Hooked

down?”
    “She’s an assignment. I’m not crazy. The woman’s a hooker.”
    Dennis sighed. “I’d be willing to overlook that. Wonder what a woman does to make her worth so much money. Ever think of that? I mean, a fuck is a fuck, isn’t it?”
    “You’ve been married too long, partner.”
    “Wait, they’re saying goodbye. Now, which way will she go? The subway at 86 th or walk to Fifth and catch the bus downtown? Or maybe she’ll hail a taxi.”
    Linc hoped it wasn’t a taxi. “With those heels, she’s not up for much walking. My guess is the subway. It’s closer and she’s a mass transportation type of gal.”
    She waved goodbye to Cooper with a smile that would melt the polar ice cap and headed toward Lexington , turning the corner toward 86 th . “Subway. I’m outta here,” Linc said. “You know where Cooper is going. See if anything goes on before you call it a day. He’ll probably stay the night.”
    “Yeah, I can see she has no effect on you whatsoever,” Dennis yelled as Linc hustled out of the car and down the street. “Don’t break your neck catching up with her.”
    Christ, was he that obvious? He almost threw out his back vaulting from the car like a goddamn gymnast. What the fuck was wrong with him, and wasn’t that at least the tenth time he’d asked himself that?
    He was closer to Third, and she was already out of sight. If she caught the subway, he’d miss her, and she probably had a pass. He’d have to purchase one. If he started running, people would think something was wrong. Wait. What was he thinking? This was New York . Very little in this city turned anyone’s head.
    Linc whipped around the corner onto Lexington and saw Tawny stop near the subway entrance. She’d buttoned her shirt and was pulling off her heels, exchanging them for a pair of flats from her satchel. The woman was prepared for everything. He caught up with her halfway down the stairs and looped his arm through hers. “How did it go?”
    “So, you were watching,” Tawny said as if she expected him. She pulled her arm from his grip. “I wondered whether you had me staked out like some kind of criminal.”
    “I wanted to make sure you weren’t in danger.”
    “How thoughtful, but Cooper isn’t dangerous. Debauched and depraved, maybe, but not dangerous.”
    “We don’t know that.”
    “All he cares about is business.”
    “And sex.”
    She raised one brow, opening those turquoise eyes that sparkled even in the dim light of the underground. “That is his business, remember?”
    They reached the turnstile, and Tawny pulled out a Metrocard. “You can buy a pass over there. That’s if you persist in following me.”
    He looked at her.
    “Go ahead. I won’t run away.”
    Fortunately, he had the right amount and bought the pass. She waited.
    “You could have hopped a subway and gotten rid of me. Why didn’t you?”
    “You’d catch up. No sense making your life difficult because you’re making mine that way.”
    The number 6 train came almost immediately. They got on and took seats next to each other.
    “So, did you make a deal?” Linc asked.
    “Just like I was told. I made an outrageous demand, and he met my offer.”
    He grunted. Why did that bother him? She was right. She did what he wanted her to do. Still, he had to admit, if only to himself, that it did bother him. He was blackmailing her to go back into business, and he felt slick and slimy for doing it.
    “Something wrong?” she asked. “It’s what you wanted me to do, right? I get inside, snoop around, find out stuff, and I’m off the hook. Right ?”
    “Right.”
    “So why the scowl?” Tawny frowned. “Don’t tell me pimping me out to that slimeball bothers you.” The train screeched to a halt. Astor Place Station. “My stop.” She got up and headed for the door.
    He followed. “Huh? Pimping? Is that what you think I’m doing? Pimping you out?” He ignored the turned heads, who obviously heard the magic word, and scaled the stairs to the street after her.
    She stopped short and whirled around. “What would you call it then? Undercover work? Maybe you should say under-the-covers work, huh?”
    Had he imagined tears in her eyes? Damn . “Listen, I’m not heading up this operation. I’m following my boss’s orders. I had nothing to do with setting you up. It was an assignment.”
    “Following orders. Where have I heard that before, Herr Valsh?” She took off, walking at a good clip, then stopped again.