Blood Money (23 page)

“That’s good,” Jessica said. “That means
you’re healing.”

“Does it? Or does it just mean that I’m a
cold, heartless asshole who is doomed to repeat his past because he
denies it ever happened?”

“Don’t talk that way,” Jessica said. “You’re
not cold. You’re not heartless. You’re a strong man, Kelton. And
deep down, a good man, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Kelton said. “The point
is, I am someone else. Whoever I was when my wife killed herself
and our two kids is gone. He died shortly after his family did. For
good or bad, I’m a new person now.”

“Is there something wrong with that?
Reinventing yourself?”

“I guess not,” Kelton said. “Still, it feels
like I’m betraying their memory by simply forgetting about them
like they never existed.”

“You’re beating yourself up over nothing,”
Jessica said. “You haven’t forgotten about them, you’ve simply
found a way to move on with your life. That’s what human beings do,
we adjust. All of us do it, all the time. You’ve done it before,
and I’m sure you’ll have to do it again.”

“Maybe. But I still feel like a
deadbeat.”

“Well you better get over it soon,” Jessica
said. “Because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with a
deadbeat. Even one as cute as you.”

Kelton couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah,
assuming I don’t screw this thing up, getting us thrown in prison
for the rest of our lives by our new, so-called friends.”

“I’m sure you can handle it,” Jessica said.
“And if you can’t, then I’ll just have to pick up the slack for
you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

They walked into the medieval-themed
reception room of the Round Table Hotel, approached the front desk,
and checked in under the name Philip Crawford. The transaction went
just as Nicholas had promised, with Kelton receiving the room keys
with no hassle, no identification, and with assurances from the
clerk that the room was already taken care of.

“What do we do now?” Jessica said after
they’d finished up.

“Beats me,” Kelton said. “Do you see anyone
that looks like they’re monitoring us?”

She looked around and shook her head.

“Me neither,” Kelton said.

“Maybe they want to stay inconspicuous, just
in case Walter is already here.”

“Maybe,” Kelton said. “But I doubt it. He
doesn’t even know where we’re staying yet.”

Jessica shrugged. “Hey, I’m just guessing
here. Do you have a good reason why there’s nobody around to tell
us what to do next?”

“Nope.”

“When are you supposed to call Walter?”

“About two hours from now.”

“Well then, how about we go check out the
room?” Jessica said. She put her hand on his butt and gave it a
squeeze. “I’m sure we can figure out some way to pass the
time.”

They made their way through the lobby,
towards the bank of elevators that led to the guest rooms.

“Do you think they’re listening to us right
now?” Jessica said once they’d boarded the elevator.

Kelton pushed the button for the fourth
floor and the doors closed in front of them. “I’m sure they’re
watching us. But I don’t know if this whole place is wired for
sound. I doubt it, but we have to assume they can hear us at all
times. Why?”

“There’s just some things I wanted to ask
you about.”

“Like what?”

Whispering, Jessica said, “Like whether or
not you think this operation is going to work.”

“It should,” Kelton said. “As long as
Nicholas and the boys don’t screw things up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just that Walter is a crafty old man, and
if our new friends don’t have this thing planned out perfectly,
he’s going to sniff out their little trap before he steps foot
anywhere near it.”

“And if that happens?”

“Then Walter will know we were in on it, and
he’ll disappear. Forever.”

The elevator came to a stop.

“And then what happens to us?” Jessica
said.

“Then our deal’s off, and the NDC gets to do
whatever they want to us.”

“Which would be what?”

“Who knows,” Kelton said. “But I’m pretty
sure we wouldn’t be doing it together.”

“Even if it’s not our fault they didn’t get
him?”

Kelton nodded.

The elevator door opened and they walked out
into the hallway. Kelton looked at the sign telling them which
batch of rooms were in which direction, saw theirs was to the
right, and together they started heading down the hall towards
it.

“That sucks,” Jessica said.

“Yeah, but those are the breaks. Groups like
the NDC don’t look at fault. They only look at results. And if they
don’t get Walter, the deal is off. Period.”

