Mean Streak(105)
“Because of the message you’ll give him.”
“Which is?”
“If he f*cks it up, and something happens to you, whether in the near or distant future, I’ll kill him.” He let that register, then, “Where’s he staying?”
“So you can dump me there?”
“Where’s he staying?”
“Why should I tell you?”
He propped his forearms on the table. It rocked slightly as he leaned across it toward her. “Look, Doc, we can waste time waltzing around this, you can argue it with me up and down, sideways and backward, but it won’t do you any good. I’m not gonna let that fed make me the trophy of his career. Besides that—”
“What? Besides that, what?”
“I’ve got to get the hell lost, and I can’t take you with me. You’ve got a life to lead, and it can’t include me. It’s been fun, but here’s where we say good-bye and part ways, no matter how good we are together in the sack.”
“Why are you being like this?”
“Candid?”
“Offensive.”
“No, offensive would have been if I’d said you’re a great f*ck.”
Her face grew hot with anger.
He must’ve have noticed, because he stifled a laugh. “A little late for blushes, isn’t it, Doc? You knew what you were signing up for last night, and it wasn’t hearts and flowers. The night in the cabin, too. We both got what we wanted. I got laid and you got…how’d you put it? ‘Raw emotions’?”
With that he scraped back his chair, stood up, and shoved the pistol into the waistband of his jeans. “Let’s go. I want to get there before daylight, and it’s a ten-minute drive to the motel.”
“Why did you ask me where Connell was staying if you already knew?”
“To see if you would lie to me.”
“How did you find out where he is?”
“Not that many choices in Drakeland. I called around until a desk clerk confirmed that he checked in last night.”
“You called? I thought you didn’t have a phone.”
“I don’t anymore.” She followed the direction he indicated and saw the pieces of a bashed cell phone lying on the end table. As he pulled on his outerwear, he said, “I’ll loan you a coat.”
“I don’t want it.”
She went to the door, unbolted it, and walked out, leaving him to follow.
Or to drop dead. She really didn’t care.
It had stopped snowing, but the fog was still thick and the air frigid. The interior of the car was slow to warm, even after he turned on the heater. As they approached the city limits, she said, “You didn’t secure the mobile home.”
“It’s served its purpose. I won’t be going back.”
“You’ll just leave your possessions behind?”
“The possessions that count aren’t in the mobile home. I’ll collect them and—”
“Ride off into the sunrise?”
“Basically.”
“You realize that I can describe this car to the authorities.”
“Yes.”
“You have a backup plan?”
“Always.”
They rode the remainder of the way in silence. He pulled to the curb on a street that ran along the back of the motel and put the car in park. She stared through the streaked windshield. The defroster was just beginning to melt all the frost and frozen precipitation that had accumulated overnight.
She focused on the disintegrating ice crystals rather than on the tightness in her throat. “I’m relieved. And a bit surprised actually.”
“By what?”
“I thought you might mete out Jeff’s punishment yourself.”
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “That was my original plan. And nothing would give me greater pleasure. But I slept on it and decided to entrust him to the legal system. Not to save his skin, understand. But mine. Dealing with you and Jeff will keep Connell occupied for a while.”
“Giving you a head start.”
“Right.”
She hesitated, then said, “Fair warning. I’ll tell Connell everything about you that I know. I have to. Before, when the only issue was your involvement with those horrid Floyd brothers, I covered for you, because I shared your outrage over Lisa. But I can’t facilitate you in escaping justice.”
He held her gaze for several seconds, then reached beneath the driver’s seat and retrieved a brown paper sack. “Your evidence,” he said, passing it to her. “Don’t open it. Don’t touch the rock. Hand it over to Connell as is. You still have the charm?”
“Yes.”
“All right then. You know what to do.”
Knowing that her misery was nakedly apparent, but unable to keep it from showing, she spoke his name beseechingly.
“Enough’s been said, Doc. Connell is in room one ten. Get on with it.”
Mistrusting herself to linger for even a second longer, she got out of the car. She’d barely closed the passenger door when he wheeled away. She watched through tear-blurred eyes as the taillights disappeared around the nearest corner.
Once he was out of sight, she trudged toward the motel. It was the one in which Jeff had been hosted by the sheriff’s office, and it was as unattractive as he’d described. Its two levels had open breezeways. Guest room doors were alternately painted red, white, and blue. Near the elevator in the center of the building was a communal ice machine. A neon arrow flickered above it.