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He couldn’t imagine what he would be like right now without him.

Hell, he’d probably be in prison.

The thought made his chest hurt more.

Morley took another sip of coffee, his brow furrowed as he thought.

“I’m choosing to think that painting is the instant before the cavalry arrives,” the old man muttered.

Nick refocused on his face. Morley took another sip of his coffee and lowered the cup to his leg. He looked over, his dark eyes intense when they met Nick’s.

“Does Lara have anyone? Anyone else, I mean? Anyone in the New York? Anyone we could try to get up there ahead of us? They’d need access to a plane, of course. Is there anyone you can think of who could leave the dome in the next fifteen minutes… instead of whatever shitshow is going on with Acharya and the military?”

Nick blinked.

“What about Wynter?” Morley asked. “She got anyone? Anyone at that school of hers who could help? Anyone nearby?”

Nick fought to think.

His mind went utterly blank as he struggled to answer Morley’s question.

Then a name came out of that blankness.

It popped into his head seemingly all on its own.

Immediately, Nick scowled.

CHAPTER30

CHARLIE

Activating the comm function,Nick inputted the ID for a network address he already knew.

Thank the gods, she picked up nearly at once.

Nick wasn’t sure the call alert even got through a full pulse.

“Nick?” She sounded openly surprised. “Nick? Is that you? The ID says this is Nick Midnight, but I don’t recognize the ident code. Are you not on a police comm?”

“No. I’m not… not right now. I’m on a new headset. Something I got from St. Maarten.”

Nick glanced at Morley, who quirked an eyebrow in a silent question.

It occurred to Nick only then that he hadn’t told Morley who he planned to call.

“Look, Charlie,” he said, giving Morley another look. “I’m on the train right now, heading north. I’m with Morley. We’re in pursuit, heading towards the Northeastern Protected Area.” Hesitating, Nick added, “You probably heard something about that. We think he’s trying to penetrate an Archangel facility up there.”

“Jesus,” Charlie breathed. “I did hear, but I can’t believe it. Is it just you and James right now? Do you want me to send more people on the train?” Apologetically, she added, “I’m not really privy to the other operation, if you’re asking. We’ve been hearing a big group’s going up. H.R.A. and I.S.F. want jurisdiction so it’s a whole mess right now.”

Nick fought not to swear, clenching his jaw.

“No. Maybe.” Nick fought to think about that. “Maybe if there’s anyone to spare, anyone who could come up and maybe provide backup, you could send them on the next train. Charlie, right now I need a different kind of favor.”

“Anything,” she said at once.

“I need the network ID for someone. One of Wynter’s friends.” Again, Nick’s jaw clenched involuntarily. “His name is Forrest Keanu Walker… have you got that? Try also Forrest Walker, or maybe Keanu Walker. He should be listed with offices in Manhattan and London. He’s a lawyer. A pricey one, if that helps at all. He should be on the government database for contract work, too.”

“Got it,” she said. “Forrest Keanu Walker… and I found him. Just like that. He came up on the regular database search. Sending you the ID now.”