I listened to Fothergill call his assistant and order a sandwich, and realized there was still plenty to think about. There was bound to be more to his situation than met the eye. But I’d never previously been able to see any kind of life beyond what I knew in the field. Now I was feeling something new. For the first time, I felt like I was maybe looking at a future version of myself.
“I think I’ll pass on a drink, too,” Fothergill said. “Just stick with the snack. Then I need to check that McIntyre’s description went out to everywhere that needs it. The U.S. is big enough, but having to chase him all over the world would be worse. If we can keep him from leaving the country, we might still have a chance.”
“How did he get into the country?” I said.
“We don’t know. He didn’t leave any trace.”
“So how do you expect to spot him sneaking back out?”
“No one was looking, before. Everyone is, now.”
“He could use the same route in reverse, and no one would know. Or try something else, completely different. He’ll have all kind of tricks up his sleeve. You can count on it.”
“Maybe. But don’t forget—something’s changed. We’re expecting him. He won’t have such an easy run this time.”
“Expecting him, how? He won’t use his real name, for a start. He’ll have a choice of IDs. And all of them will be indistinguishable from government issue. There’s no net tight enough to catch him. Not without a huge slice of luck.”
“We’re also distributing his photo. An up-to-date one, before you object. From the CCTV in this building, taken a few days ago.”
“There’s no point. No one’s going to recognize him from a picture. You’ll just have to accept it. If he wants to leave, he’s as good as gone.”
“We’d better hope he decides to stay, then.”
“That won’t help, either. If he goes to ground there’s no way we’re going to unearth him. Not without enough feet on the street. London need to get over whatever’s been bugging them. Maybe I should fly over there and have a word, myself.”
Fothergill was shaping up to reply when there was a knock on the door. A woman I’d never seen before came in, placed a sandwich in a brown cardboard wrapper carefully on his desk, and left again without ever making eye contact with either of us.
“David, this negativity is getting tiresome,” Fothergill said as he unwrapped his food. “Sure you won’t join me? I could split it.”
I shook my head.
“Look, I know there are problems,” he said. “I’m doing my best to work around them. But right now we need helpful suggestions. Not criticism. So if you’ve got anything useful to add, let’s hear it.”
“OK,” I said. “If we’re going to catch him, we’re going to have to make him come to us. Trick him into breaking cover. We need to come up with a ruse.”
“Good. Interesting idea. Lure him out. I like it. How?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Fothergill grunted. Then he picked up half of his sandwich and moved to gaze out of the window, standing in the same spot he’d been in when I first saw him. I went over and stood next to him. The cars were sitting stationary on the bridges, but below them the city lights were starting to dance in the darkening water of the river. I watched them for a moment as the sun slowly sank, and decided that if I ever did end up in an office, it would need to have plenty of windows. And a view no less stunning than this one.
“You know, I need to talk to those techies again,” Fothergill said, after he’d finished chewing on the last morsel of bread.
“You don’t,” I said. “Leave them alone. You’ll only make them go slower.”
“No. You don’t understand. If we’re going to trick McIntyre, like you suggest, we’ll need a hook. There could be something we can use on that laptop. Something weird, that the techies wouldn’t expect we’d need. I never told them to look for anything off-the-wall. So, I need to change their brief. Right now. Before they miss everything.”
“I guess that wouldn’t hurt. But be careful how you phrase it. No one works slower than a disgruntled engineer.”
“You’re right. Only, don’t worry. I’m the master of careful phrasing. But you know what? I won’t do it on the phone. That’s too impersonal. I’ll head down there and do it face-to-face. It’s much easier to fake sincerity, that way.”
Normally when I’m left alone in someone’s office I take that as a cue to nose around the place. Old habits die hard. But in Fothergill’s case, he had everything set up so minimally that there wasn’t much to get my teeth into. There was nothing on the glass desk. Only newspapers on the coffee table. And if there was a safe anywhere, it was so well concealed I certainly couldn’t find it.
Ten minutes later I was back at the window, watching the traffic making no progress around the city center. It made me think of the cabdriver who’d picked me up at Midway when I first arrived, three days ago. He’d told me there were two seasons in Chicago—winter, and road construction. I was beginning to understand what he meant.
Fourteen floors below me I saw two cabs from rival companies—a red one and a yellow one—vying for position at an intersection. The sound-deadening glass they use in all consulate buildings made it impossible to tell if they were honking at each other, and I might have been too high up to hear anyway, even if I’d opened the window. I bet myself that they were, and was wondering how I could find out when a noise did reach my ears. A sound like an old church bell. It was coming from my pocket. I realized it was my phone. Or rather, the one I’d inherited from Young. A new text had arrived.
u here yet?
I was intrigued. I didn’t know where Young was supposed to be but figured there was only one way to find out.
Where’s here? I texted back. What am I? A mind reader?
chicago, arsehole, someone replied a minute later. Another Brit, judging by the insult.
I’m in a truck. Problems en route! Had to hitch the last part of the way. Nearly there, though. ETA twenty minutes. Where are you?
problems—tell me about it! but be careful! all safe houses blown. consulate not safe either. specially fothergill. avoid at all costs.
Got that. Will avoid. Where are you? What’s happening?
eta chicago 30 minutes. meeting our friends 2moro night. should be last time, then free & clear. need you to watch my back, if youre finally there.
Will do. No problem. Where & when do you want to rendezvous?
6.45 bench next to navy pier ferris wheel photo booth.
Today or tomorrow?
you today. friends tomorrow!
Got that. Confirmed. Out.
Fothergill returned five minutes after the final text had arrived. His face had changed, and I thought he was looking a little haggard again. Perhaps the technicians hadn’t been as easy to manipulate as he’d hoped.