Page 41 of Hidden Chance

“Why not? You said I could meet him, and it’s cold tonight. I assume he’s asleep in the closet as we speak?”

“He is, but?—”

“It will clear up a few things.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t trust you. I don’t think you’d have his best interest in mind.”

“I wouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean I won’t respect a homeless man trying to keep warm.”

“But you don’t think he is.”

“Look, Hannah, if he is who you say he is, then you have nothing to worry about. I will treat him with nothing but kindness.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“And if it’s all true, will you stop second-guessing everything I say?”

“If there’s a bum sleeping in the closet, I promise I’ll believe everything you say from now on.”

“He’s not a bum. He’s just had a hard life.”

“If you say so.”

“You can’t pull a gun on him. He’s got nothing to do with whatever it is you’re after. It will freak him out, and he’s already on rocky ground.”

“I won’t pull my gun as long as he doesn’t threaten me.”

She drummed her fingers on the table. “He was drunk when he came in. If he’s frightened by you, he could react.”

“I can handle a drunk. If we find everything as you say, I won’t harm him. I promise.” He didn’t believe a word of it. It was impossible that the story she wastelling was true. He’d have his weapon ready, but that wasn’t all. The fact that she was even considering saying yes meant they may have prepared for this eventuality.

“He’s a good man,” she said.

“So you’ve said.”

“Okay, I’ll take you to him. But only you. If you’ve got anyone else you’re working with, I won’t do it.”

“Just me.”

“Okay.”

“Great. I need to make a call first, and I have an errand or two to run. Then we’ll be off.”

“I thought you wanted to go now?”

“We’ll let him sleep off the alcohol a bit longer. In the meantime, you can sit tight.”

“For how long?”

“Not long. And if this homeless guy turns out to be what you say he is, you may even get a few hours of shuteye before work tomorrow.”

“There’s no other way you’ll let me go?”

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