Page 69 of In Too Deep

“I wear whatever I get paid to wear. That particular guy likes—liked—me to be smart. Kind of like I was his boss at an office, or something. Like he was having an affair with a co-worker. Not—this. Weird, I know. But hey, I’m not judging.”

“You took time out of the ninety to change?”

“It’s all part of the fantasy. What he wanted. We finished up. Chilled for a few minutes. Then took a shower together. Got dressed. And pretended we were taking separate cars back to wherever we worked.”

“What did you do after he left? Get ready for the next guy?”

“Not yesterday. I didn’t have another appointment until the evening. So I went home for a while, did some laundry.”

“What kind of car do you have?”

“A Crown Vic. Former cop car. Ironic, huh?”

—

Vidic walked overto one of the cars and opened the passenger door. Paris hurried after him. She grabbed his arm and said, “Wait. I’m still not sure about this. I think maybe I should do the flight. You do the drive.”

Vidic smiled at her. He said, “Admit it. You just don’t want to be in a car with Kane.”

“Would you? But that’s not the point. You were unconscious. Your IDs were in your wallet. Do you think Reacher saw them? Do you think he told anyone?”

“There’s no way to be certain.”

“Mine were in my purse. I think they’re a safer bet. We should use one of mine.”

“This is the sketchiest part of the plan. I get that. But I know how these guys work. It’s better if I do it.”

“You think?”

“There are no guarantees in this life, Paris. You know that. But this is our best shot. Trust me. Suck it up. A car ride with the asshole. Then a flight. That’s all. Then we’ll be free and clear.”

—

Reacher thanked thewoman and gave her the other two twenties. He turned and walked away. Knight kept pace and slipped her arm through his. She said, “I have a confession.”

“What did you do?”

“I only booked one room.”

Chapter27

Reacher woke first the nextmorning. He got dressed, slipped out of the room, and went to the diner. He got coffee. Two carry-out cups. He brought them back and when he got to the room Knight was awake. She was sitting up in bed with a sheet pulled up to her chest.

She said, “Is everything OK?”

Reacher said, “Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Your expression. You look worried.”

“I’m not worried. I thought I smelled smoke, is all. Very faint. I was trying to figure out where it came from.”

“Maybe it came from in here? Things did get pretty hot last night.” She folded back the covers on Reacher’s side of the bed. “Maybe we should re-create the conditions. See if it happens again. Purely in the interest of science.”

Reacher set the coffee cups down on the desk and stepped toward her.

Her phone began to ring.

Reacher said, “Ignore it.”

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