Slade went first and began with, “We’ll get right to the point. We’ve seen no sign of Pete Duffy. We think he’s changed his routine. We’re also convinced that he’s the man in the video, and we have reason to believe he’s still in Washington, DC.” He paused as if waiting for one of the Boones to ask how they knew this, but all Boones were silent. He continued, “We would like Theo and Ike to return to DC and help us with the search.”

Ackerman chimed in immediately, “You two have spotted him before. You know what he looks like because you’ve seen him before, here in Stattenburg. Theo, you said something in our first meeting about recognizing the way he walks, right?”

Theo wasn’t sure how to react. He’d been terrified when they all sat down at the table just seconds earlier, but suddenly he was intrigued by the thought of another trip to DC. And this one at the invitation of the FBI! They hadn’t come to arrest him — they wanted to join forces. “Uh, right,” Theo managed to say.

“Tell us about this,” Slade said.

Theo looked to his left, to his mother, then to his father on the right. He cleared his throat and said, “Well, I read this spy novel one time where this American guy was being followed by some Russian spies, the KGB, I think.”

“That’s right, the KGB,” Slade added.

“And the American knew that every face is different and faces are easy to disguise. But, he also knew that every person walks a different way, too, and it’s harder to disguise the way you walk. So he put a small pebble in his shoe and it made him walk funny. He lost the Russians and got away. They killed him later, but it wasn’t because he had a rock in shoe.”

“And you can identify Pete Duffy by the way he walks?” Ackerman asked.

“I don’t know about that, but when I followed him off the train last Thursday, I recognized his walk. Nothing strange about it, it’s just the way he walks. I saw him several times during the trial here.”

Both parents were frowning at him as if he were telling tall tales. Ike, though, was grinning and thoroughly enjoying his nephew.

Mr. Boone said, “Let me get this straight. You want Theo to go back to DC and watch people walk along the streets?”

Slade replied, “That, and to ride the Metro again and hope we get lucky. Theo and Ike. Look, it’s a longshot, but we have nothing to lose.”

Ike laughed and said rudely, “I love it. The FBI is the most powerful crime-fighting organization in the world, with the best technology money can buy, and you’re relying on a thirteen-year-old kid who thinks he can identify a person by the way he walks.”

Ackerman and Slade took deep breaths, ignored Ike, and moved on. Slade said, “We’ll fly you there and back, take care of all the expenses. Both of you. We’ll be with you and you’ll be surrounded by FBI agents. There’s no danger.”

“It sounds dangerous,” Mrs. Boone said.

“Not at all,” Ackerman replied. “Duffy’s not going to harm anyone. He doesn’t want trouble.”

“How long will Theo be away?” Mr. Boone asked.

Slade said, “Not long. Today is Thursday. If we hustle we can catch a flight today at noon and be in DC in time to catch rush hour on the subway. We do surveillance today, tonight, tomorrow, and he’ll be home Saturday.”

Theo managed to keep a straight face and hide his excitement. His mother almost ruined it with, “I think one of us should go too, Woods.”

Mr. Boone said, “I agree, but I have two big deals to close Friday.”

Mrs. Boone said, “And I have to be in court all day tomorrow.”

So typical. His parents played an endless game of each trying to appear busier than the other.

Ike said, “Relax. I’ll take care of Theo. It’s an easy trip, and I agree that there’s no danger.”

“But he’ll miss two full days of school,” she said.

This hung over the table like a wicked deal breaker until Slade said, “Yes, and we’re sorry about that. But I’m sure Theo can catch up later. This is pretty important stuff here, Mrs. Boone, and we really need Theo and Ike to help us. What do you say, Theo?”

“Well, I really hate to miss school, but if you insist.”

The five adults found this amusing.

When Theo, Ike, Slade, and Ackerman landed at Reagan National Airport in Washington, they were met by two more FBI agents, both wearing the same dark suit, the same navy tie, and the same serious frown. Quick introductions were made; they shook Theo’s hand firmly and treated him as if he were a full-blown adult. One grabbed his overnight bag and said, “This way.” A black SUV was waiting outside the Arrivals gate, at the curb, in a No Parking zone, but the airport police seemed to ignore it. They piled inside, and young Theodore Boone was whisked away as if he were a very important person. He and Ike sat in the far back and listened as the four agents chatted about other people they knew inside the FBI. As they flew past the Iwo Jima statue, Theo gazed into the distance and admired the Washington Monument. Only six days earlier he’d been at the very top, looking down upon the city with pure amazement. They crossed the Potomac River on the Arlington Memorial Bridge and worked their way through traffic.

During the flight, Theo studied maps of the streets and Metro stops of central and northwest DC. He wanted to know exactly where he was at all times. When they turned onto Constitution Avenue, he glanced to his right at the Lincoln Memorial. They passed the Reflecting Pool, and drove along the National Mall and passed the Washington Monument. They turned left onto 12th Street and headed north as the traffic got heavier. Near the Metro Center, they suddenly wheeled to a stop in front of a Marriott Hotel. Again, they parked in a No Parking zone, but the doormen were quickly waved away.

I guess the FBI doesn’t worry about getting towed, Theo thought.

Check-in had been taken care of. They rode the elevator to the fifth floor and walked briskly to Room 520. An agent said, “Your room is next door, Theo, and Mr. Boone’s is next to yours with a connecting door.” He looked at Slade and Ackerman and said, “You guys are across the hall.”

The door opened and they walked into a large suite filled with more agents, and not a single one was wearing a dark suit. An older guy with gray hair stepped forward with a big smile and said, “Hello, guys, I’m Daniel Frye and I’m the leader of this team. Welcome to DC.” It took some time to shake everyone’s hand and listen to everyone’s name. There were six of them, plus Frye, and all were dressed differently. One wore a maroon jogging suit with “Mississippi State” across the jersey. One wore jeans and hiking boots and looked as though he’d just come out of the woods. A female agent was dressed like a sailor in navy whites. The other female agent could have passed for a homeless person. A skinny white boy looked about the same age as Theo and was dressed like a student, complete with a backpack and an earring. And the sixth one had hair as long as Ike’s and looked about as rough. Frye looked like he’d just played a round of golf.

They were all very friendly and seemed amused to be working with a thirteen-year-old kid. Theo was overwhelmed and struggled to keep from grinning like a goofy idiot. The agents were sitting casually around the room. A sofa was covered with jerseys and caps. Daniel Frye said, “Okay, Theo, first things first. What’s your favorite sports team?”

“Uh, the Minnesota Twins.”

Frye frowned, as did a few of the others. “That’s kind of odd. You’re not from Minnesota. Why the Twins?”

“Because nobody else in Strattenburg pulls for the Twins.”

“Fair enough. Problem is, we don’t have any Twins stuff.” Frye sort of waved his hand over their collection on the sofa.

“Got any Yankee stuff?” Ike asked.

Theo shot back, “I don’t do Yankees,” and got a few laughs.