The Legacy (32 page)

Toris mouth fell open. Thats the extent of your plan? An old picture youre going to show to a bunch of total strangers? With just that, youre willing to jump in a Jeep and drive almost a thousand miles?

Actually its more than a thousand miles from here to Hubbard.

She hated it when he did that. She realized that deflecting the conversation was his way of saying he didnt want to talk about the important point, but she hated it anyway. She put her head in her hands as Cole steered the Jeep into the general stores rutted parking lot. She could feel a headache coming on.

Your father was wearing a disguise the day I met him here in Powell. She pointed at the diner across the dirt road from the store. He didnt want anyone to recognize him. Im pretty sure he still wont. Im willing to bet he hasnt been running down Main Street, if thats really what one would call this cow path, whooping it up and telling everyone who he is. Call me crazy, she said acidly, but Ive got this feeling.

Do you have a better idea? Cole was trying hard to control his temper, but it had been a long night and he was running thin on patience.

Yes, she snapped. Lets drive to the nearest airport and get on a plane to New York.

Again with New York. Cole groaned as he reached into the backseat for the backpack. Inside it was the Dealey Tape. He wasnt letting it out of his sight even for a moment now. He pulled on the door handle and hopped out of the Jeep.

Yes, again with New York! Tori slid out her side and met him in front of the vehicle. Wake up, Cole! Use your head. Youve got one of the most important moments of history recorded on the tape inside that backpack. She grabbed him by the collar of his jacket. Well come back for your father, I promise.

I thought you and he were involved. Cole still couldnt bring himself to say lovers.

Yes, so?

So I would think youd be more concerned about his welfare.

I am, but I dont know what in the world were going to do out here except put ourselves at risk. Hell be found when he wants to be found. If there are two things I have learned about your father over fifteen years, they are that he can take care of himself and that if he doesnt want to be found, he wont be.

Cole tried to pull away from Tori, but she wouldnt let him go.

Cole, you wont even tell me whos after him, or who chased you in Manhattan when you got the first tape. She paused, giving him a chance to explain, but he said nothing. I dont mean to seem so insensitive. Her voice softened. I know you think Im just looking out for myself and my career. I am, Ill admit, but Im also looking out for you. Its what Jim wanted, I swear to you. He wanted you to have the money and me to take the tape to my people. He wanted me to have a chance at some success too. I havent told you that yet, but its true. He had the whole thing figured out. Still Cole said nothing. After we get the tape to New York, well go to the police. Or better still, the FBI. Well find him, Cole. We wont stop until we do.

We cant go to the FBI, Cole said quietly, or the police.

Why not?

Because its the government thats after himand me, he added.

A quizzical expression came to Toris face.

I didnt want to scare you, Cole continued. Its people in the federal government who are after what I have in the backpack. People very high up in the government, if my information is correct. People who probably have every law enforcement official in this country looking for me right now. I cant show myself to the FBI or the police. Theyd arrest me immediately, slap me with some phony charge, confiscate the tape and Id never see it again.

Tori let go of Coles collar and banged the hood of the Jeep with both hands. Exactly! she said loudly. Which is why I want to get that tape to a safe place right away!

Cole leaned down until his face was just inches from hers. We dont have time, he said, gritting his teeth. Yesterday morning I went to a boathouse on the Lassiter and retrieved the tape I now have in my backpack, thanks to directions on that note you slipped under the hotel door. I barely got away with the tape, and my life. He pulled the jacket down and pointed to his upper arm. The shirt was caked with dried blood. Thats thanks to a bullet from a gun fired by one very pissed-off intelligence agent.

Toris upper lip curled and she turned away. She couldnt stand the sight of blood.

He pulled the jacket back up. Tori, the guy who did this is probably still after me. Him and an army of others. Theyre after my father too, and theyre mad as hell. Maybe she wouldnt understand this part but he was going to say it anyway. Ive only seen my father a few times in my entire life. God knows he hasnt put out much of an effort to be a part of it, but I dont care. If I ever thought Id missed a chance to get to know him because I chose to go for the money first, Id never be able to live with myself. I know what its like to think hes dead, and its horrible. Now Ive got a second chance. I have to find him as soon as possible. He saw the faint smile on her lips and in her eyes. As far as I know, youre the last person to see him. And you saw him right here in this town. That puts us one step ahead of everyone else. One very small step, but thats enough for me. I have to find him. Then we can focus on the Dealey Tape.

Slowly Tori reached up and touched his cheek gently, then kissed him there. Okay, she said softly, pulling away. She wasnt going to change his mind, that was obvious. There was no reason to argue any further. I wont say another word about going to New York first. Im here to help. Just tell me how to do that.

The first thing you can do is wait here for a second.

All right, she agreed.

Cole walked to an old phone booth outside the general stores entrance. From his shirt pocket he pulled out a long distance calling card he had Tori purchase with cash early this morning at a Billings gas station. The card was good for two hours of calls. To this point he had only made one short call, so there was plenty of time left on it. The beauty of using it, unlike Toris cell phone, was that no one would be able to pinpoint their whereabouts because there was no record as to who was the owner of the cards PIN number.

He punched in the number for the Gilchrist trading floor reception area and the cards access code, then checked his watch. It was nine-fifteen here and eleven-fifteen in the east. Anita ought to be at the reception desk.

Gilchrist and Company.

Anita.

Yes.

