Without Fail - Lee Child [151]
They waited and Armstrong called back after twenty minutes and told Stuyvesant three things: first, his mother’s health had taken a sudden turn for the worse, therefore second, he wanted to be flown out to Oregon that afternoon, therefore third, the meeting with Reacher and Neagley would have to be short and it would have to be delayed two hours while he packed.
So Reacher and Neagley went to Froelich’s office to wait some more, but it had already been taken over by the new guy. The little plant was gone. Furniture had been moved. Things had been changed around. All that remained of Froelich was a faint trace of her perfume in the air. So they went back to the reception area and sprawled in the leather chairs. Watched the muted television. It was tuned to a news channel, and they saw Froelich die all over again, silently and in slow motion. They saw part of Armstrong’s subsequent statement. They saw Bannon interviewed outside the Hoover Building. They didn’t ask for the sound to be turned up. They knew what he would be saying. They watched football highlights from the Thanksgiving Day games. Then Stuyvesant called them back to his office.
His secretary wasn’t there. She was clearly enjoying a long weekend at home. They walked through the empty area and sat down in front of Stuyvesant’s immaculate desk while he ran through the rules of engagement.
“No physical contact,” he said.
Reacher smiled. “Not even a handshake?”
“I guess a handshake is OK,” Stuyvesant said. “But nothing else. And you are not to reveal anything about the current situation. He doesn’t know, and I don’t want him to find out from you. Is that understood?”
Reacher nodded.
“Understood,” Neagley said.
“Don’t upset him and don’t harass him. Remember who he is. And remember he’s preoccupied with his mother.”
“OK,” Reacher said.
Stuyvesant looked away. “I’ve decided I don’t want to know why you want to see him. And I don’t want to know what happens afterward, if anything. But I do want to say thanks for everything you’ve already done. Your audit will help us, and I think you probably saved us in Bismarck, and your hearts have been in the right place throughout, and I’m very grateful for all of that.”
Nobody spoke.
“I’m going to retire,” Stuyvesant said. “I’d have to fight to save my career now, and the truth is I don’t like my career enough to fight for it.”
“These guys were never your agents,” Reacher said.
“I know that,” Stuyvesant said. “But I lost two people. Therefore my career is over. But that’s my decision and my problem. All I mean to say to you is I’m glad I got the chance to meet Joe’s brother, and it was a real pleasure working with you both.”
Nobody spoke.
“And I’m glad you were there at the end for M.E.”
Reacher looked away. Stuyvesant took the envelopes out of his pocket again.
“I don’t know whether to hope you’re right or wrong,” he said. “About Wyoming, I mean. We’ll have three agents and some local cops. That’s not a lot of cover, if things turn out bad.”
He passed the envelopes across the desk.
“There’s a car waiting downstairs,” he said. “You get a one-way ride to Georgetown, and then you’re on your own.”
They went down in the elevator and Reacher detoured into the main hall. It was vast and dark and gray and deserted, and the cold marble echoed with his footsteps. He stopped underneath the carved panel and glanced up at his brother’s name. Glanced at the empty space where Froelich