She said, “I don’t mean to pry, but are you two more than professional colleagues?”
“Strictly business.”
They walked across the street to the bar and sat at a table on one side of the room. The place was fairly full, though Robie didn’t see one King’s Apostle or a single skinhead.
“Not much else to do around here at night,” explained Malloy. “That sort of place. Not like Manhattan,” she added miserably.
“I guess not.”
They ordered beers, and when their drinks came, Robie said, “So what’s up?”
“I know you can’t tell me who Mr. Walton really is.”
“That would be an affirmative.”
“And you can’t tell me what you really do?”
Robie said, “I’m here to find him. Pretty simple.”
“Right. But from what I’ve seen of you and your partner, finding people isn’t all you do.”
“Okay.”
“Is that an affirmation?”
“It’s whatever you want it to be. But if you tell anyone else, I’ll deny it.”
Malloy drank her beer but kept her gaze on him.
Robie ran his gaze around the room and then, for some reason he couldn’t quite fathom, his eyes darted over Malloy, from her toes to her head.
Malloy didn’t appear to notice this.
Robie blinked, sat back, and cradled his beer.
She said, “You must have some special skills if you escaped from Dolph.”
“I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve. And Dolph got sloppy.”
“I really want to nail that guy. It would go a long way toward making this area safer.”
“So long as the bad guys outnumber the good guys you’re fighting a losing battle. That’s why people like Dolph come to places like this and set up shop. They can do their crap in the middle of nowhere without a SWAT team bringing the hammer down.”
Malloy sighed and sat back. “I guess.”
“You ever think of going back to New York?”
“Every day of my life.”
“So will you?”
“Probably. But I need to make sure that Holly is safe first. I have to believe she’s going to call me at some point. I mean, she always does.”
Robie drank his beer down in three quick bursts.
“You in a hurry?” she said, watching him do this.
“Just thirsty.”
His gaze once more involuntarily took her in. And this time Malloy did notice.
She slowly crossed her legs and sat forward. The sundress had a slit and the movement allowed him a glimpse of her thighs. “Are you married?”
“No.”
“Ever been?”
He shook his head.
“Me neither. Got close once but that was it. Job always got in the way. Where’d you grow up?”
“Mississippi.”
“Never would have guessed that. You don’t have an accent.”
“Lost it a long time ago.”
“You travel a lot?”
“I’ve been around.”
“Ever been overseas?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to London.”
“Nice place. I was just there.”
“Was it fun?”
“It was business.”
“Successful?”
“You could say that,” replied Robie.
She leaned back. “I’ve never really been anywhere. Grew up in New York and then came here for Holly. That’s it.”
“You’re young. You’ve got a lot of time to fix that.”
“I wanted to have kids.”
“You still can.”
“I need a husband for that. I’m not even dating anyone,” she added, shooting him a quick glance.
“How about Bender?”
She smiled. “He’s not my type and I’m not his. Besides, it would be pretty awkward professionally.”
“I guess so.”
“You seeing anyone?”
“Like you, the job gets in the way.”
“Jobs can suck,” she lamented.
“Sometimes, yeah.”
“But people still make do. Take advantage when they can. I’ve learned that. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. You know what I mean?”
“I think so, yeah.”
He felt her shoe flick against his ankle.
Yeah, I do know what you mean, thought Robie.
She finished her beer and set the glass down carefully on the coaster before looking up at him. The arc of her smile sent off clear signals.
“You up for a nightcap?” she asked slowly.
Robie tried to recall how many glasses of wine Malloy had had at dinner. And now the beer here. But he couldn’t. Hell, he couldn’t remember how much he’d had to drink. He was feeling a buzz for sure.
“We’re going to the silo tomorrow.”
“Just a nightcap, Agent Robie. That’s all.”
“Where?”
“I’ve got a bottle for special occasions at the office.”
Now that the night’s proposed agenda was fully out there, Robie had a decision to make.
His professional instincts were telling him very clearly what to do. Or rather what not to do. Another part of his thoughts drifted to the hotel across the street and to the room Reel was in.
He came back to Malloy when he felt her fingers touch his hand.
“Just a nightcap, Agent Robie. I think we deserve it. Never know when another opportunity will come up.”
The rub of flesh on flesh did not decide the issue for him.
He thought back to the note left in his apartment by Reel.
It’s complicated.
Well, tonight, right this minute, it’s not. It’s pretty simple, actually.
Robie put some money down on the table for the beers. They got up and walked out, her soft hip lightly bumping his as they made their way across the street.
In her office she retrieved the bottle of gin and a smaller bottle of tonic plus two glasses. Malloy took the glasses and mixed the drinks, giving generous pours of the gin for each. “I generally like mine on the rocks, but there you go,” she said. “No ice here.”
They drank their glasses down with her perched on the desk and Robie leaning against the wall and intently watching her.
He had to make an effort at professionalism, even if his heart wasn’t in it. Even if he knew he was going to eventually succumb to the temptation presenting itself right in front of him.
He set his glass down. “I better get going. Thanks for the nightcap.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Where?”
“Next door.”
“Next door?”
“Yes. Follow me.”
When he made no movement, she edged closer to him.
“You want to say something?” she asked.
“You’re a very attractive woman.”
“That’s very sweet of you to notice.”
“So where does that leave us?” asked Robie.
She looked at him hungrily. “Let’s go, Agent Robie. I know what I want and so do you.”
They exited the station through a rear door and walked over to the B&B. She used a key to open the front door and they went inside.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Malloy turned to him and kissed him, her tongue flicking inside his mouth.
She tugged on his arm, pulling him down the hall and toward the stairs.
“You always this forward?” he said, stumbling after her.