“The purpose of terror is terror.”
“But we still have no one claiming responsibility and no leads.”
“Right. And no clue about what he plans to blow up next.”
My phone vibrates with a text alert.
It’s from Rizzo.
See me soonest.
CHAPTER 33
Cross
AFTER AN HOUR OF searching the trail with no further results, Alex and Bree sit in their Camry back at the trailhead. Bree taps furiously on her laptop.
Still no reply from Melissa.
The sun has fully risen now, and the temperature with it. They’re both sweaty and covered with bug bites and scratches. Alex gets a news alert on his phone.
“Christ! Another bombing in DC.”
“Where?” asks Bree.
“Vietnam Veterans Memorial.”
“Casualties?”
Alex nods. “No final count yet, but it’s not good.”
Bree shakes her head. “I’m sure John is on it. Ned too. We need to stay focused.”
“What are you doing?” Alex asks.
“I’m borrowing some Bluestone software to check emails from the kids we met at the bar. I want to see if there’s anything else they’re not telling us. Deep dive this time.”
Alex leans over to look at her screen. All he sees is a mishmash of lists and codes. This is way beyond everyday Gmail.
“They all have encrypted accounts,” says Bree. “Nia, Carter, Roger …” She taps a few more keys. “Damon and Melissa too.” Bree freezes on an exchange and enlarges it. “Wait. Look at this.”
At that moment, a car pulls up behind them. A Red Kia. It’s Melissa.
“Hold that thought,” says Alex.
Bree snaps her laptop closed and steps out of the car. “About time!” She sounds annoyed, and Alex doesn’t blame her.
He exits the driver’s side and meets Melissa as she opens her car door. “Where did you disappear to last night? We were worried about you!”
“I’m so sorry,” says Melissa. “We were pretty shaken up and we all just took off. I stayed at Nia’s last night. I didn’t realize my phone was on Do Not Disturb until this morning.”
“Come this way. We found a bike.”
“Is it Damon’s?”
“You tell us.”
Alex leads the way down the trail. Melissa follows, with Bree bringing up the rear, clutching her laptop. About thirty yards in, Alex stops and points. “There it is.”
