PMadriani 12.5 - The Second Man by Steve Martini Page A

took a good look. I mean, it’s true I didn’t get information on technical specs. But I never thought I would. The fact is, you’ve been a big help. We’ll do it again sometime. I couldn’t have gotten near it without you. You really are sweet. Some lady is very lucky to have you.”
    The second she looked him in the eye, Joselyn knew it was one lie too many. He dropped his hand from her waist and stepped back. The smile faded from his lips.
    â€œCalm down,” he told her. “You don’t need to be scared. You think I’m gonna hurt you?”
    â€œNo!” Her voice went up three octaves. “That’s not what I was thinking at all.”
    â€œYou sure?”
    â€œYes. It’s just that I have things to take care of back at the office. I only took off two days. I know I should have told you. I thought we’d be going back tonight. If I don’t show up for work in the morning, ­people at the foundation are going to wonder where I am.” Joselyn figured if he could lie, so could she. But he did it better, and they both knew it. She wanted desperately to get ahold of Paul. Tell him where she was and have him call the base so the MPs would come and get her.
    â€œWhy don’t you call your office? Tell them you’re gonna be another day or two,” said Akers.
    â€œI thought about it, but my phone’s not working. There’s no signal.”
    â€œReally?” Akers pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and looked at it. “You know, you’re right. I’m not getting anything either. That’s strange. The last time I was here, I had no problem at all. Maybe they’re working on the towers. Why don’t you just go ahead and use the landline?” He gestured toward the phone on the table.
    â€œMaybe I will,” she said. “Later.” She sensed that any signal for help would set him off. “I was thinking maybe we could go over to the mission, so I could take my camera and get some pictures. You said earlier . . .”
    â€œNo. That’s not possible,” he said. “Henley might see us driving around.” As he spoke, he was busy in the kitchen, pouring a bottle of sparkling water into two glasses. He turned and handed a glass to her. “Here; the water in this place tastes like crap,” said Akers.
    The astringent soda water tasted good. It quenched her thirst.
    â€œMaybe you’re right,” she said. “But I don’t really want to sit around here all day with nothing to do. Maybe we could take the car and head off base. If we’re not here, he can’t see us.”
    â€œWhere do you want go?”
    â€œI don’t know.” She certainly didn’t want to go with him for a ride in the country. She was looking for anyplace where there were ­people, where she might lose herself in a crowd or find help. “I know,” she said. “Maybe we could go to San Simeon. See the castle. I’ve never been there. And it can’t be that far.”
    â€œYou know, you’re starting to sound like my wife.”
    â€œHow’s that?” she said.
    â€œAnything to get away from me.”
    â€œNo, that’s not what I was thinking at all.”
    â€œYou look tired,” he said. “I think maybe you should go lie down. Take a nap.”
    â€œI don’t . . .”
    â€œDo it anyway!” The way he said it, the tone in his voice and the look in his eye, made it clear this wasn’t a suggestion.
    â€œMaybe you’re right.” Joselyn turned and picked up her overnight bag, which was still on the floor in the outer room. She thought for a moment, and said: “Do you mind if I check out the rooms?”
    â€œHelp yourself.”
    She was trying to maintain civility, to keep it on a human plane, and if necessary, even to keep him interested. Anything to get away. Instinct told her that once things ruptured irredeemably,