Alter Boy

Morelli had just come out of the bathroom when her cell phone rang. It was Georgia Nassen, but her voice was so taut as to be unrecognizable until she identified herself.

     “Is everything all right?” Morelli asked. When the connection started to break up, she slid into an empty booth by the window for better reception, and told Nassen to repeat what she just said.

     “They know you were here. They came by right after you left.”

     “Who? Who came by?”

     “The security people. They wanted to know everything. How you found me. What you said.” Nassen hesitated. “I had to tell them something.”

     Morelli moved the phone away from her mouth and cleared her throat so she could speak with a strong voice. “Which was?”

     “I told them what you said about the terrorist thing and going to the FBI. And that my answer was I didn't know what you were talking about or any of those people you named.”

     That's it?”

     “Yes. I tried to make it sound like you believed me and nothing would come of it.” She paused “But I'm not sure what good it did.”

     “What makes you say that?”

     “Because they said not to worry. That they would take care of everything and you guys would never bother me again. I don't know exactly what that means, but I thought you should know.”

     “Thanks,” Morelli said. “I promise no one will find out you told us.”

     “Yeah, well, I owe you for what happened to your partner. Plus . . . you tried to help.”

    “Will you give me a number where I can reach you directly if I have to?”

     “No,” Nassen said. “And don't try. I mean that.” She broke the connection.

     Morelli closed the phone and looked out the window. Zack was waiting in his car, which faced the entrance. She slid out of the booth and stood in place next to it.

     Nassen said they came by right after we left. How did they know we were here? Were we followed all the away from Boston? On these country roads? No way. We would have seen them . . . Unless there's a tracking device on the car.

     She shot another look at Zack, who at that moment was checking his watch. His was the only car in the lot. What if something else is on or in the car? A recording device? Worse? She flipped open her phone. No! That could trigger a signal. She laughed, a nervous reaction that drew a stare from the counter man. Stop being so paranoid!

     Cautious nonetheless, she put away the phone and went outside, pausing at the top of the steps. From that position, she could see down the road bordering the diner. About a hundred yards away, on the far side and in the direction from which they came, a blue car sat on the shoulder. From this distance, it looked like the one they passed an hour or so earlier. The vehicle was too far off to make out any details, although she thought she saw the outline of a head and shoulders.

     Morelli waved casually, and started to call for Zack to come back inside. She only got out the first two words before he started the car. Her heart rate spiked. She could hear and feel the pounding in her chest, and gripped the stair rail for support. Nothing happened.

     Rooting herself in place so as not to give anything away with her body language in case she was being watched, she raised her voice, trying to keep the shrill out of it. “Zack, come back inside for a minute.”

     He frowned as if not understanding what she said, but turned off the ignition and got out.

     He