The 6:20 Man

CHAPTER

70

“DUDE?” SAID VALENTINE EARLY THAT afternoon as Devine and Montgomery walked in the front door. Devine was hefting two large suitcases while Montgomery carried a smaller one.

“Hey, Will, this is Michelle.”

Valentine eyed Montgomery and smiled. He quickly stood from his usual perch on the couch and put out his hand. Montgomery set her bag down and shook it.

“Hello, Will.”

“Hello, Michelle,” said Valentine, giving Devine a look along with arched eyebrows. “That is lovely name.”

“Michelle is going to stay here for a bit, in my room.”

“Dude,” said Valentine with another shit-eating grin.

“While I sleep on the couch.”

“Oh, right,” said Valentine. “On couch.”

“Which means you have to sleep in your bed, at least for tonight,” said Devine.

This possibility apparently hadn’t occurred to Valentine. “Oh, okay,” he said, his smile fading.

If the Russian was aware that Helen Speers had been in his room, he certainly wasn’t showing it. For a security expert, he was lax about his own security, thought Devine.

Devine led Montgomery up to his room and they put her things down in the corner.

“I’ll just pull out what I need for tonight,” she said. “I’m sure I can find a place in the morning.”

“I’ve already texted Campbell. He’s on it.”

“I still can’t believe that Christian is dead.”

“You sleep with a cobra, you get bit.”

“So, these people are just going to get away with it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But what can you do about it? Your boss said the whole thing might come tumbling down because of a bunch of corrupt politicians.”

“But we still have a shot.”

“Who’s your friend, Travis?”

They turned to see Helen Speers standing in the doorway. She had on a red dress and black pumps. Her hair was done in a French braid. A briefcase was in one hand. She eyed Montgomery inquiringly.

“This is Michelle Montgomery. Michelle, Helen Speers, a recent NYU Law grad.”

The women shook hands and eyed each other with what Devine thought were aggressive looks.

“Michelle will be staying here tonight.”

“Here, in your room?”

“I’m bunking on the couch.”