Cross Country by James Patterson Read Free Book Online Page B

watched the CIA prick leave the building.
    The only question now was whether or not I could get around him. Maybe if I hurried. I dialed my cell phone from right there in the lobby of the Daly Building.
    "Al Tunney," I heard a voice on the other end answer.
    "It's Alex Cross. I need a favor," I said.
    Tunney said, "No," and groaned.
    Then he asked, "What is it?"
    I told him, and he groaned again, and I really couldn't blame him.

Chapter 25
    "A LEX, YOU'RE TAKING this too far," Bree said.
    "I know that. It's what I do. It's what I've always done."
    Late that night, Bree and I were taking a ride around town. I like to drive late at night when the traffic thins out, and sixty, even seventy, isn't a dangerous speed on most of these avenues. Once we got back to Fifth Street I was feeling better, but Bree was still wound up. She couldn't stop pacing up in the bedroom. I had never seen her like this, agitated and unsure of herself.
    "See, the thing is, I've always been the one on the other side of this particular argument, the one trying to do the convincing. I've never been the person sitting there not buying it. You're going over the top here, Alex. This latest plan of yours. Chase the killer back in Africa? Even under the circumstances, it's — I don't even know what to call it."
    I started to speak, but she went on.
    "And you know why I don't buy your arguments now, Alex? Because sometimes in your position, I'd lie. I don't know how many times I've told my family there was nothing to worry about, or how safe I was going to be, when really I had no idea. You have no idea what you'll find in Africa."
    "You're right," I said, and not just to get her to stop pacing.
    "I won't try to sell you some bill of goods here, Bree. But I will tell you that I'm not going to do anything stupid over there."
    It was about eight hours after my confrontation with Eric Dana and my subsequent conversation with Tunney. Tunney had gone as far as setting me up with a CIA officer stationed in Nigeria — just before he told me never to call him again.
    I had the frequent-flier miles, so that wasn't a problem.
    I had vacation time banked with the MPD. Now I just had to convince two of the strongest women I'd ever known that it made sense for me to do this — Bree tonight, Nana Mama tomorrow.
    The air, the tension, between Bree and me was as thick as I'd ever felt it.
    "What exactly are you hoping to accomplish over there?" she finally asked me.
    "Ultimately? Use Tunney's guy to set up some local cooperation. Then steer the killer into custody if I can. I can get this guy, Bree. He's arrogant, thinks he can't be caught. That's his weakness."
    "Kyle Craig was a lifer, several times over. It's no guarantee, Alex. That's if you catch him."
    I allowed myself a sheepish grin. "And yet we keep doing our jobs anyway, don't we? We keep trying to catch these killers."
    I finally reached out and took her hand. Then I pulled her over to sit next to me on the bed.
    "I have to go, Bree. He's already killed more people in Washington than anyone I've seen. Eventually he'll come back and start up again."
    "And he killed your friend."
    "Yes, he killed my friend. He killed Ellie Cox and her entire family."
    Finally Bree shrugged. "So, go. Go to Africa, Alex." And we hugged each other for a long time, and I was reminded again of why I loved her. And maybe why I was running away from her now.

Chapter 26
    H E MET UP with the white devil in a wood-paneled cigar bar just off Pennsylvania Avenue, half a dozen blocks from the White House. They ordered drinks and appetizers, and the white man selected a Partagas cigar.
    "Cigars aren't a vice of yours?" the white man asked.
    "I have no vices," said the Tiger. "I am pure of heart."
    The white man laughed at that.
    "The money has been transferred, three hundred and fifty thousand. You're going back now?"
    "Yes, later tonight, in fact. I'm looking forward to being home in Nigeria."
    The man nodded. "Even in such troubled