Page 37 of Yankee in the Wind

Ace nodded. “They would have needed at least a couple of moving trucks twenty-five feet long. What do you think, guys?”

“Probably, though they could have used several smaller ones, might be a little less conspicuous,” Fox replied.

“I didn’t see a lot of traffic cameras in the area around the warehouse,” Jack said, and he’d looked, just like he always did. It had become second nature in the past three years.

“I know,” Fox said. “That might make it a little harder since we won’t have any footage from the point of origin and will have to rely on cameras farther away from the warehouse. It will get us a few false positives, which will take a while for us to weed through. But with five of us looking through video footage, we have a better chance.”

Fox glanced at Ace. “Phoebe went to bed. She was feeling a little lightheaded.”

Immediately, Ace looked concerned. “I’ve gotta—”

“Don’t worry,” Fox said. “Michelle checked on her. Turns out she didn’t eat enough today, and her blood sugar was low. So Michelle made her a snack.”

“I can check on her,” Lilly said, “though it’s been a while since I dealt with patients.”

Michelle entered the room. “She’s doing fine. With everything going on today, she’s just a little stressed.”

Jack wasn’t surprised. What woman wouldn’t be stressed in her situation, knowing she would bring a child into this world very soon, while her child’s father was being hunted by an unknown adversary?

“Thanks, Michelle,” Ace said. Then he looked at Lilly. “While we’re going through the footage, can you start analyzing whether there’s a chemical residue in the microdrone you found? What do you need for it?”

“My lab at Delta Labs,” Lilly said.

“Can’t we just get you some chemicals, and you can do the analysis here? I know a guy who can get us whatever you need in a couple of hours,” Ace said.

“It’s not that easy,” Lilly said, shaking her head. “Since I have no idea what substance the microdrone carried, if there even is a residue, I’ll have to use highly sensitive equipment to run over a hundred tests. That’s not something you can pull together with a home chemistry set. Sorry. If we’re lucky, it’ll only take three or four hours, and I’ll be out of there before people show up for work.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Jack said immediately.

“How are you gonna get into the lab?” Ace asked.

“Access card.”

“Isn’t there a security guard on duty?”

“Yes, but he naps a lot.”

“That doesn’t guarantee that he won’t see you,” Jack interrupted. “He might be aware that you disappeared after the shooting in the plaza, and will ask questions, or worse, tell somebody. Nobody can know where you are.”

“I get that,” Lilly said, clearly trying to pacify him. “But I’ll use the delivery entrance in the back. I can get to my lab without him seeing me. Trust me.”

Jack held Lilly’s gaze. He weighed up the risk of Lilly being seen with the benefit of finding out what substance was in the microdrone. “Fine. Under two conditions.”

“Which are?”

“I’m coming with you, and you’ll keep wearing the Kevlar vest.”

“Oh come on, that thing is heavy,” she complained.

He glared at her. “The vest stays on. I mean it.”

She huffed. “Fine.”

“Take one of the sedans in the garage. It’s less conspicuous than your van,” Ace suggested.

A few minutes later, they were on their way.

In the car, Jack saw Lilly looking at him from the side.