The Legacy (31 page)

Incredible, Cole thought to himself. His father had planned the whole thing for years. Did he ever tell you about what he does for a living?

He told me hes an intelligence agent, but thats all. Of course, thats our entire relationship in a nutshell. Theres always lots of mystery. I see him once every six months if Im lucky. And we always arrange our next meeting on the last day were together. I never hear from him in between. Hes enigmatic, but I guess I kind of like that. Its wild. We meet in crazy places like Australia, the Swiss Alps, Rio. A smile crossed her lips. Its so romantic. We have three or four days of incredible excitement, then he disappears and I have to wait until the next time. One time a few years ago he didnt show up at our prearranged meeting place in Tahiti. I was devastated. I was looking forward to seeing him so much. I stayed on the island for two days waiting at the hotel where he said he would meet me, but he never showed up. I thought he was dead. I cried all the way back to New York on the plane. A few days later a note showed up on my desk and gave me the next coordinates. Thats what he calls our meeting places, coordinates. Hes always naming things. She giggled like a schoolgirl. He never apologized for not showing up in Tahiti, never even mentioned it again, but thats him. He never apologizes for anything.

Cole stared at her, unable to speak for a few seconds. Hes always naming things? he finally whispered.

Always, Tori confirmed. He says he can never write anything down because of what he does, and naming things helps his memory.

So his father really was always naming things. Bennett hadnt been lying about that.

Tori sighed. I didnt tell you all this, because he made me swear I wouldnt. He said he didnt want you distracted. He wanted you to get that tape and sell it.

He told you that he had a tape of the Kennedy assassination? Cole asked. One that was different from the Zapruder film? He told you that was what he was sending me after?

Yes. She looked down at the floor.

What is it? Cole sensed Toris mood changing.

She took his hands in hers again and looked back up at him. Jim told me everything when I saw him six months ago. He told me that he had kept this film of Kennedys assassination all these years, and that he couldnt release it because he felt he would be killed if he did, although he wouldnt tell me by whom. She hesitated.

Whats wrong, Tori? Cole could see the pain in her eyes.

Im ashamed of myself.

Why?

For the way I acted at lunch that day in New York, holding back on your grandparents address the way I did. But you see, your father told me that you might already have the first tape at that point. I figured I would have heard something through the grapevine if youd already made a deal with one of the other networks, but I hadnt heard anyone talking. She pursed her lips. I really wanted to make certain that I got my hands on it. I really do want to impress my people at NBC, thats on the level. Your father told me the tapes existed, but he never told me where they were. I guess he trusted me to deliver a note to you, but not to hold the tape.

Just as he had trusted Bennett to deliver the envelope, but not to hold the tape, Cole thought to himself.

But, Cole, I wasnt his lover just so I could get my hands on the assassination tape. You have to believe me about that, Tori pleaded.

I do, Cole said gently.

I didnt know anything until six months ago.

I believe you. And dont worry about holding back on my grandparents address. Ultimately you gave it to me. He smiled. So all that stuff about finding the marriage certificate in Dallas and the ticklers in the NBC computers, that was all

All made up.

But you did visit my grandparents.

It was the one way I could check out your fathers story. Remember, I am in the news business. I like to get confirmation when I can.

Cole was puzzled. But those other news agencies called me at Gilchrist just a day after our lunch.

People have been looking for your father for a long time, in exactly the way I described, with computers scanning periodicals and publications looking for tickler words. Even people at NBC. The ones who called you obviously saw the obituary and got your name from the Times. She laughed. I didnt need to do all that because I had inside information.

Cole smiled back. You sure did. It was beautiful. His father had organized two completely separate methods by which to convey the Dealey Tape to his son, using his two most trusted confidants in the worldTori and Bennett. Hed used two because he didnt completely trust either one. It wasnt in Jim Egans nature to trust anyone unconditionally, as it wasnt in his own. Suddenly Cole felt the loneliness that came with never fully trusting anyone, but he quickly shook it off. After all, his father had been right. Bennett Smith, his lifelong friend, had betrayed the trust.

Ive got to get going, Cole said firmly. I dont want to stick around here. He glanced out the window, half expecting to see Bennett coming up Billys driveway.

Huh? Tori was instantly alarmed. She hadnt heard the word we in his sentence.

Cole stood up. Im going after my father. You said you met him in a small town in Montana. Which one was it?

Tori stood up as well. First lets get the tape to New York City. Lets get it someplace safe where NBC can have it guarded around the clock. Lets get you your ten million dollars, and then go after your father.

No, it might be too late at that point, Cole countered. Im sure theyre out there looking for him as we speak. Id never forgive myself if I didnt get to him.

Why would it be too late? she wanted to know.

It doesnt matter, Cole answered quickly.

You Egans make me so mad sometimes. You dont tell anyone anything.

Where in Montana did you meet him? Cole demanded.

Im not telling you, she said defiantly.

Youre not going to pull this on me again. Cole grabbed her upper arms.

Its for your own good, Cole. Its what your father wanted. He wanted you to sell that tape first and foremost.

I dont care what my father wanted, Cole yelled, shaking Tori hard.

Youre hurting me! she screamed.

Easy, Cole! Billy yelled, moving out from behind the island counter.

Hey! Dont get in the way, Billy. Cole pointed a finger at his friend, then took Tori by her upper arm again and stared into her eyes. My grandparents are one thing. His voice was trembling slightly. My father is another. One way or another, you will tell me the town you met him in. Do you understand what I mean by that?

She understood completely and wanted no part of what she saw in his eyes. Powell. Its located halfway between Helena and Great Falls on the Missouri River, she said quietly.

