,*APT] ,,XXI

,A ,PRISON]

  ,AMOS ,KANK] CAME 6! DOOR ( 8 F>MH\SE
Z ,N$ & ,MR4 ,DAMON DROVE UP 9 ! RUNAB4
,"! 0 AN UNPL1SANT GR9 ON ! N V
PREPOSSESS+ FACE (! F>M]1 & :AT ,N$ ?"\
0 A CUNN+ LOOK1 Z HE SL\*$ \ & ASK$3
  8,WELL1 :AT D Y WANT8 ,-E 6SMA% UP ANY
M ( MY B>NS AT ?REE ?\S& DOLL>S A SMA%80
  8,H>DLY10 ANSW]$ ,N$ %ORTLY4 8,YR
PRICES >E TOO HI< = S* RAM%ACKLE B>NS Z
Y H4 ,":'S ,TOM ,SWIFT80 HE ASK$ %>PLY4
  8,HUH6 ,D Y M1N T "Y :IPP]-SNAPP] ) 8
BIG TRAC;N 5G9E80 DEM&$ ,MR4 ,KANK]4
  8,LOOK "H60 BLU/]$ ,MR4 ,DAMON1 8,TOM
,SWIFT IS NEI A :IPP]SNAPP] NOR IS 8
MA*9E A TRAC;N 5G9E4 ,X'S A W> TANK40
  8,T DOESN'T MATT] M* 6ME10 SD ! F>M]1
)A GRAT+ LAU<4 8,X LOOKS L A TRAC;N
5G9E1 ?\< X SMA%ES ?+S UP MORE'N ANY "O
,I "E SAW40
  8,T ISN'T ! PO9T10 BROKE 9 ,N$4 8,":
IS MY FR1 ,TOM ,SWIFT8 ,T'S :AT WE WANT
6"K40

8,HUH6 ,:AT MAKES Y ?9K ,I C TELL Y80
  DEM&$
,KANK]4

  8,DIDN'T HE -E \ "H80 ASK$ ,MR4
,DAMON4
  8,N Z ,I "KS (10 0 ! SURLY ANSW]4
  8,LOOK "H60 EXCLAIM$ ,N$1 & 8 T"OS 7
FIRM1 ) NO BLU/] NOR BLUFF 9 !M1 8WE
CAME \ "H 6F9D ,TOM ,SWIFT1 & 7 GO+ 6F9D
HM6 ,WE H R1SON 62LIEVE HE'S "H--AT L1/1
HE />T$ = "H10 HE SUB/ITUT$1 Z HE WI%$
6MAKE NO /ATE;T HE CD N PROVE4 8,N[ WE
DON'T CLAIM WE H ANY "R 6BE ON YR
PROP]TY1 & WE DON'T 9T5D 6/AY "H ANY
L;G] ?AN WE C HELP4 ,B WE D CLAIM ! "R1
9 -MON DEC5CY1 6ASK IF Y H SE5 ANY?+ (
,TOM4 ,"! MAY H BE5 AN A3ID5T2 "! MAY H
BE5 F\L PLAY2 & "! MAY 2 9T]N,NAL
-PLIC,NS 9 ? BUSI;S4 ,IF "! >E1 ^?
9VOLV$ WON'T GET (F Z EASILY Z !Y ?9K4
,I'D ADVISE Y 6KEEP A CIVIL T;GUE 9 YR
H1D & ANSW] \R "QS4 ,IF WE H 6GET !
POLICE & DETECTIVES \ "H1 Z WELL Z !
GOV]N;TAL DE"P;T ( JU/ICE1 Y MAY H
6ANSW] _! "QS1 & !Y WON'T 2 Z DEC5T 6Y Z
WE >E60

