The Speed of Sound (Speed of Sound Thrillers #1)(86)
Passing through the five analyst teams, Garber took note of the ones focused on Grand Central and Secaucus Junction, because those stations seemed to have the highest concentrations of Mets fans passing through their terminals. A quick search of train routes revealed why: those two stations had the most express trains to Philadelphia, site of the following day’s matchup. The problem was that all five analyst teams had already completed their searches of the available footage, and none had come up with a single actionable lead.
Garber scratched his head. He dreaded the thought of reporting no progress to Agent Raines. So what to do now? In part because he didn’t have any other ideas, and in part because his gut was telling him that somebody missed something, he randomly reassigned each team a different train station. Each was going to review the same footage another team had pored over. Garber wanted to be sure.
The government is known for redundancy. It’s expensive and inefficient, but, every now and then, critical. This was one of those rare times that justified all the wasted taxpayer dollars. Because the second team to review the footage from Secaucus Junction needed less than fifteen minutes to spot the fugitives standing near the cattail sculpture in the station’s main concourse. The time was 10:09, just over two hours earlier. Skylar Drummond and Edward Parks were both dressed in Mets jerseys and caps, which was probably why they were missed the first time. Max Garber was once again impressed with a choice the fugitives had made. He quickly called Agent Raines to inform him of their findings as all five analyst teams attempted to track Skylar and Eddie’s progress through the train station.
The agent’s question was simple and direct. “Where were they headed?”
“We’re working on it now, but currently have no conclusive evidence. I can only make an educated guess.”
“I’m listening.”
“Both were wearing New York Mets jerseys and caps.”
“They play the Phillies tomorrow, don’t they?”
“They do. An express train for Philadelphia left Secaucus six minutes after the last time we spotted them.”
“When is that train due to arrive?”
Garber checked the clock at the lower-right corner of his monitor. “In seventeen minutes.”
In the time it took the analyst to hang up the phone, Agent Raines had already clicked off, speed-dialed the main Homeland switchboard, and asked to be connected to the Philadelphia office.
Raines had no idea that another party located in Alexandria, Virginia, would be listening to the call, just as they had been listening to his conversation with his favorite analyst.
CHAPTER 88
American Heritage Foundation, Alexandria, Virginia, May 28, 12:12 a.m.
That particular phone call to Agent Raines regarding the fugitive sighting in Secaucus Junction had triggered a flurry of activity inside the American Heritage Foundation. Jason Greers listened to the call and quickly related the information to his superior. Bob Stenson promptly placed his second phone call of the day to Senator Corbin Davis, who was entertaining the last of the four hundred guests who had attended a fund-raiser in his honor. The senator excused himself from his well-heeled donors and stepped outside the garish home of his third-largest campaign contributor to listen to a set of detailed instructions. Davis then dialed Homeland Security Director Arthur Merrell and proceeded to give one of the country’s three most powerful law-enforcement officers explicit orders as to how and where the fugitives should be apprehended, and, perhaps even more importantly, who should be allowed to come in contact with them and the echo box once they were in custody.
Merrell managed to overlook the disrespect he was being shown, because of his rising curiosity. “Senator, just what the hell is this thing these two are in possession of?”
“I’m not at liberty to say.”
The Homeland Security director shook his head. “You don’t know, do you?”
Corbin Davis grinned slyly. “Tell yourself that if it will make you feel better.”
Merrell hated being kept out of the loop. “Must be a real game changer.”
Davis paused, deciding to give the top cop just a tiny crumb to nibble on. “That would be an understatement.”
CHAPTER 89
New Jersey Transit Train, Approaching Philadelphia, May 28, 12:33 a.m.
When Eddie’s fingers finally stopped flying across his laptop keyboard, he looked up to realize he had no idea where he was. All he knew was this wasn’t his room. Where am I? He started to panic until he turned and saw Skylar sitting next to him. She was sound asleep. Just the sight of her helped calm him down. He now remembered that they were in a train. Headed to Philadelphia. To hear his mother sing.
Eddie glanced out the window, but couldn’t see much. Silhouettes of apartment buildings and factories and gas stations and junkyards. A never-ending blur of streetlights and park lights and brake lights. It was not enough detail to give him any idea where along the route they were.
Skylar must have fallen asleep a while ago. She looked so peaceful. He was about to say her name when he stopped himself. And just watched her. Listening to her breathe. Eddie matched his breathing to hers, inhaling and exhaling at exactly the same pace. Then slowly reached out to touch his finger to her skin. He wanted human contact. Maybe only a fingertip’s worth, but it was still a giant leap.
Skylar suddenly jolted awake, which made Eddie jump, too. “Sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”