"He hates Coal, which is perfectly understandable. Gminski dealt with the President, and, no, he didn't level with him. It all happened so fast. Remember, Gminski, Coal, the President, and I first saw the brief just two weeks ago today. Gminski was probably waiting to tell the President some of the story, but just hadn't got the chance."
Darby pushed her chair away, and walked back to the window. It was dark now, and the traffic was still slow and heavy. It was nice to have these mysteries revealed to her, but they created more mysteries. She just wanted to leave. She was tired of running and being chased; tired of playing reporter with Gray; tired of wondering who did what and why; tired of the guilt for writing the damned thing; tired of buying a new toothbrush every three days. She longed for a small house on a deserted stretch of beach with no phones and no people, especially ones hiding behind vehicles and buildings. She wanted to sleep for three days without nightmares and without seeing shadows. It was time to go.
Gray watched her carefully. "She was followed to New York, then here," he said to Voyles. "Who is it?"
"Are you positive?" Voyles asked.
"They were on the street all day watching the building," Darby said, nodding to the window.
"We've watched them," Gray said. "They're out there."
Voyles seemed skeptical. "Have you seen them before?" he asked Darby.
"One of them. He watched Thomas' memorial service in New Orleans. He chased me through the French Quarter. He almost found me in Manhattan, and I saw him chatting with another fella about five hours ago. I know it's him."
"Who is it?" Gray asked Voyles again.
"I don't think CIA would chase you."
"Oh, he chased me."
"Do you see them now?"
"No. They disappeared two hours ago. But they're out there."
Voyles stood and stretched his thick arms. He walked slowly around the table, unwrapping a cigar. "Mind if I smoke?"
"Yes, I mind," she said without looking at him. He laid it on the table.
"We can help," he said.
"I don't want your help," she said to the window.
"What do you want?"
"I want to leave the country, but when I do, I want to make damned sure no one follows. Not you, not them, not Rupert nor any of his pals."
"You'll have to come back and testify before the grand jury."
"Only if they can find me. I'm going to a place where subpoenas are frowned upon."
"What about the trial? You'll be needed at trial."
"That's at least a year from now. I'll think about it then."
Voyles placed the cigar in his mouth, but did not light it. He paced and analyzed better with one between his teeth. "I'll make you a deal."
"I'm not in the mood for deals." She was leaning against the wall now, looking at him and looking at Gray.
It's a good one. I've got planes and helicopters and plenty of men who carry guns and are not the least bit afraid of those boys out there playing hide-and-seek. First, we'll get you out of the building, and no one will know it. Second, we'll put you on my plane and fly you anywhere you want. Third, you can disappear from there. You have my word we will not follow. But, and fourth, you allow me to contact you through Mr. Grantham here if, and only if, it becomes urgently necessary."
She was looking at Gray as the offer was made, and it was obvious he liked the deal. She kept a poker face, but, damn, it sounded good. If she had trusted Gavin after the first phone call, he would be alive and she would never have held hands with Khamel. If she'd simply left New Orleans with him when he suggested, he would not have been murdered. She'd thought about this every five minutes for the past seven days.
This thing was bigger than she was. There comes a time when you give up and start trusting people. She didn't like this man, but for the past ten minutes he had been remarkably honest with her.
"Is it your plane and your pilots?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"Andrews."
"Let's do it like this. I get on the plane, and it's headed for Denver. And no one is on it but me, Gray, and the pilots. And thirty minutes after we take off, I instruct the pilot to go to, let's say, Chicago. Can he do that?"
"He has to file a flight plan before he leaves."
"I know. But you're the director of the FBI, and you can pull some strings."
"Okay. What happens when you get to Chicago?"
"I get off the plane alone, and it returns to Andrews with Gray."
"And what do you do in Chicago?"
"I get lost in a busy airport, and catch the first flight out."
"That'll work, but you have my word we won't follow."
"I know. Forgive me for being so cautious."
"It's a deal. When do you wish to leave?"
She looked at Gray. "When?"
"It'll take me an hour to revise it again, and add Mr. Voyles' comments."
"An hour," she said to Voyles.
"I'll wait."
"Could we talk in private?" she said to Voyles while nodding at Gray.
