Spyder Web

47

Since their arrest, Kilkenny and Grin languished in a cell at the Ann Arbor Police Station. They were neither questioned nor arraigned. They had received a visit from their lawyer, who didn’t have much to say except that she was still waiting for the brief on the charges from the district attorney. Other than their three square meals a day, they were simply ignored.

‘Room service, jailbirds,’ Mosley announced as the guard let him into the cell. ‘I spoke with Kelsey yesterday and she mentioned that you two like this Angelo’s place for breakfast, so I got them to do up something special. Hope you don’t mind.’

Grin and Kilkenny remained on their cots, suspicious of Mosley. ‘The only thing we mind,’ Kilkenny said, ‘is being cooped up in here without any explanation. I hope you brought one of those along with the raisin toast.’

‘All in good time.’ Mosley wasn’t about to be rushed and he dismissed their rude behavior as a product of their circumstances. In their place, he would probably feel the same. ‘Oh, here, Nolan. This is from Kelsey.’

Nolan accepted the gift, wondering how Kelsey had accomplished such a feat from her hospital bed. He smiled as he read the gift card that was taped to the package; it was signed ‘With love, Kelsey.’ He removed the wrapping paper. Inside, he found a copy of Clive Cussler’s latest Dirk Pitt adventure.

‘Way to go, Kelsey,’ Nolan said as he looked at the classic car on the dust jacket.

‘She thought you’d like something good to read during your incarceration.’ Mosley passed around the carryout containers and sat on the cot next to Grin, who brusquely shifted away from him. ‘Hey, I’m a friend.’

‘If you were our friend, you’d get us out of here.’

‘Grin’s right. You, of all people, know that we’re not responsible for those computer crimes.’

‘Yeah! My folks always thought that their hippie son would end up in jail, and here I am. We didn’t do anything.’

‘Gentlemen, this is what we call “a ruse.” Barnett and the FBI came up with it as a way to protect you against any further attacks. My boss does not want a repeat of that incident on the freeway.With the two of you in jail and Kelsey still in the hospital, we think Kang and the others will relax and proceed with their plans.’

‘Do you think you might have let us in on the secret?’ Grin asked sarcastically.

‘I apologize for that, but it was Barnett’s call. He wanted your arrest to look as real as possible. As far as the bad guys know, you two are out of the picture. I’m here to spring you both, so you can get back to work. Grin, you’re going to hole up at MARC, with Agents Harbke and Ullrich, and watch the Spyder. Iverson and some of Moy’s people will cover the Chicago end.’

‘What about me?’ Nolan asked.

‘You and I are going to London.’

Once their meal was finished, Mosley tossed his empty carryout box in the trash and brushed a few stray crumbs off his lap. ‘Get your things together. It’s time to go.’

Five minutes later, a guard led Mosley and the prisoners down the back stairs, to the parking garage. Grin and Kilkenny ducked in the backseat as Mosley’s car was waved through security and rode away.

Once clear of the police station, Mosley allowed the escaped prisoners to come up for air. Their first stop was the loading dock of the MARC building, where they dropped Grin off to assist Agents Ullrich and Harbke in operating the MARC computers and monitoring the Spyder. Grin was to hole up in the computer lab until further notice.Mosley then took Kilkenny home to pack.