Page 35 of Radar

“Not allowed in their facility. Tight security.”

“Tightest,” Hiro agreed. “The I is always dotted. The T is always crossed. It’s why we put such faith in their professionalism. Mistakes cost lives. Do you have the information about Orest's overnight stay in Fairbanks?”

“Upscale. To stay out of their sight, I have reservations at the hotel next door. Considerably less posh, but I was able to book a room straight across from his. Depending on his application of trade craft, I might be able to get something.”

“He’s staying in Fairbanks a single night tonight,” Hiro said. “He’ll spend the bulk of Saturday in Fairbanks, then at fifteen-hundred, a car service will pick him up. He’s heading to a lodge in Lumberjack.”

“That’s where Orest’s dogs are training?” Xander asked.

“Exactly. His trainer has a cabin out that way. It’s two hours due east.”

“Any ideas about what he’s up to in Fairbanks?” Xander reached into his side pocket for a protein bar. Hiro’s chewing was making him hungry. “Is it just a layover?”

“I don’t have any direct communications on it. But Orest is funding an arctic animal study there. I’d imagine he’ll stop by the lab.”

“Arctic animals, that’s a hobby project, right?” Xander asked. “Nothing to do with this case?”

“I can’t imagine how arctic animals could or would have anything to do with the machine. But I’ll dig in deeper. Okay, back to Newark. We checked the tapes, and Orest has the carry-on and checked only one suitcase. When you get to Fairbanks, you’ll want to go through both. You’ll find all of the search warrants in your file. But Finley sent a search order to FBI Fairbanks to pull the checked bag and give it a quick look-see. They’ll be checking the bag for any substances that might be the Zoric neurotoxins, and then it will be put on the conveyor with the others. The inspection should go unnoticed.”

“Did York come up positive for neurotoxins?”

“Long’s here with me.” Hiro crunched. “He said too much time went by. But York’s oxygenation levels were wonky even for a heart crisis, so we’re working on the assumption that he was poisoned. Watch yourself.”

Xander stilled. “Go back. Say that last again? Orest checked a suitcase?”

“Correct.”

“And he had another bag?” Xander asked.

“Carry-on.”

“He didn’t carry anything onto the plane.”

“Are you sure?” Hiro asked.

“I’m sure. I wondered how someone could go on such a long flight without a bag of things to support him and wondered what he had in his pockets.”

“Okay, before there’s a freak out. I’m going back to review tapes. Sit tight, I’m moving the video to your feed.” There was a pause. “Okay, you should have it now.”

The crew sitting near Xander had their heads down, scrolling on their phones. One by one, they popped their heads up, their eyes wide, their postures rigid. Then, as a group, they rose and turned to look out the window and up into the sky.

Xander put a hand on Radar’s head as he watched the grainy security feed. There was Orest in a crush of people. Xander could only see him from the shoulders up.

He paused the screen and went back. “I think I have it. Hang on.”

Xander moved back through the tape, and yeah. He hadn’t made a mistake. Pressed by the flow of humanity, Orest had been shoulder to shoulder with another man, but when he peeled off and went into the men’s room, he had a sizeable briefcase in his hand. “I’m taking a still shot of what I’m seeing.” Xander took a screenshot, then spread the view wider. “Silver bag. Right hand.”

“That would be it.”

Xander kept watching. Orest went into the men’s room. Moments later, Orest came out empty-handed.

“I’ll get back with you.” Xander ended the call, snatched up his backpack, gripped Radar’s lead, and tapped his thigh to shift Radar to work mode.

Radar jumped to his feet and glued himself to Xander’s side.

Sliding through the crowd, Xander put Radar protectively against the wall. They moved, salmon-like, against the flow toward the restroom.

Stepping through the opening into the men’s room, Radar did what Radar always did in a new environment: He cast his gaze around the room, then stuck his nose in the air. Xander took a survey of the area, loath to get Radar’s sniffer going and letting people know a search was underway. They moved past the row of urinals and sinks to the stalls down to the far wall, where Xander gave Radar the slightest hand signal to search for explosives. Then, Xander slid his hand down Radar’s lead to keep him close. In this configuration, they paced the bathroom.

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