Even though the problem was being solved—and I knew things would be easier, now that I didn’t have a tiny Pomeranian with me—it also suddenly seemed like they would be a lot less fun.
“Bye, buddy,” I said, giving him a scratch behind the ears. “Behave yourself, okay?” He panted happily at me, and then nudged my hand, letting me know that he didn’t like that I’d stopped, and he’d prefer if I continued petting him. I gave him one more pat, then made myself take a step away.
“Ready?” Matty asked me, and I nodded. Margaux waved at us and made Brad wave too, and then she disappeared back into the gallery.
Matty and I started retracing our steps through the empty, quiet museum. I tried to memorize it all, well aware this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, just trying to appreciate it while I could.
When we reached the grand staircase again, Matty turned to me as he zipped up his jacket. “Next stop midtown?” he asked. “Glamorous, exciting midtown?”
I laughed and pulled my own jacket on. “Let’s do it.”
Meanwhile, somewhere in upstate New York…
THEY DROVE.
They drove on the darkened highway, the exits flashing by, past the gas stations and rest stops.
Parker fell asleep on Teri a few minutes into the drive, curling up against her with her thumb in her mouth. Gilroy glanced over, and something in his expression softened. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and handed it to Teri. Teri draped it over Parker, who sleepily snuggled down into it. Teri gave Gilroy a thank-you smile, but he’d already gone back to focusing on the drive ahead.
After an hour and a half passed, Teri was getting nervous and the kids were getting restless. She had thought north meant maybe New Haven or Danbury. Not wherever they currently were, in New York State. And just doing the time math was getting worrisome, because they would also have to drive back to Stanwich.
“Can you tell us spy stories?” Daryl asked, leaning as far forward as his seat belt would allow. “Can I see your badge?”
“Afraid not,” Gilroy said, shaking his head. “Don’t have it on me.”
“Why not?” Chris asked, also leaning forward. “I thought CIA agents were always supposed to carry their badges, no matter what.”
Some expression Teri couldn’t make out passed over Gilroy’s face. It was gone just as quickly. “That is true,” he said. “But since I was deep undercover, I couldn’t risk it being found.”
“Oh.” Daryl nodded. “That makes sense.”
There was a moment of silence in the car. Then Chris shrieked loudly enough that Gilroy jumped, and the car swerved. Parker, not bothered by any of this, continued to snore. “What?” Teri asked, looking toward the back.
“He’s on my side,” Chris yelled, shoving her brother, who shoved back.
“Am not!”
“Are so!”
“This reminds me of my brother,” Gilroy said, and it was like everyone in the car quieted to hear him. “We fought all the time when we were kids. And when we were adults…” His voice hardened. “My father thought he should be the one to take over the family business. Even though I was more suited for it and more experienced. And how are you supposed to react when you’re passed over like that?”
His words hung in the car. “Well, but it all worked out, right? Because then you joined the CIA.…” Teri’s voice trailed off.
“Right,” Gilroy said. “It worked out in the end.” Teri was about to ask how much farther it was they were going, when Gilroy slowed the car down and signaled. “We’re here.”
Teri looked around. “We are?” She’d never thought about where spies stashed their go bags, but she hadn’t expected it to be a rest stop off the highway. This was not the kind she’d stopped at on road trips, big travel plazas with an Auntie Anne’s and a Starbucks inside. This was small, just bathrooms, vending machines, a few flickering lights. It was also deserted. Only one other car in the parking lot.
Teri gave Chris and Daryl all the cash and change she had on her so they could pick out their snacks. They piled out of the car, and Teri handed Gilroy back his suit jacket. She started to join the kids at the vending machine. But then she noticed Gilroy hadn’t moved. “You okay?” she asked.
“Fine,” Gilroy said, sounding like he was talking himself into something. “Just preparing myself. After all, this is what I trained for. At Quantico.” He nodded toward the woods. “I’ll just be over there.”