CHAPTER 43

Since Ryan would have to wait for more information, he spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the campus and then up State Street to the Capitol, all the while rolling over in his mind all the implications of the one-word text that had apparently pinpointed Reese’s current location.

Miles saying they had work to do indicated he believed they would somehow be involved in tracking Reese down. Would the FBI again use them as bait? With all their resources, couldn’t they just track him down on their own?

An hour passed with no return call from Miles, so Ryan called him instead.

Miles answered the phone with an apology. “Sorry to keep you hanging, buddy boy, but I was on the phone with Ken and Audrey until a couple minutes ago.”

“You said we have work to do. What did you exactly mean by that?”

“It was an assumption. I didn’t actually know at the time, but I do now.” An air of resolve was evident in Miles’s voice.

“And . . .?”

“You and I are supposed to go to an FBI safe house in Chicago, both for protection and in the event they need us to somehow assist in drawing out Reese.” Miles seemed to actually be looking forward to such an assignment.

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Ryan shook his head.

“Sorry to break this to you, but they want us down there this evening. Please get back to my house as soon as you possibly can. The FBI will have armed agents here in a car waiting to take us to the safe house. How soon can you be back?”

“I’ll just drive back to Bobbie’s house to pick up my things. I’m hoping she can either meet me there to let me in or tell me how to get in without her.”

“Good,” said Miles. “Update me once you’re on the road.”

Ryan agreed, and then immediately called Bobbie, first updating her on his interview and then telling her that Miles needed his help on a case in Chicago, which required him to return immediately.

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“He didn’t go into any detail, but he said it was urgent so I told him I’d get back right away. Is there a way I can get into your house without you having to come home?” Ryan asked, wanting to save her the inconvenience.

“Sure. There is a keypad outside the garage. The code is 9259. The door between the garage and the house is unlocked. I do have one question though. Are you really leaving to help Miles or simply to avoid what might transpire between us tonight?” Her question revealed her insecurity about their new relationship.

“If you still want me to, I’ll return immediately after this case is over,” Ryan promised.

“Good answer. Be careful, and get back here ASAP!” she demanded.

When Ryan arrived at Miles’s house, he noticed two unfamiliar cars out front. As he pulled into the driveway, Miles immediately came out of the house to greet him.

“Hi. It’s likely we’ll be there for at least several days, so pack everything you might need,” Miles said.

Ryan pulled his suitcase from the trunk of his car. “Okay, but why are there two cars parked in front of the house?”

“They decided it would be safer if we traveled to Chicago in separate cars,” Miles replied, unfazed by the obvious implications.

Ryan’s facial expression showed that, unlike Miles, he was definitely not unfazed by those implications. “You mean if one gets fired upon, I assume.”

“Go and pack!” Miles said, pointing to the staircase.

Ryan emerged ten minutes later, having been ordered to hurriedly replenish his suitcase. His shoulder bag bulging now with all the work-related notebooks and electronics he hadn’t taken with him to Madison.

Given the time of day, the ride to Chicago would be considerably slower due to the afternoon rush-hour traffic. Miles was ecstatic that, unlike his last trip, someone else was dealing with the stress of negotiating the onslaught of cars and trucks.

To make good use of their travel time, Miles and Ryan spoke to each other by phone the entire way. Miles decided to ask Ryan about his budding romance as a way of taking his mind off what may lie ahead.

“So, are things accelerating between the two of you?”

“They might have if you hadn’t pulled me away,” Ryan shot back.

“Sorry, couldn’t be helped. Seriously, is there some there, there?” Miles was hopeful.

“Using the word ‘there’ three times in one sentence may be your new record,” Ryan pointed out.

“Stop avoiding the answer!” Miles demanded in mock anger.

“Yes, I believe there is some there, there,” Ryan confessed.

“You’ve just tied the record.” Miles’s retort made them both laugh. Laughter would surely be a precious commodity as the danger they faced escalated dramatically. Just then the driver of Miles’s car slammed on the brakes, narrowly missing the delivery van that had cut in front of them.

“Chicago traffic never disappoints,” Miles exclaimed.

“Did something happen?” Ryan sounded concerned.

“Nothing significant. Just my play-by-play account of the highway action. We had to make a sudden stop to avoid being cargo in the delivery van that cut us off.” Miles’s explanation was remarkably calm.

“Changing subjects, were you able to resolve that accounting firm case?” Ryan asked.

Miles couldn’t wait to share his client’s forthright response to the findings with Ryan. “Just did before we left. It turned out the real culprit was the owner’s son, who is also an executive at the firm. He was stealing from his clients by manipulating their accounts and using their funds to support a gambling habit. I sent the evidence I had accumulated to the father, and then called him so we could walk through it all. After a thorough review of all the evidence, he immediately promised to personally reimburse the clients for the money his son had stolen. Then, if his son is willing, the father will help him enroll in a gambler’s-anonymous-type rehab program.”

“Seems like an honorable man. What about the woman who had originally been accused of the thefts?”

“He is an honorable man and the next part is, for me, really the best part of the story. He wants her to come back to work, taking his son’s executive position.” If Ryan had been in the car, he would have seen Miles beaming with satisfaction.

“Do you resolve all your cases so neatly?” Ryan joked, but with obvious admiration.

“No, unfortunately. That said, we’ve had a number of positive outcomes lately, but that’s not the norm. Usually, someone is at fault and suffers some major consequences for their actions.”

“Let’s hope that’s the case for Reese,” Ryan said.