With Humphrey not far behind, Lou headed into the hallway. But he found it impossible to disconnect from his sense of responsibility. It was just that way with him. It had been for as long as he could remember. Stopping at the nurses’ station, he made several introductions and was charming enough to make sure Cap got every bit of attention he might need. Humphrey pulled next to Lou as they headed down the hall toward the elevators.

“You guys really care for each other,” Humphrey said. “I can tell.”

Lou had to stop walking so he could focus on Humphrey’s lips and speech.

“You got that right, my friend,” he replied.

“Do you mind if I ask what you are doing about the insurance?”

Lou tried to mask his concern, but suspected the effort was futile.

“We have friends,” Lou said. “Lots of them. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

As before, Humphrey looked a little forlorn.

“That’s what I figured you’d say.”

Without another word, the man motored himself toward the elevator.

Lou fell into step behind.

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

A country’s strong military will lose to its weak economy every single time.

—LANCASTER R. HILL, LECTURE AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, NOVEMBER 12, 1938

The three days Tim Vaill spent in the hospital had passed like months. All he thought about was getting out, getting back to work, and starting the hunt. Now, five days after his discharge, he was finally right where he needed to be—in Franklin, Tennessee.

He was seated in his agency-issued Chevy Impala, parked across the street from the blue clapboard colonial home of the man who murdered his wife. The photo, in a white envelope, was tucked into the inside breast pocket of his suit jacket. It would be a weapon of last resort, but he would use it if he had to.

Seated beside Vaill was his new partner, Charles McCall, a handsome African American man in his late twenties. Vaill was impressed by McCall, but more because of his street smarts than his Ivy League diploma from Penn. There were a lot of smart folks who joined the FBI. Most were idealistic and came into the Bureau with a strong belief they’d get back in action and adventure what they’d be giving up in private sector pay.

Most of those young recruits were wrong. The Bureau was a lot of paperwork, a lot of waiting around, and, true to its name, a lot of bureaucracy.

“How long are we going to sit here and wait?” McCall asked.

Those were the first words either man had spoken in twenty minutes. Initially, Vaill had asked to go on this assignment alone, but his boss, Beth Snyder, immediately denied the request. He felt bad for giving McCall the cold shoulder, but he was still in deep mourning, and all a new partner did was remind him of the partner he’d never have again.