Lilburn placed his feet on the coffee table and did his best to make himself comfortable. He glanced at his watch; it was still a while before he could expect Evangeline to knock on his door. As his eyelids gradually closed and he started to drift off into a relaxed snooze the phone rang. Brought back from the brink of sleeping he yawned as he left the chair, approached the kitchen area and lifted the handset bringing an end to the persistent ring tone. “Yes.”
“Allan Hall.”
“Sir.”
“I think it would be remiss if we didn’t show Dr. Crawston some form of appreciation for her efforts. With all that’s been happening I never got around to thinking about it before. So, it’s a bit late in the piece, but why don’t you go out on the town tonight, show the doctor a little fun and we’ll pick up the expense.”
“Not a bad idea, sir, thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome. What time are you driving down to Hymietown, Matt? Wish I could have you choppered down, but we don’t have any birds available. I presume it’s tomorrow you go to New York?”
“Early tomorrow, sir.”
“Tell you what, Matt. I happen to know one of our guys is going that way. You take Evangeline out tonight and I’ll have you both picked up tomorrow at 0730 hours.”
“Very kind of you, sir, but…”
“That’s an order, son… be ready to leave at 0730.”
It was a good two hours later when Lilburn heard the light knock on the door. Once inside Evangeline gave a big stretch reaching towards the ceiling before letting her arms fall around his neck.
“I needed that little rest,” said Evangeline. “Just what the doctor ordered.”
Lilburn pulled her in towards him. “Well, then, lucky you did. Allan Hall phoned a while ago, gave me the all-clear to spend a bit of the firm’s money on you, sort of a going-away present.”
“Pray, go on, young man… I like what I’m hearing.”
“Well, the old man must have been in a good mood, because he’s also having someone drive us down to Plum, well at least as far as Greenport.”
“Oh, I was hoping we might have had that time alone.”
“Hall insisted, so be prepared to leave at seven thirty in the morning.”
“We should be very grateful to Allan Hall, he is such a sweetheart.”
“I wouldn’t quite go that far, but hey, if that’s what spins your wheels. Director Hall didn’t get to where he is by being nice. He’s one tough hombre.”
“So, Matthew Lilburn, where are you taking me tonight?” said Evangeline, before she nibbled on his neck.
“Let’s see. How about the Palace Theatre? With a bit of luck the Albany Symphony Orchestra will be playing.”
“That sounds divine, but let me think on that… I’ll have to see if you’re up to it.”
Lilburn looked surprised, as if his cultural awareness was in dispute. However, that wasn’t what she was talking about.
The symphony orchestra did play that night.
Chapter Thirty-five
Right on seven thirty the next morning a black sedan pulled up outside unit twelve behind the Jeep Wrangler. Lilburn heard the motor switch off and the sound of a door closing. He peered out through the window. The face of the man pushing shut the car door was familiar. Mac. The trip down south might not be so bad after all.
“Mac, I didn’t know you doubled as a chauffeur?” Lilburn extended his hand while standing inside the open doorway.
The greeting was reciprocated with a firm handshake. “I don’t make a habit of it. It’s the firm’s way of putting me out to pasture. I hear you’ve been stirring things up a bit, putting that nine millimeter to work.”
Lilburn smiled. “I’ve still got her. It wasn’t exactly mission accomplished, but hey.”
“Yeah, shit happens, son. Tell me, I’m told we’ve got a lady to take down to Plum, drop her off at JFK then hightail it home. Going to be a long day.”
“Dr. Evangeline Crawston. Have you met her yet?”
“Nope, can’t say I have. Heard a lot about her though. Pretty as a palomino horse with brains to boot. Not my words — the wife would have kittens if she heard me talk like that! Naw, the boys been talking, word’s got around. She ready to roll?”
“Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
Mac McKenzie paused. He continued to look directly at Lilburn. He lowered the volume of his voice. “She’s right behind me, ain’t she?” A wink from Lilburn confirmed it. Lilburn watched Mac’s tongue push out one side of his cheek. With an embarrassed clearing of his throat, Mac turned around. “Pardon a silly old man, my dear.” He extended his hand. Evangeline placed her own small one in his gigantic paw, with a gracious smile.
“A horse?”
“Palomino,” Mac spluttered out. “They’re real pretty… horses.”
“Then I am indeed honored to be compared to one! Hello, I’m Evangeline Crawston — and most pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Likewise, ma’am. Well…” Mac rubbed his hands together. “Speaking of horses… shall we saddle up and ride on out of here?”
At 7:45 the sedan eased out of the Twenty Horses Inn with its three occupants, Lilburn in the front passenger seat.
“Weather forecast says it should remain fine.” Mac looked up at the high cirrus clouds. “We’ll be passing through Springfield, Massachusetts in about an hour and a half. You ever been to Hoop City, young lady?”
Evangeline could see Mac’s eyes look briefly in the rear-vision mirror at her. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. I shall look forward to it… immensely,” Evangeline said politely.
“I can tell you ain’t got a clue. You tell her, Matt.”
“No, no, please be my guest.”
“That’s right… you’re from the east… you probably don’t know either!”
Mac glanced to Lilburn. “Soon as they told me I had to babysit a couple down south aways, I wasn’t exactly doing handflips. Then when they said who it was I decided a day out of the armory wasn’t such a bad idea.” Mac looked back to the mirror. “Hoop City, that’s my home town, Springfield, Massachusetts. Ways back, even before my impromptu conception took place, this Canadian, James Naismith, invented the world’s best sport, bar none. That, my dear, is the sport of basketball, once called the ritual of expression. Yeah, I seen some great players in my time.”
“I do like to see a man who has an interest,” said Evangeline.
Mac laughed. “The wife and I might settle down in Springfield. Tell you what, Matt, there’s a real nice armory there, the Springfield Armory National Park, the goddamn largest collection of antique firearms in the world! Darn shame we have to keep to a schedule.”
As the black sedan had pulled out of the motel heading interstate, it was being watched by two men sitting in a pale-blue car across the road. The driver turned on the ignition and followed at a discreet distance. The passenger, holding on to a mobile phone, chewed his gum slowly and methodically, both men expressionless.
The first hour passed by with relative speed and comfort, the driving easy along well-formed roads with moderate traffic. The cloud layer dispersed the closer they came to Springfield, much to the delight of Mac who seemed to take pleasure in conveying to his passengers that the predicted forecast was going to plan. Evangeline, when not engaged in conversation with Mac, kept herself amused by watching the countryside whizz by. Lilburn was thinking about the information he required and the questions he needed to ask at Plum. The thought of the funerals the next day kept him focused — and the fact that later on that day, Evangeline would be on her way home to London, and out of his life.
As the unobtrusive pursuit vehicle kept pace, the male passenger looked at the time displayed on the cellphone. He pointed it out to the driver, who nodded. Activating a code on the phone, two keypad buttons were then pressed in quick succession.