Vanish: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

carrying a rifle, as well as some sort of backpack. Those dark clothes do blend in with all the other cops standing around, which is why our cameraman at the time didn’t realize what he was seeing. At first glance, you’d assume this is a Tactical Operations uniform he’s wearing. But on closer inspection, you can see there is no insignia on the back to indicate he’s part of the team.”
    The video clip rolled forward a few frames and again froze, this time on the man’s face, as he turned to glance over his shoulder. He had receding dark hair and a narrow, almost gaunt face. An unlikely Rambo. That one long-distance frame was the only glimpse the camera caught of his features. In the next frame, his back was once again to the camera. The video clip continued, tracking the man’s progress toward the building, until he vanished through the lobby doors.
    Zoe Fossey was back onscreen, microphone in hand. “We’ve tried to get some official statement about just what happened here, but no one’s talking, Dave.”
    “You think the police might be just the slightest bit embarrassed?”
    “To put it mildly. Adding to their embarrassment, I hear the FBI has just stepped in.”
    “A not-so-subtle hint that things could be better managed?”
    “Well, things are pretty chaotic out here right now.”
    “Any confirmation yet on the number of hostages being held?”
    “The hostage taker claimed, during her call to the radio station, that she was holding six people. I’ve since heard from sources that the number is probably correct. Three hospital employees, a doctor, and two patients. We’re trying to get their names now . . .”
    Gabriel went rigid in his chair, staring in rage at the TV. At the woman who was so eager to reveal Jane’s identity. Who could unwittingly condemn her to death.
    “. . . as you can see, over my shoulder, there’s a lot of yelling going on. A lot of rising tempers in this heat. Another station’s cameraman just got shoved to the ground when he tried to get too close to the perimeter. One unauthorized person has already slipped through, and the police aren’t about to let it happen again. But it’s like shutting the barn door after the horse gets out. Or, in this case, gets
in.
”
    “Any idea who this Rambo is?”
    “As I said, no one’s talking. But we’ve heard reports that the police are checking out an illegally parked car about two blocks away from here.”
    “They think it’s Rambo’s car?”
    “Apparently. A witness saw this man leaving the car. I guess even Rambo needs transportation.”
    “But what’s his motive?”
    “You have to consider two possibilities. One, that the man’s trying to be a hero. Maybe he knows one of the hostages, and he’s launching his own rescue operation.”
    “And the second possibility?”
    “The second possibility is scary. That this man is a reinforcement. He’s come to join the hostage taker.”
    Gabriel rocked back in his chair, stunned by what had suddenly become obvious to him. “That’s what it meant,” he said softly.
“The die is cast.”
    Abe swiveled around to face him. “It meant something?”
    Gabriel shot to his feet. “I need to see Captain Hayder.”
     
    “It’s an activation code,” said Gabriel. “Jane Doe called that radio station to broadcast the phrase. To get it out to the public.”
    “An activation code for what?” asked Hayder.
    “A call to arms. Reinforcements.”
    Hayder snorted. “Why didn’t she just say,
Help me out here, guys?
Why use a code?”
    “You weren’t prepared, were you? None of you were.” Gabriel looked at Stillman, whose face was gleaming with sweat in that oven of a trailer. “That man walked right through your perimeter, carrying in a knapsack with god-knows-what weapons. You weren’t ready for him because you never expected a gunman to walk
into
the building.”
    “We know it’s always a possibility,” said Stillman. “That’s the reason we set up perimeters.”
    “Then how did this man get through?”
    “Because he knew exactly how to do it. His clothing, his gear. This was well thought out, Agent Dean. That man was ready.”
    “And Boston PD wasn’t. That’s why they used a code. To take you by surprise.”
    Hayder stared in frustration out the open doorway of the command trailer. Though they’d brought in two oscillating fans, and the street had now fallen into the shadow of late afternoon, it was still unbearably hot in the vehicle. Outside, on