Page 60 of Diagnosis Attraction

“But I want to work on a person who isn’t involved with us and get them to do something totally against their best interests.”

She caught what was in his mind. “Is that fair?”

“This is love and war. And it’s not like we’re robbing a bank.”

She understood his logic, but she still didn’t like what he was planning.

When they returned to the vicinity of the motel, Matt drove around the restaurant area, looking for a place that was a cut above the fast-food restaurants with drive-in windows. He found a small Italian restaurant that didn’t appear to be part of a chain.

“Do you want to do it, or should I,” he asked.

“In this case, I think a guy will be more persuasive. If you can do it at all.”

“Just give me some psychic energy.”

They walked into the dining room, which had a central aisle and tables on either side. Framed scenes of Italy decorated the stucco walls. At the back there was a counter with a menu above it. Two young men with short, dark hair wearing white uniforms were behind the counter.

“Help you?” one of the men asked.

Matt studied the menu, and Elizabeth felt he was getting ready to tell a whopper. “We have one of your certificates for a free meal,” he said.

“We don’t …” The man stopped in mid-sentence, looking confused.

Elizabeth could hear Matthew furiously projecting false information.You believe me. I have a certificate that gives me a thirty-dollar free meal. It’s a new offer, and I’m the first customer to cash it in.He opened his wallet, took out a business card he’d gotten from a colleague, and held it up. “See, here’s my certificate.”And you don’t need to take it away. You just need to look at it,he added without saying anything aloud.

Elizabeth held her breath as she waited to find out what would happen. Giving away food was so clearly against the restaurant’s best interests that it seemed impossible for the guy to go along with Matt’s suggestion.

The counterman eyed the card and nodded. “I never heard of it before, but I guess it’s okay—since you got this thing.”

She could feel Matt relax a little as he turned to her. “What do you want, honey?”

She looked at the food that had already been prepared. “A calzone would be good.”

“Make it two,” Matt said. “And add a couple of Cokes.”

While the man was packing up the order, Matt made a silent suggestion.We didn’t spend nearly thirty dollars. Why don’t you suggest that we take a couple of cannoli?

His audacity took Elizabeth’s breath away, but she stood without speaking beside him, waiting to see if it worked.

“You haven’t used the whole thirty dollars. How about a couple of cannoli for dessert?” the counterman asked.

“Great idea,” Matt agreed.

Elizabeth shot him a look as she waited for the man to come to his senses, but he cheerfully packed up the food and drinks and handed over the bag.

“Thanks,” Matt said as they strolled out.

Elizabeth was in more of a hurry and had to keep herself from running to the car.

Once inside, she breathed out a deep sigh. “I guess if we ran out of money, we could work as con artists.”

“It’s only a temporary necessity—I hope. I mean, until we get out from under the Lang problem and clear our names.”

As they drove back to the motel, she could hear ideas flashing in Matt’s mind. He was thinking about the next evening’s raid on The Mansion.

But as soon as they entered the room and closed the door, he set the food down on the table and reached for her.

She came into his arms with a small sob.

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