So…same frustrating as hell status quo. He returned Jim’s RV keys and searched for Lily. It didn’t take long to find her, since she wasn’t far from Jim. She was hanging out with Jessie near the front of the band stand, virtually guaranteeing they wouldn’t be able to talk. Jessie tilted her head in his direction as he approached. Lily had her arms crossed over her chest and didn’t bother to make eye contact with him. She didn’t turn around or acknowledge his presence, just kept her focus on the band. Her posture was tight and strained. She wasn’t enjoying the music at all, wasn’t relaxed.
He knew she was mad and would probably stay that way for a while. Nothing he could do about that and he refused to apologize for doing his job. So he let her listen to the music, let Jessie lean in and talk to her. He stayed behind them, keeping an eye on her and the crowd.
Not that it was unusual for him to keep watch. He’d been doing that from the moment they’d hightailed it out of the museum alley. Since then he’d been keeping one eye behind him the entire time, wondering if whoever had shot at them had been following. He doubted it, because if they had he’d have spotted them by now.
Maybe. He didn’t believe in sure things or getting off easily, so he just assumed the bad guys might follow them.
And he’d continue to keep looking, because he had two things to protect—the virus, and Lily. Like it or not, Lily was stuck with him, and she’d just have to remain uninformed until he let her go.
The warmth of the day had long ago been sucked away with the setting sun. Lily pulled on the jacket she’d been carrying, huddling inside it as a stiff breeze picked up. It might be almost summer, but it still got cold at night. And with the cold shoulder she was giving him, Mac figured there’d be no cuddling for warmth in their tent tonight.
He tapped Jessie on the shoulder and leaned over so he could talk in her ear over the band. “I’m going to grab the tent and set it up. Watch Lily.”
Jessie nodded and resumed jamming to the music. Mac tracked toward where the bikes were parked, using the opportunity away from Lily and the noise of the music to call Grange and give him a report.
“We’ve been doing a little recon of our own here at headquarters,” Grange said. “We have video surveillance tapes of the cities the artifact had been to before it hit Chicago.”
“And?”
“Someone’s been in every city since the artifact was first put into play in New York.”
That was interesting. “Who?”
“No clue, but we figure it’s the same guy based on height, build and type of walk. All we’ve picked up is a dark image stalking the grounds outside, and we’ve confirmed it’s not security in any of the locations. Wears a long coat, a hat and dark pants, stays in the shadows. Smokes.”
“How Humphrey Bogart of him.”
Grange snorted. “We’re studying video of everyone who’s passed by the exhibit in each location, trying to see if anyone similar pops up from city to city, but that’ll take some time.”
“Any thoughts?”
“Someone who knew the virus was in the artifact.”
“Do you think he was casing each location looking for an opening to do a heist?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not really sure yet, but we’re looking at all the angles.”
Why else would someone be monitoring each museum?
Mac shook his head, deciding to leave the big picture stuff to Grange. “What’s the word on Chicago? Anything on Lily?”
“Big news on the theft of the artifact, of course. The heat went down on the night security team. Media’s focused more on that than anything and the museum is taking shit in a big way. Nothing about Lily West or her involvement.”
“Good.” Mac didn’t want any press on Lily or her absence, and he was glad her agency hadn’t implicated her. Her boss was probably covering his own ass, but Mac would bet the agency Lily worked for wanted her back and probably suspected Lily in the theft. Maybe they were even working with the local police to finger Lily for the theft.
“Grange, we need to make sure Lily isn’t targeted for the theft at the museum.”
“It’s already taken care of. According to what we’ve found out from intelligence we’ve gathered at her agency, they’re concerned since her gun was found at the scene that she was kidnapped by whoever did the job. She’s not a suspect.”
Mac smiled. Grange had contacts everywhere. “Great news. Thanks.”
“She still in the dark?”
“Pitch black.” And hating every minute of it. In her shoes, he’d feel the same way.
“Keep it that way. And watch your back. Since they know you have the virus, they’re hunting you.”
“I’m on alert.” Mac pocketed his phone and grabbed the tent from his bike, then circumvented the crowd to find a spot to erect it. He set it up in the middle of a grouping of trees, still within the area of the other tents, but a bit separate from everyone else. He moved his bike, just like everyone else did, making sure to park his alongside Jessie’s and all the others he knew, so they’d all be parked near the tents. After he had the tent in place, he went back to find Lily and Jessie. They weren’t in the band area any longer, so he hunted them down and found them in the food tent.
Jessie passed him a burger, fries and a drink. “I figured you hadn’t eaten either, and Lily looked like she was about to drop.”
“Thanks.” He realized after he downed the burger in three bites that he was hungry. Eating made him feel better. He looked at Lily. Her skin was pale and she had dark smudges under her eyes.
“Tired?”
She shrugged and took a sip of her soda.
“Are you tented here somewhere?” he asked Jessie.
“Yeah. A group of my riding buddies and I are over by the river. You?”
“Near the RVs.”
“You can tent up with us if you’d like.”
“Thanks, but we’re fine.”
Jessie glanced at Lily, then back at him. Her lips quirked. “Yeah, I’ll bet you are. Your girl is about to fall asleep in her pop, so why don’t you take her to bed?” She threw an arm around Lily for a quick hug. “Night honey.”
Lily hugged her back, managing a faint smile.
“Goodnight, Jess. Thank you.”