Greg Rucka: Patriot acts

I wanted to tell him that there were some things that had to be answered, and that I knew one day I would have to answer for this.

All the things I wanted to say to him.

I didn't say any of them.

Because Jason Earle looked me in the eyes, and he didn't know who I was.

He had no idea who I was.

"Sorry to have disturbed your work, sir," I said, and I closed my toolbox, and I walked out of the suite.

I didn't look back.

An ambulance crew was rushing through the lobby when I came out of the elevator, and I had to sidestep them as they rolled their gurney into my car before I was even all of the way out. I'd changed back into my earlier clothes, replaced the toolbox and radio where I'd found them, stuffed the coveralls into the duffel I had in my hand. I rubbernecked until the elevator doors slid closed, then turned to find Panno waiting for me. We headed out together, into the warmth of the evening.

"She called three minutes ago," Panno told me. "She says she'll meet you at the Jefferson Memorial."

"No trouble?"

"None. You?"

"He didn't know who I was. I think, even if I looked exactly as I did four years ago, he still wouldn't have known."

"You're probably right," Panno said. "C'mon, I'll give you a lift."

She was exactly where she said she would be, and Panno walked with me to where Alena stood waiting, watching the last of the daylight reflecting off the river. There were cherry blossoms still in the trees, and the air was heavy with the scent, and she turned when she heard us approaching, watching as we came closer.

"You did it?"

"It was on the radio on the way over," I told her. "It's done."

"So are we," Panno said. "The IDs you're carrying will work another two days, should be long enough to get you both wherever it is you're going. After that, they'll be useless. Danielle and Christopher Morse will be discovered, dead, before the end of the week, and when that happens, Interpol will update their entries on Drama and Patriot to reflect the same thing."

"Thank you," I said, still looking at Alena.

"It's what you wanted? That's what you wanted in return?" Panno asked.

"I want one more thing," I said.

"What's that?"

"I want to go home," I said, and I took Alena's hand in mine, and together, we walked to the car, to begin the long trip back to Kobuleti.