Page 98 of In Too Deep

“Do they count as nuts if what they think is true?”

“Whatever. Has anyone been sniffing around, is the point.”

“No one. What about Kane?”

“We’ve located him. He’s in the Bahamas. We can’t do anything, unfortunately. He’s in a sovereign nation and our case is just too weak.”

“It’s weak? He killed two agents. Three, if you count Vidic. A retired detective. And that’s before you scratch the surface.”

“I was talking about our official position. Unofficially? People doall sorts of dangerous things in the Bahamas. Take scuba diving as an example. Equipment fails. Air tanks run dry. Who knows, maybe you’ll read the paper on, say, next Thursday? Maybe there’ll be a story about a fatal accident. Maybe you’ll recognize the victim’s name.”

Reacher hung up and handed the phone to Knight.

She said, “What was that about Kane?”

“They’re running a black bag op on him. They’re going to drown him, next Thursday.”

“Sweet. Fancy an island vacation? I’d love to be there when they bring the body in.”

Reacher didn’t reply.

She said, “Sorry. I know your passport has expired. I didn’t mean to be insensitive.”

“It’s not that. I’m thinking about the memory stick. Assuming Kane has it. If he’s still breathing for another few days that gives him plenty of time to set up a sale. The report is in demand. Look at how fast Vidic off-loaded it. And Kane has Vidic’s phone. He has access to his contacts. He could get in touch with the same folks that tried to buy it before. Offer them a second bite at the apple. Or find a new buyer. Or hide it, then someone might find it after he’s dead.”

“I see that. What do you want to do about it?”

“Go to the Bahamas. Find Kane. Get it back.”

“How? Your passport has expired.”

“Someone flew Kane there with a bunch of illicit gold. On short notice. Kane only got the address of the hangar an hour or so before we showed up. That person can fly us. I just need your phone again. I need to ask Wallwork for two more favors.”

—

Andrew McLeod, thepilot, lived alone in a V-shaped single-level home. It was at the corner of a triangular street, which was called acircle, about five miles away from the executive airport where his hangar was located. Most days he could drive to work in under ten minutes but that morning there was no point. His premises were closed by order of the FBI. The building was swathed with crime scene tape and it was under 24/7 observation.

McLeod was still in his bathrobe when the doorbell rang. He’d slept late. He was exhausted. A combination of lots of hours in the air and the shock of finding two dead bodies in his workplace. When he heard the sound, his first thought wasReporters. He’d been warned not to speak to any. The FBI agent who had interviewed him had been clear on that point. But still, he was tempted. He wanted to see his name in the paper. More important, he wanted his ex-wife to see it. He crept toward his living room window. Peeked out at his front path. And saw two people. A huge guy, not unlike the man he’d been forced to transport the day before. And a woman, quite similar to the one he’d seen dead on his hangar floor. He pulled away, fast. And that was a mistake because the movement caught the huge guy’s eye.

Reacher abandoned the bell and hammered on the door. He got no response. He hammered again, harder. There was still no answer. So he called out, “McLeod? We’re coming in. There’s nothing you can do to stop us. The only question is, are you going to open the door first?”

Five seconds ticked past then Reacher heard footsteps. The door opened. McLeod stood at the threshold, trying to block the way.

Reacher said, “Can you fly in that robe?”

McLeod said, “No.”

“Then you better change.”

“Why?”

“You flew a guy to Andros yesterday. In the Bahamas. You’re going to take us to the same place.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t fly anyone anywhere yesterday. I couldn’t. Some lunatic broke into my place. There was a shootout. Bodies on the ground. Blood. The FBI.”

“The guy who did the shooting. He gave you gold to fly.”

McLeod didn’t respond. Reacher’s statement wasn’t technically true. One of the dead guys had given him the gold. Kane just took the ride the stiff had paid for. But McLeod didn’t think it was the time to dwell on the details.

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