“You want to do this in the parking lot of an elementary school?”
“And, again, it sounds like you’re coming on to me. Is there some reason we can’t have a conversation in this parking lot?”
“Because I’m hungry,” Hockley retorted. “I’ve been up all damn night, I missed dinner, I haven’t had breakfast, and I’m going to go back to the damn station after this and the only stuff they’ll have to eat is damn donuts and muffins. I wantbreakfast. Is that okay with you?”
Jericho carefully put the car into gear. “You get kinda grumpy when you’re hungry, Simon.”
Hockley snorted, then checked his watch. “We’re not going to get much privacy at the diner, not at this time of day. I know I’m opening myself up to more comments about coming on to you, but I’ve got a sort-of dining area in my motel room, and they do room service. You okay with that?”
“You’re taking the fun out of my innuendo game.”
“Sorry. I guess I’m not that good at games.”
Jericho raised an eyebrow. “Seems like all you do is play games. It’s a shame if you haven’t gotten better at them.”
“I’ve been trying to have an honest conversation with you for the last hour, Mr. Crewe, and you’ve done nothing but resist. Now you’re accusingmeof playing games?”
“Yousayit’s an honest conversation. But am I just supposed to believe that’s true? Not move number eighty-seven in whatever chess match you’ve got set up?”
“Ah, poor Jericho Crewe. The only straight shooter, the only simple, honest man in a world full of deception and trickery. Is that how you see yourself? Just an old-fashioned cowboy, trying to find his white hat in a sea of black and gray.”
“I’m a little tired of people calling me a cowboy,” Jericho mused. “Otherwise, though, that was very poetic. Lovely, really.” He decided not to mention, or even think about, Wade’s claims that Jericho saw things in black and white. Assuming Wade was correct, did it strengthen or weaken whatever the hell Hockley was getting at? “Shit. I’m too tired for this. Let’s go to your room and get some breakfast and then I can go to bed.”
Jericho put the car in drive and started for the motel. He had no idea what Hockley had to say or why he didn’t want Kayla to hear it. But Jericho could certainly listen. He could listen carefully, and maybe even take notes so he’d be sure he didn’t miss anything when he told Kayla the whole story.
