Persuader

fired."
    "I'm prepared to get fired, if it comes to it."
    "It's not just you," I said. "Six other guys would get fired with you." She said nothing.
    "And I'm going back anyway," I said. "Because I want Quinn. With you or without you.
    So you might as well use me."
    "What did Quinn do to you?" I said nothing. She was quiet for a long moment.
    "Would Mrs. Beck talk to us?" she said.
    "I don't want to ask her," I said. "Asking her is the same thing as confirming her suspicions. I can't be sure exactly where that would lead."
    "What would you do if you went back?"
    "Get promoted," I said. "That's the key. I need to move up into Duke's job. Then I'll be top boy on Beck's side. Then I'll get some kind of official liaison with Quinn's side.
    That's what I need. I'm working in the dark without it."
    "We need progress," she said. "We need evidence."
    "I know," I said.
    "How will you get promoted?"
    "Same way anybody gets promoted," I said.
    She didn't reply to that. Just switched her e-mail program back to inbox and stood up and stepped away to the window to look at the view. I looked at her. The light behind her was coming right through her shirt. Her hair was swept back and a couple of inches of it was on her collar. It looked like a five-hundred-dollar style to me, but I guessed on a DEA salary she probably did it herself. Or got a girlfriend to do it for her. I could picture her in someone's kitchen, on a chair set out in the middle of the floor, an old towel around her neck, interested in how she looked but not interested enough to spend big bucks in a city salon.
    Her butt looked spectacular in the jeans. I could see the label on the back: Waist 24. Leg 32. That made her inseam five inches short of mine, which I was prepared to accept. But a waist a whole foot smaller than mine was ridiculous. I carry almost no body fat. All I've got in there are the necessary organs, tight and dense. She must have had miniature versions. I see a waist like that and all I want to do is span it with my hands and marvel at it. Maybe bury my head somewhere a little higher up. I couldn't tell what that might feel like with her unless she turned around. But I suspected it might feel very nice indeed.
    "How dangerous is it now?" she asked. "Realistic assessment?"
    "Can't tell," I said. "Too many variables. Mrs. Beck is running on intuition, that's all.
    Maybe a little wish-fulfillment with it. She's got no hard evidence. In terms of hard evidence I think I'm holding up OK. So even if Mrs. Beck talks to somebody it all depends on whether they choose to take a woman's intuition seriously or not."
    "She saw you out of the house. That's hard evidence."
    "But of what? That I'm restless?"
    "This guy Doll was killed while you weren't locked up."
    "They'll assume I didn't get past the wall. And they won't find Doll. No way. Not in time."
    "Why did they move Teresa?"
    "Precaution."
    "It's out of control now," she said again.
    I shrugged, even though she couldn't see the gesture. "This kind of thing is always out of control. It's to be expected. Nothing ever works like you predict it. All plans fall apart as soon as the first shot is fired." She went quiet. Turned around.
    "What are you going to do now?" she asked.
    I paused a beat. The light was still behind her. Very nice indeed.
    "I'm going to take a nap," I said.
    "How long have you got?" I checked my watch. "About three hours."
    "You tired?" I nodded. "I was up all night, swimming, mostly."
    "You swam past the wall?" she said. "Maybe you are an idiot."
    "Are you tired too?" I asked.
    "Very. I've been working hard for weeks."
    "So take a nap with me," I said.
    "Doesn't feel right. Teresa's in danger somewhere."
    "I can't go yet anyway," I said. "Not until Mrs. Beck is ready." She paused a beat. "There's only one bed."
    "Not a huge problem. You're thin. You won't take up much room."
    "Wouldn't be right," she said.
    "We don't have to get in, " I said. "We could just lie on top."
    "Right next to each other?"
    "Fully dressed," I said. "I'll even keep my shoes on." She said nothing.
    "It's not against the law," I said.
    "Maybe it is," she said. "Some states have weird old statutes. Maine might be one of them."
    "I've got other Maine statutes to worry about."
    "Not right this minute." I smiled. Then I yawned. I sat on the bed and lay down on my back. Rolled over on my side and turned away from the middle and jammed my arms up under my head. Closed my eyes. I sensed her standing there, minute after