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“I recognized the problems going in. If it looked bad, I aborted the mission. Phillips joked that that’s why I was getting the big bucks—for knowing when to walk away from the deal.”
“Big bucks?”
“It was a joke,” said Reuben. “I drew my salary, period.”
“I bet you were a good boy and didn’t keep any records.”
“I wasn’t that good. Encrypted files on my PDA.”
“What’s your password?”
Reuben couldn’t believe he asked. Then he realized Cole was right. “I guess we’ve got a new system of classification now. Top Secret. Eyes Only. Coleman Only.”
“You could have died today,” said Cole. “They could arrest you or kill you at any time. You need that PDA out of your possession and someone else needs to know the password. If you think it has evidence.”
“I never even told Cessy my passwords,” said Reuben. “To protect her.”
“It only protects her against a rational enemy,” said Cole. “An irrational one won’t believe she doesn’t know it till she’s dead.”
“I think these guys are trying to play by some version of American rules.”
“Those bullets pouring into the Chinese restaurant at us didn’t know who was behind those walls.”
“Maybe they had software that recognized our faces. Maybe getting us was worth some collateral damage.”
“Password,” said Cole.
“And maybe you’ve been my shadow the past few days just so you could get that password before you kill me,” said Reuben. “Maybe you’re working for these clowns. They accepted that you might have to kill a few of their guys to earn my trust. You get my password, then you take my PDA and kill me. I don’t know you, Cole.”
“No, you don’t,” said Cole. “For a minute there you trusted me, though.”
“I did.”
“How’s it working out so far?” asked Cole.
“I asked for you to be assigned to me,” said Reuben. “Then again, I chose from a list. They provided the list.”
“We don’t know who they are,” said Cole. “But hang on to the PDA for a while yet. I’m not going to try to force the issue. It’s foolish. But I understand the paranoia.”
“Thank you,” said Reuben. “I still trust you, Cole. I’m taking you home to my family.”
“I know,” said Cole.
“They didn’t know where we were, but they’ll figure it out,” said Reuben. “Where else would I have gone on the Jersey side of New York City? A little research and they’ll be at Aunt Margaret’s. Maybe before we even get there.”
“So let me out before we get too close,” said Cole. “So they don’t get us both.”
“I keep the PDA at home, or I’d give it to you right now.”
“But not the password.”
“No, not the password. You’d be my off-site storage.”
“Who’s trying to arrest us?” said Cole. “Is it the guys who just invaded New York—the ones who are working inside the government to subvert it? Or is it the good guys, who figure it can’t just be coincidence that we keep showing up right where the crisis is?”
“All that planted evidence,” said Reuben. “They can’t ignore it.”
“Is it just coincidence we
