“Who’s on the shuttle?”
Reo stepped out, held up her ID. “APA Cher Reo, you really want to answer the lieutenant’s question and quickly or be charged with obstruction.”
“Well, Jesus, I just fly the shuttle. Ms. Harper. Phoebe Harper and Marcus Solo. They’re bound for Caracas.”
“They’re bound for prison, and you’ll want to stay out of the way.”
“Listen, I just fly the shuttle.”
Holding up her hands, the woman backed away.
“Feeney, give the portable to Reo. Reo, stay out of the way.”
“I have no problem with that.”
“They’re through the gate,” Feeney said as he handed the portable to Reo.
“Move in, McNab. Block the gate, Baxter. And let’s give mother and son an NYPSD welcome.”
From the hangar, she watched the car pull up beside the shuttle. When the driver got out, opened the rear door, she stepped out, flanked by Peabody and Feeney.
“This is the police. Put your hands where I can see them. Reach under that jacket, pal, and you’re down.”
The driver put his hands up.
“Thinking about running, Jonathan? Nowhere to go, but I’ll be more than happy to stun your ass if you try.”
“Mommy, do something!”
“How dare you threaten my son! Jonathan, get on the shuttle.”
“It’s not going to Caracas, or anywhere else. But try it, and you’re down.”
Phoebe’s jaw hardened. “Get on board, darling. I’ll handle this.”
Instead, he did exactly what Eve expected. He ran.
“Got her, Peabody?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got the driver. Go, kid.”
As she raced forward, Phoebe rushed to block her path. Eve just knocked her aside.
He ran fairly well, Eve noted. Not well enough, but not bad. She calculated overtaking him in about thirty seconds, then called out one more warning.
“Stop. Or I will deploy my weapon.”
When he didn’t stop, she kept her word.
His body jiggled, danced. From behind her, she heard his mother scream. She glanced back long enough to see Peabody restrain her, Baxter assisting. Trueheart broke off and raced after Eve.
Jonathan dropped, shook, then as she stood over him, lay shuddering.
“Hey, Jonathan.” She pulled him up to sitting, snapped the cuffs on him. “Nice to see you again.”
His nervous system still jolted by the stun caused the word to garble some, but she recognized it. “Mommy.”
