They were out of their cars, the deputies, and were clustered around Mason Germain and Lucy Kerr.
The state police had finally lost the signal from Amelia's cell phone but only after it'd been stationary for about five minutes at the location they were now looking at: a barn fifty feet from a house in the woods--a mile off Route 112. It was, Lucy noted, west of Tanner's Corner. Just as Lincoln Rhyme had predicted.
"You don't think Mary Beth's in there, do you?" asked Frank Sturgis, brushing at his yellow-stained moustache. "I mean, it's all of seven miles from downtown. I'd feel pretty foolish, he's been keeping the girl that close to town."
"Naw, they're just waiting for us to go past," Mason said. "Then they're gonna go on to Hobeth Falls and pick up the rental car."
"Anyway," Jesse said, "somebody lives here." He'd called in the address of the house. "Pete Hallburton. Anybody know him?"
"Think so," said Trey Williams. "Married. No connection to Garrett that I know of."
"They have kids?"
Trey shrugged. "Think they might. Seem to recall a soccer game last year..."
"It's summer. The youngsters might be home," Frank muttered. "Garrett might've taken 'em hostage inside."
"Maybe," Lucy said. "But the triangulation on Amelia's phone signal placed them in the barn, not the house. They could've gone inside but I don't know ... I can't see 'em takin' hostages. Mason's right, I think: They're just hiding out here until they think it's safe to get up to Hobeth for that rental car."
"Whatta we do?" Frank asked. "Block the drive with our cars?"
"We pull up, do that, they'll hear us," Jesse said.
Lucy nodded. "I think we should just hit the barn on foot--fast--from two directions."
"I've got CS gas," Mason said. CS-38--a powerful military tear gas kept under lock and key in the Sheriff's Department. Bell hadn't distributed any and Lucy wondered how Mason had gotten his hands on some.
"No, no," Jesse protested. "Might make 'em panic."
Lucy believed that wasn't his concern at all. She bet he didn't want to expose his new girlfriend to the vicious gas. Still, she agreed, feeling that, since the deputies didn't have masks, gas might work against them. "No gas," she said. "I'll go in the front. Trey, you take the--"
"No," Mason said evenly. "I go in the front."
Lucy hesitated then said, "Okay. I'll go in the side door. Trey and Frank, you're on the back and far side." She looked at Jesse. "I want you and Ned to keep an eye on the front and back doors of the house. There."
"Got it," Jesse said.
"And the windows," Mason said sternly to Ned. "I don't want anybody sighting down on our backs from inside."
Lucy said, "If they come out driving, just take out the tires or if you've got a Magnum like Frank there aim for the engine block. Don't shoot Garrett or Amelia unless you have to. You all know the rules of engagement." She was looking at Mason when she said this, thinking of his sniper attack at the mill. But the deputy seemed not to hear her. She called in on her Handi-talkie and told Jim Bell they were about to storm the barn.
"I've got the ambulance standing by," he said.
&nbs
p; "This isn't a SWAT operation," Jesse said, overhearing the transmission. "We've gotta be damn careful about any shooting."
Lucy clicked off the radio. She nodded toward the building. "Let's move out."
They ran, crouching, using the oaks and pine for cover. Her eyes were fastened on the dark windows of the barn. Twice she was sure she saw movement inside. It might have been the reflection of trees and clouds as she ran but she couldn't be sure. As they approached she paused and switched her gun to her left hand, wiped her palm. Took the weapon once more in her shooting hand.
The deputies clustered at the windowless back of the barn. Lucy was thinking that she'd never done anything like this.
This isn't a SWAT operation....
But you're wrong, Jesse--that's exactly what it is.
Dear Lord, give me one clear shot at my Judas.