After they left the restaurant and Robie dropped Julie off, his phone buzzed. It was Reel.
“I think we need to talk.”
“Okay.”
“But you’re being followed and I want some privacy.”
Robie’s gaze flicked to his rearview mirror. He noted the car on the street two back from his.
“Okay, let me see what I can do.”
“No need. I’ll take care of it.”
“So you’re back there too?”
“Did you really have to ask? How’s Julie?”
“Concerned. Where do you want to meet?”
“In case someone is listening in, our place in the rain.”
“Roger that.”
“Take the next right. When you reach the alley, punch it.”
Robie clicked off and sped up. He hung the right. The tail did the same.
He saw the alley and floored it, creating separation from the tail. In the rearview he watched as a semi pulled out of the alley, blocking the road.
He heard brakes screech and a horn blaring.
“Nice, Jessica,” he said to himself.
He punched the gas, made a series of turns, and then glided onto Constitution and passed the Washington Monument, no longer shrouded in scaffolding after the earthquake and lit up like the Eiffel Tower. Some people thought they should have left it that way.
Five minutes and as many turns later he pulled to the curb, put the car in park, cut the engine, and got out. He walked to the car parked in front of him and slid into the passenger seat. Jessica Reel started the car and sped off.
“Where to?” he asked.
“Nowhere. Just want to move while we talk.”
“Talk about what?”
“The Burner Box.”
“We’ve both been there, Jessica.”
“And you really want to go back?”
“I didn’t think we had a choice.”
“You have a choice, Will. It’s me they really want. I’ll go. You don’t have to.”
“I think it was a package deal.”
She pulled off the street, stopped the car, and slammed it into park.
“Look, if you think you’re doing me a favor by coming with me, you’re not. It’s just one more thing for me to worry about.”
“When did I say you ever had to worry about me?”
“You know what I’m talking about. It’s better if I go it alone.”
“And what if they kill me for not going? How is that better for me?”
“I pulled the triggers on those two, Robie, not you. You can work out a deal. Go to your people. They’ll provide you cover. POTUS is on your side, for God’s sake.”
“But what if I want to go to the Burner Box?”
“Why in the hell would you? And don’t say for me, because that’ll just piss me off even more.”
“Then I’m doing it for me.”
“You’re making no sense now.”
“I want to know if I can still cut it, Jessica. The Burner will tell me that.”
“The Burner could end up killing you.”
“Well, if I can’t cut it there, I sure as hell can’t cut it in the field.”
“You heard Marks. She’ll be gunning for both of us. It won’t be a fair evaluation, despite what she said. Evan Tucker will have seen to that.”
“I don’t really care.”
“Robie, how can you not care? You’ve only got one life.”
“Now you’re the one not making sense. Every time I walk out the door I’m risking my one life.”
“Evan Tucker went after us once and missed. This is his follow-up act. I doubt he’ll make the same mistake. Unlike in Syria, he can control all aspects of the Burner Box and what goes on in there. Take it from me, an ‘accident’ will happen that will tragically end our lives.”
“Well, if we’re both there he’ll have to work twice as hard to nail us.”
“But he’ll still nail us.”
“You need to be more optimistic.”
“And you need to get your head out of your ass.”
“I’m going, Jessica.”
“What about Julie? You’re just going to walk out on her?”
“No, I’ll do my best to get through this and see her again. But I have a job to do. And I’m good at it. And I’m going to keep doing it. And I’m going to have as normal a life as I possibly can while I’m doing it.”
“That’s impossible and you damn well know it.”
He shook his head wearily. “You really have to work on having a more positive attitude. And the only thing I know for certain is that I’m leaving on a trip tomorrow. So just drive me back to my car. I need to pack my bag and get some shut-eye.”
She dropped him back at his car. As he was getting out she broke the silence. “You are the most exasperating person I have ever met in my life.”
“You need to get out more.”
She snorted and then, despite her evident anger, she smiled. “Why are you really doing this?”
“Just remember the rain, Jessica. What I said then is what I mean now.”
“That you’ll always have my six?”
“Just so you know, it’s not a freebie. I expect the same in return. Figure it’s the only way we survive this.”
Then he was gone.