Nine

24

Near Flagstaff, Arizona

Tuesday, May 20, 10:35 P.M.

Spooky was engrossed in examining the contents of Frederick’s wallet, a pastime she had engaged in several times over the last few hours.

Some people play license plate bingo, Kit thought, and we play with twice-stolen identification cards.

Meghan, who had slept for the last few hours, stirred awake and smiled at him. She stretched and sat up. “Do you want me to drive?”

He was feeling tired, and was almost certain that no one was following them now. If they were going to make it to Malibu without staying overnight somewhere between here and there, he needed to let her take the wheel for a while.

“Okay, thanks.”

“No fair!” Spooky called out from the backseat. “You let her drive, and you won’t let me?”

“Are you a licensed driver?” he asked Meghan.

She managed to keep a straight face. “Yes.”

He looked in the rearview mirror at Spooky. “Are you a licensed driver?”

“Sure. I’ve got at least five licenses here in Eric Grady’s wallet.”

“I told you, his name is Frederick.”

“So why was he after Meghan?”

“What do you think might have changed since the last time you asked that?”

“You said he was looking for her brother, but that’s really dumb, unless her brother has tits as big as hers.”

He didn’t reply but knew she caught his look of disapproval in the mirror.

She sulked. “Okay, so nothing has changed, but you aren’t telling me everything, either.”

“I don’t know everything yet. When I know more, I’ll tell you. Apologize to Meghan.”

She crossed her arms and glared at him, then said to Meghan, “I’m sorry for referring to your-”

He cleared his throat.

“-body in that way.”

“Apology accepted,” Meghan said.

He pulled over at a service station, filled the Suburban’s big gas tank, and paid cash. They all took a bathroom break, and he noticed that Spooky used the restroom in record time. He knew that this was due to her fear of being left behind. He thought of saying something to reassure her but knew she would be mortified if he said anything like that in front of Meghan. He reached into his bag of milagros and found a tin dog. He slipped it to her as they were getting back into the Suburban. For a moment, she looked as if she might throw it away, but then he saw her tuck it into her jeans pocket.

Meghan took a moment to readjust the seat and mirrors, then they were off.

He moved his own seat into a more comfortable position. He verified in the side mirrors that there were no cars or trucks behind them, then relaxed back into his seat. He needed sleep. Everything would be fine.

He had just closed his eyes when there was a loud popping sound, and the SUV swerved as Meghan jumped.

Kit’s heart raced, but there were no other cars nearby. No indication that they had blown a tire. He looked toward the backseat.

“Spooky…”

“What?”

“Exactly. What was it?”

She started laughing. He looked at the seat and saw a foil wrapper next to her.

“Did you just blow up a condom like a balloon and pop it?”

“Yes,” she said, still laughing.

He waited until she stopped, then said, “Don’t do it again.”

“Aw, Kit. There are a bunch more of them.”

“It wasn’t funny. Not at all.”

He heard a small snort and watched as Meghan struggled not to give in.

“Then why is Meghan laughing?” Spooky asked.

That proved to be Meghan’s undoing.

“Great,” he said. “Hand me a pillow, would you, Spooky?”

She did and said in a low voice, “Don’t be mad.”

“Are you done pulling stunts that could get us killed?”

She glanced at Meghan, who was faking deafness. “Yes,” she said. “I promise I won’t do anything like that again. Here. You can have all the rubbers, too.” She handed over two strips of them. She frowned. “You aren’t going to use them, are you?”

“No. Try to get some sleep.”

“I slept too much today.”

This was probably true, he decided, but was too tired to argue with her. Within minutes, he had dozed off.

Meghan glanced at him and kept that image of his face-seldom seen so free of care-in mind as she returned her attention to the road.

She told herself that there was absolutely no reason to feel depressed at his ready assurance that he wasn’t going to use the condoms.