me have it.
Neither should we, Dave said dubiously.
Ill handle these bozos. Earl peeled off to intercept them.
Steady on.
Dave gripped her more tightly as she staggered without Earls countervailing support. She took another couple of deep breaths to clear her mind and steady her body. She knew she had very little time before the cops would brush aside whatever smokescreen Earl managed to concoct.
They passed the all-but-unrecognizable crumple-and-twist of the Audi. She took a deep breath, righted herself, then they were at what remained of Jay Weston. He looked more like a lump of raw meat than a human being.
How in the world did you get him out?
Jaws of Life. In his case, it didnt help. Dave helped her to squat down beside the corpse, held her up as another wave of dizziness threatened to topple her. It might be my job for this, he said.
Relax. My friends will keep you safe. Her eyes were roving over every inch of the wasteland that was Jay. Jesus, nothing could survive this mash-up.
What are you looking for?
I wish I knew, but his jacket
Dave reached down, drew something out from underneath the wreckage. You mean this?
Moiras heart rate accelerated. It was Jays sapphire-blue suede jacket, miraculously unscathed except for a couple of burned patches on the sleeves. It stank of smoke and toasted cologne.
Believe it or not, things like this happen all the time, Dave said. He had deliberately positioned himself between Moira and the two cops who now brushed by Earl, having had their fill of his medical gobbledygook. We find thingswallets, keys, baseball caps, condomsyou wouldnt believein virtually mint condition, thrown clear of the most horrendous wrecks.
Moira was listening with only one ear as her nimble fingers rifled through the outer and inner pockets. Rolaids, two rubber bands, a paper clip, a pinch of lint. Inside pockets contained no wallet or ID of any kind, which was standard operating procedure. If he got into trouble or needed clearance he made a call. Money was somewhere on his person, burned to a crisp. But speaking of his cell, she palmed it as Dave rose to intercept the cops.
She was about to give up when she spotted the loose thread at one of the inside seams. Pulling it opened a small hole out of which she dug a two-gigabyte thumb drive. Hearing the sound of heavy footfalls coming up behind her, she made the sign of the cross over Jays body and, with Daves strong hand gripping her elbow, stood up to face her wearying interview with the Warm Jets.
Which turned out to be fully as stultifying and dunderheaded as she had foreseen, but at least she had the last laugh because before they got around to asking her the same questions for the third time she pulled out her Federal Securities Act ID, at which point they went silent. It was all Dave and Earl could do not to snicker into their red faces.
About this traffic cop, Moira said. I need to know who he was. Ive already told you twice even though you clearly didnt believe me, he discharged his weapon through the side window of Mr. Westons Audi.
And you say Mr. Weston worked for you? The taller of the two cops was a badge named Severin.
When she said yes, he nodded at his partner, who stepped away to use his cell phone.
What were you doing kneeling over the body? Severin said. Maybe he was just marking time, because hed seen what she was doing and hed already asked her twice.
Praying for my friends soul.
Severin frowned, though he nodded, possibly in sympathy. Then he jerked his head at Dave and Earl. These yahoos shouldnt have let you anywhere near your friend. This is a crime scene.
So I understand.
His frown deepened, but the nature of his thoughts remained a mystery as his partner returned to the huddle.
Heres a kick in the groin, he said facetiously. Theres no record of a motorcycle police from traffic or from any other department, for that matter, in this vicinity in the time frame we have.
Damn it to hell.
Moira palmed open her cell, but before she had a chance to make a call, two men strode up. They wore identical dark suits but had the slope-shouldered military bearing of NSA operatives. She knew she was in trouble the moment they showed their IDs to the detectives.
Weve got it from here, boys, Dark Suit Number One said while his partner gave the cops the thousand-yard stare. As the