“And we’re anxious to see the thing.” Robinett was trying to relax in the backseat and doing a poor job of it.
“I hope he sees the light and agrees to help us.” Kerry was toying with her watch, which boasted more buttons than Suttles’s home stereo. “He’s the only one who’s familiar with the artifact and he could save us a lot of time.”
“I agree,” murmured Suttles. “It would be awkward if he were to get shot.”
“Yes, it might—” She broke off and eyed him disapprovingly. While amply endowed in other areas, the captain was sorely deficient in the humor department.
The steady stream of cars and trucks continued to filter through the roadblock. None of the drivers saw or suspected anything unusual. The gray van, white car, and other nondescript vehicles lined up at the rest stop were invisible from the road, as was the Apache attack helicopter parked behind a low, scrub-covered hillock.
It was a little after nine when the call they’d been waiting for finally came through. The Border Patrol had made positive identification on the vehicle they were looking for as it passed through the Arizona—New Mexico agricultural checkpoint. Furthermore, the officer who’d made the ID had matched the car’s driver with the official description of their quarry.
According to plan, nothing had been done at the state border to detain or restrain the driver, who had been allowed to pass through freely. It was twenty miles from the agricultural checkpoint to the isolated, silent rest stop and its attendant roadblock. As word was passed that the Cadillac was finally on its way, a heightened sense of excitement permeated both military and local officials.
“The woman at the border who identified him said he appeared relaxed and at ease.” Suttles nervously fingered the cellular phone attached to his belt.
“What about the creature?” Kerry wanted to know.
Suttles shook his head. “She didn’t see it. Like all the other officers at the checkpoint she’d been instructed not to do anything that might make our man nervous. She felt that bending over and trying to see inside might qualify.
“She did report that there appeared to be an object on the passenger seat, but she couldn’t see clearly enough to make out details.”
“Imagine.” Robinett had to smile. “Carrying something like that around in the front seat of your car, where anybody and everybody can see it.”
“Why not?” Suttles was staring toward the interstate. “There are no procedures for storing or preserving alien bodies. Maybe sunlight and fresh air is good for it. When it was propped up behind that hotel bar, I don’t remember noticing any overt signs of degeneration.”
“I hope he cooperates.” Kerry didn’t have to add that if he didn’t they were prepared to take whatever steps might prove necessary, from sedating the Texan to shooting him. Discreetly, of course.
On a hill several hundred yards down the interstate from the roadblock a spotter equipped with night-vision binoculars and a closed-channel two-way would give a signal the moment the Cadillac came into view. Instantly, military police in civvies would assist the Border and Highway Patrol officers in strengthening and raising the roadblock beyond what would normally be employed to check traffic. No one expected this Hager to try to run it, but army Intelligence wasn’t prepared to take chances. There would be a brief flurry of activity that might pique the curiosity of a few passing drivers, but that would have to be risked. For a couple of moments, the entire westbound portion of I-10 would be shut down.
“Hopefully when he’s confronted he won’t do something stupid like threated to set the body on fire.” Kerry murmured.
“He didn’t strike me as stupid,” Suttles commented. “Not real bright, pretty laid-back, but not stupid. I’ve had plenty like him under my command. Not all of them from Texas, either.”
Robinett nodded knowingly. “He was smart enough after that encounter with you to pack up and run.”
“We don’t know that my questioning was what prompted him to leave. That’s still just a supposition.”
“Agreed, but you have to admit it makes for a curious coincidence.”
“I know.” Suttles straightened as an enlisted man approached. “What is it, Sergeant?”
“Just got the word from the spotter, sir.” The noncom jerked a thumb in the direction of the roadway. “He’s on his way in.”
“Right.” Kerry emerged from the sedan. “Let’s get ready.”
They formed a line alongside the car, waiting for the Cadillac to be escorted into the rest-stop parking lot.
Out on the interstate, the handpicked team of rangers was helping to heave the extra barriers into position. Traffic slowed immediately, prompting audible grumbles from delayed drivers. A couple of eighteen-wheelers were allowed to pass, followed by a van, a Corvette, and several compact cars. Behind trailed a station wagon full of family and a brand-new Eldorado encapsulating an irritated elderly couple. The police hurried them along.
Suttles was listening on his phone. “Here he comes,” he whispered.
Out on the freeway, traffic stopped. A single Border Patrol officer approached the oldest car in the line, tipped his hat, and spoke politely to the driver. As she engaged him in conversation three military police in civilian clothes moved up to form a circumspect line separating the Cadillac from the Ford next to it.
“Come on, come on,” Robinett was muttering under his breath.
“He’s turning off,” Suttles announced with relief. “He’s coming in.” He clipped the phone back to his belt.
They could see it now, a massive old hunk of cream-colored metal rolling slowly toward them. Half a dozen rangers hefting automatic weapons jogged along on both sides, boxing it in. Out on the interstate the roadblock was removed as rapidly as it had been put up, allowing traffic to flow freely once again.
Suttles let out a deep sigh. The hardest pan of their task had been accomplished. Now the course of events could move from confrontation to interrogation.
“You’ll get to see it now,” he told his companions. “Don’t expect too much. Visually, it’s not very impressive.”
“Spoken like someone who’s already seen it.” Robinett was fairly shaking with excitement.
It was Suttles who, according to plan, walked up to the Fleetwood when it braked to a halt and greeted the driver. Sparing a glance for the passenger’s side, he saw that the alien shape was indeed seated there. In the dim light it reminded him of a sleeping child. Otherwise it looked no different from his first glimpse of it back at the hotel bar. Similarly, the driver looked just as Suttles remembered him. It was nice to be able to address the much bigger man while he was sitting down.
“Good evening, Mr. Hager.” The Texan didn’t blink. Considering the lateness of the hour, he struck the captain as awfully alert, almost as if he’d just awakened from a rejuvenating nap.
“Evenin’.” The driver frowned speculatively. “Have we met before?”
“Once. In El Paso.” Suttles ventured what was intended as a reassuring smile.
Unable to restrain themselves, Robinett and Kerry had left their position to approach the car. Both were leaning over and peering inside. Kerry all but had her face pressed up against the passenger-side window as she strove to take the measure of the diminutive figure seated there.
Doing his best to occupy the Texan’s attention, Suttles continued. “I came into the hotel one night when you were tending bar. Asked a few questions?”
The driver nodded slowly, gazing thoughtfully at the captain. “Yeah. Yeah. I remember you now. Had a hunch you might come looking. Could tell by the kinds of questions you asked and the look in your eye when you left. You pushed off in a hurry.” His expression fell. ‘Thought I’d lost you.”
