God, if he only knew. “A few rocky spots left to smooth out, but I’m getting close.”
This gets me a smile finally, although it’s smaller than I wish it was. He glances at his watch, signaling our time is up.
“You need to go,” I say, making it easier for him to leave.
Andrew stands up and pulls a card out of his pocket, then hands it to me. I study it while he says, “My private cell. Just let me know what I need to do.”
And then he’s gone.
I drop back down in my seat and watch him walk away. Holding the card in front of me, I read it over again.
A loud screech pulls my attention from the card, and it lands on the man dragging out the chair Andrew just vacated. It’s George, but instead of the UPS uniform, he’s dressed in a dark suit.
He drops down in the chair, catching the flicker of surprise that washes across my face before I hide it away.
“You look good in a suit.”
He smiles and says, “You’re supposed to be in Atlanta.”
“I’m working my way there. Needed to make a couple of stops first,” I answer.
“What are you doing?” he asks in a soft voice. His concern for me is apparent. “You’re playing with fire. Andrew Marshall won’t do anything that gets his hands dirty, we both know that.”
My eyes never leave George’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just passing through town and thought it would be nice to catch up with a few old friends.”
He frowns. “You can lie to everyone else, but don’t lie to me. Not after all this time.”
“Then you don’t ask me questions you know I can’t answer.”
George rubs a hand across his mouth then says, “Mr. Smith thinks you need a bit more incentive.”
I let out a loud, frustrated breath. “You going to send the detectives another picture of me on a public street?”
“Not me,” he says. “I’m just the messenger. The next set of images will make it increasingly hard to get you out of trouble. He’s not playing around.”
I nod slowly, considering his words. “Any other messages you need to deliver?”
His eyes crinkle at the corners as he really thinks about what he wants to say. “Just one from me. Head to Atlanta. You can still make it to the bank and get into that safe deposit box by tomorrow afternoon. Give him what he wants. I don’t want to do what he’ll ask me to do if you don’t. Please, Lucca.”
This knocks me back a bit. This is the most candid he’s ever been with me.
All I say is, “Thanks for the heads-up.”
I stay in my seat while he rises from his. “Tell your guy he’s getting sloppy. I clocked him coming in through the service entrance in a maintenance uniform.”
He always calls Devon “my guy.” Devon and George have played their own cat-and-mouse game over the years, trying to figure out who the other one really is, but I don’t think either have been successful. At least I know Devon hasn’t been.
“Wish we could have gotten that drink,” I say.
He laughs. “Get your ass to Atlanta and maybe we can.” Just as he’s about to walk away, he turns and adds, “Good luck.”
I shrug and give him a smile. “Who needs luck?”
His laugh carries with him out of the coffee shop.
I sit frozen in my seat another ten minutes, running through our conversation over and over.
The urge to run floods my system.
But running means I’m looking over my shoulder not only for Mr. Smith but for the police for the rest of my life.
Finally, I get up and head to the elevators. I hit the button for the eighth floor once I’m inside. I walk down the hall to the door that leads to the stairway. I go up and down by elevator and stairs three more times until I end up on the fifth floor and I’m positive no one is following. Knowing Devon, he’s had the cameras monitoring this floor on loop before he walked into the hotel.
I knock on the door to room 515.
Devon opens the door and says, “The look of shock when George sat down was a nice touch.”
“He told me in Fort Worth that ‘eyes are everywhere,’ but I never know if it’s him or someone else watching, so I was a little surprised when he sat down.” I sit in the chair next to him. “He said you’re losing your touch. Saw you come in through the service entrance.”
Devon’s upper lip curls back. “Does he think I just coincidentally entered the building the second y’all arrived?” He rolls his eyes and adds, “He only spots me when I want him to.”