Back-Tracker

by Bob Blink

  “Wouldn’t he worry you’d do just exactly what you have done, and find him out?” Karin asked.

  “It would be a risk,” Jake admitted, “but he gave me a disappearance I’d be likely to believe, knowing I wouldn’t pursue it too far. It was tricky and he had the fake Ray give the impression of having no reason to have triggered the crimes the real Ray had planned. Hell, I’m certain he didn’t know about them. That gave me little reason to try and follow him very far. I think Ray doesn’t fully understand what my ability allows, or at least didn’t understand it at the time he set that all up. He didn’t believe I would be able to track the substitute or figure out he wasn’t really Ray.”

  “You might still have come back to this time just as you did,” Karin objected.

  “It was a possibility, but why? I came for two reasons. Mostly because back-tracking this far is far more difficult than what I normally do. That made it necessary to stop well short of where I was directed to go. He couldn’t have known that. I didn’t before attempting it. The other was curiosity, but that was also driven by learning that the Ray I was being handed was a fake. He didn’t expect I’d learn that. I’m certain of it.”

  “What about his sister?” Karin asked. “From what you said, he didn’t sound particularly upset about what happened to his sister.”

  “That’s been bothering me as well,” Jake admitted. “But perhaps his reason for wanting his sister alive isn’t because of concern for her, but some other concern. I got the impression he didn’t think that much of her. She might be the key to something we don’t yet understand.”

  “That would make him a better actor than you expected.”

  “Far better. The thing that I can’t get past is that if we are right, he somehow was able to conceal any reaction to the Trask and Mathews names, which are part of the FBI records where I believe the leak must be. He didn’t even twitch when I used the names.”

  “Perhaps he doesn’t know it,” Karin suggested.

  “What do you mean?”

  “What if he has somehow verified what you did for the FBI. You have told me that Carlson is very careful with any records that refer to you, so perhaps he has yet to discover who you are. Even to the point he hasn’t found the alias names you use. That is some of what he wants to investigate after he disappears. Assume he uncovers that a few months from now. That might be one reason it takes him so long to act. His discovery of who you are might be what triggers the disappearance of his other self a few months from now.”

  “That’s a lot of fore-planning,” Jake said, although he’d had thoughts along the same line. “Another thing that bothers me,” Jake added, “all of this takes a lot of money. Nothing I have seen of Ray suggests money. It doesn’t fit.”

  “Perhaps he is one of those miserly types who has it stashed away. You need to ask Carlson to look real hard to see what Ray might have hidden away.”

  Jake recalled the special account Carlson had found, but he also remembered her saying it hadn’t been tapped. Jake was still uncomfortable with the situation. He knew he is going to have to follow this guy carefully to see when the switch was made and where the real Ray went. That means a twenty-four hour watch on the man for the next couple of days. He couldn’t do it alone. He needed to call Nate. Nate had worked this kind of thing with him before. In the morning he’d also call Carlson. He would tell her what was going on, and what kind of information he needed. Since she had done a preliminary search when they received Ray’s letter a couple of months from now, Jake could save her some time and focus her investigation.

  “Let’s go to bed,” he suggested after completing his call to Nate. “I’m not thinking very clearly.”

  Chapter 14

  “This is most unusual,” Carlson said after Jake explained the situation. She and Laney were on the opposite end of the secure call that Jake had originated from his study. He could hear Karin moving out in the kitchen, getting breakfast ready for herself and Janna. Fortunately the time shift between California and Washington was working in his favor.

  “We’ve never dealt with a situation where our quarry knows about you or your abilities. How could he have learned so much?”

  “That’s one of the things I need to find out. In addition with dealing with Ray, I don’t think I will be able to consider Karin and Janna safe until I know who informed him and find a way to plug that leak. I believe at the moment he may not know too many details, and he might have simply thought out the implications of what someone like me might do. From what I have seen, he might not learn who I am until later.”

  “That suggests he will meet with whoever told him about you again.”

  “A possibility. Or, perhaps he uncovers the names on his own. He is a reporter, and apparently quite capable.”

  “I’ll have to make certain those names don’t appear anywhere here. I’ve tried to purge them from the files, but there are documents from our very first effort in Atlanta with the Mathews name that are in the system. I didn’t know you then and had no reason to worry about the name. The computer files I’ve dealt with, but there are some printed documents that people have in their files. I’m not sure what to do about them. The Mathews name also figured in my personal Kern’s files for a time, but I thought I’d managed to correct those. I was the only one who knew it was Mathews, or you, who saved the Senator.”

  “At the moment I’d suggest nothing beyond trying to discover where they might be. Knowing that, and watching those files, might give us a clue at some point where our leak is,” Jake suggested.

  “That might not be possible,” Carlson said. “I’ll have to think on it.”

  “What do you need most urgently from us?” Laney asked.

  Jake ran down his list.

