Part 20 (2/2)
”I...I don't know. There's something very pure about this one.”
”If that's true, then she's unfortunately just as apt at hiding her real nature as you are.”
”Meaning?”
”Both of you treat s.e.x as a means to a goal, without taking the consequences into consideration.”
”What consequences?” Chase asked.
”How much your genuine nature gets obscured in your pursuit to justify what you do.”
Chase wanted to give Jack points for not giving her a hard time about refusing to partic.i.p.ate in the bedroom surveillance.
And she knew Jack probably meant well with her p.r.o.nouncements about Chase burying her real needs. But she was in no mood to get a.n.a.lyzed. Not right now. ”Which is your true nature, Jack?” she asked. ”The deserter, the liar, or the paid a.s.sa.s.sin?” Jack shrugged. ”Why ask, when you've already made up your mind I'm all three?”
”Because I'm curious if you're as much of an expert with self-a.n.a.lysis.”
”Maybe someday when you're done judging me, I'll tell you what happened,” Jack said.
”I'm sure it'll be a touching story, but frankly, there's no excuse for hurting innocent people.”
”Don't you think I know that? Not a day goes by I don't regret the things I've done. But I refuse to apologize for leaving the EOO.
Not after how that s.h.i.+t of a human treated me.”
* 158 *
”I don't give a d.a.m.n about the organization or Pierce,” Chase said, too loud. ”It's the path of destruction you left behind since you disappeared I can't forgive.”
Jack turned back to the monitor. ”Neither can I.” Chase saw sincere regret on Jack's face, but she was too agitated to care.
”They're done.” Jack looked tired as she fished in her jacket for her cigarettes. ”Our guy should be leaving soon.” Chase checked the time and moved closer to the monitor.
She put her headphones back in place and turned on the bedroom monitor. Heather was wearing a short black robe and her client was almost dressed. She was facing away from both the mystery man and her client.
”You were amazing,” the john said as he b.u.t.toned his s.h.i.+rt.
”Thank you.” Heather's voice was artificially upbeat, her face devoid of any emotion as she stared vacantly into s.p.a.ce. It was as though she had shut down completely.
”You may leave now,” Dario said.
Heather turned to escort her client to the door. He tried to kiss her, but Heather turned her face away.
”Can I see you again?” the john asked.
Dario answered for her. ”No, you may not.”
”Too bad.” The man winked at Heather. ”If you change your mind, I'll be at the hotel until next week.” Heather opened the door for him without saying a word. He left and she went to sit at the foot of the bed. ”Was everything to your satisfaction?” she asked Dario.
”You were splendid.”
”I'm pleased you think so.”
Chase heard the man sigh. ”I look forward to your company, Amber. So much, as a matter of fact, I sometimes wish I could take you with me.”
”Take me where?” Heather asked.
”On my draining business trips. I've gotten tired of travelling and negotiating with self-proclaimed important individuals. Your * 159 *
presence would surely make these affairs considerably more pleasant. You're very special, Amber.”
”Thank you,” Heather replied, the same empty smile on her face.”I take it you were informed of my new schedule.”
”I was.”
”I shall see you again the day after tomorrow,” he said.
”To talk.”
”Correct.”
”Why?”
”I find your companions.h.i.+p pleasing.”
”Thank you.”
Chase cringed when she thanked him again.
The rear-exit camera showed one customer leaving. ”We can scratch him off our list,” Jack said.
”See you then, sweet Amber,” Dario said.
Chase and Jack both fixed on the camera view of the watcher's room and groaned simultaneously when he didn't turn on the light on his way out.
”We'll catch him at the door,” Jack said.
Chase looked back at the view showing Heather. She remained on the edge of the bed, her expression unreadable.
Moments later, a man in his early forties departed the back entrance.
”That's right, look at the camera,” Jack said as he glanced up, almost straight into the lens. ”I think we have our man. Let's see what Reno gets on him.”
Chase turned her attention back to Heather, who still hadn't moved. After another couple of minutes, Heather abruptly rose and went into the watcher's room and turned on the lights. The armchair was vacant, and a stack of bills had been left on the small table set before the two-way mirror.
To Chase's surprise, Heather didn't immediately take the money. Instead, she sat in the armchair and stared at the cash, then looked beyond it through the mirror at the bedroom. Even from * 160 *
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