بخش 05 - فصل 22

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They stand behind Jerome, Hodges looking over his left shoulder and Holly over his right. On the screen of Hodges’s computer is a press release. SYNERGY CORP., CITIBANK, 3 RESTAURANT CHAINS TO PUT ON MIDWEST’S BIGGEST SUMMER CAREERS DAY AT EMBASSY SUITES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Career businesspeople and military veterans are encouraged to attend the biggest Careers Day of the year on Saturday, June 5th,

1. This recession-busting event will be held at the downtown Embassy Suites, 1 Synergy Square. Prior registration is encouraged but not necessary. You will discover hundreds of exciting and high-paying jobs at the Citibank website, at your local McDonald’s, Burger King, and Chicken Coop, or at www.syner

   gy.com. Jobs available include customer service, retail, security, plumbing, electrical, accounting,

2. financial analysts, telemarketing, cashiers. You will find trained and helpful Job Guides and useful seminars in all conference rooms. There is no charge. Doors open at 8 AM. Bring your resume and dress for

success. Remember that prior registration will speed the process and improve your chances of finding that job you’ve been looking for. TOGETHER WE WILL BEAT THIS RECESSION! “What do you think?” Jerome asks. “I think you nailed it.” An enormous wave of relief sweeps through Hodges. Not the concert tonight, or a crowded

downtown dance club, or the Groundhogs-Mudhens minor league baseball game tomorrow night. It’s this thing at Embassy Suites. Got to be, it’s too perfectly rounded to be anything else. There’s method in Brady Hartsfield’s madness; to him, alpha equals omega. Hartsfield means to finish his career as a mass murderer the

same way he started it, by killing the city’s jobless. Hodges turns to see how Holly is taking this, but Holly has left the room. She’s back in the kitchen, sitting in front of Deborah Hartsfield’s laptop and staring at the password screen. Her shoulders are slumped. In the saucer beside her, a cigarette has smoldered

down to the filter, leaving a neat roll of ash. This time he risks touching her. “It’s okay, Holly. The password doesn’t matter because now we’ve got the location. I’m going to get with my old partner in a couple of hours, when this Lowtown thing’s had a chance to settle a bit, and tell him everything. They’ll put out a BOLO on

Hartsfield and his car. If they don’t get him before Saturday morning, they’ll get him as he approaches the job fair.” “Isn’t there anything we can do tonight?” “I’m thinking about that.” There is one thing, although it’s such a long shot it’s practically a no-shot. Holly says, “What if you’re wrong about it being the

career-day? What if he plans to blow up a movie theater tonight?” Jerome comes into the room. “It’s Thursday, Hol, and still too early for the big summer pictures. Most screens won’t be playing to even a dozen people.” “The concert, then,” she says. “Maybe he doesn’t know it’ll be all girls.”

“He’ll know,” Hodges says. “He’s a creature of improvisation, but that doesn’t make him stupid. He’ll have done at least some advance planning.” “Can I have just a little more time to try and crack her password? Please?” Hodges glances at his watch. Ten after four. “Sure. Until four-thirty, how’s that?”

A bargaining glint comes into her eyes. “Quarter to five?” Hodges shakes his head. Holly sighs. “I’m out of cigarettes, too.” “Those things will kill you,” Jerome says. She gives him a flat look. “Yes! That’s part of their charm.”