“Can you tell me where you are?”
She hesitated. The thought of giving her location out loud over the phone was something she’d been trained never to do.
“G, it’s going to be hard to help you if I don’t have ground zero.”
It was a test. In an instant, she realized that, like the joke conversation starter he used to prove it was him, he needed a show of faith that she was, in fact, who she said she was. The distrust of alphabet-agent operatives was legendary. They required proof. What could she give him to show it was actually her?
“If you’re as smart as you always claimed you were, then you know exactly where I am. Probably down to within a few feet.”
She heard the smile in his voice. “It’s definitely you. As for my being as smart as I used to be, I’m still that smart.” She heard a couple of key clicks. “Blue building, east of the tracks?”
“Close.”
“Ah. Red one then. They share a wall.” She heard a few more clicks. “What do you have with you that you need to relocate?”
“Just me and a backpack.”
“You have any cash, or do you need an advance?”
“My bank account is empty, so a loan would be nice.”
“One second.”
The line went silent, signaling he’d muted the sound on his end. She hooked a finger through a side belt loop of her stolen pants, tugging on it as she waited. Finally, he opened the channel back up.
“Sorry about that. I needed to make sure I had a way to get you some funds.”
“Appreciate that,” she acknowledged.
“Memorize this phone number, but add two to the final digit. As soon as we’re off this call, remove the SIM card, crush it, then dump the pieces into a rain barrel or something deep with a lot of liquid in it.”
“Got it.”
“When was the last time you ate?” he asked.
Huh? Food wasn’t her biggest worry right now. “I have some jerky and crackers to get me through. I’m good.”
“I’ve got a contact for you. There’s a stall in the market that’s run by a young man named Ollie. He sells hand-knitted hats, scarves, etc. There’s a blue pair of mittens that will be hanging off the front window to identify him. You’re going to go to him and inquire about those mittens. He’s going to offer you a matching hat as part of his upsell. Take it. Inside the hat will be enough cash to last you a couple of days.
“When you get there, put your bag on the ground at your feet. Everything you have, including all the burner phones you’ve bought, needs to be in that bag. I want you to dump everything you have on you, down to the tiniest detail, except for your shirt, pants, and whatever shoes you have on. Everything, G. This is important, so don’t blow me off. Not a stitch of what you have currently stays with you. While you’re talking to Ollie, it will quietly disappear and be destroyed.”
“Got it.”
“After seeing him, go get something to eat.”
“Honestly, M, I’m fine. Eating is the last thing on my mind right now.”
“I don’t care if you’re thinking about it or not, or if you’re hungry or not. You’re going to eat because you never know when the next opportunity will come.” He muttered something under his breath, but she couldn’t quite make out what he said.“Promise you’ll eat, G.”
What was it with this man and his obsession with her eating? She was a damn adult and would eat when she was hungry.
She exhaled with a huff. “While I appreciate your concern, I’m a big girl, M. I think I can determine the need to eat or not on my own.”
“G, let’s get something straight right now. You called me for help. If you want my help, this is the form it comes in. You’re on the run and too close to this situation emotionally. You’re running on adrenaline. Your body needs hydration, food, and rest to get through this, and you’re no good to your chances of getting out of Argentina and whatever’s chasing you if you pass out due to any or all of those needs not being met. Am I right?”
Well, this was not the easygoing jokester she remembered. Why did he have to be correct and give a shit? Nobody had cared in a long time.
She felt herself heat up at his tone.