  “I’ll get on it right away,” Laney said.

  “Do you need any help?” Carlson asked. “Jim can fly out tonight if you need him. Unfortunately, I’m locked into something.”

  “I’ve got help coming,” Jake explained. “For now the information is most important. Nate and I should be able to tail this guy. If not, I might have to back-track and we’ll be having a different discussion.”

  “Why not forget the tricky stuff and simply confront the guy? Ask him what you need to know in a controlled environment. I’m sure you can make him talk. Then simply use your ability to make it so it never happened.”

  Jake was a little surprised Laney would suggest such a thing.

  “I’ve considered it,” Jake admitted. “But I think we might learn more by watching, at least the first time around. I’d probably get answers to certain questions by asking, but there might be things in play that I wouldn’t think to inquire about. I think what you are suggesting is a fall back position.”

  “How is all this back-tracking affecting you?” Carlson asked worriedly. “You’ve never done anything like this. Are you okay?”

  “It has been smoother than I would have thought,” Jake replied. “The landings are harsh, though. The only thing is I feel a little thickheaded. I don’t know if it’s a side effect of the long jumps, or a result of so many sets of memories trying to settle themselves in place.”

  “It would be good if you can resolve this without going back any farther,” Carlson admonished.

  “That would be my hope,” Jake agreed. “Karin hates it as well.”

  “What is your plan today?” Laney asked.

  “I’ll be picking up Nate in just under two hours. We’ll set up a watch on Ray. Nate agreed to take nights once he’s familiar with the routine. I should be back here by dinner, and I’ll call back. That’ll make it late there, unfortunately.”

  “Not a problem,” Carlson replied. “We’ll be here. If anything important comes up, I’ll call your cell.”

  * * * *

  Jake waited for the passengers to disembark from the Southwest flight from Reno. Finally, he spotted the familiar form of his long time friend. Nate noticed him at nearly the same time, and hurried in his direction. He w
as pulling a large carry-on bag behind him.

  “Any other luggage?” Jake asked.

  “This is it,” Nate replied. “Are we going to get me a car?”

  “Later,” Jake replied. “I want to show you around first. That will be difficult if we are in separate vehicles.”

  Once they reached the parking lot and put Nate’s bag in the back of the Highlander, Nate asked, “You are certain that once we are finished here and you have learned what you need, this won’t ever happen?”

  Nate was familiar with how this worked having been intimately involved in two previous efforts, including the one that had saved Karin’s life.

  “Once we nail down what this guy is up to, I’ll back-track and won’t need to call you for help,” Jake promised. “Why, is this inconvenient timing?”

  “You might say that. Don’t forget that Brenda and I are going to be married in a couple of months. I’d like to ask how that went, but I know you won’t tell me. Wouldn’t matter anyway if you loop around this activity. Anyway, we are supposed to be flying back to see her parents this weekend. Let’s say she is hopping mad at the moment. Don’t forget, she doesn’t know about what you do. You aren’t currently on her list of favorite people, and I’ll bet she is considering striking you from the guest list for the wedding.”

  Jake realized what a friend he had in Nate. “Don’t worry. Once this is done, I’ll make sure you never came here.”

  “That’s all I ask,” Nate said.

  They were out of the airport traffic loop and on the freeway when Jake said. “Open the glove box. There is something in there for you.”

  “I didn’t think we were going to be doing any shooting this time,” Nate said as he pulled the compact 1911 government model and several spare magazines from the glove box.

  “I hope that we won’t, but if this gets serious later and I think we ought to be prepared.”

  “California doesn’t really approve of concealed carry,” Nate pointed out.

  “If there is trouble I’ll either loop around it, or have Carlson wave her magic wand,” Jake promised.

  Nate shrugged and clipped the holstered pistol onto his belt after verifying it was loaded with a round in the chamber. He was a better shot than Jake, and was particularly fond of the 1911.

  Jake filled Nate in on everything he knew as they made the drive to Oakland. It was too late to follow Ray to work, but Jake drove by the house pointing it out, then showed him the route to the newspaper. Happily, the old car was in its usual spot, suggesting that Ray was settled in at work. Jake didn’t expect otherwise. Whatever Ray had planned, he would most likely have it set up for after his last day, which would be tomorrow, Friday. Jake would have liked for Nate to see Ray close up in person as he had, but could think of no easy way for that to happen.

  Satisfied that Nate knew the route, they headed back across the Bay and arranged for a rental car for him. Then they headed back to the house. Karin was at work, but they got Nate settled into the guestroom, and checked to see if Carlson had forwarded anything.

  “That’s him,” Jake said as they looked at the pictures on the screen. The picture he’d seen when Carlson had done the search four months from now was there, but her people had dug much deeper this time. One of the pictures attached to the mail file was from Ray’s own newspaper. It showed him interviewing someone. It was grainy, but it showed his face clear enough to see the scar. A recently processed passport photo was far clearer, the scar plainly visible in the photo. Jake found himself staring into the face of the man he’d just met. Short of fingerprints, it appeared this was the real Henry Ray. No more substitutes. This was the man Jake needed to deal with.

