It was dark outside, but the shopping mall was packed.
There was still a possibility that I was being watched, so I stood off and waited before picking Kelly up. Nothing looked unusual; the only thing I had to be aware of was the security cameras. The quicker I got in and out, the better.
I watched the area for ten minutes, then moved in closer.
Across from the play center was a sporting goods store; I went in and became an instant basketball fan, studying all the shirts that were part of the display near the window. Kids Have Fun was crammed with kids, but I couldn't see Kelly.
I hung around the store a bit, went back to the rack, had another look, and caught sight of her. She was sitting on the floor watching a home-cinema type TV She was there with about a dozen other kids, each with a small carton of juice. It dawned on me that the girl did nothing but eat, drink, and watch TV It was a wonder she didn't look more like Slack Pat.
I went in, presented my identification card, and asked for my daughter. They went through their process of verification, and a few minutes later Kelly appeared with an escort.
I started to put her shoes on.
"Hi, Josie, how's it going?"
She sat there sulking because I'd arrived halfway through a movie. I took that as a good sign; it showed there was a slight trace of normality coming back in. It had been a relief not having her with me for a short while, but at the same time it felt good to have her back. I didn't know quite what to make of that.
We got a taxi but had it drop us off about four blocks short of the hotel and walked in. It was our only secure area.
I opened the door. The TV was still on, telling us how great Toyota cars were. I flicked the light switch, told Kelly to stay where she was, and looked inside.
The beds weren't made and the curtains were closed, so it looked as if the maid had obeyed the sign on the door. She wouldn't have given a damn; it was less for her to clean, and she still got the same money.
More tellingly, the small pleat was still in the blanket. If I'd seen from the doorway that it had been disturbed, I'd have needed to make a very quick decision on whether to just walk away.
We went inside. Using the TV for support, I leaned to the rear of the bureau, looking into the gap between it and the wall. The match was still in place, covering the pinhead-sized pen mark. Even if they'd noticed that they'd dislodged it when checking under the chest of drawers, it was very unlikely that they'd have put it back in exactly the same position. Looking good so far.
"What are you doing, Nick?"
"I'm just checking to see if the plug is in properly. It looked like it was going to fall out."
She didn't say anything, just looked at me as if I'd had a stupidity leak. Still not looking at her, I got on my knees, ready to look at the drawer.
"Do you want some help. Nick?"
"I'd like to hear what's on the TV" She sat down on the bed and went to work on a box of Oreos. This kid was really eating healthy.
There were three drawers in the low chest; I'd slipped the paper clip in the front left side of the middle one. I got the table lamp and shone it up and down, trying to catch the reflection of the paper clip. I did; the drawer hadn't been opened.
I got Kelly sorted out, coat off, shoes in the pockets and hung by the door. I cleaned her bed up a bit, gathering up the food wrappers and brushing away the crumbs.
"Are you hungry?" I said.
She looked at the half-empty box of Oreos.
"I'm sorta stuffed, but I'm sorta still hungry."
"Without a doubt. I'll go and get some food. You can stay here. I'll let you stay up late. But don't tell anybody, it's our little secret!"
She laughed.
"I won't!"
I realized that I was hungry, too. Pat hadn't left me much at Sub Zone "Same routine, OK?" I went through it all over again.
"I'll put up the do not disturb sign, and you don't open the door for anyone. Do you understand?"
"Without a doubt."
I did a double take.
"You making fun of me?"
"Without a doubt."
It wasn't that busy on the street, and the rain had eased. I got more clothes for us both--jackets and coats, jeans and shirts--enough to see us through the next two appearance changes at least.
Once done, I walked over to the burger joint. As I stood in line I thought how weird this all was. One minute I'm at Vauxhall being briefed for a job, the next I'm trying to remember what flavor milk shake to buy for a child. I wondered if she'd approve of the shirts I'd got her.
On the way back I checked my watch. It was 9:20; I'd been longer than I expected. Time to turn on the phone. I waited in a shop doorway out of the drizzle.
It rang right at 9:30. I was excited, but at the same time nervous.
It might be for Kev. I hit the Receive button.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's me. I've got something for you."
"Great, wait..." I put my finger in my other ear. I didn't want to mishear this.
"Go ahead."
"It's one-twenty-six Ball Street. It's in the old part of Crystal City by the river--between the Pentagon and National Airport. Got that?"
"Yeah." I let it sink into my head. I'd been to the Pentagon before, and had used the domestic airport a couple of times. I had a rough memory of the area.
"Are you going to phone me tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Same time?"
"Same time. Stay lucky, mate."
"Cheers."
And that was it. I turned off the power and repeated the address to myself to keep it in my head. I wasn't going to write it down. If I got lifted, I needed to be sterile.
On the way back to the hotel, I was feeling quite upbeat.
Up until now I'd been in the wilderness. I didn't exactly know what I was going to do with this new information, but it was a start. I felt more in the driver's seat.
We ate and I watched some television with Kelly, but she looked more interested in talking.
"Hey, Nick, do you watch TV at home?"
"Some."
"What's your favorite show?"
"I don't know. The news, I suppose. We have different programs from you. What's your favorite?"
"Clueless."
"What's that, a detective show?"
"You moron! It's about a girl." She did a very good impression of a Valley girl.
"What does she do?"
"She goes shopping."
By 10:45 she'd fallen asleep. I got out the city guide I'd forgotten to give back at the Latham and looked for Ball Street.
I followed the river south until I saw National Airport. The target really was very close to the Pentagon, on the west bank.
I had a little laugh to myself. If it was a PIRA location, they had a lot of balls; they probably drank at the same bars as the boys from the National Security Council. There was not a lot I could do at the moment. Kelly was lying on her back, imitating a starfish. I covered her with the comforter, moved all the shit off the other bed, and got my head down. A saying from my infantry days, a lifetime ago, roared in my ears: "Whenever there is a lull in battle, sleep.
You never know when you are going to get another chance."
At last I was doing as I'd been told.
* * * When I woke up it seemed like the same cartoon was on. I must have left the TV on all night. I was dying for some coffee.
I got up, wet my hair, and looked out the window. The rain had gotten a bit more intense. I went downstairs and collected enough food and drink for three people--which was just as well, seeing the amount that Kelly ate.
"Wakey wa key I said.
Kelly still wanted to be marine life but woke up yawning, stretching, then curling up into a ball. I went into the bathroom and started to run a bath.
She appeared in the doorway with a towel. She was starting to catch on.