“Doc, if he’s out there, we’ve got to find him,” she said as they approached the double glass doors. “And I’ll bet he’s not dressed like a clown.”
“We don’t even know if this is the same man,” he said.
“There is a hospital full of sick kids who need him to be,” she said. “Now, come on, act as if you want to be here. Smile!”
“You know how I hate computers.”
‟Quiet, and pretend you’re enjoying yourself.”
*****
Nick was sitting at his desk reviewing UPS graphic files when Bella called.
“Nick, there’s a Colonel Taylor on line six for you.”
Nick stood up and closed his door, thanking Bella as he turned the knob completely until it clicked, then returned to his chair. He pressed the flashing white light on the phone.
“Hello, Colonel. So what’d you find out?”
“Son, you really have no idea who this guy is, do you?” “Well, sir, I was hoping you could tell me.”
“Hell, I had to go to NSA to get this. And I can’t even give you
this over the phone.”
“So how am I supposed to get it?”
“Lucky for you, I am on my way to Central Command in Tampa tomorrow, with a stopover in Georgia. I’ll be at Robins Air Force Base at 1100 hours. Can you make it? It’s a couple hours south of you.”
“I’ll be there.”
“You still got your ID, or do I have to call you in?”
“I still have my White House press pass,” Nick answered.
“Oh, hell,” the colonel said. “I’ll call you in. You’re liable to get shot with a press pass on that base. And don’t be late, son. I have to get to Tampa to close on my house by 1400 hours.”
*****
The next morning, Nick stood on the tarmac of Robins Air Force Base. He wore an Eddie Bauer jacket to fend off the biting wind that had descended on the city the night before. A white, unmarked