“Seriously?” The first man was past being patient. He was growing angry, maybe because of the way they were stuck. “Getting rid of Duke might be the stupidest thing we’ve done yet even if we want to. Scrub it from your brain cells.”
“He’s slowing us down.”
“Bull!” said the first man. “We’re stuck because we found out that Larry Duke might have passed data to someone for safekeeping. We’ve already made what may have been a wasted break-in, because we didn’t know exactly what we were looking for. I’ll decide about him.”
The other two exchanged looks, wondering again if Man One might have a stake in this beyond money.
“Yeah, yeah,” muttered the second man. “I gotta recharge this laptop and cell. How in the name of whatever am I supposed to do that?”
“You could just go into town and do it,” said the third man.
“Oh, for...” said the second. “Haven’t we been trying to avoid being seen? Place this small, someone would notice and remember.”
“Yup,” said the first man. “I’m getting tired of sitting on our butts stuck, just like y’all. But I’ve also been trying to figure out what kind of diversion would get that cop away from Larry’s house, and what kind of surveillance we should do on another target around here.”
“But we don’t know what we’re looking for,” argued the third man, sounding just a bit whiny.
“Exactly,” the first man agreed. “Exactly. I’m thinking about driving into town.”
Silence greeted his words initially. Then the second man waved his hand.
“Hello?” he said. “We discussed this. No town.”
A snicker escaped the third man. The first man let it pass.
Instead of responding directly, he said, “I’ve got to figure out a disguise. Then, after we get some intel, we can act.”
“What intel?” the second man demanded.
“To find out more people that Larry Duke interacted with. More hiding places to look. I can probably do a recharge there. Enough waiting for the cop to disappear. It’d be better if no one broke into that house while we’re still here.”
He looked at each of them individually. “I’ll figure this out, because you’re not the only ones tired of spinning your wheels. Damn messed-up operation. I’m going to have to fix it somehow. And if I decide Major Duke has the info, I’m going to send him to the next world.”
The other two didn’t doubt he would.
Chapter Eight
Cat was waiting for Duke when he returned. He carried two large paper bags into the kitchen.
“I got us some dinner,” he said. “And I hope it’s okay that I parked my rental on the street.”
She noticed his hair was still damp. “Thank you, the parking is okay, and how about we change the terms of this arrangement?”
He turned from putting the bags on the counter to look at her. “How so?”
“Just check out of the motel and bring your stuff over here. This is ridiculous. As near as I can tell, you’re using the motel only for clothing storage and showers. Well, I’ve got the room for your clothes, and I’ve got a working shower.”
He hesitated visibly. “I’m intruding too much on you.”
“Really? This would be more convenient. Just get your damn stuff and move in. I can spare the room. I even have a washer and dryer that I hereby permit you to use.”
At that, a twinkle appeared in his eyes. “You sure?”
“I sound sure, don’t I? Or maybe I wasn’t emphatic enough.”
“You were,” he allowed. “Okay, I’ll move in. Now, dinner? Maude was making some fried chicken. I hope you like it.”
“I think I’d like anything that came out of that woman’s kitchen.”
He smiled. “Good, because the deed is done.”
HE GOT THE dishes for them, then spread the food out on the kitchen table.
“You know,” she said, “you don’t have to keep buying meals for us.”
“Sure I do.” He passed her a stack of napkins. “I don’t want you cooking for me, and my cooking skills are limited. When you live a military life as a single guy, you get used to chow halls and restaurants. Or in the field you heat up rations. I have a kitchenette in my quarters, but it doesn’t see much use.”
“I didn’t feel like cooking,” she admitted.
“I don’t blame you. And if you feel like you need to cook for me, stop. That’s not your job. Hell, you don’t have to be polite, either. I’ve moved in on you.”
“At my invitation.”
He sat across from her again. His chair now, she supposed. He spent enough time in it. Not that she had a problem.
While they ate Maude’s fried chicken and her homemade potato salad, they chatted casually.
“You were lucky to get the potato salad,” she remarked.
“Really? Why?”
“Maude only makes it once in a while, because it’s time-consuming. When I complimented it one time, she groused, asking me if I had any idea how long it took to peel that many potatoes. Point taken.”
He chuckled. “Never having made it, I don’t know.”
“I’ve made it, but once I imagined how many potatoes she’d have to peel and turn into cubes, and slices of celery she’d have to clean and chop...never mind the quantity of eggs and onions...” Cat shrugged. “I got it. Four servings is one thing. A ton for all her customers who want to eat it? A whole other game.”
“I like Maude. She reminds me of more than a few drill instructors.”
She had to grin. Having only seen them in movies, Cat could easily see Maude in that role.
Holding a piece of half-gnawed chicken leg, Cat was the first to dive into the interrupted conversation about the case. “I’m getting as impatient with all this as you are. I know better, but frustration is making me want to erupt.”
Duke nodded. “I understand.”
“I bet you do. In fact, I know you do.”
“I’m that transparent, huh?”
“Maybe. It’s not like you’re trying to conceal it. Or are you?”
“Nah. It’s an evident
