Last Chance to Die by Noah Boyd (large screen ebook reader .txt) 📗

“You’re sure?”

“Call Kalix and fill him in about what’s going on.” Vail hung up.

Bursaw was searching the body. He pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills, held them up for Vail to see, and then stuffed them back in the dead agent’s pocket. “He doesn’t have ID on him.”

Rellick’s phone rang. Vail took it out. “Excuse me a minute, I’ve got to talk to this Russian,” Vail said. He pushed the Talk button. “Yeah.”

The voice on the other end immediately became suspicious. “What is your name?” Vail knew the caller was asking for Rellick’s code name.

“Rumpelstiltskin.” The line went dead. Vail put the phone back in his pocket.

“You didn’t really think you were going to fool him, did you?”

“I wanted two things: to see if he had a Russian accent, which he did, and for his call to go through, so his number would be in the phone company’s computer.” Vail checked his watch and noted the time of the call.

Vail and Bursaw explained to the responding Park Police what had taken place on Roosevelt Island so that the crime-scene examination could be conducted. Then they followed a couple of their detectives to their investigative offices in southeast D.C. Once there, the two agents were taken to separate interview rooms. When Vail finished, it was a little after four in the morning. He found Kate waiting in the reception area. “Everything all right?” she asked after hugging him.

“I don’t think they handle as many homicides as Metro does, so their process was a little slower.”

“What did you tell them?”

“The truth—the other guy did it.” And then, without mentioning Rellick’s cell phone, Vail explained about how the rogue CIA agent had gotten the drop on him and Bursaw had shot him to save Vail’s life.

Just then Bursaw walked out. Kate gave him a hug, too. “They’re not keeping you?” she said, an impish grin pulling at the corners of her mouth.

He laughed. “Careful, I could tell them who you really are.” They left the building and started walking to the car. Bursaw said, “How about you, what’s your status? I see you’re out in public without a disguise.”

“As soon as I got hold of the Park Police, I called John. He had just met with the United States Attorney. He picked me up at your sister’s place and brought me here.”

“I hope you’re going to tell me we’re all off the hook,” Bursaw said.

“As far as I know, they never figured out who you were.”

“Thank God.”

Vail said, “How come you black guys are always complaining about how we all think you look alike until there’s a lineup?”

“Kate, did I ever tell you about the dead guy we found wearing a negligee in the doghouse and what Vail had to do to get a confession from his wife?”

Vail waved his hand back and forth. “I don’t think that’s pre-breakfast conversation.”

“I’m begging you, Luke, tell me,” Kate said. “What—”

Vail interrupted. “I believe you were about to tell us how we’re no longer in fugitive status.”

“Okay—for now. To answer your question, Luke, everyone is off the hook. John said he was a little worried when he went to see the United States Attorney. Remember, he played Assistant Director William A. Langston on the phone when he called him to spring me. But I guess he disguised his voice enough that the USA didn’t catch on. Anyway, John explained everything we found out about Rellick and his subsequent flight and how he tried to kill an agent. John said he huffed and puffed for a while but then decided that the evidence the CIA had gathered was convincing enough to drop the charges against me.”

“And Luke and I?”

“Like I said, they never pulled Luke up on the radar, but you were identified and kind of marked as the ringleader. He said the USA was reluctant to give a pass to a jailbreaker. But then John reminded him that the press would probably view my detention as a serious violation of my rights. And although he might try to mitigate that through some convenient interpretation of national-security protocol, it wouldn’t play well because that whole secrecy thing was created to catch the big fish, and since that was supposed to be me, it was no longer an excusable tactic. Finally he told him that I would seek no punitive action against his office if everything were dropped, against everyone. After weighing his liabilities for a few seconds, he agreed. On his way to get me, John called the director and brought him up to speed. He wants all of us in his office at nine A.M.”

Kate glanced at Vail, expecting him to offer an excuse as to why he wouldn’t be there. “You do know he’s probably going to thank you?” she said.

Vail just shrugged his shoulders, making her wonder what he was up to now.

After a predawn breakfast, Bursaw dropped Kate and Vail at his sister’s apartment. “Sure I can’t give you a ride?”

Kate said, “I want to clean up around here a little. We’ll get a cab.”

While Kate vacuumed, Vail packed up the files that had been taken from the Sixteenth Street off-site. Then he called a cab and fed the fish while they waited for it to arrive.

Once they were in the taxi, Kate asked, “Why are you going to the director’s meeting? You hate things like that.”

“Is that your real question, or do you want to know when I’m leaving?”

“Both, I guess.”

“I told Luke I’d help him with his case. That means I’m going to need credentials a little longer. Hopefully the director won’t mind giving me a couple of extra days.”

“Then off to Florida.”

“So far. Would you consider coming along?”

“I might be talked into it.”

“Sun, warm water, gallons of rum, and me. The good, the bad, and the ugly. You can claim an alcohol-induced state to excuse the inevitable regrets you’ll have afterward.”

She smiled absentmindedly. “You know the director is going to offer you the job again.”

“I suppose.”

“And?”

“I’ll listen.”

“And