Okay. Is there anything else you can tell me?

He met me at a little diner in town. He didnt tell me where he was hiding.

That made sense. Tori might have given him away without even meaning to. Hed have to go to Powell blind and wing it when he got there. All right. He released his grip on her, popped the tape from the VCR, replaced it in its case and headed toward the lodge door.

Where are you going? she shouted.

To pack, he called back over his shoulder. And then to Powell.

Not without me, you arent.

Cole stopped at the door. Billy will give you a ride to the Duluth Airport. There are plenty of flights from Duluth to Minneapolis. From there you can make it back to New York easily.

But

He held up a hand. When Im done in Montana, Ill call you. I told you Id give you the right of first refusal on the Dealey Tape, and I wont renege on that. You can match any and all offers.

And just how are you going to get to Montana? A sly smile spread across her face. Walk?

Coles shoulders sagged. He had completely forgotten about his money problem. He couldnt ask Billy for funds. The man had hardly any money. For a second he considered asking Tori for a loan, but he knew that wasnt even worth the effort.

All right, pack your bags. I guess youre coming with me to Montana.

Good. And maybe when we get there youll give me my cell phone back.

THE MISSOURI RIVER is formed by the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers at a lonely spot called Three Forks, Montana, located sixty miles northwest of Yellowstone National Park. From Three Forks the Missouri flows north past Helena through the Big Belt Mountains to the tiny town of Powell. At Powell the river turns east toward Great Falls, then finally southeast through the Dakotas toward its St. Louis rendezvous with the mighty Mississippi.

Powell turns the Missouri east, and in return for this guidance, it clings to the wide river for protection like a storm-weary barnacle to a harbor piling, as if the Rocky Mountain peaks towering high above the tiny town might bend down to swallow it and its four hundred residents like the dinosaurs that roamed the region millions of years before. Powell consists of a small trailer park, a few clapboard homes, a diner that doubles as the local watering hole, several outfitter stores for fishermen and hunters, Millers General Store and a rundown seven-room motel also owned by Jack Miller and his wife. The interstate, a half mile west of town, shadows the Missouris every move and connects Powell to the outside worldHelena, thirty miles to the south, and Great Falls, forty miles to the northeast. Between Powell and these two small cities is little else but the river, the mountains, the interstate and the single-track main line of the Burlington Northern Railroad, which shadows the rivers course even more closely than the interstate does.

Cole eased the Jeep Cherokee off the interstate and down the gently sloping exit ramp. At the bottom of the ramp he turned left onto a lonely, uneven gravel road and headed toward Powell as morning light worked its way past high clouds and craggy peaks. It was just after nine oclock. He and Tori had driven all night, twenty hours straight from Hubbard, alternating shifts at the wheel, stopping only twice for gasoline and food. It had been a marathon drive, but in a way he had enjoyed it. The drive had served as an opportunity to reflect on the incredible events of the last few days, and to figure out what he was going to say to his fatherif they could find him.

Where are we? Tori groaned, rubbing her eyes.

Paradise, Cole answered cheerfully. He meant it, too. He had never traveled in the Northwest before, but after only a few hours of the incredible scenery, he was already taken with it. The place Im going to live someday. Northern Wisconsin was beautiful, but Montana was something else. It was more majestic, more impressive and even more remote, which was the best thing of all.

Oh! She groaned again as she stretched, working a kink out of her neck. Cole, why do you like these backwoods, off-the-beaten-track places? No, wait a minute, she interrupted herself. Let me correct that. These off-the-no-track places.

There are fewer people, he answered, braking as the road dropped down along the railroad. And theres a track for you. Cole pointed at the two silver rails.

Ha, ha.

Cole barely noticed her laugh as he continued gazing out the window. On the other side of the track was the rivertwo hundred feet wide at this pointswirling slowly east now that it was downstream from town. Rising a thousand feet straight up out of the far bank was a sheer rock face.

Dont you like people? Tori asked.

Do you? he asked, watching the sun gleam against the top of the peak.

Mostly.

Well, its a free country. Youre entitled to your opinion. And Im entitled to try to change it, but I dont feel like trying right now because I dont have the energy. Suddenly he was exhausted. The rusting sign ahead indicated that Powell was just around the bend, and now that they were here, the adrenaline that had kept him awake through the gray hours of dawn was beginning to dissipate quickly.

Tori shook her head. Cole was a loner, just like his father. At least there isnt any snow here, she observed, looking past Cole at the river.

No, there isnt. Its supposed to stay warm. The temperature is supposed to get into the upper fifties today. At least thats what the weatherman on the radio said. Cole checked the sky. It was still clear. They are calling for rain in the afternoon.

So whats the plan? she asked. She had tried to change Coles mind yesterday afternoon as they had driven down from northern Wisconsin through Minneapolis to pick up Interstate 90. She had tried to convince him again to deal with the tape first, then go after his father, but he wouldnt listen. As Minneapolis faded in the rearview mirror, she had changed tactics, grilling him as to how he expected to find Jim Egan. She pointed out that it would be like finding a needle in a haystack the size ofwell, Montana. Cole had grumbled back that he had a plan all right, but would provide no details. Now that they were finally here, she wanted to know how he was going to justify the ordeal they had just endured. Come on, she urged. I want to know.

Cole reached for his sunglasses sitting on the dashboard and put them on as the sun burst through a break in the peaks. I have a picture of my father in my wallet. Its old, but he cant have changed that much since it was taken. Well show it to people around town. Hopefully someone will recognize him. There arent that many people here. The tiny town came into view as they rounded a bend. Heck, you could probably fit all of Powell into one block of New York City.