The Devils Teardrop

Digger on the Mall. If they took him alive he might have talked.”
    “Hardy was laughing at us,” Cage said, slamming his fist down on the table. “The whole fucking time he was sitting right next to us and laughing.”
    “But where is he?” the dep director asked.
    Parker said, “Oh, he’ll have his escape all planned out. He’s outthought us every step of the way. He won’t stumble now.”
    “We can get his picture off the video camera down in the lobby,” Cage said. “Get it to all the TV stations.”
    “At two in the morning?” Parker said. “Who’s going to be watching? And we’ve already missed the newspaper deadlines. Anyway, he’ll be out of the country by sunup and on a plastic surgeon’s operating table in two days.”
    “The airports’re closed,” the dep director pointed out. “He can’t get any flights till morning.”
    “He’ll be driving to Louisville or Atlanta or New York,” Lukas said. “But we’ll put out a bulletin to the field offices. Get agents to all the airports, Amtrak stations and bus terminals. Rental-car companies too. Check DMV and deeds offices for an address. And call Connecticut State Police.” She paused, looking at Parker. He could see that she was thinking exactly what he was.
    “He’s thought of all that,” Parker said. “I’m not saying we don’t have to do it. But he’s anticipated it.”
    “I know,” she said and seemed all the more angry because of her helplessness.
    The dep director said, “I’ll authorize ten-most-wanted status.”
    But Parker wasn’t listening. He was staring at the extortion note.
    “Perfect forgery,” he whispered to himself.
    “What?” Lukas asked.
    He looked at his watch. “I’m going to go see somebody.”
    “I’m going with you,” Lukas said.
    Parker hesitated. “Better if you didn’t.”
    “No, I’m going.”
    “I don’t need any help.”
    “I’m going with you,” she said firmly.
    And Parker looked into her blue eyes—stone or no stone?
    He couldn’t tell.
    He said, “Okay.”
    * * *
    They drove through the streets of the District, mostly deserted now. Parker was at the wheel.
    A car paused at an intersection, to their right. In the glare Parker caught Lukas’s profile, her thin mouth, her rounded nose, her sweep of throat.
    He turned back to the street and drove deeper into Alexandria, Virginia.
    Maybe she envies you.
    How much he wanted to take her hand, sit with her in a bar or on his couch at home. Or lie in bed with her.
    And talk. Talk about anything.
    Perhaps about the secret of Margaret Lukas, whatever that might be.
    Or just do what he and the Whos did sometimes—talk about nothing. Talk silly, they called it. About cartoons or neighbors or the Home Depot sale or recipes or vacations past and vacations planned.
    Or maybe he and Lukas would share the war stories that cops—federal or state or crossing guards—loved to relive.
    The secret could wait.
    She’d have years to tell him, he thought.
    Years . . .
    Suddenly he realized that he was considering a connection with her that might last more than a single night or a week or month. What did he have to base this fantasy on? Nothing really. It was a ridiculous thought.
    Whatever connection there might be between them—she the soldier, he the hausfrau —was pure illusion.
    Or was it? He remembered the Whos in the Dr. Seuss book, the race of creatures living on a dust mote, so small no one could see them. But they were there nonetheless, with all their crazy grins and contraptions and bizarre architecture. Why couldn’t love be found in something that seemed invisible too?
    He looked at her once again and she at him. He found his hand reaching out tentatively and touching her knee. Her hand closed on his, nothing tentative about it.
    Then they were at the address he sought. He removed his hand. He parked the car. Not a word said. Not a look between them.
    Lukas climbed out. Parker too. He walked around to her side of the car and they stood facing each other. How badly he wanted to hold her. Put his arms around her, slip his hands into the small of her back, pull her close. She glanced at him and slowly unbuttoned her blazer. He caught a glimpse of the white silk blouse. He stepped forward to kiss her.
    She glanced down, unholstered her weapon and buttoned her blazer once more. Squinted as she looked past him, checking out the neighborhood.
    Oh . Parker stepped back.
    “Where to?” she asked matter-of-factly.
    Parker