I took a step toward the door. And stopped again. If Fenton couldn’t get Dendoncker, what would she do? I pictured her with a gun to her head. Again. I didn’t like that image. I didn’t like it at all. So I went back to the couch and waited in silence.
* * *
—
There was no sound of a key in the lock. Just a subdued click, seventy-two minutes later. Then the door swung open and Fenton appeared.
“I think they bought it.” She checked her phone. “No confirmation yet. But I made progress while I was waiting for the guy. I ordered the fake blood and the other stuff we’ll need. I expedited the shipping. It’ll be here in the morning. I just hope they don’t want to meet tonight.”
I agreed. But that wasn’t all I hoped. We still had two hurdles to clear. I wanted it to stay that way.
Chapter 11
Fenton changed into blue silk pajamas and climbed into the bed. I kept my clothes on and stretched out on the couch. She pulled a mask over her eyes and lay still. But I don’t think she went straight to sleep. Her breathing wasn’t right. It was too fast. Too shallow. Too tense.
I kept my eyes open and stayed awake for hours, too. Something was bothering me. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what, but red warning lights were flashing away deep in my brain. They stopped me from settling. I guess I finally dozed off at around 4:00 a.m. I got woken up again at 7:00. By Fenton, calling my name. She was sitting up in bed. Her mask was pushed up on her forehead. Her hair was disheveled. And she was holding her phone at arm’s length.
“Eleven p.m.” Her voice was husky. “Tonight. They want to meet you. We’ve done it.”
This was not the start to the day I was hoping for. I’d been awake for fifteen seconds and already we were down to only one hurdle.
I said, “You better reply. Remind them—just you, unarmed, and the deal is cash for information.”
Fenton fiddled with her phone for a moment. A minute later it made a ping sound. “All right. They’ve agreed.”
After another minute Fenton’s phone made a different kind of noise. It was an incoming text. Fenton read it, then held her phone out for me to see. “Hook, line, and sinker. It’s Dendoncker’s deputy. Telling me to stand by for a job tonight.”
Fenton lay back on her pile of pillows and went to work with her phone. “OK. I searched for MEs in this area. Only one name comes up. A Dr. Houllier. He seems to be the doctor for everything here. He’s based at the medical center. The big building in the middle of the town. We’ll wait for our delivery then head down there. It’s due before noon. Should give us plenty of time.”
“We can’t both go.” I sat up. “The delivery. Will it need a signature?”
Fenton nodded.
“You better do that. I’ll go talk to the doctor.”
* * *
—
Fenton did whatever was necessary with her phone to order some breakfast. I took a shower. I heard a knock at the door when I was getting dressed and when I came out of the bathroom I could smell coffee. It was sublime. There’s nothing like the first cup of the day. Fenton had also ordered burritos. We ate in silence. Then I gathered up the paper plates, grabbed the sunglasses I’d taken from the guy at The Tree, and started toward the door.
“No gun?” Fenton looked worried.
“I’m going to an official building. There will be metal detectors.”
“In this town? I don’t think so.”
“It’s not worth the risk. And I don’t need one. If the doctor’s straight I’ll persuade him to help. If he’s in Dendoncker’s pocket it’ll take more than a gun to convince him.”
* * *
—
I stepped out of the room and left the courtyard via the archway Fenton had driven through. It was a beautiful morning. Perfect for walking. The sun was bright but the temperature was comfortable. The last of the chill from the desert night was still to be chased away. The sky was so clear and so blue that if you painted it people would say you’d exaggerated the color. The streets were narrow and winding and the buildings that lined them seemed old and honest. Like they’d sprouted years ago along the paths that people had walked with their donkeys or mules or whatever animals they used to pull their wagons. There was no planning. No artifice. I could picture the people inside, getting on with their lives, looking after their families, doing their jobs. I looked up at the roofs. Some had TV antennas but I could see no cell masts. That just added to the impression of a place that progress had passed by. Probably nothing substantial had changed for decades. Nothing except the arrival of Dendoncker.