Tyler shrugged. “I don’t know. He didn’t say.”
“Sure he did, Tyler,” said Sean.
“What do you mean?”
“I set up the Gmail account for you. And I added a back door.”
Tyler stared at him. “So you already read the email?”
“And decoded it,” added Sean.
Michelle looked at him in amazement. “Sean, I’m seeing your Steve Jobs side and liking it. Very sexy. But I am pissed you didn’t tell me before now.”
“I just saw it five minutes before you got back.” He looked at Tyler. “So he wants to meet with you. He set a time and place. He’s just waiting for your response.”
Tyler looked uncomfortable. “I’m not sure my dad would be cool with you guys coming too.”
“So you were just going to meet with him alone?” said Michelle. “And who would be covering your back?”
“I… I mean, I guess I hadn’t thought about that yet.”
She said, “Well, if your dad is the kind of guy I believe he is, he’ll think about it. And he won’t do anything to put you in danger. So why don’t you write him back and tell him we’ve got your back and we’re part of the team and he needs to meet with all of us. Face-to-face.”
“But what if my dad won’t do it?” said Tyler.
Michelle shook her head. “I’m not sure he has much choice. We can’t let you go and meet with him alone. It’s too dangerous.”
Tyler said quickly, “I guess you’re right. My dad wouldn’t want me to get hurt.”
“Glad you see our point,” said Sean. “So send him another email. Tell him you can meet him tomorrow night at the place he gave you. You can tell him we’re investigators you hired to help him. Then we’ll go and see what he has to say.”
“Okay,” agreed Tyler.
“Sean, look at this.”
Michelle was pointing at the computer screen where she had pulled up the latest on the bombing at the motor court in south Alexandria.
“The police are looking for two people seen leaving the blast site. A man and a woman.”
Sean said, “Maybe we should have stayed and told the cops our story.”
“Hindsight is twenty-twenty,” she replied. “Too late now.”
“Uh, guys,” said Tyler. He was peering out the front window of the house. “There are like some dudes in your yard.”
Sean and Michelle exchanged another look, then strode over to the window and looked out.
Michelle sucked in a breath while Sean let one out.
“Shit!” they said at the same instant.
“Is that kind of like a SWAT team?” asked Tyler, backing away.
Sean shook his head. “No, that’s exactly like a SWAT team.” He turned to Michelle. “Take your gun out, remove the clip, and put it down on the table over there. Quick.” She did this and Sean followed suit with his weapon.
Sean said, “Tyler, go into the kitchen and sit at the table. Keep your hands in plain sight. And whatever they ask you to do, you do, understood?”
Tyler’s face was so pale Sean was worried he might pass out. He put a hand on his shoulder and smiled reassuringly. “Been through stuff like this lots of times, Tyler. It’s going to be okay.”