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“Like what?”
“Like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ End quote. Because of this snafu with Armbruster and Yancey and the criminal division of the FBI, everybody’s a little fractious this afternoon. Frankly, it does my heart good.” She smiled a
t him cheekily. “So, honey, that’s about it for me. How was your day?”
“I found Tabor House.”
* * *
Just in case Gray had located the hospital, Barrie and Daily had come prepared.
“Do you think you’ve lost our tail, Daily?”
“About five minutes ago.”
“But there may be an electronic tracker on the car,” Gray said. “I haven’t found a transmitter, but that doesn’t mean it’s clean. We have to make this switch in a hurry.”
Following Gray’s directions, Daily drove to a multilayered parking garage, where, on the second level, Gray had another vehicle waiting. Barrie and Gray alighted. Daily also stepped out, letting his car idle. “Take care of yourselves,” he told them.
“I’m more worried about you than us,” Barrie told him. “You’re sure your tank has enough oxygen?”
“Yes.”
“Drive around, have supper, act as natural as possible,” Gray told him. “Keep them busy for several hours, but don’t take any chances. Don’t take any chances.”
“I know, I know,” Daily said cantankerously. “We’ve gone over this a dozen times. I know what to do.”
“You’ll do fine,” Gray told him. “Come on, Barrie.”
She hung back, wishing Daily didn’t look so frail. Counter-intelligence maneuvers and breathing apparatus seemed hugely incompatible. “Whatever happens, we’ll be back before dawn. I’ll check on you as soon as I can. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“And that you won’t be cross with Dolly.”
“She’s an easy broad. She doesn’t nag.”
“And that if you start feeling bad, you’ll go home.”
“I promise.”
“You promise, but you won’t,” she said with mounting consternation. “I know you won’t.”
“Barrie!” Gray called from the front seat of the other car. “Haul it.”
“Get going or you’re gonna screw up Gray’s plan,” Daily told her.
He tried to get back into his car, but she placed her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “You’re my best friend, Daily,” she whispered. “For life.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said crossly. This time she let him push her away, but she wasn’t fooled by his brusqueness. His reluctance to say goodbye matched hers, piercing her with a cold splinter of foreboding.
“Daily—”
“It’ll be okay.” He slid behind the wheel.
Nodding, she closed his car door. She tried to catch his eye, but he wouldn’t look at her as he dropped the car into gear. She stepped back as he drove away. She watched his taillights until they disappeared around the sharp curve at the end of the row.
“Barrie?”
