Smoke Rising by Craig Halloran

Author:Craig Halloran [Halloran, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Two-Ten Book Press
Published: 2015-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

“Hungry?” Smoke asked.

Sidney rolled her eyes. She was torn between mad and happy.

Smoke patted his belly. “I always get hungry after an adventure like that.”

“I don’t care.” She accelerated up the highway.

“It’s early. I know a diner around here that makes great pancakes.”

“No.”

“Excellent coffee too.”

Yes.

“No.”

“Come on, Agent Shaw. You can’t be that sore at me. We did a good thing back there.”

“‘Sore at you?’ Really? Is this the nineteen fifties? Who says that anymore?”

“I picked it up from some old timer in prison. He said that a lot. ‘Don’t be sore at me, boss.’ It kind of stuck.” He popped open the glove box. “Got any snacks in here?”

She leaned over and slammed the glove box shut.

“No.”

Smoke shrugged. He adjusted his seat backward, locked his fingers behind his head, and closed his eyes. Seconds later he was snoring.

You have got to be kidding me!

She glanced over at him. His athletic frame filled out his black T-shirt and jeans. His knuckles were scuffed and swollen, and there were white scars on his bare arms.

He wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t hate him.

She backhanded him in the chest.

He lurched up. “What—what?”

“You’re on duty. No sleeping.”

“So now we’re a team, are we?”

“Where’s the diner you were talking about?”

Smoke’s dark eyes scanned the signs on the highway. He rubbed his jaw. “Two more exits. You’ll love it.”

“We’ll see.”

***

The diner wasn’t much, but the silverware was clean. It was an old dining car in the front with much more built on in the back. Blue stools hugged the chrome-trimmed counter. The floor was hardwood, and the booth they sat in was a soft blue vinyl. A gas fireplace burned at one end. It was warm. Cozy.

“Nice, isn’t it?” Smoke stuffed in a mouthful of pancakes that looked like they were stacked to his chin. “Ever seen a fireplace in a dining car?”

Sidney picked through her eggs and bacon. “No.” She took a sip of coffee. Mmmm … good coffee.

“How’s the coffee?”

“It’s all right.”

“Would you like to try my pancakes?”

Yes.

“No.” She scraped up the rest of her eggs and washed them down. “Are you about finished?”

Smoke looked at his stack. “No. Are we in a hurry?”

“Yes.”

“For what? AV isn’t supposed to show until five. We have plenty of time.” He flagged down the waitress. “Could I get another Coke, please?”

“Sure thing.”

“I’m still catching up from prison time,” Smoke said to her. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m hungry.”

“Fine, take your time.” She checked the messages on her phone. “You clearly know what you’re doing. And your friend, Ray, when he’s released—say, tomorrow—will be thankful for your intervention.”

“It wasn’t supposed to go down that way.”

“Really?” She leaned forward and looked him in the eye. “And how was it supposed to go down?”

“You weren’t supposed to show up.” He cut up his sausage and pointed at her with it on his fork. “I had it all under control. I told you, just leave me be.”

No.

“All right, so I don’t show up, what happens?”

“I have my ways.

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