“Or what, Tony? It’s a little late for warnings, isn’t it? I shouldn’t even be here.”

Her dark brown eyes flashed fear and anger, the same things he was feeling, so it was hard to completely blame her. “I’m talking about big names,” she rattled on. “Rich guys. Politicians, Wall Street, lawyers, that kind of thing—”

“Yeah, yeah.” The driver cut her off. “Tell us something we don’t already know. Otherwise, like the man said—shut up, Mara.”

Chapter 56

MAHONEY CALLED IN our new position as we followed the GPS off the Beltway and onto Eisenhower Avenue. It was getting dark, but the roads were still crowded with commuters. I wondered vaguely when nine-to-five had become an anachronism.

A mile and a half up Eisenhower, we came to a row of identical four-story town houses fronting the street.

A break in the road marked the entrance with a sign welcoming visitors to Avalon at Cameron Court.

The GPS led us through the mini-maze of the compound inside. It was one of those upscale developments, “communities,” with their own everything. Rents here were as high as thirty-five hundred a month, according to Mahoney and his laptop.

“You know, my aunt lives in a place like this, down in Vero Beach, Florida. They have a two-pet maximum, but she’s got four identical little dogs. Just walks them two at a time.”

I sort of listened, until we came onto Nicholson’s block. “Hey, Ned. See that?” A dark blue sedan was just pulling out of a driveway about fifty yards ahead. “Is that Nicholson’s building?”

Mahoney sat up and closed the laptop. “Could be. Let’s find out.”

The other car started up the block, heading right toward us. It had DC plates. Two men in front, two passengers in back who were harder to see.

As we passed, I looked in, and for just a second I locked eyes with Tony Nicholson.

Chapter 57

AS SOON AS my siren came on, the dark blue sedan took off up the block and then spun around the corner. I had no idea who these guys were—mob, guns for hire, or what—but the way they tore out of there told me Nicholson and his girlfriend were in some serious trouble.

Ned was already on the phone. “This is Mahoney. I have command of the target, Nicholson. We’re in pursuit of a blue Pontiac G6, DC plates.”

We came around another corner, and I saw them stopped at the compound’s exit.

“One for the good guys!” Ned said, and pumped a fist. There was a solid stream of traffic on Eisenhower blocking them in, and for maybe a second, I thought we might get through this cleanly.

Then the Pontiac’s doors opened on both sides and two men came out—firing!

A bullet pierced my windshield with a dull popping sound before Ned or I could get out. I threw open my door and rolled onto the street. Mahoney also got out the driver’s side and stayed low.