Its Cole, but dont say my

Hey, Co

Dont say my name! Gebauer could be out by her desk. Jesus, the paranoia was really setting in, he realized. Just listen to me.

Okay, she said slowly.

When I was leaving I told you I might need your help, remember?

Yes.

I need it now.

She hesitated. All right.

I need you to go to the following address. He reeled off the street number quickly. Theres a package waiting there for you with instructions inside. I need you to get it. This is very important. Will you do this for me, Anita?

Yes. She was frightened. It all sounded very strange and she didnt want to be caught up in something illicit, but Cole was a good person. He had always treated her with respect, unlike many of the other traders. Ill do it.

Thanks, and dont worry. Everything will be fine.

Uh huh.

Theres one more thing.

What is it?

I need you to go over to the Bloomberg terminal and check the rate on the two-year treasury note for me. Gilchrist kept a terminal in the reception area so visitors could check financial news as they waited. The rate is in the lower left section of the main screen. You wont have to get to other screens or anything. It might be stupid to stay on the line any longer than was really necessary, but he had to know where the market was going.

Hold on.

Thanks.

He had to wait only a few seconds.

Hello.

Yes?

Ive got the rate, Anita said.

Beautiful, he thought as he listened. The rate was down thirty basis points since he had left New York. His portfolio had gone up twenty-five million dollars in value. Thanks, Anita. Ill call you soon. Goodbye.

He hung up the phone and beckoned to Tori. Ready? he called.

Yes.

The only person inside the general store was a checkout girl standing behind the cash register reading a magazine.

Good morning, Cole called.

The young girl glanced up from her magazine. Hello. She was polite, but indifferent.

Cole removed the picture of his father from his wallet and placed it on the counter. This is my father. He has Alzheimers disease. Two weeks ago he disappeared from my familys house up in Great Falls. Cole shook his head dejectedly. Just flat disappeared. Cole saw sadness flicker over the young girls face as he related the story. We cant find him anywhere, he continued. He used to come down to Powell a lot to fish. He loved it here. Anyway, I just wondered if maybe you had seen him.

The young girl leaned over and carefully inspected Jim Egans photograph. Finally she straightened up and shook her head. Im sorry, mister. I dont recognize the man in that picture.

Have you seen any strangers lately? People who maybe recently moved into town?

No. Id notice, too. Strangers stick out like sore thumbs around here.

Okay.

If your father was a fisherman, maybe you should try one of the outfitter stores in town, the girl suggested. Maybe he stopped in one of those places.

Cole smiled. Good idea. He began walking toward the door, then stopped and turned back. Oh, miss.

Yes? She had already gone back to the magazine.

Theres one more thing.

What? Her face brightened. She wanted to be of help now. The handsome young man had an engaging way about him.

How long have you been working here?

Since the beginning of last summer.

And you know everybody in town, right?

Sure. Powells a small place, she offered cheerfully. I knew you were a stranger the minute you walked in. Like I said, strangers stick out like sore thumbs.

And I guess everybody living in Powell pretty much does their food shopping here.

Oh, yeah, its the only place within thirty miles to buy groceries.

Cole hesitated. He didnt want this question to seem too mysterious. Has anybody been buying more groceries than normal lately?

Tori glanced up. That was a good question. Why hadnt she thought of it?

The checkout girl put a finger to her lips and gazed at the water-stained tile ceiling for a few moments. Mmm. I cant think ofwait a minute! The Generals been buying a lot more lately.

The who? Cole asked.

The General. I dont know if he was really a general or even in the army, but thats what people here call him. He moved to Powell a few years ago from someplace out east. The rumor is he was some kind of secret agent, but I think thats probably just talk. Just people around here inventing things to make the day more interesting. Not much exciting ever happens in Powell, so we have to kind of make things up sometimes to entertain ourselves. The General stays to himself pretty much. He comes into town once a week to buy groceries, but now that you mention it, its like hes been eating for three or four people the last month or so.

Where does the General live? My dad used to talk about an old army buddy who lived up here.

Out in Boswell Canyon. Its north of town a few miles.

Cole smiled warmly. Thanks. Youve been real helpful. Ill come back and tell you if we find my father. Id like you to know.

Would you tell me? That would be so nice.

Sure. Bye. He waved as he walked out the door.

Seconds later he and Tori were back in the Jeep.

Are you always this lucky? she asked as Cole gunned the engine.

DO YOU SEE any activity at all?

No. From his prone position beside a large boulder, Cole inspected the house one more time, staring through the powerful pair of binoculars he had purchased at one of the outfitter shops down the street from the general store in Powell. Here. You take a look, my eyes are tired.

Tori took the binoculars from him, brought them up to her eyes and rotated the notched knob between the lenses to adjust the focus.

Cole rolled onto his back and gazed back down the side of the mountain. The Jeep was parked on a muddy road at the base of the peak but he was so high up now he could barely see it. The hunter-green Jeep was just a speck against the light brown prairie grass covering the valley floor.

It had taken them two hours to hike to the top of the slopea thirty degree grade at its steepest, Cole judged. The mountain was covered by prairie grass, scrub pines and smooth boulders protruding from the earth. They had carefully picked their way up the side of the mountain, some of the time able to walk upright, some of the time forced to climb bent over at the waist using their hands to ascend. They kept their eyes peeled for rattlesnakes and for loose rocks that might slide out from underfoot and send them tumbling back down the slope.