“Bye, buddy,” I said, giving him a scratch behind the ears. “Behave yourself, okay?” He panted happily at me, and then nudged my hand, letting me know that he didn’t like that I’d stopped, and he’d prefer if I continued petting him. I gave him one more pat, then made myself take a step away.

“Ready?” Matty asked me, and I nodded. Margaux waved at us and made Brad wave too, and then she disappeared back into the gallery.

Matty and I started retracing our steps through the empty, quiet museum. I tried to memorize it all, well aware this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, just trying to appreciate it while I could.

When we reached the grand staircase again, Matty turned to me as he zipped up his jacket. “Next stop midtown?” he asked. “Glamorous, exciting midtown?”

I laughed and pulled my own jacket on. “Let’s do it.”

Meanwhile, somewhere in upstate New York…

THEY DROVE.

They drove on the darkened highway, the exits flashing by, past the gas stations and rest stops.

Parker fell asleep on Teri a few minutes into the drive, curling up against her with her thumb in her mouth. Gilroy glanced over, and something in his expression softened. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and handed it to Teri. Teri draped it over Parker, who sleepily snuggled down into it. Teri gave Gilroy a thank-you smile, but he’d already gone back to focusing on the drive ahead.

After an hour and a half passed, Teri was getting nervous and the kids were getting restless. She had thought north meant maybe New Haven or Danbury. Not wherever they currently were, in New York State. And just doing the time math was getting worrisome, because they would also have to drive back to Stanwich.

“Can you tell us spy stories?” Daryl asked, leaning as far forward as his seat belt would allow. “Can I see your badge?”

“Afraid not,” Gilroy said, shaking his head. “Don’t have it on me.”

“Why not?” Chris asked, also leaning forward. “I thought CIA agents were always supposed to carry their badges, no matter what.”

Some expression Teri couldn’t make out passed over Gilroy’s face. It was gone just as quickly. “That is true,” he said. “But since I was deep undercover, I couldn’t risk it being found.”

“Oh.” Daryl nodded. “That makes sense.”

There was a moment of silence in the car. Then Chris shrieked loudly enough that Gilroy jumped, and the car swerved. Parker, not bothered by any of this, continued to snore. “What?” Teri asked, looking toward the back.

“He’s on my side,” Chris yelled, shoving her brother, who shoved back.

“Am not!”

“Are so!”