The Love You Crave

46.

Sam Case.

“Hello?”Sam says.

“Was it everything you hoped it would be?” Doc Howard says.

“What are you talking about?”

They’re on the phone, Sam driving to the airport, Doc Howard, somewhere in Virginia.

“Do I really have to say it out loud?” Doc Howard says. “It’s vulgar.”

“I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about you and Kimberly Creed.”

“What about us?”

“You’re forcing me to say it? Fine. You fucked her. Was it all you hoped it would be?”

“How did you know?”

“It’s my job to know.”

“Did you have someone following me?”

“Following and listening.”

“ How? We were in a hotel room, for crissakes!”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s time to start paying the piper. Get off at exit 24-B, turn right, drive a half-mile to the bowling alley. Park there, and I’ll call you back.”

“How will you know when I park?”

“I’ve got a tracking device on your car.”

“I’m trying to catch a plane.”

“I know all about the flight. You’ll have plenty of time to catch it.”

Sam clicks his phone off and sighs. From where he is, the drive to exit 24-B will take ten minutes, a sufficient amount of time to reflect on how he and Doc Howard became allies in Sam’s war against Donovan Creed.