Read Online The Fugitive by John Grisham - Free Book Online

response. Slade and Ackerman were both on the phone and watching planes take off and land in the distance. The airport was not busy, and as Theo walked along the concourse he passed a bookstore, a gift shop, two bars where some folks were already drinking too much, a sad little quarantine box where the smokers were caged in, and several restaurants. He used the restroom, and as he stepped back onto the concourse to continue his stroll, he bumped into a man who was in a hurry. The contact was slight, but it was enough to make the man drop his carry-on bag.
    â€œSorry,” the man said as he hurried to pick up his bag. When he bent over, his eyeglasses slipped off.
    â€œSorry, too,” Theo said, embarrassed.
    As the man grabbed his glasses, Theo looked at him and moved back a step. Something about him was familiar; in fact, he looked a lot like Pete Duffy, but with blond hair and different glasses. He froze for a second, glared at Theo as if he knew him, then smiled as if all was well. Theo froze, too, but quickly remembered Frye’s warning: Don’t stare. He returned the smile and walked in the opposite direction. Duffy continued on, in a hurry, and Theo ducked behind a newsstand. As he watched Duffy hoof it down the concourse, he realized he’d seen that walk before. He called Ike. Straight to voice mail. He had numbers for both Slade and Ackerman. He called Slade and began trailing Duffy, who was getting farther away. Twice he glanced over his shoulder, as if he knew someone was back there.
    Slade answered after the fourth ring. “Yes, Theo.”
    â€œI got Packer,” Theo said. “Come quick.”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œDown the concourse. He just passed gate number thirty-one. He’s in a hurry and I think he’s trying to catch a flight.”
    â€œStay on his tail. We’ll be right there.”
    Theo moved along the edge of the concourse, trying to stay out of sight but having trouble keeping up with Duffy. At gate twenty-seven, though, Duffy slowed down and got in the back of a long line of people boarding. He glanced back again, but Theo was hiding behind an information booth. He waited for what seemed like hours until he saw Slade and Ackerman walking rapidly toward him. Ike was trying to keep up.
    Theo waved them over. “He’s at gate twenty-seven, waiting to board.”
    â€œAre you sure it’s him?” Ackerman asked.
    â€œPretty sure. We made eye contact. I think he thought he’d seen me somewhere before.”
    â€œWhich guy?” Ackerman asked as they peeked around the booth. A lady at the desk asked, “May I help you?”
    Slade said, “FBI, ma’am. We’re cool.”
    Theo said, “He’s at the back of the line, brown jacket, khaki pants, black carry-on bag. He’s got blond hair now.” Ackerman looked at the large screen above them and said, “Gate twenty-seven. Delta nonstop to Miami.”
    Slade said to Ackerman, “Call Frye. Get the flight delayed or grounded or whatever. Let’s stay here, let Packer get on board, and at that point there’s no escape.”
    â€œRight,” Ackerman said, punching numbers on his phone.
    Slade said, “I’ll go get in line behind him, just to make sure he doesn’t disappear.” Slade casually strolled down the concourse, like any other passenger, and got in line for the flight to Miami. There were six people between him and Duffy and the line was moving slowly. Duffy seemed a bit jumpy. He was probably wondering where he’d seen that kid before, and he kept glancing down the concourse. Ackerman was talking to Frye. Ike was crouching behind Theo and breathing heavily. The lady at the desk just stared at them. She was probably thinking
This kid ain’t no FBI agent
. But she said nothing.
    Ackerman stuck his phone in his pocket and said, “Got it. The flight will be delayed until we do our business. Packer won’t make it to