“I don’t think my truck is going anywhere, battery or not,” he says, “but the important stuff survived.”
He holds up a gun in a holster and a bottle of amber liquid.
“Is that the Glenlivet?” Ryan asks.
“Fifteen years.”
“First positive thing I’ve heard all day!”
All three of them laugh, and I find myself cracking a smile as well. I guess it really is the simple things when it comes right down to it. Falk doesn’t seem entertained by the idea, and he gestures to me to join him.
Caesar hands the bottle to Beck and follows.
“Are you still planning on heading to Washington?” Caesar asks. His voice is low, and I’m fairly sure Beck and Ryan don’t hear his question. Falk stares at Caesar for a moment without a response. “I’ve read the reports. I know who she is. I assume you are part of her security detail.”
I bite down on my lip, remembering that Falk didn’t want me talking to these guys too much. I should have asked him why when we were walking, but I didn’t. I look over to him for direction and see him nod at Caesar once.
“It makes sense to head that way,” Falk says. “It’s the most protected place in the country, and they’re bound to have more information than anyone we find here. Getting there is obviously an issue now. Whatever took out the electricity and everything else must have impacted lead-acid batteries. If I can find a vehicle that uses lithium-ion batteries, it might work.”
“What do you think happened?”
Falk glances at the sky but doesn’t offer a verbal opinion.
Caesar looks over to me.
“I assume you’d like to keep your identity under wraps.”
“I’d prefer it, yes,” I respond. “It’s just easier that way.”
“I’m not going to say anything,” he says, trying to reassure me. “I don’t think either of those guys would care, but there’s no telling who else we might run into.”
“I would appreciate it if you don’t say anything.” Falk’s voice is steady and stern. “She’s still under my protection until I can get her to the right people in Washington.”
“You’ve got more faith than I do,” Caesar mumbles.
“It’s good to have a direction,” Falk responds coldly, “with or without faith.”
I look back and forth between the two of them, trying to make sense of their conversation. Falk doesn’t seem interested in explaining, and I figure I’m going to have a lot of questions for him when we’re alone again.
Beck approaches, abruptly ending the discussion.
“There isn’t a whole lot inside the house that’s salvageable,” he says. “I did pull out my Berretta and my AR plus two boxes of ammo. I can’t get to the kitchen safely, but there is a Publix nearby. We’d have better luck finding food there anyway.”
“Why don’t you go check it out,” Falk says, “and bring back whatever you can carry.”
“Are you giving me orders already?” Beck’s got a half grin on his face as he looks at Falk, his head tilted to one side.
Falk doesn’t move or respond, and the air around us suddenly seems electrified.
“I could go,” I say quietl
y. It’s the first thought that comes to my mind to try to diminish the tension between the two. The look on Falk’s face is making me nervous, and Beck seems happy to keep poking the bear.
“You’re staying here,” Falk says definitively.
“Well, that was certainly an order!” Beck says with a laugh. “Why don’t you let the lady make her own choices?”
“It’s fine, really,” I say quickly. “I don’t care one way or the other. I was just saying I could—”