بخش 04 - فصل 21

21

Before going to Hertz, Hodges swings Jerome’s Jeep into the turnaround in front of the Airport Hilton.

“This is supposed to be Witness Protection?” Freddi asks. “This?”

Hodges says, “Since I don’t happen to have a safe house at my disposal, it will have to do. I’ll register you under my name. You go in, you lock the door, you watch TV, you wait until this thing is over.”

“And change the dressing on that wound,” Holly says.

Freddi ignores her. She’s focused on Hodges. “How much trouble am I going to be in? When it’s over?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t have time to discuss it with you now.”

“Can I at least order room service?” There’s a faint gleam in Freddi’s bloodshot eyes. “I’m not in so much pain now, and I’ve got a wicked case of the munchies.”

“Knock yourself out,” Hodges says.

Jerome adds, “Only check the peephole before you let in the waiter. Make sure it isn’t one of Brady Hartsfield’s Men in Black.”

“You’re kidding,” Freddi says. “Right?”

The hotel lobby is dead empty on this snowy afternoon. Hodges, who feels as if he woke up to Pete’s telephone call approximately three years ago, walks to the desk, does his business there, and comes back to where the others are sitting. Holly is tapping away at something on her iPad, and doesn’t look up. Freddi holds out her hand for the key folder, but Hodges gives it to Jerome, instead.

“Room 522. Take her up, will you? I want to talk to Holly.”

Jerome raises his eyebrows, and when Hodges doesn’t elaborate, he shrugs and takes Freddi by the arm. “John Shaft will now escort you to your suite.”

She pushes his hand away. “Be lucky if it even has a minibar.” But she gets up and walks with him toward the elevators.

“I found Thurston’s Garage,” Holly says. “It’s fifty-six miles north on I-47, the direction the storm’s coming from, unfortunately. After that it’s State Road 79. The weather really doesn’t look g—”

“We’ll be okay,” Hodges says. “Hertz is holding a Ford Expedition for us. It’s a nice heavy vehicle. And you can give me the turn-by-turn later. I want to talk to you about something else.” Gently, he takes her iPad and turns it off.

Holly looks at him with her hands clasped in her lap, waiting.