathan McBride and Harvey Fontana in it.”

“First things first,” Nathan said. “I’ll call you as soon as we’ve looked at the condo.”

Holly agreed, and they said their good-byes.

Harv turned and nodded to Jeremy. The FBI agent donned his headset.

“Sorry about that,” Harv said.

“No problem.”

Nathan said, “I wish we could share everything with you, but we can’t. We can tell you we may have located the crime scene. Kramer’s brother-in-law owns a condo at the marina.”

“We going there?”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to call in the cavalry until we’ve had a chance to look around.”

***

Ten minutes later Jeremy drove them down State Highway 276 toward the marina.

“Somebody’s screwing with us, right?” Nathan asked.

“I’m afraid not.” Jeremy turned into the same condo complex they’d stayed in last night.

Holly’s address led to a different building, but it stood uncomfortably close to their own.

Jeremy parked fifty yards shy of their destination. “Is there any chance the bad guys could still be in there?” he asked.

“It’s been three days, but let’s play it safe. I think Harv and I should be packing.”

Jeremy opened the trunk and Harv removed their gun belts from the duffel bag. He watched Harv give the Sigs a quick assessment.

“Suppressors? Subsonic rounds?” Harv asked.

Nathan said no.