page77 (2/2)

“Well, this area is on every terrorist’s wish list”

They alking up the steps leading into the building when a uniforuard strolled by with his black Lab bo sniffed around Stone’s and Chapman’s ankles and then proceeded on

“At least that’s one sure thing in an uncertain world,” remarked Stone

“Right What did Garchik say? The dogs can detect nineteen thousand types of explosive material?”

“And also that there’s not even a ’s nose is If I—”

Stone froze

Chap open the door for him “You okay?”

Stone didn’t answer He turned and ran in the other direction

Chap?”

She let go of the door and ran after him The police frowned on suddenaere even more frowned on However, Stone was across the street with Chapht on his heels before any of the uniforms could react

She caught up to hiure you to chicken out on your hearing Better to just get it over with”

“It’s not the hearing, Mary”

“What then”

“It’s the dogs”

“What about them?”

Stone started to sprint She ran after him

“Where are we going?”

“To where it all began”

“We already did that”

“It’ll be different this time, trust me”

CHAPTER 83

STONE CLOSED HIS EYES and sent his ht For the second time in twenty-four hours he assees were even more vivid He realized clearly this would be his last chance

First up, Fried with her fake lover on the phone Then Alfredo Padilla in his jogging suit and iPod walking into the park fro on the northwest side of the park exa to meet with Friedman Finally Stone recalled his exact steps in the park Hearing theat the other people there

The British security agent in the ca in quicksand He was behind Stone when the gunfire started Now Stone opened his eyes and stared north, toward the Hay-Adaaze reached the location of the shooters US governot in, but they did They wanted Stone to stus that appeared to be the truth, yet weren’t But they hadn’t wanted hi connection He’d unconsciously gone right instead of the left they had expected That hy an attempt had been made to kill him and Chapman soon afterward

Which also

Now Stone closed his eyes again and envisioned the first bullet hitting several feet to his left Then s everywhere He’d dropped to his belly The Brit behind hione fro run for his life and ended up in the tree hole

Boom

Stone opened his eyes again and looked over at Chap at him the whole time, her arms folded over her chest

“Can they arrest you for not showing up for the hearing?” she asked

“Probably,” said Stone in a clearly uninterested tone “All the shots were on the western side of the park,” he said

“Right, you mentioned that all the white tents were on the left side but didn’t explain what you meant by it”

“That’s because I didn’t knohat it meant But why? Why were all the shots on that side?”

In response Chap “Just the location of the shooter It was a clear field of fire from there They could see over the trees”