obviously your childhood was just fine.’
‘It was. Crazy, but not bad. I saw some weird shit. But … I’m all right now.’
She smiled.
‘What about you?’ said Billy.
‘Ooh,’ said Ren. ‘This is where I lie and say my father worked in an office and my mother was a housewife. Or I tell the truth. Although, maybe you only deserve the pared-back truth, like you’ve just given me.’
‘What? That was all lies. Go with the lies.’
‘My father worked in an office and my mother was a housewife.’
‘Good for them.’ They clinked glasses again. And with the next drink. And the next one … all the way to the last one.
‘Can I ask?’ said Billy. ‘Is Ren short for something?’
Ren smiled slowly.
‘Ah …’ said Billy, ‘something you don’t want to say.’
Ren smiled big. ‘Yes.’
‘Now I really want to know.’
She paused. ‘OK… Renegade.’
‘What? Are you serious?’
‘No.’
He laughed loud. ‘I thought your parents might have been Hollywood movie stars or something.’
‘No – worse than that on both counts.’
‘Yeah? Go ahead.’
‘Orenda.’
‘Orenda. That’s … terrible.’
‘I know. She’s a sacred power … it’s an Iroquois thing.’
‘I thought there might be something like that in you … you have a very striking face.’
Shit. ‘Thank you.’ She moved quickly on. ‘The Iroquois believe that if you ignore your dreams, you’re in big trouble because your dreams are connected directly to your soul. But also that when you dream you can communicate with the sacred power … Orenda.’
Billy paused. ‘Mystical … but the name still sucks.’
Ren laughed. ‘All right, all right …’
‘Does your family still call you that?’
‘Some of them.’
Billy laughed again. ‘Yeah, well, I won’t. No way.’
‘Hey – it’s Agent Bryce to you, anyway.’
‘Is it?’ He made a face.
‘I’m joking, you idiot.’
‘Can FBI agents call people idiots?’
‘We can do whatever we want,’ she said, smiling.
He shook his head.
‘Right,’ said Ren. ‘It is four thirty.’
‘You can’t drive now. Take the prison bunk. And I’ll have the … booth here.’
‘Nah. I’ll … let’s just wait up, eat something, drink coffee, then I’ll go on my way in a couple hours. I couldn’t sleep here … but thanks anyway.’
‘OK,’ said Billy, reaching out his hand, pulling her to her feet.
‘Good grip,’ said Ren.
‘Yeah. Steady hand. For the drive-bys.’
Ren laughed. ‘Stop.’ She held his gaze and saw what could be behind it. He hadn’t let go of her hand. She looked away. She pulled her hand gently from his and bent down to grab her purse from the floor. ‘Right,’ she said, ‘I’ve got to –’ She stood up. Do not look at him. But she did. His eyes. Pale and nervous. Oh, no. Don’t. She closed her eyes as Billy leaned down to her. He kissed her so slowly and gently she could barely move; he looked like the kind of guy who would slam you up against a wall. She didn’t mind that he wasn’t that kind of guy.
And she didn’t mind that this could be the biggest mistake she had ever made.
Ren woke to Billy Waites’ arm wrapped around her naked stomach. Her heart flipped. She closed her eyes. Oh. God.
The flashback reel kicked in; his face, his mouth, his arms, his hands, edited with all the other parts of his body she never thought she’d see. Or do anything to. It was a great reel. But WTF?
Billy woke, groaning, sliding his hand out from under her.
‘Good morning,’ he said, rolling on to his back. She could hear the smile in his voice.
What have I done?
‘The FBI,’ said Billy, laughing.
The people who can fire me.
She sat up. ‘I’m sorry, Billy. I’ve got to go …’
‘Already?’
‘Yes.’ She looked around the room, trying to pinpoint each item of clothing before she got up. Hostage training: walk into a room, know immediately where everything is.
‘You are not happy this morning,’ said Billy.
She turned to look at him. He held her hair out of her eyes.
Don’t be nice to me. ‘I … don’t know what to say.’
‘That’s OK,’ said Billy. ‘Kind of.’
Ren sat up. Panties: two o’clock. Jeans: three o’clock. Bra: ten o’clock. Boots: six o’clock. Top …
‘Did you see my top?’ she said.
‘It’s behind the bar.’
Oh God. ‘I’ll get it on the way out.’ She stood by the bed. ‘Uh … thanks.’
‘Thanks?’ He laughed.
‘For putting me up,’ said Ren.
‘For putting you up to what?’
She gave him a patient face.
‘Do I not get a kiss goodbye?’ he said.
Jesus
