The Panic Zone

63

Nassau, Bahamas

The rotating blades of the ceiling fan offered no relief in the stifling offices of the Central Detective Unit’s headquarters on Thompson Boulevard.

“The new air-conditioning unit has quit again.” Inspector Franklin opened his window wider, before resuming reading his statement. “Don’t worry, Mr. Gannon, we’re almost done.”

Gannon checked the time.

It had been several hours since he and Emma had discovered the two bodies at the resort and that Emma’s baby was alive. During that time, Gannon was permitted to go to the washroom, where he made some secret phone calls. He alerted the WPA’s Nassau Bureau to the story, and he tried unsuccessfully to reach Lancer for help.

In the early part of Gannon and Emma’s questioning, the Nassau police were suspicious about them. Detectives interviewed them separately and were wary to link the two deaths with the child-care center until more information had emerged from the FBI. From what Gannon could gather, a second police action was unfolding on an island in Exuma Sound, but he was not sure what it was. Finally, Inspector Franklin tapped the collection of papers together, indicating he had finished.

“Here is your passport. Thank you for your cooperation. You are free to enjoy your stay or return to New York. We will contact you if necessary.”

“What about my friend, Emma?”

“She should be joining you in the reception area momentarily.”

Gannon stepped from the building and called Lancer’s number again.

Come on, come on.

This time the connection clicked.

“Lancer.”

“It’s Gannon. I need your help.”

“Where are you?”

“Nassau. I just finished up with Nassau detectives. You know that Emma Lane and I found two corpses in the hotel where you sent us?”

“You found them?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t been fully debriefed, but I will be. I really have to go.”

“Wait, you owe me a few minutes. I need your help.” Gannon spotted Emma and waved her over to him. They moved to a couple of palm trees, which offered them shade and privacy. “Emma Lane’s baby is alive.”

“What? How do you know this?”

“When we came upon those dead people, Emma feared for her son. She’d learned at the care center that he was supposed to be with that couple. For as long as we could stand being in that room we looked for her baby, for any sign of him. There was nothing. But we found Albanian passports for Valmir and Elena Leeka and one for Alek Leeka with a new picture of Emma Lane’s son. It confirms what she’s feared, that her baby was stolen and is alive. We told the detectives everything.”

“I haven’t been briefed on that aspect yet.”

“I’m telling you this now. It proves there’s a conspiracy. We want you to help us find her son. If we find him then we could find the answer to everything. Tell us what’s going on, Lancer. You owe me that much and you owe her.”

Emma nodded.

“Did you give those passports to the Nassau police?”

“Yes, we cooperated fully.”

“Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“You know about the message on the wall?”

“What message?”

“Written in blood, ‘Erase them all.’ What the hell does that mean?”

“It could be related to everything. What about the couple, what else do you know?”

“Only that Emma learned that they were supposed to be leaving for New York City.”

“What?”

“She was told by a staff member at the child-care center that they were bound for New York City.”

“Do you know where, or why?”

“No.”

“Which staff member? You have a name?”

“No.”

A long silence passed. It sounded as if Lancer had put his hand over his phone to tell someone else something. Gannon noticed Emma was searching through her bag, as if she’d remembered something.

Gannon thought he’d lost his connection. “Lancer, are you there?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you? What’s going on?”

“I’m in Exuma Sound at a second search site.”

“What’s the location? Maybe we should be there with you, or send someone from the WPA Bureau?”

“No, it’s not safe now, believe me. And I have to leave.”

“Where’re you going?”

“Back to the States.”

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t have a lot of time.”

“Hold on, it was Emma Lane’s case that produced those phone numbers for you, Lancer, and you know it. I flew down here with her and waited for your call, just like you said, but it never came.”

“I got tied up.”

“You owe us. Tell us what’s going on.”

“Very soon the FBI will put out an alert for a wanted fugitive. I’ll see what I can do to give your wire service the jump.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Gretchen Sutsoff.”

“Who’s that?”

“The scientist Corley mentioned. She’s using several aliases. We’re still getting everything together. I really have to go.”

“Wait, where do you think the next break on this will be?”

“I have no idea, Jack.”

“Yes, you do. You said you were heading back to the States. Come on, Lancer, I’ve bled for this story and I’ve helped you.”

“I would guess New York. That’s it.”

Gannon hung up and headed for the street, scanning traffic for a cab as Emma hurried with him.

“We have to get the next plane back to New York,” he said.

Emma pulled her hand from her bag. She had the blue memory card the woman at the center had given her. “I’d forgotten about this.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, the woman at the child-care center wanted me to have it. It’s supposed to help explain what these people are up to.”