The Sixth Man

CHAPTER 60

SEAN AND MICHELLE FINALLY REACHED Portsmouth, where they stopped at a pancake house and ate a quick breakfast, paying in cash. Then, exhausted, they slept in the truck in the parking lot for one hour. When Michelle’s cell phone alarm went off they awoke and looked groggily at each other.

Sean checked his watch. “Six more hours to go. Be there by lunchtime.”

Michelle said, “After this is over I am never, ever, driving to Maine again.”

“I never even want to get in a car again.”

“We can’t go back to the inn.”

“I know. That’s why I’m calling Kelly Paul right now.”

“What if they can trace your phone?”

“I swapped out the SIM card for another one I got while we were in New York. I texted her with the new info.”

“How’d you leave it with Bunting?”

“He said he’d think about it. I left him my new contact info too.”

“Think we’ll hear from him?”

“I hope to God we do.”

“And what about the guys in the park? They were definitely set on killing us. If Bunting was involved with them?”

“I looked the guy in the eye, Michelle. He’s scared. And not just for himself. He’s terrified for his family. My gut tells me he had nothing to do with the attack against us.”

“You think he might be dead?”

“What do you mean?”

“They obviously knew you two met. They might have taken it out on him.”

“I don’t know. If he is dead we’ll know soon enough.”

They reached Machias by one thirty. After receiving Sean’s call, Kelly Paul had arranged another place for them to stay. She’d moved their things there and given them directions to it.

When they pulled up in front of the rustic cottage that was set near an isolated stretch of coast about five miles from Martha’s Inn, Kelly Paul came outside to greet them.

“Thanks for the help down south,” said Michelle, as she stretched and did a couple of deep knee bends to work the road kinks out.

“I never send people on a mission without backup. It’s an essential part of the equation.”

Sean said, “Well, it would have been nice to know about it. I almost shot one of your guys.”

“I tend to keep things close to the vest. Maybe too close,” she admitted.

“But you did save our lives.”

“After risking them by having you make contact with Bunting.”

“Well, without risk there is no reward,” said Michelle.

“Where’s Megan?” asked Sean.

“Still at Martha’s Inn.”

“By herself?”

“No, she’s got police protection there.”

“How did that happen?”

“I made a few phone calls and the people I called made a few phone calls. It’s the best we can do right now. You two are obviously marked. How did it go with Bunting?”

“He’s stuck right in the middle and growing desperate. He said he had nothing to do with the murders, and I believe him. We’re afraid he might be dead.”

Michelle said, “Did you know all along Bunting wasn’t behind this?”

“Not for certain, no. But the picture is getting clearer by the minute. And your meeting with him served one important purpose.”

“What was that?” asked Sean.

“James Harkes will now be turned loose to clip his wings.”

“So you do think he might already be dead?” said Michelle.

“No, at least not yet. When they went after you, I’m sure they also sent a very direct message to Bunting: ‘Talk about this again to anyone and you will suffer.’ They probably threatened his family too.”

“And that’s good for us why?” asked Michelle.

“Because now Bunting can be convinced to work with us.”

“But according to you they just told him if he tried anything he was dead,” said Sean.

“One thing you have to understand about Peter Bunting is that he is very smart and very resourceful. He is no doubt feeling cornered now. Maybe even beaten. But then he will start to think about it. He hates to lose. That’s why he makes such a brilliant watchdog for this country. And on top of it, he’s truly patriotic. His father was in the military. He bleeds red, white, and blue. He will defend his country to the last.”

“You seem to know a lot about him,” said Michelle.

“I almost went to work for him. I make a point of knowing as much as I can about such people.”

“How do we get to him?” asked Sean.

“Actually, I believe he’ll get to us,” replied Paul.