ERIC MCKENZIE and Chad Wells were three hours into their shift, tasked with following the Subaru with the distinctive roof racks and the two guys who’d shown up at Nano the previous day. At the briefing at Nano, the head of security said the men weren’t dangerous, and they weren’t to be approached. Just follow them and don’t get noticed.

The admonition to remain incognito was what struck Chad when they saw the Subaru turn into the entrance gate of a well-to-do subdivision after having been parked for more than an hour at their old stomping ground at police HQ.

“Why did you stop?” said Eric after Chad pulled over. The Subaru had gone ahead out of sight.

“Look at this place. Rows and rows of houses, no traffic. They’re going to spot us right away.”

“So what?”

“So the boss told us not to get spotted, dumbass. We’re not paid to think, which is a damn good thing in your case. It would be hard to live on six dollars a week.”

“Very funny.”

“So you better start walking,” said Chad.

“What?”

“Get in there and see if you can see them. I’ve been here before. This is the only entrance. I’ll radio base and tell them where they went, see if they can figure out who they might be visiting.”

“The radio still works if the car’s moving, you know,” said Eric.

“Out!”

“Goddamn this job,” said Eric out loud ten minutes later. “Who’d live out here anyways? Streets all the same, no one around. Half these places look empty.” Of the Subaru, there was no sign, which was little surprise, given the size of the development. But McKenzie walked on, overheating in the afternoon sun. He cursed having to wear his sport coat in the heat of the day, too, so that the pistol he wore wouldn’t be visible.

His radio connected to an earpiece crackled to life.

“Eric, where are you?”

“Dunno, I’m on a street that looks the same as the last one.”

“Well, find a cross street and tell me what it’s called. The geniuses back at HQ have figured out who these knuckleheads are here to see.”

“Okay, I’m at Franklin and Jackson.”

“Okay, don’t move. See you in five.”

•   •   •

WEARING THE LATEX GLOVES, George went through Mariel’s apartment methodically. He found some files in an unlocked drawer, but they were all personal, one for the car, one for the washer-dryer, and so on. George’s phone rang and he dropped the file.

“Find anything?” said Paul.

“Is she coming?” said George.

“No, no one’s coming, I’m just checking in.”

“Well, don’t. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I’m still looking.” George ended the call.

•   •   •