The Vigilantes Part 43

"Yes?" he said, answering it.

"I got your photograph. The site is looking better."

The Russian? How the h.e.l.l did he get this number?

"Yuri?" Badde said.

"I think we now better understand each other."

Badde began, "I'm glad . . ." But then he realized that the line was dead.

He anxiously sipped at his beer as he tried to figure out just what the h.e.l.l had happened.

There was another gasp from the crowd, and he looked again to the televisions.

The camera showed a remarkably clear shot of a man running from the minivan, being chased by a man in a coat and tie from the gray sedan.

That first one looks like it could be Kenny!

Being chased by a plainclothes cop?

And then the camera caught a clear shot of the man in the coat and tie.

Someone said, "Look! It's the Wyatt Earp of the Main Line!"

Then Badde saw the man who was being chased trip, get up, and go over the concrete divider. What happened next was obstructed by the big box of a delivery truck. But the crowd's gasp made it obvious what had happened.

d.a.m.n! Talk about being thrown under a bus.

He took another sip of beer and thought a long moment.

Bottom line: I'm going to have to watch my back a h.e.l.luva lot more closely.

"Waitress!" he called out to the barmaid, and when she stepped over, he said, "I'll take a double Jameson's rocks. No, make it a triple."

[SEVEN].

Ben Franklin Bridge, Philadelphia Monday, November 2, 1:05 P.M.

Matt stood next to the zipper wall, watching the Tow Squad wrecker-its flatbed tilted down and touching the deck of the bridge-winch up the demolished gray Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

Every lane of traffic was backed up in both directions on the bridge, and there was a cacophony of horns honking.

As Matt scanned the maddening scene, he thought about all the craziness that had led up to this very moment-all the crimes that had been committed against the innocent, which had led to all the shootings and brutal beatings of the career criminals.

And there are all the others still out there.

More crimes, more killings-it's not going to stop.

I just slowed it. But I'm never going to be able to stop it.

He suddenly felt very small and alone.

Is there any sanity left in this world?

As he ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head, his cell phone began ringing in his pocket.

He pulled it out and glanced at the caller ID-then smiled as he closed his eyes and visualized the last time he'd seen Amanda Law.

The angel G.o.ddess peacefully asleep-there is sanity.

"Hey, baby," he said, answering it. "Feeling any better?"

"Yeah, thanks. I am. Are you too busy to talk?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Say, I'm on the balcony looking at the Ben Franklin Bridge. It's shut down in both directions. Any idea what that's about?"

"A little. I'll tell you in a bit. What's on your mind?"

"I really don't want to tell you this on the phone. How long do you think-?"

Oh, s.h.i.+t! What the h.e.l.l else can go wrong today?

"What? Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it is."

Now he could hear the excitement in her voice.

"What is it, Amanda?"

There was a long pause, then she said: "Okay, okay. Matt, I'm . . . I'm pregnant! We're We're pregnant!" pregnant!"

What? A baby?

Then he realized: No wonder the G.o.ddess was glowing. No wonder the G.o.ddess was glowing.

She was saying: "I knew I was a little late with my cycle, Matt, but when I went and got out the calendar, I saw that I was very very late. And then I thought the nausea might be, well, from being late, so in the drugstore I got one of those self-tests. It came up positive, and I thought, 'How could that be?' We're late. And then I thought the nausea might be, well, from being late, so in the drugstore I got one of those self-tests. It came up positive, and I thought, 'How could that be?' We're always always careful, you know? But then I remembered that first night we were just so . . . well, you remember, in a hurry and not careful. And then I counted the days and went back and got another brand to test with. And then it showed positive. Soooo . . ." careful, you know? But then I remembered that first night we were just so . . . well, you remember, in a hurry and not careful. And then I counted the days and went back and got another brand to test with. And then it showed positive. Soooo . . ."

Matt was quiet a long time as he absorbed the news.

He looked past the cables of the suspension bridge in the direction of the Hops Haus Tower, then up to where Amanda would be standing on the balcony and looking toward him.

"Matt . . . ?" she said very softly. "What are you thinking?"

Matt Payne then smiled broadly and said, "I'm thinking that's wonderful, Amanda. Absolutely wonderful, my angel G.o.ddess."

ALSO BY W.E.B. GRIFFIN.

HONOR BOUND.

BOOK I: HONOR BOUND.

BOOK II: BLOOD AND HONOR.

BOOK III: SECRET HONOR.

BOOK IV: DEATH AND HONOR.

(and William E. b.u.t.terworth IV) BOOK V: THE HONOR OF SPIES (and William E. b.u.t.ter worth IV)

BROTHERHOOD OF WAR.

BOOK I: THE LIEUTENANTS.

BOOK II: THE CAPTAINS.

BOOK III: THE MAJORS.

BOOK IV: THE COLONELS.

BOOK V: THE BERETS.

BOOK VI: THE GENERALS.

BOOK VII: THE NEW BREED.

BOOK VIII: THE AVIATORS.

BOOK IX: SPECIAL OPS.

THE CORPS.

BOOK I: SEMPER FI.

BOOK II: CALL TO ARMS.

BOOK III: COUNTERATTACK.

BOOK IV: BATTLEGROUND.

BOOK V: LINE OF FIRE.

BOOK VI: CLOSE COMBAT.

BOOK VII: BEHIND THE LINES.

BOOK VIII: IN DANGER'S PATH BOOK IX: UNDER FIRE.

BOOK X: RETREAT, h.e.l.l!.

BADGE OF HONOR.

BOOK I: MEN IN BLUE.

BOOK II: SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

BOOK III: THE VICTIM.

BOOK IV: THE WITNESS.

BOOK V: THE a.s.sa.s.sIN.

BOOK VI: THE MURDERERS.

BOOK VII: THE INVESTIGATORS.

BOOK VIII: FINAL JUSTICE.

BOOK IX: THE TRAFFICKERS (and William E. b.u.t.terworth IV)

MEN AT WAR.

BOOK I: THE LAST HEROES.

BOOK II: THE SECRET WARRIORS.

BOOK III: THE SOLDIER SPIES.