Marcus Royle instead acknowledged quite an admiration for Venn’s powers of observation, instinct, and self-preservation. Royle had kept a steady speed just under the legal limit for most of the ride up the interstate through upstate New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. All the time he’d glanced repeatedly at the phone in its holder on his dashboard. And at the tracking beacon on the display, which showed Venn’s position. Which remained stationary. Impatience threatened to get the better of Royle at times. But whenever he felt the urge to put his foot down and make the most of his advantage, make the most of the fact that Venn and presumably Dr Colby seemed to have stopped and were therefore giving Royle a precious chance to catch up with them, he reined himself in. Attracting the attention of some zealous highway patrolman was the very last thing Royle needed right now. Eventually, after almost two hours’ journey, Royle had observed that he was drawing close to the beacon representing Venn’s tracked phone.