8,HURRAY60 :ISP]$ ,MR ,DAMON 6,N$4 8,T'S
  ! WAY TO
TALK60

  ,& 9DE$ ! =CE;L REM>KS (! "Y BANK CL]K
DID APPE> 6H A SALUT>Y E6ECT ON ! SURLY
F>M]4 ,8 MANN] *ANG$ AT ONCE & 8 GR9
FAD$4
  8,I DON'T "K NO?+ AB ,TOM ,SWIFT OR
ANY ( YR FRS10 HE SD4 8,I'VE GOT MY F>M
"W 6D1 & ,I D X4 ,X'S H>D 5 6E>N A LIV+
^! W> "TS )\T TAK+ "P 9 PLOTS4 ,I HAV5'T
SE5 ,TOM ,SWIFT S9CE ! TR\# HE MADE AB
MY B>N40
  8,!N HE HASN'T BE5 "H TD80 ASK$ ,N$4
  8,NO2 & N =A GD _M "DS40
  ,N$ LOOK$ AT ,MR4 ,DAMON1 &! TWO
EX*ANG$ UNEASY GL.ES4 ,TOM _H C]TA9LY
/>T$ =! ,KANK] F>M1 & 9DE$ _H -E 6)9 A
FEW MILES ( X4 ,T M* 0 C]TA91 Z TE/IFI$
60A NUMB] ( RESID5TS AL;G ! R\TE F
,%OPTON1 :O _H SE5 ! "Y 9V5TOR PASS+ 9 8
C>4
  ,N[ X APPE>$ HE _H N >RIV$4 ,! *ANG$
AIR (! F>M] SEEM$ 69DICATE T HE 0 SP1K+
! TRU?4 ,MR4 ,DAMON & ,N$ 7 9CL9$
62LIEVE HM4 ,IF !Y _H ANY LA/1 L+]+
D\BTS 9 ! MATT]1 !Y 7 4PELL$ :5 ,MR4
,KANK] SD3
  8,Y C SE>* ! PLACE IF Y L4 ,I HAV5'T
ANY R1SON 6FEEL FRLY T[>D Y1 B ,I
C]TA9LY DON'T WANT 6GET 96TR\# )!
,GOV]N;T4 ,LOOK >.D ALL Y L40

8,NO1 WE'LL TAKE YR ^W = X10 SD ,N$1
  QKLY
3CLUD+ T N[ !Y _H GOT ! F>M] ": !Y
WANT$ HM1 !Y CD GA9 M 0AN APPE>.E (
FRLI;S ?AN 0?R1TS OR H>% ^WS4 8,!N Y
HAV5'T SE5 HM1 EI80

  8,N A SIGN ( HM40
  8,"O ?+ M10 W5T ON ,TOM'S *UM1 8& !N
WE'LL LOOK
F>!R4 ,W]5'T Y 9DUC$ 0A MAN "ND
,SIMPSON1 OR "O "ND ,BLAKESON1 6MAKE !
DEM& ( ?REE ?\S& DOLL>S' DAMAGE = YR
B>N80
  8,NO1 X WASN'T ANYBODY ( EI ( ^? "NS10
ADMITT$ ,MR4 ,KANK]1 EVID5TLY A BIT PUT
\ 0! "Q4
  8,X 0 "S "O1 ?\<1 WASN'T X80 9SI/$
,N$4
  8,WAAL1 A MAN DID -E 6ME ! "D ! B>N 0
SMA%$1 & J A=E X HAPP5$1 & SD AN ALL-
FIR$ BIG TRAC;N 5G9E 0 H1D$ ? WAY1 & T A
"Y FELL] :O 0 HALF CRAZY 0 RUNN+ X4 ,?
MAN--,I DON'T "K :O HE WAS1 2+ A /RANG]
6ME--SD IF ! 5G9E RAN 96ANY ( MY PROP]TY
& DID DAMAGES ,I %D COLLECT = X ON !
SPOT1 OR HOLD ! MA*9E4
  8,SURE 5\<1 T'S :AT HAPP5$1 & ,I DID
X4 ,T MAN _H AN AUTO1 & HE BR"\ ME & "S
( MY M5 \ 6! SMA%$ B>N4 ,T'S ALL ,I "K
AB X40
  8,I ?"\ "S "O PUT Y UP 6X10 -;T$ ,N$4
8,? 0 "S (! GANG'S "W10 HE W5T ON 6,MR4
,DAMON4 8,!Y HOP$ 6GET POSSES.N ( ,TOM'S
TANK L;G 5 6F9D \ "S (! SECRETS4 ,0HAV+
! ,LIB]TY ,BONDS1 ,I FOOL$ 'EM40
  8,T'S :AT Y DID60 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B
:AT C WE D N[80
  8,I DON'T "K10 ,N$ 0 =C$ 6ADMIT4 8,B
,I %D ?9K WE'D BETT] G BACK 6! LA/ PLACE
": HE 0 SE5 6PASS 9 8 AUTO1 & TRY 6GET
ON 8 TRAIL40
  ,MR4 ,DAMON AGRE$ T ? 0 A WISE PLAN1
&1 AF A CASUAL LOOK >.D ! F>MH\SE & O!R
BUILD+S ON ,KANK]'S PLACE & F9D+ NO?+
6>\SE _! SUSPICIONS1 ! TWO LEFT 9 ,N$'S
SPE$Y LL MA*9E4
  8,X IS MI<TY QUE]60 REM>K$ ! "Y BANK
CL]K1 Z !Y %OT AL;G ! C.TRY ROAD4 8,X
ISN'T L ,TOM 6GET CAU<T ? WAY40
  8,MAYBE HE ISN'T CAU<T10 SU7E/$ ! O!R4
8,TOM HAS BE5 9 _M A TI<T PLACE & GOTT5
\1 Z Y & ,I WELL "K4 ,MAYBE X W 2 ! SAME
N[1 ?\< X DOES LOOK SUSPICI\S1 T FAKE
MESSAGE -+ F Y40

