From my back pocket, I pull out a folded sheet of paper and hand it to Dallas. He unfolds it, scanning the writing.
“This is a photocopy,” he says. “Where’s the original? Where’s the book?”
This time, I’m the one shaking my head.
“You hid it in the Archives, didn’t you?” he adds.
I still don’t answer.
“Good. Well done. You’re finally using your head,” he says as he rereads the revealed note we found in the dictionary:
FEBRUARY 16
26 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO KEEP A SECRET
WRITE BACK: NC 38.548.19 OR WU 773.427
“You know those aren’t-”
“We know they’re not call numbers,” I agree. “But beyond that, we’re stuck.”
He stares at it for a few seconds more. “Unreal,” he whispers to himself. “And the ink was green when you found it?”
“Bright green-new as can be,” I tell him. “Whoever these Plumbers are, they like your formula.”
He nods, definitely annoyed that there’s someone else using their Culper Ring magic tricks. “How’d you know to look for the invisible ink?” Dallas asks. “Was that Tot?”
“It was someone else.”
“Who?”
“Are you taking me to your leader?” I ask, pointing to his earpiece. “Then I’m not taking you to mine,” I add, once again realizing just how valuable Nico’s advice has been-and how I wouldn’t even know about the invisible ink without him.
“So what do I do now?” I ask as he slides the photocopy into his briefcase. “How do I tell you what happens with the President? Do I just find you at work, or is there some secret number I should call?”
“Secret number?”
“Y’know, like if something goes wrong.”
“This isn’t Fight Club,” Dallas says. From his back pocket, he pulls out his wallet, opens it up, and hands me a Band-Aid.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a Band-Aid.”
“I can see it’s a Band-Aid. But what is it? A transmitter? A microphone?”
“It’s a Band-Aid,” he repeats. “And if there’s an emergency-if you need help-you take that Band-Aid and you tape it to the back of your chair at work. Don’t come running or calling… don’t send emails… nothing that people can intercept. You tape that Band-Aid up, and you head for the restroom at the end of our hallway. I swear to you, you’ll have help.”
“But what you said before… about my life already being over.”
“Beecher, you know history isn’t written until it’s written, so-”
“Can you please stop insulting me, Dallas. I know what happens when people take on sitting Presidents. Even if I survive this, I’m not surviving this, am I?”
He studies me, once again combing his beard with his teeth. “Beecher, remember that mad scientist convention the government had last year?”
“You’re insulting me again. I hate locker room speeches.”
“It’s not a locker room speech. It’s a fact. Last year, the army had a ‘mad scientist’ conference, bringing together the wildest thinkers to predict what the most dangerous threats will be in the year 2030. And y’know what they decided the number one threat was? The destructive and disruptive capability of a small group. That’s what they’re worried about most-not another country with a nuke-they’re terrified of a small group with a committed goal. That’s what we are, Beecher. That’s what the Culper Ring has always been. Now I know you’re worried about who you’re going up against. But the Presidency will always be bigger than a single President. Do you hear that? Patriots founded this country, and patriots still protect it. So let me promise you one thing: I don’t care if sixty-eight million people voted for him. Orson Wallace has never seen anything like us.”
Dallas stands at the door, his hand on the top lock. He’s not opening it until he’s sure I get the point.
“That was actually a good locker room speech,” I say.
“This is our business, Beecher. A fireman trains for the fire. This is our fire,” he says, giving a sharp twist to the first of the three locks. “You help us find the Plumbers and we’ll all find out who did this to Orlando.”
“Can I ask one last question?”
“You already asked fifty questions-all you should be worrying about now is getting a good night’s sleep and readying your best game face. You’ve got breakfast with the President of the United States.”
As the door swings open, and we take a carpeted staircase down toward the back entrance of the building, I know he’s only partly right. Before my breakfast date with the President, I’ve got one thing I need to do first.
58
Pulling into his parking lot, I give a double tap to the car horn and brace for the worst. It’s nearly seven o’clock the next morning. Being late is the least of my problems.
As the door to his townhouse opens, even Tot’s Merlin beard doesn’t move. His herringbone overcoat is completely buttoned. He wants me to know he’s been waiting. Uncomfortably.
“Get outta my car,” he growls, limping angrily around the last few snow pucks on his front path.
“I’m sorry-I know I should’ve done that,” I say as I scootch from the driver’s to the passenger seat.
“No. Out,” he says, pulling the driver’s door open and thumbing me into the parking lot.
He won’t even look at me as I climb past him.
“Tell me you didn’t sleep with her,” he says as he slides behind the wheel.
“I didn’t.” I take a breath. “Not that it’s your business.”
He looks up. His eyes are red. Like mine. He’s been up late.
“Beecher…”
“I’m sorry-I shouldn’t’ve snapped-”
“Stop talking, Beecher.”
I do.
“Now listen to what I’m saying,” Tot adds, holding the steering wheel like he’s strangling it. “Girls like Clementine… they look nice-but they can also be as manipulative as a James Taylor song. Sure, they’re calming and bring you to a good place-but at their core, the whole goal of the damn thing is to undo you.”
“That’s a horrible analogy.”
His glance tightens.
“What happened to your face-to your chin?” he asks.
“Brick steps. Clementine has brick steps. I slipped and fell. On my face.”
He watches me silently. “That’s a tough neighborhood you were in. Y’sure nothing else-?”
“How’d you know that?”
“Pardon?”
“The neighborhood. How’d you know it was tough?”
“I looked it up,” he says without a moment’s hesitation. “What else was I supposed to do when I was sitting in my office, waiting for you?”
A gust of cold air sends a whirlwind of remnant snow swirling in front of Tot’s car. I ignore it, my gaze locked on Tot.
“Thank you for at least filling up the car with gas,” he adds.
I nod even though it wasn’t me. I forgot about the gas. The Culper Ring clearly didn’t. I’m still not sure I trust them, but if I’m keeping score, including the videotape, that’s at least two I owe them. And regardless of what they expect in return-regardless of what was really hidden in that dictionary-one thing is clear: Getting to the bottom of the Culper Ring and their enemies-these so-called Plumbers-is the only way I’m getting to the bottom of Orlando and saving my own behind.
“You getting in the car, Beecher, or what?” Tot asks.
As I circle around to the passenger side, I notice a redheaded woman walking a little brown dachshund. The thing is, it looks like the exact same dog that man with the plaid scarf was walking outside of my house yesterday. Still… that can’t be the same dog.
“C’mon, we’re late enough as it is.”
As I plop into the passenger seat, Tot punches the pedal and blows past them without a second glance.
I watch them in my rearview until they fade from view.
With a flick of the dial, Tot turns the radio to his favorite country music station. If Dallas is right, and Tot’s in with the Plumbers-though I’m absolutely unconvinced he’s in with the Plumbers-this is the moment he’ll try to gain trust by offering me another bit of helpful advice.