The Last Network - Chapter 61
Pillow Talk
After three days of meetings in Tijuana, it took Paolo two hours to cross the border and another three and a half to get to Santa Monica. She had been waiting for him at the Casa Del Mar, in a corner suite overlooking the beach. She jumped him the moment he walked in the door, not bothering with the drapes or doors. Had it been any later in the season, they would have drawn attention. Instead, an indifferent ocean observed without comment.
They lay naked under the white down comforter, two bodies entwined as one. Pillow talk inevitably turned to business; this time it was Paolo who broached the subject.
“We’ve got a three-week window and then it’s over,” he said.
“So soon?”
“Rabbit is possessed. The man is driving everyone as hard as they’ll work. He’s got Garmont doing OT and weekends. They’ll be putting their instrumentation into the service in three weeks. After that, they can monitor everything. If I’m Rabbit, my first priority is making sure that God Mode is wired for sound. There’s no one left that he trusts.”
“He’s paranoid, but he’s not technically wrong. He just can’t see the forest for the trees. Not my problem, and soon enough, it won’t be yours. So, Paolo are you up for one last job?”
“Depends.”
She turned over in the bed and faced him. “On?”
“The money, the location, the type of work. Needs to be a Goldilocks situation. Give me something just right and I’ll do it. Did you and Malcolm talk about Kendra?”
“We did.”
“And?”
“Well, we didn’t know how things were going to go, so we talked about two options. If this was an ongoing thing, we’d push her aside gently. If we were only doing one or two jobs, we felt we’d keep her in. Just so she doesn’t leave with any hard feelings. No reason to get greedy and screw it all up.”
“I’m fine with that.”
“Paolo?” Monica sat up in the bed.
“Yes.”
“How come you’ve never asked about you and me?”
Paolo looked up at her. “You mean when this whole thing is over?”
“Yes.”
“Because I don’t want you to lie to me.”
“Who says I’ll lie to you?”
“If you say nothing, there’s zero chance you do. If you say something, it’s fifty-fifty.”
“That’s cruel, Paolo.”
“Monica, I’ll be here after. All you need to do is the same.”
She pulled the covers off and got out of the bed. He watched her walk away. A few seconds later the shower started. He could have, should have handled that better, but now the moment had passed. He’d made his point but hurt her in the process. Maybe she really did care. He’d find out soon enough. In three weeks, he’d be just Paolo. Not an asset, not a pawn, just a man who cared deeply for her. She’d either come back for him or she wouldn’t.
If she had lied now, it’d be that much harder when she didn’t.