Page 79 of Bulletproof

“Not really, but it’s as far away as you can go and still be in the United States.”

“No,” I told him. “I’d rather wait here for you.”

“J, I’m done in the field. I’m stuck at the hospital, and then I’ll be riding a desk for the rest of this investigation.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“You should. It’s the truth. When have I ever lied to you?”

He hadn’t. The man didn’t lie.

“What did Cristo want when he came to your room?”

“He apologized for letting things get so out of control and told me that we could still do business if I wanted.”

“What did Agent Calhoun say?”

“He put on a good show, told Cristo he was a psychopath and insulted him a little.”

“And then Cristo apologized some more.”

“Yep, he had to make it better, or he would have lost face with everybody.”

“So, after the groveling, you guys let bygones be bygones and shook hands.”

“It was nowhere near groveling, but, yeah, we patched things up.”

“Did he say anything about me?”

“Nothing flattering.”

“Lemme guess. I’m a whore and trash and all that good stuff.”

“Uh-huh,” he said tightly.

I cleared my throat because I knew that had been hard for him. Sam did not let anyone run me down, and so having to sit through Cristo Liron ranting about me had to have been difficult.

“It’s okay that you didn’t defend my honor. I get it, you know.”

“I fuckin’ hate this, and I’m thinking that me being away from all of it is fine. I don’t think I can look at Liron anymore without taking his fuckin’ head off.”

“And how do you get away with not seeing him?”

“Agent Calhoun told him that he’s sending me back to Colombia.”

“Colombia,” I said, chuckling. “Cool.”

“Shut up.”

I laughed at him.

“Jory.”

Uh-oh, serious voice.

“Yeah?”

“Please go to Hawai’i. This whole mess will wrap up in another week, week and a half, and then I’ll take the first flight out and join you.”