The Crow had set down in a field a half mile away. Karr had the Frenchman stop the car on the shoulder, then told him he’d be right back.
“Nature calls,” he said, reaching into the back for his knapsack.
As he walked toward the Crow — its landing site had been recorded by a Global Positioning System — he talked to Rockman about the CD-ROM and what to do next. The Deep Black safe house in Paris had a computer he could use to send the disk’s data back to the Art Room.
“Why didn’t you take the other two disks?” Rockman asked.
Karr chuckled. “Was I supposed to deck him?”
“Maybe.”
“I think he’s more useful to us if he’s friendly,” said Karr. “If I go back to Paris, can you get somebody to watch LaFoote?”
“One of the CIA agents from Paris is standing by at the train station,” said Rockman.
“Just one?”
“It’s the best we could do, Tommy.”
“All right. Remind him the old guy is sharper than he looks, OK?”
“He’s not
“He’s sharper than you think. He’s just been out of it for a while, so he’s not up on the technical stuff. But he’ll pick up a shadow if the guy gets sloppy.”
“We’ll use the bug you set. And we know where he lives.”
“While we were waiting for the police to leave he was telling me about his mother and some other relatives,” said Karr. “He was staying with someone in Paris.”
“Second cousin. We already checked it out. He used his apartment for the last two weeks, on and off. We have it under control, Tommy.”
“What about that DST guy in Paris, Ponclare? LaFoote thinks he was involved.”
“He’s just paranoid,” said Rockman. “Theory here is that Vefoures got paid a hunk of money from some terrorists to help them make explosives, then took off for parts unknown. Bought new ID, blah, blah, blah.”
“How do you explain the explosion at his house then?”
“Vefoures booby-trapped it before he left.”
“What, and left his money there?”
“You’re assuming it wasn’t counterfeit.”
“Well, sure. But the house wasn’t booby-trapped last week.”
“It’s possible LaFoote was in on it and Vefoures double-crossed him.”
“Ah, you’re overthinking it. I trust the old guy.”
“He was a French agent in Africa, Tommy. Those guys weren’t exactly the most ethical people in the world.”
“Well, who is?”
“He thinks Ponclare is dirty because he forced him to retire,” said Rockman. “We don’t know why he was forced out. It may have just been a budget cut.”
“What else do you have on Ponclare?”
“Career bureaucrat. Second generation. Decent record, blah, blah, blah. His father is more interesting. He was a legend in the French foreign service
“Like father, like son.”
“It’s a nice saying, but I’ve never seen it play out in real life,” countered the runner.
“Man, you’re in a bad mood today,” said Karr.
“Just skeptical. That’s my job.”
“I’ll upload the disk as soon as I get back to Paris with it,” said Karr. “Did you get plate numbers on those cars?”
“Looks like the plates were stolen, because the car types don’t match. The registrations are from the south of France, pretty far from where you are. We’re still sorting that out, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to lead anywhere. We had a lot of trouble with the Crow,” he added. “Satellite they were using to control it crapped out. Rubens is pretty furious about it.”
“As well he should be.
“He actually cursed.”
“Really? Well, there’s hope for him yet.”
“I think Marie almost had a heart attack. You’re about ten yards away from the Crow,” Rockman added.
“Ughhh,” said Karr, stepping in a mud hole that came halfway up to his knee. He had to back up and then circle to his left before he could get to the downed plane. The miniature aircraft had flipped over when it landed and broken one of its wings. He pried the busted stub off from the body, then got the other wing off and removed the tail, fitting everything neatly into his sack.
“Hey, your Frenchman’s got a cell phone,” said Rockman, who was monitoring a fly Tommy had left in the car. “I thought you said he was a technophobe.”
“I just said he wasn’t up on spy gadgets. Everybody in Europe has a cell phone. Who’s he calling?”
“Hold on.”
Karr zipped his pack back up and looked upward at the stars. For a fall night, it was fairly warm, and in the clear sky he could see dozens of constellations. When he was a boy he’d thought about becoming a scientist and astronaut, maybe going to Mars. He might do that yet.
“Girlfriend — no, no, wait — it’s a sister of Vefoures. They know each other pretty well.”
“Old flame?” Karr asked.
“Hold on, huh?”
Karr folded his arms, still gazing at the stars.
“He told her he’s still looking for her brother, and not to worry. She was concerned, blah, blah, blah. He’s off the phone. I’ll get into the account and check it out.”
“Have fun,” said Karr.
“You need anything else?”
“Train tickets back to Paris would be handy. I’m a little short on cash.”
“We’ll see what we can set up. You may have to hit an automatic teller at the station.”
“Make sure Dad’s got some cash in the bank then,” said Karr. “I don’t feel like walking.”
LaFoote looked at his fingers as he waited for the American agent to return. They were old fingers. Even in the dim light he could see the age spots and the gnarled knuckles, swelled with mild but chronic arthritis.
He’d been ready to shoot the man in the house. The American’s restraint had stopped him — the right move. He was wise beyond his years, the American: a jolly bear but a smart one.
A jolly bear. In LaFoote’s day, that would have been the American’s nickname.
This was still his day, for a few weeks anyway.
The American opened the door. The car lurched on its shocks as he got in.
“So what do you say?” Karr asked LaFoote.
“I don’t say anything.”
“That’s just an expression.” Karr rocked around in the seat. “I have to go back to Paris and send the information on the disk back, see if it’s of any use.” He scratched the side of his head, as if he were trying to get an idea out. “If you gave me the other disks, they might help.”
“Your call.”
“Yes, it is my call.”
“So what do you want me to do next?” Karr asked.
“You trace his bank accounts and phone records.”
“Which you’ve already tried to do, but couldn’t.”
LaFoote knew it was a guess, but the American said it very smoothly.
