Chapter 55

“Wonderland. Last stop on the train. All passengers please exit at this time.”

The hollow, nearly unintelligible voice of the PA announcer reverberated joylessly throughout the empty subway car. Charlie was already at the car window, peering out at the station platform as it came into view. He half-expected to see the platform swarming with police. Then again, the time it took for him to travel between Revere Beach Station and Wonderland was less than three minutes. It was doubtful the police would have had enough time to mobilize a force. Doubtful, he thought, but not out of the question.

He exhaled as the train slowed to a stop. In the reflection of the train’s window, Charlie took stock of his injuries. With the adrenaline from the chase wearing off, his body had time to ache and throb. Surprisingly, there was no blood or open wounds, only aches and pains, which were certain to become more intense as time went on.

The platform on the outbound side was blessedly deserted. The inbound platform was crammed with morning commuters. Wonderland, unlike most MBTA stations, was an outdoor station. The platform area was easily accessible from a twenty-five-foot concrete ramp that rose at an almost imperceptible incline to the tracks five feet above ground level. The front of the station was a vast parking lot, already filled to near capacity with commuter cars. This station in particular was a haven for commuters who enjoyed the easy access to Boston, as well as for the dog race lovers, who flocked to Wonderland Greyhound Park after which the station was named.

Charlie scanned the parking lot, watchful for any signs of a police presence. Cars were still entering the lot, searching for the few remaining spaces. He needed to get to a phone but couldn’t risk the exposure. Descending the concrete ramp to the parking lot, Charlie continued his vigilant lookout for the police. Their arrival, he knew, was imminent. But Charlie’s appearance played in his favor. Because he wasn’t visibly injured, he shouldn’t raise suspicions with the commuters. He stood in front of the entrance to the inbound platform and approached a man buying a copy of the Herald from a metal dispenser. The man was heavyset, dressed in jeans and a beige polo shirt. His mouth was accented by a thick black mustache that matched the wave and body of his hair. Charlie spotted a cell phone clipped to his waist.

“Pardon me, sir,” Charlie said.

The man, bent over, took out the paper, and then rose to look at Charlie. At first he seemed annoyed, perhaps thinking Charlie was another panhandler. Then he softened.

“Yes?” he asked.

“I seem to have left my cell phone at home. I was wondering if I could make a quick call to tell my associate where to meet me in Boston.”

The man hesitated just a moment. Then he reached down and pulled the phone off his belt. “Sure thing,” he said. “I guess I can spare a minute or two,” he added with a chuckle.

Charlie thanked him and dialed his brother. Joe picked up on the first ring.

“Hello?” Joe asked. Charlie guessed that the unfamiliar phone number had confused him.

“Joe, it’s Charlie,” he said. Charlie kept the phone pressed tight to his ear so the man whose phone he’d borrowed wouldn’t hear Joe screaming on the other end.

“Charlie! Charlie!” Joe shouted. “Where are you? We trailed your car to Revere but lost the signal a few moments ago. We’ve been driving around looking for you. The police are swarming all over the place. What’s going on?”

“Right. Sure, I’ll wait here,” Charlie said.

“What? What are you talking about?” Joe screamed into the phone.

Rachel added, “Charlie, you have to turn yourself in. Now!”

“Not a problem. Why don’t I just wait for you at Wonderland? Sure, that’s easier,” said Charlie. “I may still be reading that report. Although that policy is really too far right in my opinion. Too far right and away from the mainstream for me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Joe said.

“Make sure you get my attention, because I’ll be deep in thought. Three beeps and wait. See you at Wonderland.” Charlie hung up the phone and handed it back to the man. “Thanks,” he said.

The man smiled, arching his mustache, which looked like a bushy caterpillar crawling across his lip.

“Anytime,” he said. “Anytime.”