Chapter 5

Efraim and Francine spent the next several days in the office doing research on Carlson and the possible locations for Quigley's research. As much as Efraim had wanted to go right back out to the Federal Detention Center to see Quigley, Francine convinced him it was better to wait a few days.

Dr. Smyth made appearances several times a day to their section to check up on their progress. Lee made the rounds of his contacts, looking for anything that might give them a jump on Carlson; he hadn't had any luck and he found most of his contacts seemed to be fearful of Carlson. Lee said he knew that someone had something on him, it would only be a matter of time.

Geiger tried several times to get out of dinner on Saturday night. Efraim finally told him not to show up, but that he was going to tell Francine that Geiger wasn't coming because of her cooking. Geiger threw the newspaper he was reading down on Efraim's desk and stalked off, muttering that Efraim had learned the art of extortion from his wife. Efraim chuckled and continued looking for possible locations of the missing research.

Friday came and Efraim decided it was time for him to visit with Quigley again. Geiger pulled his car to the front of the Georgetown entrance to wait for Efraim. Efraim strode through the door, the Chopin CD for Quigley in his pocket. He opened the door to Geiger's car and slid in, removing his hat and placing it on the seat. Efraim raised an eyebrow at Geiger who shook his head and pulled away from the curb.

"Any UFO's lately?" Geiger asked.

"Not since Monday night. I've been diligent about the house and cars. We haven't gone anywhere but home and work. I'll tell you, coming back to work after all this time off has been rough. I'm ready to sleep half way through the day."

"So that's why you and Francine rush out of here at lunch time like the hounds of hell are on your heels?"

Efraim felt heat surge up his neck, he turned to look out the window. Had he and Francine really been that obvious? He guessed so. Oh hell, we're newlyweds, what do they expect? "Yeah, something like that, Dave." Don't these people have lives of their own that they have to pay that much attention to us?

Geiger made it out of Georgetown and was about to pick up the Beltway when a light blue Toyota Camry pulled into traffic behind them. They had been on the Beltway several miles when Efraim noticed the car in the side view mirror.

"I think we've got company." He told Geiger.

Geiger slowly changed lanes, pulling to the right. "I'm gonna find a convenience store and grab some coffee, what do you think?"

"Sounds good to me." Efraim agreed

"Yeah, with you being so tired, I don't want you falling asleep on me." Geiger quipped with a sideways glance at Efraim.

"Gee, thanks for your concern."

"What are friends for?" Geiger responded, chuckling.

"Yeah, right. There's a store on this exit, it's down the access road a bit, we should be able to get a good look if we're being followed." Efraim said, suddenly tired of the whole game.

Geiger looked over at Efraim quickly then took the exit. They didn't see the Toyota, and Geiger pulled into the convenience store lot and jumped out of the car. Efraim angled the mirror on the passengers sun visor as well as the side view mirror to watch for the blue Camry. He was just about to put his sighting down to shadow shock when the Toyota drove by.

"Bingo. Gotcha now, boys." He said out loud. He looked up and Geiger was coming through the door with two paper cups of coffee. Efraim leaned over and opened the drivers door and held out his hand for his coffee. Geiger slid in the seat and buckled up, taking a careful sip of his coffee.

"Toyota passed us just as you were coming out."

"Good. At least we know you're not slowing down regardless of how tired you are."

"Stuff it, Dave."

"Yes sir, Commander sir!"

Efraim rolled his eyes, shook his head and pointed towards the Beltway. Geiger chuckled and started the car, backing out and leaving the parking lot. Both kept an eye out for the Toyota.

"They probably know where we're going." Efraim reasoned.

"What do you say we go visit your Dad then?" Geiger asked.

"No, I don't want to have any contact with my Dad until I have to, I don't want Carlson pulling any of this on Dad."

"What if he already is?"

"Lee has Robertson keeping an eye on him. I mean, I'm being followed, and my house is probably being watched. I just got married and now I'm bringing all of this down on my wife and family."

"Not your fault, man."

"No? I made the decision to follow this career path."

"You didn't ask Carlson to be an asshole and Quigley to be psychotic."

"True, but none the less . . ."

"None the less nothing. We always seem to have this conversation, you worry too much."

"With reason," Efraim said, casting a weary glance at Geiger.

Geiger sighed and pulled into the parking lot of the Federal Detention Center. "Beaman, what do you expect to get out of Quigley?"

"Anything. I'm hoping for anything." Efraim grimaced, rubbing his temples.

Geiger nodded, looking over at his friend, noting the uneasiness stamped in his face. He'd give a call to Lee when he was alone and tell him to have a talk with Beaman. He was feeling too responsible for this case and he shouldn't. "Any ideas on how we can get rid of these boys?"

