Pied Piper

CHAPTER 69

LaMoia and Hale followed the Taurus in tandem, Hale in the lead in a dark green Jeep Cherokee. The rainstorm remained so strong that LaMoia wouldn’t have recognized his own mother crossing the street, forcing bumper-to-bumper traffic. For LaMoia, the slower the better-both the Jeep and the Taurus stayed close.

Based on nothing concrete, he decided Hale had not noticed him, assuming he would be consumed with following the Taurus and paying little attention to other traffic.

He tried the cell phone again, its red NO SERVICE light pulsing in warning. His attention fixed on the Taurus through a series of turns and one red light he was forced to run, LaMoia tried to figure Hale.

There seemed to him at least two explanations for Hale’s behavior. Either Broole had alerted Hale to SPD’s presence, or Hale had made the same connection to Vincent Chevalier. Unaware of the Pied Piper’s identity, Hale had attached himself to Chevalier like a tic. In turn, he had stumbled onto Crowley.

LaMoia tried the cellular again. The network remained down.

The highway signs suggested Lisa Crowley’s destination was the airport. If Hale so much as attempted an arrest, he would blow Sarah’s chances.

He considered his options and made a difficult decision. Crowley would be alert for anyone entering the airport terminal behind her, but if he arrived ahead of her, he might stay with her.

He asked himself, When the hell have I ever been wrong? He pulled out of his lane and passed both Hale and Crowley. The international airport was the next exit.