I went carefully back into the hotel room, where Grant had fallen asleep again. I dialed Gen’s number, snuck into the bathroom, closed the door, and sat on the only available seat.
“Who’s this?”
“Very funny,” I murmured carefully. “I wish I could call more, but…”
“I know, evil doesn’t rest, neither can you.”
“Well, trust me, when this job is over I plan to do nothing but rest for at least a week.”
“Jack, that’s a bold-faced lie and we both know it.”
“Well, okay, but the gym and visiting you both count as rest.”
“Only if you’re doing it all wrong.”
“Jesus, I miss you, lady.”
“I miss you, too. How’s the job going?”
I looked in the direction of Grant’s gentle snoring. “So far, so good, I guess. I’m still standing ringisde with him, which I hate.”
“Are they making you wear wrestling gear? Maybe just boots and trunks? Because if they are, I want pictures.”
“I’m afraid it’s just a suit and a Kevlar vest.”
“I can do without the vest,” Gen said. She was certainly aware that my job could turn violent, and wasn’t thrilled about it.
Neither was I.
“It’s just for the look of the thing,” I said. “I doubt I’m really going to need it at any point.”
“Good. You are to come home unperforated.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now I like the sound of that a lot more than Kevlar. You can keep that.”
“I will remember that.” I paused. “Ma’am.”
She laughed. I liked the sound of it; it was rich and inviting and I missed her so much right now I was ready to drive four hours on cold roads back to Wilmington to see her.
But I had a job, and I had to do it.
And at that precise moment, my job had woken up, called my name, and said, “It’s dinner time, man, come on.”
Gen heard. “Is that Grant?”
“Yep.”
“He sounds fun.”
“It is a nonstop delight. I’ve gotta go, Gen.” I paused. “I miss you. A lot.”
I cringed. Was that really the best I could do?
“Miss you, too. Go do your job,” she said.
That seemed like a win. We hung up. I walked back out into the room, took my jacket, checked my gun and my taser, and went with Grant to find the nearest acceptable dinner place.