time.”
“So what do we do, ignore it?”
“For the time being,” I said, “When we get him, I want to get him good—and I want it to stick.”
“What do you want to do about Nesbitt?” Dutch asked. “It doesn?t sound like his info on Nance was
too swift.”
“Maybe Nance went around the bend,” I said. “I can?t imagine Costello or Chevos pulling a stunt that
stupid the way things are.”
“Why not?” the Stick cut in. “If he?d nailed you, they could?ve written you off as another victim.”
“I made a promise to Nesbitt and I?d like to keep it,” I told Dutch. “Can we find a couple of honest
cops who?ll smuggle him down to Jax and stick with him until his plane leaves?”
“I?ll take care of it,” Dutch said. “Let me know when you hear from him.”
“Thanks. Stick and I are working on some other things. I?ll catch up with you later.”
He rang off and I gave Stick the license number of the black Pontiac. He called the DMV while I
showered and shaved.
The license plates were hot, stolen a Few hours before Nance and company came calling on me.
“Shit,” 1 growled, “the way this day is starting maybe I ought to go back to bed and start over.”
A bellhop who didn?t look a day over fifteen showed up with breakfast. The phone rang and I
answered it, trying to eat, talk, and put fresh clothes on at the same time.
“Good morning, darling.” Doe?s voice was as soft as lambskin and husky with sleep. “Sleep late?”
I looked over at Stick, who was back into his newspaper, then turned my back to him and dropped my
voice an octave.
“Yeah. A late night. A lot happened.”
“1 thought about you all day and all night.”
“Me too,” I mumbled.
“It was torturous being with Harry after the other night.”
I made a dive for the safe spots, but stopped before I got there. I thought, Why does it scare me when
it?s what I want to hear?
“That?s understandable,” I answered.
“Are you under the covers? I can hardly hear you.”
“My partner just stopped by for breakfast,” I half whispered.
“Ah, so that?s it,” she purred. “Well, I?ll let you go. I just wanted to hear your lovely voice before I
got up. I want to lie here and think about you. Please make it happen again soon. God, how I miss
you.”
