Page 28 of Laura's Truth
“I could make it work. Hypothetically.” She let the rest go unsaid. She could hardly take this car onto the post, not knowing where or how he’d acquired it. He’d sworn it wasn’t stolen, but the sales receipt in the glove box written to a Thomas Ketterly and the forty-five day temporary tag on the back didn’t instill much confidence.
“Why don’t we skip hypothesis testing?” He tapped the clock on the dash. “What should I expect from Carpenter?”
“If we go there, it won’t be friendly.”
“If.” He turned his gaze out the window. “Okay, I’ll bite. What else are you contemplating?”
She had to make a concerted effort to stretch and relax her clenched jaw. “I came up with a wish list more than a plan. A clean car, a phone, cash,” she rolled her hand, “you know how it goes.”
“I told you the car is mine. A rose by any other name.”
“Please, not Shakespeare,” she said.
He chuckled. “An ID is an ID is an ID. Better?”
“Sure.” It wasn’t, but she didn’t want to get caught up in a silly looping conversation when they had severe problems. She smoothed her hair back from her face.
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
She slid him a look. “Sorry because I interrupted your plans?”
“In part.” His grin flashed as bright and quick as a switchblade. “I’m not too proud to admit it.”
“Pride and admissions won’t give us what we need,” she muttered. “Tell me more about Hackett. How were you planning to make him confess?”
“Let’s give that a little more time.”
“Garner,” she said, letting her irritation loose, “Don’t make me stop this car.”
“Call me Drew. Let’s find a place to lay low for tonight. I have cash to cover a few expenses.”
It was the best option and she needed to elevate her stupid ankle. “Beach or mountains?”
“Beach.”
She smiled a little at his quick response. “All right. Sand and surf, here we come.”
“Huh.”
Feeling his stare, she kept her eyes on the road. “What now?”
“You’ll really do what I want? Without an argument?”
“Were you playing some reverse psychology game?”
“No. The beach sounds easy. Mountains sound like work.”
“And the beach is closer from here.” Closer to Carpenter too, potentially.
“Good. You need to elevate that ankle.”
She hadn’t complained once and had only favored it when it helped them sell the act back at the truck stop. She wasn’t about to admit that it bothered her now. “It’s fine.”
“It isn’t, but I understand where you’re coming from. Driving, doing anything, helps keep your mind off it.”
“Talking to me would help even more.”
“In good time.”