Ratio(65)

Chapter 45





LEOPOLD MARCHED DOWN the empty corridor toward the private elevator, practically dragging Jack behind him. Jerome hung back, covering the rear.

“Who’s doing this?” Jack said, as they reached the elevator and stepped inside. “Who’s the target?”

Leopold pressed the button for the lobby. “I don’t have all the details yet. Harper questioned one of the suspects. He was pretty banged up. Tried to escape.” The elevator started moving. “It didn’t go well.”

“You think the President was the goal?”

“My gut’s telling me he was never a credible target,” Leopold said. “This was all far too showy. Too much attention, too much risk. If you want to take out the President, you got to do it quietly. Use stealth. Lay traps. Be prepared to see it through, even if it means you’ll never get away alive.” He paused. “That’s how I’d do it, anyway.”

“Then who? Me?”

“It’s a possibility. Tell me, Jack. Can you think of anyone who’d want you dead?”

Jack grimaced. “It might be a pretty long list. Probably quicker to tell you who doesn’t.”

“And Doctor Kato is also a concern,” said Jerome, as the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened. “Her past is suspect, to say the least.” He noticed Jack’s expression. “But I still stand by the fact you’re both safer if we split up. Nobody’s getting upstairs. Except the Secret Service.”

“Speaking of which,” said Leopold, leading the way out into the crowded lobby, “I need to find Special Agent Harper.” He looked at Jerome. “You cover the elevator, I’ll take Jack over and let the Secret Service take over. We’re not set up to handle an evac in this.” He looked around the crowded floor, through to the streets outside. Traffic was a mess, the police roadblocks having caused tailbacks all through the neighborhood. “They can get him to the safe house while we deal with Doctor Kato.”

Jerome nodded. “Agreed. Get Jack out of here. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”



***



Leopold spotted Officer Johnson ushering conference attendees out of the auditorium. She had her hair tied up again, her usual friendly expression replaced with a determined scowl. She glanced at Leopold as he and Jack approached, before turning her attention back to the crowd. The group moved slowly, shuffling toward the exit. Nobody looked particularly worried, a low hum of relaxed chatter filling the halls.

“You looking for Harper?” Johnson said as Leopold got closer. She didn’t look at him.

“She has information about the threat,” he said.

“Who’s your friend? He looks familiar.”

“This is Jack Melendez.”

Jack held out a hand. “Pleasure.”

Johnson didn’t shake. “I’m a little tied up right now. Harper should be in her office. You know the way, right?”

Leopold nodded. “You got everything under control down here?”

“I can handle myself.”

“No doubt.”

She sighed and looked at him. “Listen, I really need to get back to work.”

“You got it,” Leopold said, catching the note of irritation in her voice. He figured it was a good idea not to press his luck. “We’ll get out of your hair.”

Johnson nodded curtly and marched off toward the back of the crowd, helping the other security officers shepherd the crowd out through the double doors. She didn’t look back.

“She seems nice,” Jack said. “In a tense, angry sort of way.”

Leopold ignored him. “Just keep quiet and follow me.”



***



They found Harper in her office, seated behind her desk. Two other agents were with her, standing. She was giving them orders as Leopold opened the door. She stopped talking and looked over.

“What’s the word on the suspect?” Leopold said, standing in the doorway. Jack stood next to him, shuffling uncomfortably.

The agents looked at each other. They were unfamiliar, but dressed in the same ubiquitous dark suits and cropped haircuts as the two men who had joined Leopold and Jerome the night before. Leopold figured the Service had given up trying to blend in to the crowd.

“It’s all right,” Harper said. “Mr. Blake is here to deliver Jack Melendez.” She looked at him. “I assume that’s why you’re here?”

“Among other things,” Leopold said. “I’d also like to know what we’re dealing with here. You spoke to the suspect?”

Harper nodded. “One of the men who inspected the ventilation systems. Gustafson showed me the tapes. Other than that, I can’t discuss it.”