End Game

by David Baldacci

  She said, “I don’t mean to pry, but are you two more than professional colleagues?”

  “Strictly business.”

  They walked across the street to the bar and sat at a table on one side of the room. The place was fairly full, though Robie didn’t see one King’s Apostle or a single skinhead.

  “Not much else to do around here at night,” explained Malloy. “That sort of place. Not like Manhattan,” she added miserably.

  “I guess not.”

  They ordered beers, and when their drinks came, Robie said, “So what’s up?”

  “I know you can’t tell me who Mr. Walton really is.”

  “That would be an affirmative.”

  “And you can’t tell me what you really do?”

  Robie said, “I’m here to find him. Pretty simple.”

  “Right. But from what I’ve seen of you and your partner, finding people isn’t all you do.”

  “Okay.”

  “Is that an affirmation?”

  “It’s whatever you want it to be. But if you tell anyone else, I’ll deny it.”

  Malloy drank her beer but kept her gaze on him.

  Robie ran his gaze around the room and then, for some reason he couldn’t quite fathom, his eyes darted over Malloy, from her toes to her head.

  Malloy didn’t appear to notice this.

  Robie blinked, sat back, and cradled his beer.

  She said, “You must have some special skills if you escaped from Dolph.”

  “I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve. And Dolph got sloppy.”

  “I really want to nail that guy. It would go a long way toward making this area safer.”

  “So long as the bad guys outnumber the good guys you’re fighting a losing battle. That’s why people like Dolph come to places like this and set up shop. They can do their crap in the middle of nowhere without a SWAT team bringing the hammer down.”

  Malloy sighed and sat back. “I guess.”

  “You ever think of going back to New York?”

  “Every day of my life.”

  “So will you?”

  “Probably. But I need to make sure that Holly is safe first. I have to believe she’s going to call me at some point. I mean, she always does.”

  Robie drank his beer down in three quick bursts.

  “You in a hurry?” she said, watching him do this.

  “Just thirsty.”

  His gaze once more involuntarily took her in. And this time Malloy did notice.

  She slowly crossed her legs and sat forward. The sundress had a slit and the movement allowed him a glimpse of her thighs. “Are you married?”

  “No.”

  “Ever been?”

  He shook his head.

  “Me neither. Got close once but that was it. Job always got in the way. Where’d you grow up?”

  “Mississippi.”

  “Never would have guessed that. You don’t have an accent.”

  “Lost it a long time ago.”

  “You travel a lot?”

  “I’ve been around.”

  “Ever been overseas?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ve always wanted to go to London.”

  “Nice place. I was just there.”

  “Was it fun?”

  “It was business.”

  “Successful?”

  “You could say that,” replied Robie.

  She leaned back. “I’ve never really been anywhere. Grew up in New York and then came here for Holly. That’s it.”

  “You’re young. You’ve got a lot of time to fix that.”

  “I wanted to have kids.”

  “You still can.”

  “I need a husband for that. I’m not even dating anyone,” she added, shooting him a quick glance.

  “How about Bender?”

  She smiled. “He’s not my type and I’m not his. Besides, it would be pretty awkward professionally.”

  “I guess so.”

  “You seeing anyone?”

  “Like you, the job gets in the way.”

  “Jobs can suck,” she lamented.

  “Sometimes, yeah.”

  “But people still make do. Take advantage when they can. I’ve learned that. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. You know what I mean?”

  “I think so, yeah.”

  He felt her shoe flick against his ankle.

  Yeah, I do know what you mean, thought Robie.

  She finished her beer and set the glass down carefully on the coaster before looking up at him. The arc of her smile sent off clear signals.

  “You up for a nightcap?” she asked slowly.

  Robie tried to recall how many glasses of wine Malloy had had at dinner. And now the beer here. But he couldn’t. Hell, he couldn’t remember how much he’d had to drink. He was feeling a buzz for sure.

  “We’re going to the silo tomorrow.”

  “Just a nightcap, Agent Robie. That’s all.”

  “Where?”

  “I’ve got a bottle for special occasions at the office.”

  Now that the night’s proposed agenda was fully out there, Robie had a decision to make.

  His professional instincts were telling him very clearly what to do. Or rather what not to do. Another part of his thoughts drifted to the hotel across the street and to the room Reel was in.

  He came back to Malloy when he felt her fingers touch his hand.

  “Just a nightcap, Agent Robie. I think we deserve it. Never know when another opportunity will come up.”

  The rub of flesh on flesh did not decide the issue for him.

  He thought back to the note left in his apartment by Reel.

  It’s complicated.

  Well, tonight, right this minute, it’s not. It’s pretty simple, actually.

  Robie put some money down on the table for the beers. They got up and walked out, her soft hip lightly bumping his as they made their way across the street.

  In her office she retrieved the bottle of gin and a smaller bottle of tonic plus two glasses. Malloy took the glasses and mixed the drinks, giving generous pours of the gin for each. “I generally like mine on the rocks, but there you go,” she said. “No ice here.”

  They drank their glasses down with her perched on the desk and Robie leaning against the wall and intently watching her.

  He had to make an effort at professionalism, even if his heart wasn’t in it. Even if he knew he was going to eventually succumb to the temptation presenting itself right in front of him.

  He set his glass down. “I better get going. Thanks for the nightcap.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “Where?”

  “Next door.”

  “Next door?”

