They had new identities, and the money that the government had contracted with Nash to pay him had been transferred to accounts over which they would have control. They were now wealthy in dollars. But they were impoverished in everything else. Both women started to sob as they were driven away.
After they left, the church was quiet for about ten minutes before a tall man stepped out from a side room and surveyed the space.
Then Walter Nash walked over and sat in the front pew.
I just attended my own funeral. But. . .it has to be this way. For a lot of reasons.
His anxiety heightened, Nash did the old breathing exercises his father had taught him. They had long served him well, but this time they did not seem up to the task. Neither did thinking of the painting with the girl and dog. Nothing seemed to be able to plug the hole in the dead center of his chest. He was physically strong but weak everywhere else.
“I know how hard this is for you, Walter.”
Nash turned around. Shock came out of the shadows and sat down next to him.
“It’s harder for Judith and Maggie,” said a shaken Nash. “Far harder.”
“Yeah, but don’t shortchange yourself on grief, Walter. You lost a helluva lot, too.” He paused. “I know why you couldn’t tell them the truth.”
“I tried to convince myself that it would be all right. That I could tell them. That I could go and live with them as a family again, under assumed names. But that’s a pipe dream. And if all three of us go into hiding? And we’re found out? I couldn’t take that risk. If the world thinks I’m dead, then no one will bother to hunt for them to make them reveal where I am. Better I’m always separate from them, Shock. It’s just safer all around.”
“Logic don’t make it any easier to swallow,” said Shock. “But I appreciate you lettin’ me in on the fact that you made it through okay.”
“You can take care of yourself, Shock. That I know better than most.”
“You ever need anythin’, man, I’m here for you. No lie.”
“Because of the promise you made to my father?”
“No. This ain’t got a damn thing to do with your daddy. I will be here for you, Walter, because of you, no one else.”
Shock put out a big hand, which Nash shook.
Then the man rose and left, leaving Nash sitting in an empty church wondering what came next.
CHAPTER
86
MASUYO HAD BEEN SENT TOa federal prison in Texas to await trial. The prosecution was contemplating seeking the death penalty against the woman for her myriad crimes, which had resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans.
She looked small and frail, like she had in that prison in Myanmar, though there herinfirmityhad far more to do with hair and makeup, the requisite dirty clothing, and her own acting skills.
Masuyo was being held in solitary confinement and thus was surprised when she learned that she had visitors. She was even more surprised when she was told the name of one of the visitors.
“Dai Lu?” she had asked the guard escorting her to a secure visitors’ room.
He had nodded but offered no other comment.
Believing that Beijing had finally sent someone to aid her, Masuyo’s heart filled with hope and added a spring to her otherwise shackle-burdened walk.
Two people were waiting for her in the visitors’ room.
A big man with long hair and a full beard and thick glasses, and a tall, thin woman with close-cropped blond hair and wearing large sunglasses.
The guard locked Masuyo’s shackles into a bolt on the floor and exited the room.
Masuyo stared across at the pair and said eagerly, “Who are you? Why did you want to see me?”
When she saw that the woman was looking over her shoulder, Masuyo glanced that way too and saw that the surveillance camera that was hanging on the wall had been pointed to the ceiling.