There was one number Boone didn’t store in his phone. He had it memorized. Someone who had been around as long as Boone had, who’d done the things he did, had enemies. If he ever lost his phone, he didn’t need someone calling up J.R. on a number only a handful of people in the world had access to. Boone knew J.R. would be up to his ears in this crisis so he’d waited as long as he could before he called.
When he dialed, J. R. Culpepper answered on the first ring. Almost like he was waiting for Boone’s call. And he didn’t sound happy.
“I’m a little busy, Boone.”
“I know. I just need a couple things.”
“You can’t have a satellite. They’re all tasked right now.”
“I know. Do you have everyone looking for Buddy T.?”
“Everyone I can spare. There’s a lot going on, in case you haven’t heard. I’ve looked through the file. We didn’t find anything more than your guy did. Buddy T. is a ghost. I’ll find a way to get your team to California as fast as possible and you find this guy. But it’s going to be a couple of days. Only fighter jets are going up right now.”
“We’ll find him. Buddy can run all he wants. He’s never had to worry about being hunted before. He’s smart. But he’s gone soft. He can’t fly either. If I had to guess, I’d bet he took a train. Lot less scrutiny on a train. If you can, you might have people check the westbound passenger trains. Slow ’em up a little. Trains are delayed all the time anyway.”
“I can do that. But apparently he hasn’t gone soft enough. If it hadn’t been for you he would have killed a lot more people.”
“Did they ever find out what the chemical was?” Boone asked.
“Not yet. Something the squints at Quantico and Langley haven’t seen before. But it’s bad … Boone. What you did in Chicago? With the wind there? Who knows how many you saved?”
“I had help.”
“Well, they’re going to get a medal when this is over.”
“No. No, they’re not. They’re going to school.”
“Are you kidding me? Angela and Q were there on this?”
“Yep. Q figured it out. They’re smart kids. But once this is over, I want them to go back to normal. Although you might want to consider Angela for director of the Secret Service before your term is up. She’s going to be heard from someday. And Q, too. That kid is way smart. He just doesn’t want anyone to know it.”
“Wow. If Malak knew she’d be incredibly proud. Then she’d shoot you in the knee for putting Angela in danger.”
“Look, Boone, national emergency here. I’ve got to address the nation in thirty minutes. What do you need?”
“I’ll need a C-5 Galaxy cargo plane at Great Lakes Naval Station to haul the coach and our other vehicles to San Francisco. And when you cancel the no-fly order, Heather Hughes has a corporate jet here in Chicago, at Midway airport. Let them be one of the first ones out of here.”
“Roger on the C-5. But what’s the deal on the corporate jet?”
“I just need to get Q and Angela to California. We’re close, J.R. I always thought Angela was the key to this. That she unknowingly had something, some memento with a secret code or something from Malak when she was ‘dead,’ that the cell wanted. But now I’m not so sure that’s the case anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because of Q. Something isn’t adding up. Not since the cell took him prisoner in San Antonio. And I don’t want either of them out of my sight, if I can help it. And he did something today that I’ve only seen one other person do.”
“What was it?”
“Not ready to talk about that yet.”
“I could order you to tell me.”
“You could. But I don’t work for you. NOC. No Official Cover. Remember?”
“All right, Boone. You play it your way. But try not to get a couple of celebrities’ kids killed in the middle of this. After all the truly horrible things that have happened today … I don’t want this to sound selfish. But I’ve got enough explaining to do. Please tell me you’re going to bring these guys down. This …”
J. R. Culpepper stopped speaking, but Boone could hear the quivering emotion in his voice. Shortly he would go on camera. He would reassure the American people. He would be strong and resolute. But the enormity of the tragedy was tearing at his heart. J.R. was one of the few politicians Boone knew who always thought of people first and politics second.
“Copy that. Goodbye, J.R.”
But President J. R. Culpepper had already hung up.