IT WAS TIME TO CALL DAKOTA. HE DIALED HER NUMBER FROM a new burner.
“Jack?”
“Listen, I’ll mail your passport to wherever you tell me. I can’t do any more than that.”
“But I found a guy who can meet you and pick it up. He can come to you.”
“Look, Dakota, I’ve got a lot going on, and I don’t trust you. How do I know you’re not working for Crosse, and that this isn’t a trap? Maybe you made up the whole bit about Crosse trying to kill you.”
“Jack, he did try to kill me. Someone helped me get away. That’s why I know where he is. I can lead you to him.”
His hand tightened on the phone. “What?”
“I’ll give you information on how to find him, but only if you take the passport to my contact.”
He was torn. She was probably lying. “How do you know where he is?”
She laughed. “You of all people know the power of my charms. The man who helped me escape him told me where he’s living and under what identity. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”
He groaned inwardly. “Fine. As long I name the meeting place. Nyack Beach State Park. When can your contact be there?”
“Two o’clock. He’s already in your area.”
“How will I know him?”
She laughed again. “He’ll know you.”
“I need more than that.”
“He’ll be wearing an Orioles baseball cap. Can’t be too many of those in New York. He’ll give you the connection to Crosse.”
He glanced at his watch. Almost ten. He’d have to leave around noon to get to the park on time. “OK,” he said finally, then hung up.
They were still lying low for now. Tomorrow was the ceremony at the church and Father Basil had promised to call them after the archbishop had left with the coins. They had decided that they would stay at the safe house for another week while they planned their next steps. The only thing they knew for sure was that they weren’t going back to their house and that they had to keep moving until they knew where Crosse was.
Taylor came into the kitchen. Jack filled her in.
“I don’t like it, Jack.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be armed, and I’ll stay in the open. If this can lead us to Crosse, I have to try.”
“I have to go out for a while. I have a three o’clock doctor’s appointment,” she said.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, just my annual checkup. I’m almost out of Synthroid and they won’t refill it without an exam. If we’re going to be moving around, I need to get at least a ninety-day supply.”
He sighed. Taylor needed her thyroid medicine, he couldn’t dispute that. “Can you move the appointment to tomorrow? I don’t want you to be alone, but I just set up that meeting.”
“No, they book up months in advance.” She put a hand on his arm. “I’ve been thinking, we don’t even know if Crosse was really behind what happened in Athens. We know there are others after the coins. Crosse hasn’t come after us all this time so I don’t think we’re in imminent danger.”
“Taylor, you can’t—”
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t be careful but I’m not going to risk my health because I’m scared to go outside. I’ll be fine. I’ll text Jeremy to see if he can come back to stay with Evan.” Jeremy had gone to the lab to take care of some paperwork, but she knew this was his priority.
She quickly sent Jeremy a message and soon her text tone sounded. “Jeremy texted back. He’ll come back at one to stay with Evan, and I’ll be fine.”
“I still really don’t like you going out alone right now,” Jack said.
“And I don’t like you meeting some stranger sent by Dakota.”
He sighed. “Taylor . . .”
“I’ll go straight there and then back here. I’ll leave here at one and I’ll be back by four.”
“I’ll go with you. I’ll tell Dakota I can’t meet this guy.”
She shook her head. “No, this could be our only chance to find Crosse.”
She was right, but Jack wasn’t happy about it. He leaned in and kissed her. “Be careful. Text me when you’re on your way back. I love you.”
She gave him a serious look, pushing a lock of hair from his forehead. “I love you more.”