8,N -+ F ME1 Y M1N10 CORRECT$ ,N$4
  8,WELL1
WE'LL D ! BE/ WE C40

  ,!Y PROCE$$ BACK 6": !Y _H LA/ _H A
TRACE ( ,TOM 9 8 MA*9E1 & "! CD ONLY
3FIRM :AT !Y _H LE>N$ AT F/1 "NLY1 T !
"Y 9V5TOR _H DE"P$ 9 ! DIREC;N (! ,KANK]
F>M1 AF HAV+ FILL$ 8 RADIATOR ) WAT]1 &
*ATT+ )A F>M] HE KNEW4
  8,!N ? IS ": ! TRAIL DIVIDES10 SD ,N$1
Z !Y W5T BACK OV] ! ROAD1 -+ 6A PO9T ":
! HI<WAY BRAN*$ (F4 8,IF HE W5T ? WAY1
HE W5T 6,KANK]'S PLACE1 OR HE WD 2 9 !
WAY ( GO+4 ,HE ISN'T "!1 X SEEMS1 &
DIDN'T G "!40
  8,IF HE TOOK ! O!R ROAD1 ": WD HE G80
ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,ANY "O (A DOZ5 PLACES4 ,I GUESS
WE'LL H 6FOLL[ ! TRAIL & MAKE ALL !
9QUIRIES WE C40
  ,B F ! PO9T ": ! TWO ROADS BRAN*$1 ALL
TRACE ( ,TOM ,SWIFT 0 LO/4 ,NO "O _H SE5
HM 9 8 MA*9E1 ?\< HE 0 "KN 6M ?AN "O
RESID5T AL;G ! HI< WAY4
  8,WELL1 :AT >E WE GO+ 6D80 ASK$ ,MR4
,DAMON1 AF !Y _H TRAVEL$ "S 4T.E & _H
OBTA9$ NO DEWS4
  8,SUPPOSE WE CALL UP 8 HOME10 SU7E/$
,N$1 Z !Y CAME 6A C.TRY /ORE ": "! 0 A
TELEPH"O4 8,X MAY 2 HE HAS RETURN$4 ,9 T
CASE1 ALL \R WORRY HAS G"O = NO?+40
  8,I DON'T 2LIEVE X HAS10 SD ,MR4
,DAMON4 8,B IF WE CALL UP & ASK IF ,TOM
IS BACK X W %[ WE HAV5'T F.D HM1 & 8 "F
W 2 M WORRI$ ?AN "E40
  8,WE C ASK ! TELEPH"O GIRL1 & TELL H]
6KEEP QUIET AB X10 DECID$ ,N$2 & ? !Y
DID4
  ,B ! ANSW] T CAME BACK OV] ! WIRE 0
4C\RAG+4 ,= ,TOM _H N RETURN$1 & "! 0 NO
^W F HM4 ,"! 0 AN URG5T MESSAGE = HM1
TOO1 F GOV]N;T (FICIALS REG>D+ ! TANK1 !
GIRL REPORT$4
  8,WELL1 WE'VE J GOT 6F9D HM--T'S ALL60
DCLD ,N$4 8,I GUESS WE'LL H 6MAKE A
REGUL> SE>* ( X4 ,I DID HOPE WE'D F9D HM
\ AT ! ,KANK] F>M4 ,B S9CE HE ISN'T "!1
NOR ANY": AB1 Z F> Z WE C TELL1
WE'VE GOT 6TRY "S O!R PLAN40
