Sliding into the driver’s seat, he quietly pulled the door closed until it clicked and started the car, bringing the small motor to life and purring softly beneath the hood.  Joe turned the steering wheel to the right and eased the car back, turning as tightly as he could without scraping the old Ford parked next to them.

Backing up, he straightened the wheel and drove forward outside the police vehicle and continuing toward the open street.  As they passed, Angela spotted an officer inside the hotel’s office speaking to someone at the front desk.

With little sound, they reached the road and turned right, gradually accelerating.

Still looking back, Leonard Townsend finally turned forward again in the rear seat.  “I see you have a healthy skepticism of the authorities.”

Rickards’ eyes looked at him in the rearview mirror.  “Fear might be a better word.  At least out here.”

“Our first trip didn’t go well,” said Angela.

Townsend nodded.  “Yes, I remember you telling me.  I guess there wasn’t a lot of embellishment.”

Turning to Rickards, she said, “If they were looking for us, they’ll most likely be waiting when we get back.”

“Then let’s hope we aren’t the ones they were after.”  He switched lanes and slowed as they approached a stop light, preparing to make a U-turn.

If the police were waiting when they returned, with any luck, it would be too late.

Townsend watched through his window as they turned around.  “I guess we’re skipping breakfast then.”

Without a word, Angela opened her purse and dug out a tiny container of Tic Tacs, tossing them back to Townsend.

“So, what’s in your case?” asked Rickards.

“An isotropic probe.”

“For what, measuring energy?”

“More or less.  Directly detecting energy is very difficult, so you measure the energy field instead.  A physical field surrounds electrically charged particles and exerts force on those particles.  Most likely that’s what Mike Morton was trying to do with the pole you said he was carrying around.”

“Is yours better?”

Townsend patted the metal container next to him.  “Oh yeah.  She’s old, but she’s a workhorse.”

Rickards spotted another police car and watched as it passed, moving immediately to his side mirror to see if it slowed or turned.  It didn’t.

“Professor,” said Angela, turning around.  “Something we forgot to ask you is what kind of shape are you in?”

“Pardon?”

“For example, your heart?  What kind of condition?”

“As far as I know, it’s fine.  I walk a mile and back every afternoon when I get home.”

“Ever do any hiking?”

“Occasionally, with a few friends.  You’re asking because of the climb that killed Mike.”

“Yes.  It’s not easy.”

“Only one way to find out.”

“How much does that probe of yours weigh?”

Townsend looked back at Rickards.  “Thirty pounds or so.”

Wonderful.