The Fugitive Read Online Free PDF

wall at the end of the conference table. “Here it is,” Theo said, and the video began in slow motion. Theo froze it and said, “This is the best shot right here.” It was an image of the left side of the man’s face just as he dipped his newspaper.
    Ike pecked on his keyboard and the screen split between that image and one of Pete Duffy taken from an old newspaper photo. Side by side, the men looked somewhat similar.
    Mrs. Boone finally said, “Well, I suppose it sort of looks like the same man.”
    Mr. Boone, always the skeptic, said, “I’m not so sure.”
    â€œOh, it’s him,” Ike said with little doubt.
    â€œHe even walks like Pete Duffy,” Theo added.
    â€œAnd when did you see Mr. Duffy walk?” his father asked.
    â€œDuring his trial. We walked behind him and his lawyers during the first day of the trial. I remember it clearly.”
    â€œHave you been reading spy novels again?” Mrs. Boone asked. She and Mr. Boone were still staring at the images on the screen. Theo did not answer.
    â€œWhat do you have in mind?” Mr. Boone asked Ike.
    â€œWell, we have to go to the police, show them the video, show them these images, and tell them everything we know. At that point, it’s up to them.”
    The four pondered this for a moment, then Ike continued, “But that, of course, might present another problem. We have a good police department, but Pete Duffy has a lot of friends. There could be leaks. A stray word here or there, then a quick phone call, and Duffy could disappear into thin air.”
    â€œAre you suggesting Duffy might have a mole inside our police department?” Mrs. Boone asked, her eyebrows arched with skepticism.
    â€œIt wouldn’t surprise me,” Ike replied.
    â€œMe neither,” added Mr. Boone.
    Theo was shocked by the suggestion. If you can’t trust the police, who can you trust?
    Another long pause as the four stared at the screen and considered the situation. “What are you thinking, Ike?” Mrs. Boone finally asked.
    â€œHe’s a fugitive, currently number seven on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, right? So we go to the FBI and keep it away from the Strattenburg Police.”
    â€œWell, whatever we do, we’re keeping Theo out of it,” Mr. Boone said.
    That was perfectly fine with Theo. The deeper he sank into the Duffy matter, the more worried he became. However, it was exciting to think about working with real FBI agents.
    â€œOf course we are,” Ike said. “But I suppose they’ll want to meet with him and get his version of events. We can keep that all nice and secret.”
    â€œAnd when do you think we should meet with the FBI?” Mr. Boone asked.
    â€œAs soon as possible. I’ll call them first thing in the morning and arrange a meeting. I’ll suggest that we meet right here if that’s okay.”
    â€œGuess I’ll have to miss school tomorrow,” Theo said.
    â€œYou will not,” his mother said sharply. “You were out of class Thursday, Friday, and today. You will not miss tomorrow. If we meet, we’ll do it after school. Okay, Ike?”
    â€œSure.”
    They invited Ike to dinner at Robilio’s, their Monday night place, but he declined saying he needed to get back to the office. Theo was relieved, because Ike at dinner would mean a lot of talk about the Duffy case, and Theo had had enough of it for the moment.
    He puttered around the office for half an hour, then left for home with Judge. At seven o’clock sharp, the Boone family settled around its favorite table in the restaurant and ordered the same food they had eaten the week before, and the week before that. As they waited, Theo began a lengthy review of his trip to Washington. As always, his parents peppered him with questions—about the museums and monuments, the hotel, the other kids. Did everyone behave? Any problems whatsoever? What was his