“True enough. All right, Angel. Do what you need to do. We’re still a ways from Atlanta, and after we land, I’ll be doing some legwork anyway. I’ll need to check in with—”
“Chapel, until we’re secure again, it’s better if I don’t know the details.”
“Got it. Thank you, Angel. Thanks for everything.”
She didn’t respond. The hands-free unit in his ear had already switched off.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: APRIL 12, T+17:53
The jet set down at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in the middle of the night. Chief Petty Officer Andrews brought them cups of hot coffee and croissants while they taxied to the gate and waited for clearance to debark. Chapel had to admit that if he had to fly, this was the way to go. Hollingshead was a lucky man. Before he knew it, he and Julia were whisked through the terminal and out to where a car was waiting for them.
The driver seemed surprised when they said they had no luggage. “Not even an overnight bag?” he asked.
Chapel just shrugged. Fatigue was starting to get to him. He needed to sleep, but that wasn’t in the cards. He gave the driver Jeremy Funt’s last known address.
“Seriously? That’s down in Capitol View. Not the best neighborhood,” the driver told him.
“It’s where we’re going,” Chapel said.
“You’re the boss.” The driver got the car moving and thankfully had little to say after that. Chapel tried watching through the windows as they rolled along, trying to get a feel for this new city. It all blurred together into lights and pools of darkness. He focused on the street signs instead.
After about twenty minutes he leaned forward, a little alarmed. “You’re driving in circles,” he told the driver.
Had Banks set him up? Was this some kind of ploy to delay him? Or was there something more sinister going on? Was he going to be taken somewhere quiet and quietly shot?
He started to reach for his weapon.
“What are you talking about? I know this city like the back of my hand,” the driver said.
“We just passed Peachtree Street,” Chapel said. “Except we passed Peachtree Street ten minutes ago.”
The driver laughed. “Buddy, you never been to Atlanta before, have you? Half the streets here are called that. It’s the state tree. You never heard of Georgia peaches?”
“Oh,” Chapel said.
He sank back into his seat.
Damn it, he was getting paranoid. Which only made sense given his circumstances, but still — he was losing it. He’d been going too long too fast, never getting a chance to rest. He needed sleep. If he didn’t get it, he would probably start shooting at shadows.
He told himself he just needed to find Jeremy Funt. Once he had the man located and under protection, he could rest.
Just a little while longer.
Within thirty seconds his head fell back against the seat and he was asleep.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: APRIL 13, T+19:01
“Hey. Hey, buddy! We’re here!”
Chapel’s eyes snapped open. They felt gritty and raw. All of him felt gritty and raw. Where was he? What was…
Right. It all came flooding back. He stirred himself, sat up. Adjusted his jacket. He touched Julia’s shoulder, and she slapped his hand away.
“Take your time,” the driver told him.
Chapel nodded and rubbed at his face with his hands. His silicone left hand dragged in his stubble, but the irritation helped wake him up a little. He rubbed Julia’s shoulder with his good hand. “It’s time to wake up,” he told her.
She shifted in her seat, making little sounds of annoyance. Then she leaned forward and laid her head on his chest, one of her arms snaking around his waist. “Let me sleep in today,” she said. “The little Chihuahuas can wait.”
She was so warm against his body in the chilly air-conditioned cab. Chapel felt his body stirring. He put his good hand on her hair and stroked it gently.
Whoa, he told himself. Not appropriate.
He thought of when she’d been examining him in her clinic, and she’d kissed him. That had just been a reward for saving her, though. Except — she had said that it was also maybe because she’d wanted to kiss him.
Her hair was soft and slightly curly. It felt good in his fingers. This was totally wrong, he thought. He had a mission to complete; there was no time for this. But he wanted so desperately to just lean in and kiss her awake.
“Oh, no,” she said, and sat bolt upright. “Oh my God.”
“It’s not what—”
“Oh my God,” she said again. “Oh God. Chapel. I–I am so sorry.”
“You are?” he asked.
“I thought you were somebody else. My ex-boyfriend. Wow,” she said. “That was not appropriate, huh? I’m really sorry.”
Chapel reached for the handle of his door. “It’s fine. Really,” he said. He opened his door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Harsh sodium lamps burned down from above, pushing away shadows that refused to be completely contained. The buildings on either side of him were mostly one- and two-story houses with peaked roofs. Each had a patch of green lawn out front, and most had a tree or two. It looked nothing whatsoever like New York City.
“Do we need to pay the driver?” Julia asked, coming up beside him.
“No — no — it’s all taken care of,” he said, a little too quickly.
She gave him a weak smile. He turned toward the car, intending to ask the driver to wait while they went inside, but the cabbie was already pulling away. He waved furiously to call the man back, but it was no use.
Oh, well. He could always call for another car. Even without Angel’s help he supposed he could manage that.
“So what’s the plan, here?” Julia asked.
“The man who lives here, Jeremy Funt, is like your father — at least in that the chimeras want to kill them both.” She winced and he immediately felt like an ass. She knew her father’s life — just as her own — was in danger, and she didn’t need to be reminded of the fact. “I’m going to get him, and you, out of here. And then I’m going to sit here all night waiting for a chimera to show up. If I can, I’ll take it into custody.”
“How do you know the chimera will come here?” she asked, rubbing at her eyes.
“I don’t, really. But I’m operating under the assumption the chimera has the same list I do, which is how I got this address. Huh. No lights on in the house.”
Julia shrugged. “It’s late. Maybe he’s asleep, like a sane person.”
“Maybe,” Chapel agreed. If it was him, if he knew a psychopath was coming to kill him, Chapel would keep a light on. It would at least make it easier to see the maniac when he arrived. “Come on.” He went up a narrow gravel driveway to the front door of the house and knocked loudly. He glanced around at the surrounding houses. Plenty of them still showed lights. He could see the blue glow of a television set through one window across the street and hear people laughing somewhere nearby. A dog was barking a few streets away. It wasn’t that late.
When there was no answer to his knock he looked around until he found a doorbell and tried that. Still no response.
“Maybe he was really sane, and he went somewhere else. Since he knew the chimera was coming. You did let everyone know they were in danger, right?” Julia asked.
“It was the first thing I did.”
Something here just wasn’t right. He knocked again, knowing there would be no reply. “Okay. I need to get inside, whether he’s here or not, so I can lay my ambush for the chimera. Stand back and watch the street. If you see anyone looking at us and wondering what we’re doing, let me know. If you see a police car, let me know.”