Jessica looked at him. “Then I guess we
better make sure it doesn’t get screwed up.”

They came to their room. Kelton pulled out
the plastic key and stuck it in the slot. There was a double beep
and he turned the handle, pushed the door open, and walked in.

Nicholas was waiting for them inside, seated
at the desk in the far corner of the room. He stood up and crossed
the room, stopping a few paces from them. “Glad to see you made
it.”

“And you as well,” Kelton replied. Jessica
walked past Nicholas and plopped herself down in an oversized chair
next to the wall opposite him. Kelton remained standing.

“I trust the trip up was a pleasant
one?”

“Depends on how you define pleasant,” Kelton
said. “But we made it all right. That’s what counts.”

“Indeed,” Nicholas said. “Did you think of
any additional questions during the trip?”

Kelton pursed his lips and shook his head.
“Nope. I think we covered everything.”

“That is good,” Nicholas said. “If anything
else comes to mind, do not hesitate to ask.”

“We won’t,” Jessica said. “Now, if you don’t
mind leaving us alone for a little while, Nick, we have a little
business to take care of.”

“Business?” Kelton said, flashing her a
smile. “Is that what you call it? I thought it was supposed to be
fun.”

“It’s only fun if nobody’s watching,”
Jessica said.

Kelton raised his eyebrows. “I thought it
was the other way around?”

“Enough, you two,” Nicholas said. His face
had grown pink, and was quickly rushing to red. “I will leave. You
can do whatever you want, as long as you are ready to make that
phone call at five o’clock.”

Jessica looked at Kelton. “Five o’clock,
huh? What’s that, two hours from now?”

“About that,” Kelton replied.

“You think you can last that long?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. If we start at, say,
four fifty-five.”

Kelton could see Nicholas shaking his head
as he walked quickly towards the door, and then out of the
room.

“Apparently our friend isn’t too fond of
that sort of talk,” Kelton said after the door was closed.

“That’s what makes it so much fun,” Jessica
said. She turned towards Kelton, put her hands on his chest and
gave him a light push towards the bed. “He probably hasn’t gotten
laid in ten years.”

Kelton took a couple of steps back. “Ten? I
was thinking more like twenty.”

Jessica gave him another push, this time a
bit harder. The back of Kelton’s knees bumped into the bed, but he
kept his balance and remained standing.

“Hell,” Jessica said. “I wouldn’t be
surprised if he was still a virgin.”

“Like me?” Kelton said.

She shook her head, laughed under her
breath. “That was a good one, I must admit. You had me fooled there
for a little while.”

Kelton smiled.

“Of course,” Jessica said, “I still don’t
know if you’re any good in the sack.”

“Does it really matter?”

“Are you kidding me. You’re damn right it
does.”

“Good,” Kelton said, trying not to smile.
“Because I’m a pro.”

“We’ll see about that,” Jessica said. She
snuck in close, pressed her body up against him. They kissed. She
pulled back, looked at him. Their faces were inches apart. Both
their grins had disappeared.

“So what happens now?” she said, the
light-hearted banter giving way to absolute seriousness.

“That’s up to you,” Kelton said.

“No, it’s not,” Jessica said. “It’s up to
you.”

He started to speak, but nothing came out.
He paused, cleared his throat, and said, “I want to.”

Jessica stared at him, her eyes probing his,
searching for something. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Then prove it.”

Kelton took her in his arms, picked her up,
and tossed her onto the bed.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Jessica
said. She sat up, pulled her shirt off, threw it at him. “Come on
over here, big boy, show me what you got.”

Thirty minutes later, Kelton and Jessica
separated and fell apart, each taking one side of the bed, their
naked bodies glistening with sweat.

“You know,” Jessica said after she’d caught
her breath, “You were pretty good, considering how long it had been
since you’ve had any practice.”

“I’m just glad I remembered where to put
it,” Kelton said.

Jessica laughed.

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah right,” she said. “But I must admit, I
didn’t expect you to last that long.”

