BEFORE HIS DEATH, MCKENNA HAD OUTLINED THE PATH THAT would exist for me if I survived. It led to prison. And that wasn’t acceptable. Not with Carolyn by my side. And not with 6.4 million dollars in my trunk.
The problem was the evidence against me in the ARGUS database. McKenna said I couldn’t run from it. And he said I couldn’t hide from it. And he was right.
But he didn’t say I couldn’t change it.
CAROLYN DIDN’T SAY A WORD on the drive to AmeriTel. Her face was an impenetrable mask. It wasn’t until I was about to step out of the car that her expression cracked and she finally broke her silence.
“Whatever you need to do to get away, I’ll help you.” She spoke without looking at me. “But beyond that, I’m not making any promises. OK?”
THE PARKING LOT WAS BUSIER than it had been at dawn, but only by a half-dozen cars. I took more encouragement from that than Carolyn’s halfhearted assurance. And remembering the friendly conversation I’d had with Pete the security guard, I figured it would be safe to head into the building through the main entrance.
Pete was right there, standing behind the reception counter. He reached down and replaced a telephone handset as we walked toward him. And I could see from the way he squared his shoulders when he spotted us that something was very wrong.
“Mrs. Bowman, good afternoon. Mr. Bowman, please stay where you are.”
“Pete? What’s up?”
“I know.”
“What do you know?”
“All about you. You shouldn’t be here. You were fired. And you’re wanted by the police.”
“Oh, that. Don’t worry. It’s all a misunderstanding. Roger LeBrock and I have sorted everything out. It’ll be official in the morning, but in the meantime he asked me to take care of a couple of things for him. Urgent things. And listen. I’ve got his home number, right here. Why not call and ask him? Put your mind at rest?”
“I don’t think so.” Pete stepped out from behind the counter. “Because I’ve just called the police. And they didn’t know about any misunderstanding. They were real clear about the situation. Now they’re on their way. And you had better stay right where you are till they get here, Mr. Bowman.”
“The police are on their way? Great initiative, Pete. And you know what? You’ve done me a favor. It’ll save me having to schlep down to the station house later with the papers I need to show them to clear my name. Did they give you an ETA?”
“Five minutes.” He moved closer. “Ten, at the outside.”
“Excellent. Although—”
“Marc!” Carolyn grabbed me, suddenly sagging at the knees. “I’ve decided,” she whispered in my ear. “Do what you need to do, and go to the car.” Then, in a loud, slurring voice: “No time. My pills. Top drawer. In my office …”
Pete took another step forward and Carolyn let go of me, flinging her arms around his neck instead.
“Hang in there, sweetheart.” I started up the stairs, taking them two at a time. “I’ll get the pills. I’ll only be a second.”
Carolyn groaned. I glanced down, and almost laughed. It looked for all the world like she and Pete were drunken teenagers, clumsily dancing. He was keeping Carolyn on her feet. Just. And she was forcing him to turn. By the time I was at the top of the stairs, he’d have his back to me. He’d be facing the exit. And he’d have no idea I was heading in the opposite direction from Carolyn’s office.
IT WAS CAROLYN’S QUICK thinking that had bought me the time I needed to get upstairs. But when I sneaked back down and raced to meet her at the Aston, she wasn’t there.
Had I heard her wrong?
Had she changed her mind, again?