“My reputation precedeth me.”One final check of the parking lot.Ranks of cars gleaming under the assault of sun and dust, dashboards almost visibly popping with heat.The glare refracting off glass left a green-gold veil over Rowan’s eyes as she blinked and glanced back into the suddenly-dim cave of the room.“Looks clear.And I don’t feel like I’m going to throw up, so we’re probably all right.”
“We look clean, cute, and harmless.Curse of my life.Got your game face on?”
“Absolutely.Wish us luck.”With the pre-job jitters, it will be a miracle if we pull this off.And my neck is prickling; I think we’re going to have some trouble.Please, God, let there be none, what do you say?
Cath gave her a thumb’s up and a wide smile, shaking nervousness aside like a dog shedding water.“Luck.Let’s hope we don’t need it.”
CHAPTER12
Delgado found the payphone,fed in quarters, and dialed.No answer.Tried another number.It was only a vanishing possibility, but one he had to explore.
The truck stop lay under a coat of thick dust and evening blur.The Taurus he’d paid cash for in Flagstaff—a necessary indulgence—hunched tired and green under a streetlamp.Its paint job was suffering but the engine was good, and the little tingle in Del’s hands told him it would go until its heart gave out.
Kind of like him.He’d always liked mechanical things.They were far less messy and judgmental than people.
And then, miracle of miracles, the phone was picked up.No sound, not even breathing.
“Delgado,” he said.“Code in alpha-zulu-henry-bravo, 31142.”
“JesusChrist!”
He recognized the voice.Wanted to smile, dispelled the urge.“Hey, Yosh.How you doin’?”
A click, while Yoshi scanned for traces.Del could almost see the slim man’s fingers tapping over a computer keyboard, his face bathed in monitor glow.
“I thought you’d call in.Rowan swore you were alive.”
“Did she?”His heart gave one shattering leap, commenced pounding fit to burst.He leaned against the side of the phone booth, blinking at the omnipresent dust.“Good girl.Takes more than Sigma to keep me down.”His arm burned, reminding him he would need more Zed soon.The back of his throat was slick and dry.“Thought you’d like to know they’re bringing in Carson to hunt my girl.I’m tracking right now, going to do all I can to throw him off.”
“Ah.”Another click.“The line’s clean.”
Good man.Yoshi wasn’t committing to anything.He had no way of knowing if Del was talking with a gun to his head, or looped out on Zed and reporting every bit of information to Sigma handlers.
The mistrust still hurt a little, even though it was what Del would have done himself.“Of course it’s clean.I’ve slipped the leash again.If they catch me they’ll kill me for sure, not just hook me on Zed and give me some love taps.”
“SOP says for you to come in from the cold, operative.”
“This isn’t standard.”Delgado swallowed.He needed food and rest.He would only get dinner, too far behind Rowan for resting.“I’m looking for Rowan.Care to give me a hint?”You can’t.Tell me you can’t.
“You know that’s a no-go.”
“Come on, Yoshi.I’m calling in on a clean line and obviously myself.Just give me a goddamn clue.A name, a sign, anything.Please tell me she’s not on a fucking run.”His voice cracked.
There was another click.Then another familiar voice, crackling with impatience.“Del, where the hell are you?”
“Fifty miles out of Vegas, General.”It was closer to fifteen, but old habit made him mislead.“Tell me you didn’t send my girl in there.”
“You’re supposed to come in the approved way.If you do, you can see Rowan, Del.That’s the only offer you’re going to get.”Harsh, but with an undertone.
Come on, old man, I’m tired and blunt, give me a little something here, anything?“You think I’d do anything to endanger her?”
“I’m going by protocols you yourself laid down, operative.Come in.That whole sector’s crawling with Sigs.”
Aha.Very tricky, old man.And very nicely put.“There’re three blind mice on her trail, General.I’m not coming in unless it’s with her.”You sent her on a fucking run.Dammit.Fresh on the heels of that thought arrived a wave of almost-panic.The situation must be incredibly bad.Tell me you gave her Brew as backup.Tell me you’ve sent her in with a full team.Goddammit, General, talk to me!
He knew the old man couldn’t.Couldn’t take the chance, couldn’t trust Del’s voice on the phone.He wouldn’t have trusted Henderson if the situations were reversed, especially not with Rowan’s safety on the line.
“Let us bring you in, Del.Nice and easy.We can bring you in and you can see Rowan’s pretty face again.She’s been missing you.”
