He’d been dreaming. Barbecues and beer. Base ball and bratwurst. Summers with John and Linda, their beautiful kids. Joel just learning to throw a football. Nancy playing in a new sundress. And then the dream shattered just as quickly as their lives had been. Denton was speeding down the highway. Lambert International was close. The plane was on standby, waiting for instructions on where to fly the two agents. The sky was growing dark, just a hint of red as the sun dipped below the horizon. He clicked the answer button. “This is Mauser.” “Agent Mauser, Bill Lundquist over at the Chicago Transit Authority.” “Mr. Lundquist.” “Agent Mauser, I’ve been alerted by Amtrak security that on a commuter train that left Union Station this morning, a conductor reported a couple leaving the train during one of the security checks you advised.” “What do you mean they left the train?” “Well, sir, he said the couple didn’t fit the description given, he said they looked like they were coming from a rock concert or something, that they didn’t look threatening.
