The Coffin Dancer (Lincoln Rhyme 2)

"Except you're at the wrong place at the wrong time," Stephen said. "And that's too bad, but you're in the same situation I am because they want me and they aren't going to believe you're not with me. Now, you gonna help me or not? All I've got time for is yes or no."

Jodie tried not to look scared, but his eyes betrayed hi

m.

"Yes. Or. No."

"I don't want to get hurt."

"If you're on my side you'll never get hurt. One thing I'm good at is making sure who gets hurt and who doesn't."

"And you'll pay me? Money? Not a check."

Stephen had to laugh. "Not a check. No. Cash."

The jelly beans of eyes were considering something. "How much?"

The little crud was negotiating.

"Five thousand."

The fear remained in the eyes but it was pushed aside by shock. "For real? You're not shitting me?"

"No."

"What if I get you out and you kill me so you don't have to pay?"

Stephen laughed again. "I'm getting paid a lot more than that. Five's nothing to me. Anyway, if we get out of here I could use your help again."

"I--"

A sound in the distance. Footsteps coming closer.

It was the S&S cop, looking for him.

Just one, Stephen could tell, listening to the steps. Made sense. They'd be expecting him to go for the first-floor office with the open window, where Lincoln the Worm would've stationed most of the troopers.

Stephen replaced the pistol in his book bag and pulled out his knife. "You going to help me?"

A no-brainer, of course. If Jodie didn't help he'd be dead in sixty seconds. And he knew it.

"Okay." He extended his hand.

Stephen ignored it and asked, "How do we get out?"

"See those cinder blocks there? You can pull 'em out. See, there? It leads to an old tunnel. There're these delivery tunnels going underneath the city. Nobody knows about them."

"There are?" Stephen wished he'd known about them before.

"I can get us to the subway. That's where I live. This old subway station."

It was two years since Stephen had worked with a partner. Sometimes he wished he hadn't killed the man.

Jodie started toward the concrete blocks.

"No," Stephen whispered. "Here's what I want you to do. You stand against that wall. There." He pointed to a wall opposite the doorway.

"But he'll see me. He checks in here with his flashlight and I'll be the first thing he'll see!"