“For an exceptional e-man who could bypass it. Either one already on the Harper payroll or a freelancer. One who’s also willing to face prison time. Aiding and abetting, accessory after the fact.”
“Works for her already if he knows the score,” Feeney concluded. “Freelancer if she didn’t want the tie-in. Still holding steady.”
“Some loyalty, maybe. And a big fat fee either way, add an escape plan to anywhere the e-man wants to go. That’s not going to happen.
“McNab, when Ebersole and his mother move out, you switch and stick with Officer Carmichael’s team. I want you on the two others. Do not arrest. Don’t move in until we have Ebersole. I’m getting you backup. Don’t lose them.”
“You’re sure they’ll leave first?” Reo asked.
“No. Playing the odds. She wants her baby boy safe. The court tracker needs a heat source and pulse to monitor. One of the other two have to wear it until they’re away. Otherwise, hell, just cut it off and go.”
“Can’t risk that with cops very visibly watching the building.”
“That’s right. She’d never risk that anyway. She’d want time to get him out of the building, into the shuttle, and gone.”
“Even if he got away, we’d have her.” Reo shook her head. “We’d trace all this afterward, and we’d have her.”
“Maybe she’s willing to go to prison for him, maybe she figures she has enough money to beat the charges. Or the desperate mother defense will hold up.”
“I can promise you it wouldn’t. Juries don’t like people who use their billions to escape justice. She’d do time. One way or the other.”
“It’s going to be one way. And that’s our way.”
Thirty minutes crawled by, then five more.
At thirty-eight minutes, Peabody said, “Wait! There was a flicker. Just a flicker. I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t been looking right at it. The dot—the court tracker—just flickered for a few seconds.”
“He got it off.”
“All heat sources standing,” McNab reported.
“Wallet monitor moving.”
“All heat sources moving. Three separating, same direction. One remaining.”
“The court monitor’s remaining, Dallas.”
“And the wallet’s heading down. Elevator.”
“McNab, keep on the penthouse. Switch to Officer Carmichael’s team.Baxter, Trueheart, follow, but keep your distance. We’re monitoring. We’ll direct you. Feeney, you’re the navigator.”
“Copy that. Still heading down. And… just passed street level. Parking garage it is. Out of the elevator now, walking, walking. Holding, holding. Moving, faster. In a vehicle now, heading toward the exit. Pausing… exiting. Coming out on the street.”
“We see him,” Trueheart reported. “Black town car, New York license three-five-six-Kilo-Papa-Echo.”
“Give them a block. I’m moving. McNab?”
“Heat source still in the penthouse. I’m going to guess? He’s having a drink.”
“Car’s moving steady west.”
“Stay invisible. Peabody, coordinate with McNab. Give him the go when I tell you.”
“Turning north on Eighth,” Feeney said.
“North. Eighth.” Eve brought the map back into her head. Then because she didn’t want to risk a mistake, tossed it up on the windshield.
“Closest for private shuttles, long-range. Got it. Baxter, continue to follow. I’m moving ahead.”
