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He stepped into the dusky rain, heading toward the rapidly approaching men, who were outlined by the smoke of the burning house.
Watching Jeb walk away, Malone led Sie
Sie
“He’ll learn about every other place the Agency tries to hide us. The only way we’ll be safe is on our own – where we won’t be in prison, where nobody’ll keep us apart.”
“I don’t want to be separated from you ever again,” she said.
Malone took her hand, leading her toward the back door. The cold rain lessened to a drizzle as they ran out toward murky trees. In a few minutes, it would be too dark for Laster and his men to see to follow. Maybe we can circle around to the front and steal a car, Malone thought. Or maybe we can… Vague possibilities encouraged him. He had the wallet from the dead man in the house. He had money, credit cards, a new identity. He knew that Laster would eventually figure out whose identity he was using. Bellasar’s spy would pass the word. But that was a problem to be worried about tomorrow. For now, the two of them were free, vanishing into the mist-shrouded woods.
EIGHT
1
The hypnotic clack-clack-clack of the train’s wheels reinforced Malone’s exhaustion. He and Sie
“Hungry?”
Sie
“It depends on your expectations. We’re not going to be able to live the way you did on your husband’s estate.”
“I wouldn’t want to.”
“I don’t mean the tension you went through. I’m talking about the absence of luxury. I’ve got plenty of money in various places, but I can’t think of a way to get to it without letting your husband or the CIA know where we are. They’ll have computer experts watching for any transactions in my accounts. The instant I order a wire transfer – to a bank in Dallas, say – they’ll be after us. The airport, the train station, the car-rental agencies – they’ll all be watched.”
“You make it sound hopeless.”
Even in her damp, rumpled blazer, her hair combed with her hands, Sie
“Is that why we’re going to Dallas?”
“We’re not going there.”
“But our tickets -”
“We’re getting off before then. At a town called Braddock.”
“In case Derek finds out we took the train and he’s waiting for us in Dallas?”
Malone nodded. “And because there’s someone I have to meet in Braddock.”
2
The Texas sky was cobalt blue as they stepped from the train and studied the small depot and waiting area. Beyond were low buildings: a gas station next to a car-repair shop, a hardware store next to a bar. A few trucks moved along the street. Otherwise, the town seemed deserted.
“A place this small, it’s a wonder it has its own train station,” Sie
“Clint’s got the influence to make sure he gets what he wants.”
“You’re telling me people other than actors actually have names like Clint?”
“Chase, ol’ pal, it’s been too damn long,” a man’s voice said in the deepest, twangiest drawl Sie
She turned toward the open door to the waiting room, from which a man in cowboy boots, jeans with a belt buckle shaped like a saddle, a denim shirt, a leather vest, and a cowboy hat stepped gri
“Why didn’t you let me send the jet to pick you up?” the man asked. “And how come you phoned collect? All the money I paid you over the years, you can’t be short of cash.”
“Sort of.”
The man looked puzzled.
“A long story.”
“Well, I hope you’ll be stayin’ long enough for me to hear it.” Still smiling, the man turned expectantly toward Sie
“Clint, this is my friend Beatrice. Beatrice, I want you to meet Clint Braddock.”
“I’m one of Chase’s biggest fans.” Braddock’s smile was even broader.
Sie
“Clint, you did what I asked, right?” Malone’s tone was serious. “You didn’t tell anybody about my phone call. You didn’t let anybody know I was coming.”
“Hey, this is me, compadre, remember? When have I ever let you down? You’re the man. What you say goes.”
Malone visibly relaxed.
“But what’s goin’ on? When I offered to send the jet, you said you couldn’t go near an airport. I couldn’t help wonderin’ if you’re in trouble.”
“You’re not far wrong. Where’s your car? I don’t want to stand around in the open.”
“Around the corner, pard. Where’re your bags?”
“We don’t have any.”
The wrinkles around Braddock’s eyes deepened. “Yeah, you’re in trouble all right.”
At the side of the depot, they reached an almost empty gravel parking lot, the prominent vehicle in which was a gleaming red pickup truck with fence posts in the back. As Braddock got in the driver’s side, Malone guided Sie
“What?”
They got into the truck. “Clint, I was just explaining to my friend that you saw a lot of Westerns when you were a kid.”
“And grew up to earn the bucks to live ’em.” Braddock smiled. “See a movie, be a movie.”