‘He was in the lobby, if that’s what they call it, when I got in.’ She took a sip of the coffee. ‘He kissed my hand.’
‘He kisses everybody’s hand. It’s one of the things he does, he kisses hands.’
‘Well, nobody’s ever kissed my hand before.’
‘Why don’t you go back down to the lobby. I’m sure he’ll be glad to kiss your hand all day long.’
She continued to sip her coffee. He sat up suddenly. ‘How the hell did you find me? How the hell did you get here this fast?’
‘The pilot had to file a flight plan in Boston and another one in Fort Lauderdale.’
‘That’s all it took, hunh?’
‘Well... I used to date him too.’
‘The pilot?’
‘Uh huh.’
O’Hara shook his head. ‘I should of stayed in Japan,’ he said, half aloud. He stared at her through lumpy eyes. ‘Does Howe know you’re down here?’
She nodded. ‘Yep.’
‘You’re the surprise Howe was talking about.
‘Howe told you I was coming?’
‘Not in so many words. He sent you to follow me, right?’
‘Well, not exactly...’
‘Well, exactly what did he do?’
‘He finally agreed that a little competition never hurt anybody.’
‘That makes a lot of sense, Gunn, assigning one of his reporters to scoop another one.’
‘I thought we could work together. After all, you’re print, and I’m video. There’s no real competition. This way Howe gets it both ways. He really gets his money’s worth.’
‘Always thinking, aren’t you?’
‘I try,’
‘How much do you know so far?’
‘Well, he let me read that letter from — uh...’
‘Falmouth.’
‘Right. I might as well have been reading ancient Greek.’
‘See what I mean.’
‘I can learn.’
‘This is not a game for neophytes. These—’
‘Neophyte, my ass! I’ve been a reporter—’
‘I’m not talking about reporting. I’m talking about the Game, about dealing with some of the most dangerous people in the wor—’
‘And I’m a woman, right?’
‘Will you let me finish? It hasn’t got anything to do with sex. I know these characters, know how they operate. I’ve worked with or against — most of them. You don’t know the territory. You make one slip, they’ll drop you like they swat a fly.’
‘Don’t worry about me, O’Hara, I’ve dealt with the Mafia,’
‘Compared with the bunch I’m talking about, kid stuff.’
‘Kid stuff indeed!’
‘Kid stuff nevertheless. You’re good, I’ll give you that, but—’
‘Thanks a lot.’
‘Stop interrupting me.’
‘Stop patronizing me.’
‘Patronizing you, my ass.’
‘You’re patronizing me.’
‘I said you were good. You’re very, very good, okay?’
‘That’s patronizing.’
‘Ah, shit.’ He buried himself under the sheets again.
‘I can help, O’Hara. Trust me.’