  As late afternoon approached, they returned across the Bay, Nate driving this time, and followed Ray from the paper, to dinner, and than back to his house in Oakland.

  “Tomorrow it should get interesting,” Jake said.

  After the call with Carlson, Jake, Karin and Nate went out for dinner. Janna was being watched by a neighbor so they could all enjoy the evening unencumbered.

  The next morning while Nate was sleeping in, Jake once again headed across the Bay to watch Ray as he went through his last day at the old newspaper. It was a short day. Just after twelve, Ray came out carrying a cardboard box that he placed in his car. Jake followed as he drove home, came back out and went to the mall where he had lunch and spent more than an hour in a couple of clothing stores. New clothes before he disappeared, Jake decided. Then they drove back to the house.

  Nate relieved Jake at six. Jake was in the middle of a late meal with Karin when Nate called.

  “He’s moving,” Nate said. “I’ve followed him from the house to a bar. He met three other people here, two women and another guy. Looks like a double date or something. You might want to be here for this.”

  Chapter 15

  “How did this come about?” Jake asked after he’d slid onto the barstool next to Nate at the popular bar on Union Street in San Francisco. Nate was sitting in a dark corner away from the bar and most of the noise. It was a Friday night, and even though it was cold outside, the place was crowded with those happy to see the weekend arrive.

  “He came out and got into his car around 7:30. I figured he was going to the store or out to eat. Next thing I knew we were on the freeway and headed across the Bay. From what you tell me, that’s not typical behavior for him.”

  “Not from what I’ve seen, but I’ve never watched him on a Friday night before,” Jake explained. “Perhaps he isn’t as much of a loner as we thought. Either that or he’s making his move.”

  “He drove straight here,” Nate said. “It was as if he knew the way. I’d say he’s been here before. He parked down the street a couple of blocks and walked over here. The others were waiting for him.”

  Jake took a sip of his rum and coke and stole a glance at the foursome across the room. The girl sitting next to Ray wasn’t that attractive, but she was animated, and obviously having a good time. She was a toucher, and frequently placed her hand on Ray’s arm. The other couple was about the same age, and something about their posture indicated they had known each other for some time. There was a casualness to their demeanor. The man had blond hair and a nicely trimmed beard that covered the lower half of his face. He was too far away for Jake to discern many details. Jake suspected that Ray’s date was a friend of the other woman, although he had no idea who they were.

  “See if you can grab a picture or two with your cell,” Jake suggested. Ray had seen him, and since Jake hadn’t back-tracked as yet, Ray would still have those memories. He had no reason to know Nate.

  Nate nodded, and stood up and walked across the room. He moved smoothly between the people who made up the crowd, and if Jake hadn’t been watching and expecting it, he never would have noticed Nate shift the palmed cell phone and take the pictures. He continued past, stopped and talked to a waitress, pointing back where Jake was sitting, and then returned. Anyone watching would assume he’d gone to ask the waitress for something. When he returned, he handed the phone to Jake, who took a moment to examine the shots. One was a little blurry, but the other two were good. It was easy to identify Ray, the scar showing in the side view Nate had captured. His date was shown clearly as well, and the last photo captured the other two. The man with the beard looked oddly familiar, but Jake couldn’t guess why.

  “I’ve never seen them before,” Jake said softly. “Maybe the guy. I’ll have Carlson run them through their face recognition software and see what turns up.”

  After nearly forty minutes, Ray signaled the waitress who reached into a deep pocket and handed over a bill. It appeared the group was preparing to leave. Jake could see that a credit card had been given to the waitress, who walked away. While Nate watched, Jake stood and went over to the bar with their tab and paid. By the time he returned, the waitress was just walking away from the table where the party of four was reaching for coats and pushing away from the table.

  “Let’s use
your car,” Jake suggested. “I doubt Ray saw my Highlander, but it’s been around where he works a couple of times. There is no chance he’ll recognize the rental.”

  They followed the group outside into the cool of the evening. While the weather had been remarkably good, it was still November and the evenings in San Francisco could be cold, especially on nights like this when there was a faint drizzle. Jake followed the group while Nate hurried down the block to where he’d parked. The foursome climbed into a Toyota sedan, far nicer than the car that Ray normally drove that was parked less than a block from the bar. They had been luckier than Nate in finding a parking spot. They were already half a block away when Nate came speeding up in the rental.

  “They turned right at the corner,” Jake informed Nate as he jumped into the passenger seat.

  Fortunately the traffic was now reasonably light. Those who were out for the evening had settled in somewhere, and the number of cars on the slick street were few. As soon as Nate turned the corner they spotted the other vehicle ahead of them.