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passing through. They've been canceling flights left and right. Do what you can from there, and I'll be in touch soon."
    "Frank?"
    There was a pause, then he said, "Yeah?"
    "Any idea how this guy knew we were coming?"
    "You tail him, or Riley?"
    "Bear did."
    "That's probably how, then."
    "Bear's good at what he does. You know that."
    "Yeah, I know. I'm not sure, Jack. Hopefully I'll have some answers by the time you get back. In the meantime, hit the streets around his building and see
    if anyone saw or knows anything. I'll keep working my angles."
    "Ten-four." I flipped the phone shut and set it down on the counter. I'd have to get a new cell to replace this one, as it was now known.
    "What do you think?" Bear said.
    "I'm thinking that I hope this guy doesn't know it was us after him. He's got friends. Same type of friends you and I have. Maybe worse."
    "Can't get much worse than the people you and I know."
    "Never say that. If he goes to them, and gets them to come after us, not even Frank is gonna stick his neck out to help."
    Bear placed his forearm on the counter and leaned over it. "You scared, Jack?"
    I shook my head. "Not scared. Concerned."

     

Chapter 8

    A FOOT OF snow left travelers stranded at the airports. All flights in and out had been canceled by three that afternoon. The news showed footage of people
    fighting over empty seats at the gates, each of which was packed so tight that people had resorted to sitting and sleeping on the floor, using luggage as
    makeshift furniture and pillows. Lines for the fast food joints snaked down the terminal aisles. In short, a total mess.
    With the airport a no-go and less than no chance we'd take a bus, our only other option was to take one of the cars. That would have been more frustrating
    than sleeping on the worn corn chip-scented airport terminal floor. Driving ten miles per hour, packed tight on the iced-over southbound lanes of I-95 held
    little appeal. In a day it'd be as though the storm had never happened. For now, though, the city was at a standstill.
    So we stayed. And Bear and I worked our phones and called our contacts until five that afternoon. None of our sources knew anything. We were hamstrung with
    most. We couldn't mention the target by name. We spoke in generalities. The results received were proportionate to the information we gave them.
    Perhaps Frank was having better luck. The man had contacts in every agency, every branch of the military. The DOD. DOJ. Congress. Even the people he'd
    pissed off in the past would go out of their way to help the guy. I hoped for good news from him. He'd let us know soon enough.
    The storm had toned down to something between flurries and snowfall, so we decided to head out for a while to grab a bite to eat. Three-quarters of the
    city might've been shut down, but there'd be places open. Some guys, like Frank, would never venture out under the current circumstances. Not the storm;
    rather the imminent danger of a target potentially knowing our identities. Neither of us cared.
    The faintest trace of sunset lingered to the west. The sky above and beyond the concrete landscape tinged pink, for a few minutes at least. Snow banks rose
    six feet high in some places. A slushy path maybe four feet wide had been worn down the center of the sidewalk. Along the edges, the snow was gray, but the
    rest was virgin white. It wouldn't last long once the vehicles returned en masse. Then leftover precipitation along the sides of the road would turn black
    with dirt and exhaust. But for now, with only the occasional cab or NYPD cruiser passing by, it was safe.
    Bear pointed to an unassuming bar with a weathered front door sunken from the sidewalk. "How about there?"
    I stopped. "I don't know."
    "Think about the walk back, Jack. This might be the only pub open this close."
    "Yeah." I covered my brow and scanned the street.
    "What is it?"
    "You know what it is."
    He shrugged. "So what? They can't kick us out. It'd be discrimination."
    "On