The Thought Pushers (Mind Dimensions #2)(77)

“This briefcase,” she says, pointing at her feet. “It’s filled with cash.”

“Be careful with that.” Thomas frowns, looking at Mira in the mirror. “That money can be traced to you if someone knows what he’s doing.”

“So we have a challenge, it seems. We’ll need to spend all the money in Miami,” Mira says. “And spend it as quickly as possible.”

“I’m sure we can manage,” I say drily. “We’ll just have to drink a lot of champagne and get all-day spa treatments.”

“The horror,” Mira says, her smile widening. “I see a lot of expensive shoes in my future. All that time I’ll have to waste shopping. Such a drag.”

“If push comes to shove, you two can also go gambling,” Eugene adds, getting into the spirit of it. “The money you win will be clean.”

“That’s a good way to launder money,” Thomas says, chuckling. “Using a cash business like that.”

“And it’s only fitting,” Hillary says, looking at me and Mira. “Given how these two met for the first time.”

I take out my phone and do a little online searching.

“How’s tomorrow for a flight?” I say. “Is that too soon?”

Mira shrugs. “Works for me.”

“Sure,” Eugene says. “But can we stop by our old apartment?”

“No,” Mira and I say in unison.

“We don’t know if Arkady ordered someone to watch the place and wait for you,” I explain.

“Fine,” Eugene says sadly. “Maybe some of that cash can go toward some new lab equipment.”

“Maybe,” Mira says. “Do they have stores that sell that type of stuff for cash?”

“I don’t know.” Eugene perks up a bit. “I’ll have to look into it.”

“I’m booking the tickets now,” I say and begin navigating the airline’s website.

“Okay, great,” Thomas says. “That takes care of that. Now I need to know where to take everyone.”

“Well, I see that you’ve been driving toward my place,” Hillary says.

“Yeah, I assumed—”

“Good call,” Hillary says, interrupting Thomas. “You assumed correctly. I’m going home.”

“I’d like to go back to the hotel. Pick up a few things and talk to—” Eugene starts saying and stops abruptly.

“I’m sorry, Zhenya,” Mira says softly. “You can’t talk to her.”

I look back and see Eugene’s face turn pale.

He just connected the dots.

Without Reading, I can tell what Eugene is thinking right now. He was part of an operation that resulted in the death of Jacob—Julia’s father. Whatever she is to him, it might be over now. He certainly can’t see her any time soon. I have to say, I feel really sorry for him. Hell, I feel sorry for Julia also. She didn’t seem to be best pals with her father, but I’m sure she’ll be hurt when she learns what happened.

“If I may offer a piece of advice,” Thomas says. “The three of you should get a brand-new hotel for the night.”

We take his suggestion and use the remainder of the way to Hillary’s place to decide on the hotel. We choose a nondescript one near the JFK airport. The logic is that a longer drive today will make our lives easier tomorrow when we fly out in the morning.

“Bye, Darren,” Hillary says when the car stops. “Get in touch if you really meant it when you invited me to Miami.”

“Of course I meant it,” I say. “Join me when you can.”

Blowing me an air kiss, Hillary leaves.

Thomas waits until she walks into her high-rise condo building and then starts driving.

The atmosphere in the car is that of complete exhaustion. It seems all of us have been through so much that we need to digest things in silence. I myself am so drained, I can’t even think. Instead, I try to make my mind go blank and do the breathing meditation Sara taught me.

A meditation that I now realize she must’ve learned from my father, her colleague Mark Robinson.

As my breathing slows, I feel my eyes getting heavy, and I close them for a moment.



*



“Darren, wake up, we’re here.” Eugene’s voice penetrates my drowsiness, and I realize I must’ve dozed off.

“I don’t think we’ll hear from each other for a while,” Thomas says, clearing his throat as I unbuckle my seatbelt. “But when things settle down, I’d love to hang out with you.”

“Sounds like a plan, Thomas,” I say, opening the door. “Thanks for all you did for us today. I owe you.”

“I, too, want to thank you,” Mira says. “I’d be dead if it weren’t for you.”

Thomas looks as surprised as I feel. Mira sounds genuinely grateful. “You’re welcome, Mira,” he says, a bit uncomfortably.

We get out of the car, and Thomas pulls away with one last wave.

As we walk, I begin to feel more awake. Approaching the front desk at the hotel, I get three separate rooms for each of us.

We ride the elevator in silence.

“Yours is 505,” I tell Eugene when we reach his door. “Yours is 504,” I say to Mira. “And I’m in 503, right across the hall.”