AFTER FALLING deeply asleep they rose late the next morning and showered together, taking turns soaping the other. Five minutes into it they had sex again while the hot water poured over them. Later, Reggie dressed and sat on the bed next to Shaw, who wore only a robe.
“So where does all this leave us?” she asked, her gaze searching his face.
“I’m not sure. We still haven’t resolved Kuchin. And you still haven’t told me enough to help you.”
“I was talking about the sex, actually.”
He looked at her, a bit perplexed.
“I guess it’s a girl thing to want to know about that. I suppose you blokes just take it at face value.”
“It was terrific, but I still need to understand your operation.”
“Very sensitive of you. But if I tell you, you have to tell others. I can’t let that happen.”
“And the trust thing?”
“Like I said, I don’t trust easily.”
“Neither do I. But I think I trust you.”
“Think?”
“Well, I’m apparently further along the trust road than you are.”
“So you believe Kuchin will come after us and that we might have a mole in our midst?”
“Even if you don’t have a traitor he can still come after you.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Our cover was excellent.”
“You don’t know how good your cover is because it hasn’t been tested yet. And this guy will test it. And you didn’t leave the area clean. You had to rush. Things might’ve gotten left behind. People might’ve heard or seen something. Now he’s out there planning how to get to you. He’s doing it 24/7.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because it’s what I would be doing.”
“Comforting to know that you and he think alike. And he’ll be coming after you too.”
“Right. So we work together. Then maybe we get the guy before he gets us.”
“Your shop isn’t interested anymore. Are you saying you’ll go outside your people to make this happen?”
“If necessary, yes.”
“That Frank guy didn’t seem the lenient or understanding type to me.”
“He’s not.”
“Then why do it at all?”
“Because I don’t want to keep looking over my shoulder for this guy.”
Reggie looked at him questioningly. “Only reason?”
“Let’s just take it one step at a time.”
“But you think someone on my side was prepared to kill you. How is that going to play out? I’m not going to help you take your revenge against my colleagues.”