time.” “That’s been canceled,” White said sharply. “Why?” “You don’t need to

know why.” Puller flinched at this rebuke. He and White had always gotten on

well. “Can I ask what’s the assignment in Frankfurt?” he said curtly. “You’ll

get full particulars when you get there. I’ll email the details of the trip.”

“Sir, can you tell me what’s going on?” “I just did, Puller.” “And the case with

my father?” But White had already clicked off.

 

Puller sat back and numbly stared down at the photos on the bed.

 

Apparently the stonewalling had just picked up again after thirty years.

 

Chapter 30

 

SOMETHING WAS OFF. Rogers noted it as soon as he walked into the Grunt an hour

before opening time.

 

No one would make eye contact with him. At first he thought it was because Josh

Quentin had somehow spotted him back in North Carolina and conveyed that to

Helen Myers, which would mean he was in big trouble.

 

But then he saw him sitting there, in the far back.

 

It was Karl, dressed all in black, with a cane leaning next to the table. Three

of the fingers on his right hand were encased in splints.