sure.”
“Well, you can certainly tell us. We’re on the same side here,” Tanner said. “Anything you have may help us, and in turn, we’ll help you. Just don’t keep anything from us.”
“Fine. Why don’t you come to the station, where we can give you a full briefing?” Watts said. “Also, please have your people send up whatever info you’ve got down in Jersey.”
CHAPTER 19
Aurora drives us across the Tappan Zee Bridge as we head upstate to hide out. By ten PM , we reach Port Jervis and stop at this dump motel.
“You really know how to pick ’em, don’t you, Tommy?” she says, scrunching up her nose.
“Hey, beggars can’t be choosers. We should be safe here, though. I know the area. You see, when I was a kid, I worked a bunch of summers as a junior counselor and a waiter at a camp nearby. This place is a ghost town until summertime.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Now go get the room. I’ll stay here. It’s better if they think you’re alone. One thing, though, get a non-smoking one. I hate the smell of cigarettes.”
“Ha—what makes you think they even have them here?”
“Nothing. But if they do, get one.”
“Gotcha.”
Five minutes later, Aurora comes back and shows me a card that apparently replaces a conventional key. “Technology at its finest, even at a shithole like this.”
“You can say that again.”
We drive to the room, I hang Aurora’s bag over my shoulder and we climb the stairs. “I guess we can stay here for a few nights while we figure out what to do.”
Aurora slides the card into the door slot. “Yeah, but we shouldn’t stay in any one place for too long.” She walks through the door, draws a breath and makes a face. “They told me this was a non-smoking room.”
“Losers. You think we can change before we get comfortable?”
“No—not wise. That may bring attention to us. You’ll just have to deal with it.”
“I suppose you’re right.” I pull her bag off my shoulder and the strap catches on my necklace, snapping the chain. It falls to the floor. “Damn, I really liked that thing.” I pick it up and toss it on the night table. I’ll fix it later.
Aurora opens the bag and starts taking out her toiletries. “I’m going to take a shower and wash up, okay?”
I look away and start thinking about more than just sleeping. I’m still not sure how she’ll react if I make a move, and it’s been a while since I’ve gotten any action, but just being alone with someone as hot as she is makes it very tough to resist. . . . It’s too soon, though. Imagining her soaping up in the shower is just about all I can take. I’ve got to bolt. “I think I’m gonna take a walk and clear my head while I sort things out.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? Maybe you shouldn’t be out in the open.”
“Relax. No one would ever think of looking for me up here.”
Besides, if I stick around much longer I’ll never be able to control myself
.
* * *
My short walk turns into a much longer one, and I lose track of time. It’s real peaceful out here. The chill of the night feels good, and the smell of the country air is refreshing as I walk along the side of the road. At least a half hour goes by, and not even a single car passes.
I come up to a large boulder sitting at the edge of the woods. I climb up on it and stretch out, putting my hands behind my head as I stare up at the sky. The stars are really out tonight. I can’t remember the last time I looked up at the heavens and even saw any stars at all. Crazy thoughts start banging around inside my head, and my mind begins to race. I hear whispering. It sounds like Troyer calling out to me in that dumb-ass Australian accent.
I look around, but no one’s there. No way could the dude follow us up here. No way!
Then I start hearing that bartender girl calling out Troyer’s name. I feel like I’m back in my car heading toward Gilgo Beach and she’s in the trunk. “Troyer, why’d you
“Well, you can certainly tell us. We’re on the same side here,” Tanner said. “Anything you have may help us, and in turn, we’ll help you. Just don’t keep anything from us.”
“Fine. Why don’t you come to the station, where we can give you a full briefing?” Watts said. “Also, please have your people send up whatever info you’ve got down in Jersey.”
CHAPTER 19
Aurora drives us across the Tappan Zee Bridge as we head upstate to hide out. By ten PM , we reach Port Jervis and stop at this dump motel.
“You really know how to pick ’em, don’t you, Tommy?” she says, scrunching up her nose.
“Hey, beggars can’t be choosers. We should be safe here, though. I know the area. You see, when I was a kid, I worked a bunch of summers as a junior counselor and a waiter at a camp nearby. This place is a ghost town until summertime.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Now go get the room. I’ll stay here. It’s better if they think you’re alone. One thing, though, get a non-smoking one. I hate the smell of cigarettes.”
“Ha—what makes you think they even have them here?”
“Nothing. But if they do, get one.”
“Gotcha.”
Five minutes later, Aurora comes back and shows me a card that apparently replaces a conventional key. “Technology at its finest, even at a shithole like this.”
“You can say that again.”
We drive to the room, I hang Aurora’s bag over my shoulder and we climb the stairs. “I guess we can stay here for a few nights while we figure out what to do.”
Aurora slides the card into the door slot. “Yeah, but we shouldn’t stay in any one place for too long.” She walks through the door, draws a breath and makes a face. “They told me this was a non-smoking room.”
“Losers. You think we can change before we get comfortable?”
“No—not wise. That may bring attention to us. You’ll just have to deal with it.”
“I suppose you’re right.” I pull her bag off my shoulder and the strap catches on my necklace, snapping the chain. It falls to the floor. “Damn, I really liked that thing.” I pick it up and toss it on the night table. I’ll fix it later.
Aurora opens the bag and starts taking out her toiletries. “I’m going to take a shower and wash up, okay?”
I look away and start thinking about more than just sleeping. I’m still not sure how she’ll react if I make a move, and it’s been a while since I’ve gotten any action, but just being alone with someone as hot as she is makes it very tough to resist. . . . It’s too soon, though. Imagining her soaping up in the shower is just about all I can take. I’ve got to bolt. “I think I’m gonna take a walk and clear my head while I sort things out.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? Maybe you shouldn’t be out in the open.”
“Relax. No one would ever think of looking for me up here.”
Besides, if I stick around much longer I’ll never be able to control myself
.
* * *
My short walk turns into a much longer one, and I lose track of time. It’s real peaceful out here. The chill of the night feels good, and the smell of the country air is refreshing as I walk along the side of the road. At least a half hour goes by, and not even a single car passes.
I come up to a large boulder sitting at the edge of the woods. I climb up on it and stretch out, putting my hands behind my head as I stare up at the sky. The stars are really out tonight. I can’t remember the last time I looked up at the heavens and even saw any stars at all. Crazy thoughts start banging around inside my head, and my mind begins to race. I hear whispering. It sounds like Troyer calling out to me in that dumb-ass Australian accent.
I look around, but no one’s there. No way could the dude follow us up here. No way!
Then I start hearing that bartender girl calling out Troyer’s name. I feel like I’m back in my car heading toward Gilgo Beach and she’s in the trunk. “Troyer, why’d you
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