Exit Strategy (Nadia Stafford 1)

"No one--?"Don't let him bait you. Just ease back. "I guess that's right. It's not like I have a husband and kids at home to worry about."

"Got no one. Few friends. Everyone else pissed off after Franco. Never came back."

My nails dug into my palms. "Thank you so much for reminding me of that, Jack."

"Didn't mean it like that. Was just--"

"Pointing out that no one would notice I'd died today?"

"No. Just meant--What happened to you. Lost everything. Family. Friends. Career. Future. Whatever you thought your life was going to be? Gone. Won't come back."

"Well, when you put it that way, maybe I shouldn't have stopped Wilkes. Just let him put me out of--"

"You want this bad. Knew that. But I fucked up. Didn't realize how bad. How far you'll go."

"How far--?" I could barely get the words out, my heart hammering. "I want what so bad? To kill myself? I am not--"

"Suicidal? Nah. But it happens? It's a risk? You'll take it. Won't let it get in the way."

"Get in the way of--?" I swallowed the rest, swept aside the cornstalks and headed for the car.

"Dee..."

I didn't answer. "Nadia..."

I picked up my pace.

I climbed into the backseat. Evelyn turned to look at me, then sighed.

"He wouldn't talk, would he?"

"Oh, he talked."

Another keen-eyed study. Another sigh. "And it was one of those times when he does, and you're left wishing he'd kept his mouth shut." She shifted to face me. "Jack isn't very good at expressing himself."

"I think he expressed himself very well."

I looked out the windshield. There was no sign of Jack. I glanced at my watch.

"He's just walking it off," she said. "He hates confrontations. I remember this time, years ago, a middleman was bad-mouthing Jack behind his back and..." She noticed my wandering gaze. "And you're really not in the mood for 'insight into Jack' stories, are you? In that case, I'd suggest we discuss something that it takes very little insight to know he's not going to want to discuss. Our next move."

"It'll need to involve me. Up close and personal with Wilkes again. I'm the eyewitness who got away."

She nodded. "And this whole thing started because he wanted to shut up his last--and only--witness. Meaning if he can get a shot at you, preferably before you go to the Feds, there will be no luring involved--he'll jump hurdles to get to you."

"Question is: how to make sure he finds me?"

"I have an idea for that, but Jack will absolutely hate it."

"At this point, not a concern."

She looked at me, and her mouth opened, as if she wanted to say something, then she gave a sharp shake of her head.

"He's a big boy," she murmured. "Okay then, here's what I'm thinking...."

By the time Jack returned to the car, fifteen minutes later, we'd hammered out the skeleton of a plan. When it was time to tell him, I let Evelyn do the honors. As he listened, his face darkened. He let Evelyn get into it, then interrupted.

"Involving the Feds is stupid." He looked at me. "That your idea?"