  8,Y M1N NOTIFY ! AU?ORITIES80 -- ASK$
,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,H>DLY T--YET4 ,B ,I'LL GET "S (
,TOM'S FRS :O H MA*9ES1 & WE'LL />T !M \
ON ! TRAIL4 ,9 T WAY WE C COV] A LOT (
GR.D40
  ,LATE T AFN1 & F> 96! NI<T1 A NUMB] (!
FRS ( ,TOM & ,N$ W5T AB ! C.TRY 9
AUTOMOBILES1 SEEK+ NEWS (! "Y 9V5TOR4
,MR4 ,SWIFT 2CAME V ANXI\S OV] ! NON-
RETURN ( 8 SON1 & FELT ! AU?ORITIES %D 2
NOTIFI$2 B Z ALL AGRE$ T ! LOCAL POLICE
CD N H&LE ! MATT] & T X WD H 6BE PUT 96!
H&S (! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES ,SECRET ,S]VICE1 HE
3S5T$ 6WAIT =A :ILE 2F DO+ ?4
  ,ALL ! NEXT "D ! SE>* 0 KEPT UP1 & ,N$
& ,MR4 ,DAMON 7 GETT+ 4C\RAG$1 N 6SAY
AL>M$1 :51 MO/ UNEXPECT$LY1 !Y RCVD A
CLEW4
  ,!Y _H BE5 TRAVEL+ >.D ! C.TRY ON LL-
FREQU5T$ ROADS 9 ! HOPE T P]H ,TOM MI<T
H TAK5 "O & 4A#D 8 MA*9E S T HE 0 UNA#
6PROCE$4
  8,?\< 9 T CASE HE CD1 & WD1 H S5T ^W10
SD ,N$4
  8,UN.S HE'S HURT10 SU7E/$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
  8,WELL1 MAYBE T IS :AT'S HAPP5$10 ,N$
0 SAY+1 :5 !Y NOTIC$ -+ T[>D !M A V M*
DILAPIDAT$ AUTOMOBILE1 DRIV5 0A F>M]1 &
ON ! S1T 2S HM 0 A SMALL1 B>EFOOT BOY4
8,: IS ! NE>E/ ROAD 6,%OPTON80 ASK$ !
  MAN1
BR++ 8 :EEZ+ MA*9E 6A /OP4

  8,:O >E Y LOOK+ = 9 ,%OPTON80 ASK$
,N$1 :ILE A /RANGE FEEL+ CAME OV] HM T1
"SH[ OR O!R1 ,TOM 0 3C]N$ 9 ! "Q4
  8,I'M LOOK+ = FRS (A ,TOM ,SWIFT10 0 !
ANSW]4

8,TOM ,SWIFT8 ,": IS HE8 ,:AT'S HAPP5$
  6HM80 CRI$
,N$4

  8,B.S MY DYSPEPSIA TA#TS60 EXCLAIM$
,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,D Y "K ": HE IS80
  8,N EXACTLY10 ANSW]$ ! F>M]2 8B "H'S A
NOTE F "S "O T SIGNS HMF ,8,TOM
,SWIFT10' & X SAYS HE'S A PRISON]60






