The Love You Crave

48.

Present Day, Present Time.

Sam pulls into the parking lot of the bowling alley, and waits.

Within seconds, Doc Howard calls and says, “To start things off, I want the Bin Laden death photos.”

“ What?”

“You heard me.”

“How the hell-?”

“Sam? The government keeps the most valuable documents, photographs, paintings, patents, and other treasures underground, in Area B. You live and work there.”

“Those things are locked up in a whole different part of the complex. There’s never been a security breach in the history of the facility!”

“You’re a computer expert, with full access to the government’s computers.”

“No one gets full access.”

“Good thing you’re a computer expert.”

“You expect me to hack into the government’s computers? The most sophisticated system in the world?”

“Don’t be so dramatic. I know twelve-year-old kids who could do it. You just happen to be the guy on the inside.”

“You want the actual photographs or the digital images?”

“One should be as good as the other.”

“If we’re talking about the digital prints, I can probably deliver them, if they’re in the computer.”

“You know damn well they are. They digitally catalog every item in the vaults.”

“What are your plans for the photos?”

“That’s my business.”

“What if I refuse?”

“You’ll be dead before we end the call.”

“How?”

“Remember the tracking device in your rental car? We planted explosives under the driver’s seat. But don’t try to run, or I’ll have to do this.”

“What?”

Sam hears a click.

“Did you just lock my doors?”

“I did. You’re spam in a can.”

“I don’t understand the reference.”

“It sucks being old. Though you might never know.”

“Look,” Sam says. “Not saying I’d ever double cross you, but what if I said sure, I’ll help you, but change my mind later, when I get back in the bunker?”

“You may be able to survive in there for many months. But sooner or later the government will release you. When they do, I’ll catch you, and turn you over to Creed.”

“And if Creed’s dead?”

“Callie. Are you, in fact, refusing to get me the photos?”

“No, of course not.”

“Good. So answer the question I asked earlier.”

“Which one?”

“Was having sex with Kimberly everything you hoped it would be?”

“Yes. And then some.”

“Good. I love it when a plan comes together. How did it make you feel?”

“Great. You knew it would, and it did. It felt, and still feels great.”

“You’re not falling in love with her, are you?”

“No chance. Kimberly Creed is inferior to me in every possible way. And now I’ve made her my fuck pony.”

“Was it hard to bed her?”

Sam laughs. “Fucking her was child’s play! And I’ll continue to fuck her as long as it suits me, though she’s not much of a lay. If not for the connection to Creed, I wouldn’t travel across town to do her.”

“One last question, if I’m not being too nosey. While you were having sex with Kimberly Creed, who were you thinking about, Donovan? Or Kimberly?”

“Both.”

“Good for you, Sam.”