“Neither did I, to tell you the truth. And
it will only get better from here.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about that,” Jessica
said.

“In fact,” Kelton said, “I think I’m ready
to go again.”

“Already?”

“Yeah. Why? Do you have a problem with
that?”

“Hell no,” Jessica said. She took a deep
breath, then rolled on top of him. “I’ve got no problem with that
at all.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Kelton and Jessica were lying in bed naked,
watching television, their head propped up by pillows. He had
surprised himself by not over-thinking the ramifications of what
they had just done. Instead, he was simply enjoying the moment,
relishing the long-forgotten touch of a woman, his mind a long way
away from his previous life. He’d worry about the rest later.

Kelton turned, looked at her. Jessica
returned his gaze, but something seemed to be amiss. Her eyes
weren’t as unbound as usual, as though something was bothering
her.

He was just about to ask her what was wrong
when someone started knocking on the door.

“Who is it?” Kelton called out.

“It is me, Nicholas.”

“Well, come on in,” Kelton said. “You’ve got
a key, right?”

“Are you two decent?”

“You should know,” Jessica said. “I’m sure
you’ve been watching us for the last hour.”

“Very funny,” Nicholas said. “At least pull
the covers over you before I come in.”

Kelton turned to Jessica and shrugged his
shoulders. She shook her head and pulled the sheet up until it was
covering her chest.

Kelton slipped out of bed and into his
boxers, threw on a t-shirt, and sat down on the chair in front of
the desk. “Okay, Nick. You can come on in.”

Nicholas opened the door. He took one look
at Jessica then turned his gaze toward Kelton.

“What do you want?” Kelton said.

“Only to make sure you two knew what time it
was,” Nicholas replied.

Kelton looked at the clock, turned back
towards Nicholas. “Four fifteen.”

“Why?” Jessica said.

“I just wanted to go over a few things
before you made the call.”

“Come back in thirty minutes and we can go
over whatever you want,” Kelton said.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “Why not
now?”

“Because I need to shower,” Jessica
said.

Kelton looked at her, then back towards
Nicholas. “Yeah. I need to shower too.”

Nicholas looked confused for a moment, then
it clicked. “All right,” he said, his tone hinting at disgust. “I
will come back at exactly four-forty-five. I trust you will be out
of the shower and fully clothed by then?”

“Trust all you want,” Jessica said. “We’re
not guaranteeing anything though.”

“Somehow, I did not think you would,”
Nicholas said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Oh, by the way,” Kelton said. “This may be
a stupid question, but you wouldn’t by chance be planning on giving
me my gun back before I meet up with Walter, would you?”

The rest of Nicholas’s face lit up, and
suddenly his smile held quite a bit of humor. “Now
that
was
funny.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so,” Kelton said.

“Do not worry,” Nicholas said. “You will
have no use for it. I promise you that.”

Jessica scoffed. “You’re all about promise
and trust, aren’t you, Nick?”

Nicholas flashed her a half-grin that toed
the line between ironic and sincere. “Where would the world be
without it?”

“Where indeed,” Jessica said under her
breath. “Now, if you don’t mind leaving . . .”

“I would be glad to,” Nicholas said. He left
the room, closing the door softly behind him.

“Well, that was fun,” Jessica said. She sat
up and the sheet fell to her waist. “If I never see that guy again,
it’ll be too soon.”

“Don’t worry, Jess. It’ll all be over
soon.”

Jessica smiled. “Yeah, I’ve heard that
before. Just a few minutes ago, if I remember correctly.” Laughing,
she stood up, and started walking towards the bathroom.

As Kelton rose to join her, he found himself
wondering if he was making the right choice. Soon enough, they’d
find out.

Precisely thirty minutes later, Nicholas was
back in the room. Despite their threats to the contrary, both
Kelton and Jessica were fully clothed and waiting for him as he
entered.

Jessica was on the bed, Kelton at a chair
behind the desk. Nicholas stood.

“Are you ready to give our friend a
call?”

“Sure,” Kelton said. “But not from the room.
We need to do it at a pay phone.”