The Sixth Man (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 5)

“So where do they go on these jaunts?” asked Sean.

“They’ll go ten blocks, enter the park, make their way back, exit in the Sixties, turn north, and head back here. They talk, the kids can be kids, normal.”

“Because they’re not? Normal?”

“Bunting certainly isn’t. He exists in this world, but he doesn’t really live in it. If he had his preference he’d live only in his world. But of course he can’t, so he makes certain concessions. But I can tell you that even though he’s out now with his family and talking about school and grades and the next charity event Mrs. Bunting has planned, his mind is really working on what to do about my brother.”

“How much does his wife know about what he does?”

“Let’s just say she is not intellectually curious about that. She plays the good wife. She’s smart, ambitious to a certain degree, good with the kids. Exactly how her husband generates the money necessary to keep the brownstone and vacation house, private school tuition and all the rest going, she doesn’t really care.”

“You’ve really done an exacting study of the Buntings.”

“Once I knew my brother would be working for him, I thought it was my duty.”

“Did you want him to work there?”

“I thought I did. I was wrong, of course. Eddie was just fine right where he was. But I just wouldn’t let myself see it. Misguided loyalty. Putting country over family. It’s not a mistake I would repeat.”

“You feel guilt for this, then?”

“Yes.”

Sean stared at her, obviously more than a little surprised. It was a frank admission for someone who so clearly gave little away. He had just assumed that she would do what she often did, answer a question with a question. Sensing she might be receptive to opening up more now he said, “Can I ask something?”

“Certainly.”

“Are we going to follow them?”

“They are being followed. Just not by us.”

“You have help?”

“I have acquaintances that assist me from time to time,” she answered.

“Another question?”

She started walking in the direction opposite the Buntings and he followed, rolling his travel bag behind him.

He took her silence as acquiescence. “You talked about the E-Program before, but what is the recruitment like?”

“You never even get asked to come in unless you’re the best of the best based on your track record. A lot of preliminary testing that all ordinary people would fail, but that all potential E applicants pass with flying colors. Then the testing becomes more and more rigorous. People

start to fall away at these intervals. Eventually it comes down to the Wall. Only about three percent make it that far.”

She had stepped inside one of the entrances to Central Park. They slowly made their way along one of the walkways. Sean remained silent until they had gone well into the park.

“The Wall?”

She nodded. “That’s what they call it. It’s the monster through which all intelligence flows. The Wall is like going from high school football straight to being MVP of the NFL. Very, very few make it.”

She stopped and sat down on a bench.

“How do you know all this? From your brother?”

She shook her head. “He would have, but I didn’t let Eddie talk to me about it. He could have gotten into trouble.”

“So, your inside sources again.”