“Soon.”
“It may not be soon enough for us.”
“That is a definite possibility, yes.”
“It seems the CIA is better at concocting the entrance into a scheme than they are at the exit.”
“This, too, I have thought.”
Nash rose and said, “Go pack. We need to leave here. Now.”
She looked up at him in surprise. “Now?”
“I used to be a businessman who just ran numbers for a living. I now have a new set of skills for keeping myself and those in my charge safe. But my old job instilled in me a great sixth sense about potential problems in every deal I ever did. And right now, Victoria, it’s blaring a foghorn.”
“But where will we go?”
“I have somewhere in mind. And it offers more than just a hiding place.”
“What else does it offer?”
“Help. Which is something we both really need right now.”
CHAPTER
77
RHETT TEMPLE RAN AS HARDas he could on the treadmill, sweat flying off him and spittle coming out of his mouth. Still Shock stood next to him shouting at him to go faster, to put more balls into it. Temple became so exhausted he slowed to nearly a stop, was flung off the equipment, and slammed into the wall behind.
“Shit!” he bellowed, picking himself off the floor and pointing a finger at Shock. “You are trying to kill me, old man.”
Shock eyed him with disdain. “I told you I was gonna do that your first day here.”
“I bet you didn’t treat precious Walter like this.”
“Didn’t have to. He worked way harder than you do without me on his ass.”
“Right, sure he did.” Temple toweled off and said, “Look, when do I get the tats and shit?” He made a muscle. “I’m strong enough. I can kick ass, shoot like a pro. Now, I need a new identity, and I’m out of here with a mountain of money and a life of leisure.”
“You don’t know half the shit you need to know, you pussy,” countered Shock.
“No, I know all the shit I need to know, and now it’s time to say our goodbyes. I’ve got the rest of my life to lead and a world to do it in.”
“My house, my rules.”
Temple got up in Shock’s face. “No, because I know Nash is alive and what his new identity is. There are people out there who would love to know that. So it’smyrules.”
“He’s been exonerated. The police ain’t lookin’ for him no more.”
“I’m not talking about the police, and you know it.”
Shock took a step back. “Thought the man was your friend.”
“Nash was pushed in my face by my father as the example of what I should be. Well, to hell with my old dead father and fuck Walter Nash.”
“Like you did Walter’s wife, right?”
Now Temple took a step back. “Hey, if a lady comes sniffing around is it my job to say no? I don’t think so. Not how the world works.” He wrapped the towel around his neck. “So get hopping on the docs. I mean it. Or little Waltie goes bye-bye.”
