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〃Annapolis； Trooper…2；〃 the pilot called； 〃the subject van is turning north off of Route 50。〃 It took a moment to register。 〃Oh； no！〃 He gave a quick order。 The eastbound police cars slowed； then darted across the grass median strip into the westbound lanes。 These were clear； blocked by a second major accident； but the median was uneven。 One car bogged down in the grass and mud while the other bounded up onto the pavement and ran the wrong way on the highway toward the exit。
Alex hit the traffic light exactly right； crossing West Street and heading north。 His peripheral vision caught a county police car stuck in the rush…hour traffic on West Street two hundred yards to his right； despite his lights and siren。 Too late； pig。 He proceeded two hundred yards and turned left。
The Sergeant flying Trooper…2 started cursing； oblivious to the Governor and Attorney General in the back。 As he watched； the van pulled into the hundred…acre parking lot that surrounded Annapolis Mall。 The vehicle proceeded toward the inner ring of parking spaces as three cars turned off West Street in pursuit。
〃Son of a bitch！〃 He pushed down on his collective control and dove at the parking lot。
Alex pulled into a handicap parking slot and stopped the van。 His passengers were ready； and opened the doors as soon as the vehicle stopped。 They walked slowly and normally to the entrance to the mall。 The driver looked up in surprise when he heard the whine and flutter of the helicopter。 It hovered at about a hundred feet。 Alex made sure his hat was in place and waved as he went through the door。
The helicopter pilot looked at the paramedic in the left seat； whose hand was clenched in rage at his shoulder…holstered 。357 revolver while the pilot needed both of his on the controls。
〃They're gone；〃 the paramedic said quietly over the inter。
〃What do you mean they're gone！〃 the Attorney General demanded。
Below them； a county and a State Police car screeched to a halt outside the entrance。 But inside those doors were about three thousand shoppers； and the police didn't know what the suspects looked like。 The officers stood there； guns drawn； not knowing what to do next。
Alex and his men were inside a public rest room。 Two members of Alex's organization were waiting there with shopping bags。 Each man from the van got a new coat。 They broke up into pairs and walked out into the shopping concourse； heading for an exit at the west end of the mall。 They took their time。 There was no reason to hurry。
〃He waved at us；〃 the Governor said。 〃Do something！〃
〃What？〃 the pilot asked。 〃What do you want us to do？ Who do we stop？ They're gone； they might as well be in California now。〃
The Governor was slow to catch on； though faster than the Attorney General； who was still blubbering。 What had begun as a routine political meeting in Salisbury； on Maryland's eastern shore； had turned into an exciting pursuit； but one with a most unsatisfactory ending。 He'd watched one of his state troopers killed right before his eyes； and neither he nor his people could do a single thing about it。 The Governor swore； finally。 The voters would have been shocked at his language。
Trooper…1 was sitting on the Severn River bridge； its rotor turning rapidly to stay above the concrete barriers。 The paramedic； Trooper Waverly； and a motorist who turned out to be a volunteer fireman； were loading the two accident victims into Stokes litters for transport on the helicopter。 The other motorist who had assisted was standing alone by the police car； over a puddle of his own vomit。 A fire engine was pulling up to the scene； and two more state troopers were preparing to get traffic moving； once the helicopter took off。 The highway was already backed up at least four miles。 As they prepared to start directing traffic； they heard on their radios what had happened to J…19 and its driver。 The police officers exchanged looks； but no words。 They would e later。
As first officer on the scene； Waverly took the driver's purse and started looking for identification。 He had lots of forms to fill out； and people to notify。 Inside the purse； he saw； was some kind of finger painting。 He looked up as the little girl's litter was loaded into the top rack of the helicopter's passenger bay。 The paramedic went in behind it； and less than thirty seconds later； Waverly's face stung with the impact of gravel； thrown up by the helicopter's rotor。 He watched it lift into the air； and whispered a prayer for the little girl who'd done a painting of something that looked like a blue cow。 Back to work； he told himself。 The purse had a red address book。 He checked the driver's license to get a name； then looked in the book under the same letter。 Someone with the first name of Jack； but no last name written in； had a number designated 〃work。〃 It was probably her husband's。 Somebody had to call him。
〃Baltimore Approach； this is Trooper…1 on a medivac inbound to Baltimore。〃
〃Trooper…1； roger； you are cleared for direct approach； e left to course three…four…seven and maintain current altitude；〃 the air controller at Baltimore…Washington International responded。 The 5101 squawk number was clear on his scope； and medical emergencies had unconditional priority。
〃Hopkins Emergency； this is Trooper…1； inbound with a white female child accident victim。〃
〃Trooper…1； Hopkins。 Divert to University。 We're full up here。〃
〃Roger。 University； Trooper…1； do you copy； over。〃
〃Trooper…1； this is University； we copy； and we're ready for you。〃
〃Roger； ETA five minutes。 Out。〃
〃Gunny； this is Cummings at Gate Three；〃 the Sergeant called on the telephone。
〃What is it； Sergeant？〃 Breckenridge asked。
〃There's this guy； he's been standing on the corner across the street for about forty…five minutes。 It just feels funny； you know？ He's off the grounds； but it doesn't feel right。〃
〃Call the cops？〃 the Sergeant Major asked。
〃What for？〃 Cummings asked reasonably。 〃He ain't even spit far as I can tell。〃
〃Okay； I'll walk on up。〃 Breckenridge stood。 He was bored anyway。 The Sergeant Major donned his cap and walked out of the building； heading north across the campus。 It took five minutes； during which he saluted six officers and greeted a larger number of mids。 He didn't like the cold。 It had never been like this during his childhood on a Mississippi dirt farm。 But spring was ing。 He was careful not to look too obviously out of the gate as he crossed the street。
He found Cummings in the guardhouse； standing inside the door。 A good young sergeant； Cummings was。 He had the new look of the Corps。 Breckenridge was built along the classic John Wayne lines； with broad shoulders and imposing bulk。 Cummings was a black kid； a runner who had the frame of a Frank Shorter。 The boy could run all day； something that the Gunny had never been able to do。 But more than all of that； Cummings was a lifer。 He understood what the Marine Corps was all about。 Breckenridge had taken the young man under his wing； imparting a few important lessons along the way。 The Sergeant Major knew that he would soon be part of the Corps' past。 Cummings was its future； and he told himself that the future looked pretty good。
〃Hey； Gunny；〃 the Sergeant greeted him。
〃The guy in the doorway？〃
〃He's been there since a little after four。 He don't live here。〃 Cummings paused for a moment。 He was； after all； only a 〃buck〃 sergeant with no rockers under his stripes； talking to a man whom generals addressed with respect。 〃It just feels funny。〃
〃Well； let's give him a few minutes；〃 Breckenridge thought aloud。
〃God； I hate grading quizzes。〃
〃So go easy on the boys and girls；〃 Robby chuckled。
〃Like you do？〃 Ryan asked。
〃I teach a difficult； technical subject。 I have to give quizzes。〃
〃Engineers！ Shame you can't read and write as well as you multiply。〃
〃You must have taken a tough…pill this afternoon。 Jack。〃
〃Yeah； well 〃 The phone rang。 Jack picked it up。 〃Doctor Ryan。 Yes who？〃 His face changed； his voice became guarded。
〃Yes； that's right。〃 Robby saw his friend go stiff in the chair。 〃Are you sure？ Whe