"Not at all," Raul says. "She was in the alley covered in puke. We couldn't just leave her."
Linda looks at me for another beat. Then nods, decision made. "Good boys."
She knew. She always knows.
"I'll get her cleaned up and call security to get an officer down here. You boys were in the right place at the right time." She glances at me with something that looks like approval and disappears around the corner of the desk. I hear her pick up the phone.
I don't move toward the door. The thought of walking out and leaving her here with people she doesn't know, even Linda, sits wrong in a way I can't entirely account for.
"We'll wait," I say, to no one in particular.
Linda reappears a few minutes later. "Security's wrapping up with a rowdy guest. Shouldn't be long."
Raul lasts about four minutes before he grabs my arm. "Great seeing you, Linda. I've got to get home and this guy's my ride."
"Of course." Linda's eyes find mine. "Go on. I'll take care of her. I promise."
I look at the woman one more time. Watch her chest rise. Fall. Rise again.
"Thank you, Linda." I hug her and let Raul pull me out the door.
We walk half a block before Raul speaks.
"You want to explain that?"
"Explain what."
"Since when do you care what happens to a stranger?"
"The guy was creepy," I say. "It had nothing to do with her."
He's quiet for a moment. "Yeah. I guess." He lets it go.
I don't deserve how easily he lets it go.
Because the truth is I can still feel the weight of her against my chest. Still catch traces of that citrus and floral smell like it followed me out of the motel and into the street. Raul is right. I don't do this. I haven't been interested in anyone in years, and I have too much riding on the next two weeks to let something like this crack my focus.
She works for my target. That alone should be enough to end this.
I need to stay away from her.
I know, even as I think it, that I'm going to have a hard time doing that.
CHAPTER 14
HARVEE
"Excuse me, ma'am."
The smell of coffee hits me before anything else does, and my stomach lurches. I turn my head away from the cup being offered and try to locate my own body. Fluorescent light. A throbbing behind my eyes that pulses with my heartbeat. The slow, unreliable return of vision.
A small older woman is smiling at me with the particular gentleness of someone who has seen worse than this and isn't judging any of it.
"What happened?" I press my fingers to my temples.
"We're not entirely sure, hon. The police are here and want to ask you a few questions. I'm Linda. What's your name? How are you feeling?"
"Har — Harvee. Harvee Holland." My mouth tastes terrible. "Two E's. Can I have some water?"