Efraim sighed, pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called his wife. "Francine, need you to do something for me; take this information, light blue 1992 Toyota Camry,

Virginia tags HR143269, and I want you to call the DC police and have them pick up these guys for reckless driving. . . .yeah, right behind us. . . .They could be drunk . . . sounds good hon. Thanks. Bye!"

He closed his cell phone and put it back in the pocket of his overcoat. He looked over at Dave and they both laughed.

They kept a watch on the Toyota that stayed a respectable four cars behind them. Dave gave a whoop of joy a few minutes later. "And a cruiser just got on the Beltway!" He chuckled, "There go the lights! We have liftoff!" They both laughed. "Tell your wife I owe her big time! That's the best time I've had all month!"

"Then you definitely need to come tomorrow night if this is the most fun you've had all month! Jeez Dave." At the look Dave gave him, he laughed and nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I know! I'm a jerk and you're an ass. And I will tell my wife you owe her, you know how she loves to have something to look forward to."

"Great. Just great. I thought you Navy boys were all wimps. I guess it's just on the football field, huh?"

"Oh come on Dave, surely you know Navy is more comfortable walking on water than dirt."

"I'm not even gonna get started with you on that subject, buddy!" Efraim chuckled as climbed out of the car and slammed the door on Geiger, laughing as Geiger was driving off to find a parking space. Efraim walked into the building and showed his ID and waited to be taken to Quigley.

Efraim was led to the same interrogation room he had met Quigley in on Monday. He paced the room, checking for bugs. He shrugged, he didn't think he'd get anything verbal out of Quigley as it was. He stood in front of the large two way mirror, wondering who was behind it watching him. He grinned and turned towards the door as he heard it open, the guards brought Quigley in, still shackled. They helped him to sit down and locked him down. Efraim shook his head and waited for the guards to leave.

Efraim watched Quigley for a moment. His eyes were unfocused, he was staring straight ahead. Although he had shaved his beard off over in Romania, he was unshaven and basically unkempt. Nothing like the meticulous professor Efraim had known over ten years ago. Efraim felt the nerve in his jaw begin to work, he pulled out a chair, turned it around and straddled it, his arms resting on the back of the chair.

"Hello Harry. How are you today?"

Quigley raised his eyes and focused on Efraim. He continued to stare at Efraim. Just when Efraim was about to give up and leave, Quigley spoke. "I didn't think you would come back."

"I told you I would be back."

"Thank you. I have enjoyed the Mozart. And did you?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Since when?"

Efraim assumed he wanted to know how long it took him to decode the information about the map. "I've enjoyed it since late Monday afternoon." Quigley smiled and nodded at Efraim.

"I brought a Chopin CD for you. He pulled it out of his overcoat pocket and slid it across the table to Quigley. He watched as Quigley reached out and picked up the CD.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome Harry. Have you had any other visitor's"

"Only my sister. She is very distraught with Michael being detained as well as myself."

"I'm sorry Harry."

"She says I am an old fool."

Personally, Efraim agreed with Quigley's sister. "Your attorney hasn't come to see you?"

"The guards told me that my attorney said he had been advised not to speak with me."

"Really? Interesting. How about if I give you a hand with that?"

"You would help me?"

Efraim sighed, it seemed he would. "Yeah. I know a really good attorney who's a partner with Bean, Gorton, Jackman and Jerome. He's a good man and he won't be intimidated. You'll be in good hands."

Quigley looked at Efraim, sizing him up, questioning the help he had been offered. "Why?"

"I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Seeing that you have an attorney to defend you falls under that category. My friends name is William Meier, he specializes in criminal law."

"Thank you. For the attorney and the Chopin. I particularly like the Nocturne 2 in E Flat Major."

"Yeah? Thanks. I don't think that Will Meier will want you to see me after this, but I will come back with some more music for you. Is there anything else that you would like? Meier probably will see to it that you get everything you need, but I'd be happy to bring you something."

"I would appreciate the music. I think you will find all that you need with the Nocturne."

"Thanks. I'll see you again. I'll make sure that Will sees you today." Efraim knocked on the door and stood back as the guards came in to take Quigley back to his cell. Efraim stepped out of the hall, then stopped. He leaned up against the wall and waited to see who came out of the viewing room. He had been waiting about five minutes when the door opened and Efraim stepped back into the interrogation room so he wouldn't be seen.

Tom Leonard, the CIA agent that Geiger and he had ID'd on Monday strode past. Efraim gave a sigh and small shake of his head. How had he gotten here? He must have hot footed it over when they had picked up the Toyota earlier in the morning.

Efraim saw Leonard stop and say something to someone behind him. He moved back from the window and waited. He heard the muffled voices of the two men talking but he couldn't make out the words. He took a chance and looked out the window and his heart started to pound. He felt the blood rush in his ears and his breathing became heavy, his hands had fisted.

This was unexpected.