  “Yes. Follow me.”

  When he made no movement, she edged closer to him.

  “You want to say something?” she asked.

  “You’re a very attractive woman.”

  “That’s very sweet of you to notice.”

  “So where does that leave us?” asked Robie.

  She looked at him hungrily. “Let’s go, Agent Robie. I know what I want and so do you.”

  They exited the station through a rear door and walked over to the B&B. She used a key to open the front door and they went inside.

  As soon as the door closed behind them, Malloy turned to him and kissed him, her tongue flicking inside his mouth.

  She tugged on his arm, pulling him down the hall and toward the stairs.

  “You always this forward?” he said, stumbling after her.

  “I’m from New York, so that would be a yes.”

  They walked down the hall and underfoot Robie heard the crunch of the glass shattered during the gunfight with the skinheads. The windows had been boarded up with plywood, but Robie could see the bullet holes in the front door and walls.

  They reached the upstairs and she led him into a room and shut the door.

  She had put the gin, tonic, and glasses in a bag.
She took them out and mixed fresh drinks. She handed him his and took a sip of hers. “Bombay Sapphire, only way to go with gin.”

  Robie’s brain was seriously starting to wobble. He sipped his and said, “Nice.”

  “Oh, it’s about to get much nicer,” she said slyly.

  She put her glass down and, steadying herself by gripping his shoulder, reached down and slipped off her heels. “I don’t see how girls walk in these all day,” she said, rubbing her foot and then dropping the shoes on the floor.

  She unzipped her dress and stepped out of it.

  No bra and a light blue thong.

  Her breasts were full, her hips soft, and her backside—revealed as she did a slow pirouette for him—round and firm, the skin pale and smooth.

  She took his glass away from him and set it down next to hers before turning back around and pushing up against him.

  “You’re a lot taller without my heels on,” she said, grinning, her eyes half-lidded. She closed and opened them slowly. The look was making Robie even more light-headed.

  “I g-guess so,” said Robie, his voice cracking.

  Malloy put her arms around his neck. “Not the official uniform, but I hope you like it anyway.”

  “I like it,” said Robie quietly. “A lot.”

  She kissed him again, their tongues meeting. “I like you. A lot.”

  “You sure you’re in complete possession of your faculties, Valerie? I don’t want to take advantage.”

  “I know exactly what I’m doing, Agent Robie. There will be no regrets in the morning. At least on my end. I hope the same for you.”

  “You can call me Will.”

  “I will, Will.”

  She kissed him more deeply and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging gently on some strands. That simple maneuver sent shockwaves through Robie’s body. He inhaled her scent, coconut shampoo from her hair, a delicate aroma of vanilla from her skin, the hard bite of gin from her lips.

  Her fingers undid his shirt buttons, while his clenched her butt and pulled anxiously at the thong.

  She kissed his chest and worked her way down. Her hand slipped lower and she gripped him. Next, she moved up to his belt and methodically worked it loose while his mouth dipped to her chest. He pulled her closer. She undid his zipper and the pants came down. He stepped out of his shoes and used one hand to wrench his trousers off.

  Robie lifted her up and carried her over to the bed. He shed the rest of his clothes and then Malloy lifted her legs up, so he could relieve her of the thong.

  Fully naked now, she lay back, reached up, and pulled him down on top of her.

  The bed started to creak violently as the night carried on.

  Chapter

  38

  THREE A.M.

  Robie awoke and looked around.

  The room was unfamiliar. The sounds the same.

  The heat of the body next to him caused him to reach out and touch her.

  Malloy mumbled something, moaned slightly, then turned on her side and fell back asleep.

  Robie lifted the covers and looked down.

  They were both still naked.

  He lowered the covers and stared across at the window. He was cold sober now and was having a difficult time processing what he had done this night.

  Robie rubbed his pounding temples.

  Shit.

  He looked over at Malloy. Her coil of hair was draped over one bare shoulder.

  Images flashed through Robie’s mind of two people smashing against each other under the sheets in what he could only describe as a fit of unrestrained libido.

  Sometimes it really was just about the sex.

  He rose, dressed, and softly closed the door behind him.

  Malloy didn’t make a sound as he did so.

  As he walked down the stairs it occurred to him, and not for the first time tonight, that he was in the same place where he had first met Holly.

  Dead Holly.

  She was meeting up with her boyfriend and then on her way to a new life.

  Only there would be no new life in California. Dolph had seen to that.

  And the lady he’d slept with tonight didn’t know about any of it.

  I screwed Holly’s sister and she has no idea that Holly is dead and that I know the truth. What does that make me?

  Robie sat down on the bottom riser and put his head between his knees. It wasn’t that he felt physically sick.

  I just feel…empty.

  This was not who he was. He didn’t agree to keep secrets like that from someone. And he didn’t sleep with people he didn’t really know. Only that wasn’t true. He had done that once over a year ago, and it had ended in disaster. He apparently had not learned his lesson. Still, he didn’t recognize the person that he had been tonight.

  Cool, under-control Will Robie. He had not been that way in coastal Mississippi, and it didn’t appear that he was doing any better in rural Colorado.

  By sleeping with Malloy he felt like he had cheated on Reel, but that was impossible because there was nothing between them. Well, again, that wasn’t entirely true. There was nothing on her end.

  But there is on mine.

  And I just slept with another woman. And I enjoyed it. A lot.