“The bomber would need to have at least a passing knowledge of technology to deploy this switch,” she added.
“Waleed or his people?” Evan asked.
She nodded, her eyes narrowing. “If we weren’t already planning to question him, we would be now.”
CHAPTER 14
AFTER TWO NIGHTS WITHONLY CATNAPS,the rumble of the plane’s engines should have lulled Evan to sleep. Flying time to D.C. was only an hour. Basically up and down again, yet it was enough time to catch a quick nap. But he was too amped to sleep, the pressure of the timeline building in his gut.
Kiley, on the other hand, was breathing softly and regularly, her eyes tightly closed. They’d boarded the plane, this time in coach with a window and middle seat. After she dropped into the window seat, the ballistics report from Adam Garvin arrived in her Inbox, and she forwarded it to Lancaster. Then she returned a text from Mack, who’d followed up on the Makarovs and the boxes of ammo. Nothing helpful found. No prints. No more information after additional analysis of the residue. Another lead failing to pan out. Evan expected her to be upset. Instead, she’d closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
She shifted in her seat, and her head dropped to his shoulder. Her soft hair brushed against his face, and he caught the lingering smell of burning rubble from the crime scene, underneath it a hint of tart apples. He imagined her waking up. Finding him close. Smiling softly and bringing his head down for a kiss.
Yeah, right.Reality was more like she’d come awake and scream in fright.
She moved again, curling her arm around his and snuggling close. He couldn’t resist resting his head on hers and closing his eyes. But his mind remained on the bomb and trying to figureout the terrorists’ next target. If indeed this train was detonated by the container guys and their plot did include a bomb. At this point in the investigation, they couldn’t even confirm that detail.
“Sir.” Someone tugged on his arm.
He opened his eyes to see the flight attendant leaning over his seat. “Seat back up for landing, please. Your wife too.”
“Sure thing,” he said and was glad Kiley was still asleep so she didn’t hear the wife comment.
He gently extracted his arm and eased her head onto her seat. He raised her seat back, and she didn’t stir. Mack’s warning came to mind. Make sure she eats, drinks, and sleeps. They’d had breakfast on the first flight but no lunch or dinner. Despite the burning desire to get to Waleed and find out if he was part of the plot, Evan would insist they stop for something to eat on the way to the interview and grab several bottles of water. Maybe even Gatorade. Neither of them was any good to the investigation unless they took care of themselves, including grabbing short naps whenever possible, like Kiley had managed to do.
The plane touched down at Dulles at seven o’clock in the evening D.C. time, and Kiley woke with a start.
“We’re here,” he said.
She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window. “Man, I was out of it.”
You don’t know the half of it.
She shifted her focus to him. “Did you get any sleep?”
“No,” he replied, finding it hard not to move a wayward strand of hair clinging to her cheek. He shifted his focus out the window, pinning it there until the plane came to a stop at the gate. He wasted no time grabbing their bags from the overhead bin. She shimmied into her backpack and bolted from the plane, taking him on a race through the airport. She’d never been one to rush into anything. She’d always been controlled and cautious. Apparently another thing that had changed about her.
He reached out for her arm, slowing her and tipping his head at a sandwich shop. “Let’s grab something to eat and some water for the road.”
“Good idea.” She jetted into line and ordered a roast beef and Swiss on a ciabatta.
He got a turkey on wheat loaded with sprouts, cucumbers, hot peppers, lettuce, and tomato, his mouth watering just thinking about food after only a tiny bag of pretzels on the plane.
She glanced up at him. “You think you can fit something that big in your mouth?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I like my sandwiches without all the rabbit food on it.”
“I remember.”
She didn’t look pleased by his comment. He got it. She didn’t want to be reminded of their past, but they really needed to talk about Olin. Evan would try to find time on this trip without the team around to bring up the subject again.
He moved down the counter to grab four bottles of water and to pay. Surprisingly she let him, and let him carry the bag of food and drinks as well. At the curbside pickup area, a woman with a blond ponytail and wearing a gray pantsuit, a gun at her hip, leaned against a black Escalade. She hadagentwritten all over her.
Kiley opened the back hatch and introduced him to Special Agent Gabby Harrison.
“Nice to meet you,” Harrison said and held out the keys to Kiley. “Vehicle’s all yours.”
