The Cleaner (44 page)

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Authors: Brett Battles

Tags: #Fiction, #Thrillers, #Suspense, #General

BOOK: The Cleaner

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'It's Peter.'

'What?' Quinn said once he had the phone.

'They're releasing Nate,' he said. 'You'll find him at the Brandenburg Gate in ten minutes.'

The cab ride from the hotel took them fifteen minutes. Nate was there, alone, standing on the sidewalk. His eyes lit up when he saw Garrett.

'Hey, kid,' Nate said.

Garrett hid behind his mother as she reached out and hugged Nate. 'Good to see you.' 'Good to be seen,' he said, smiling. 'How did it go?' Quinn asked. 'Not something I'd want to do every day,' Nate

said. 'I think at first they thought I was just crazy. But a couple key words and phrases always get people moving. Terrorist. Biological weapon. Nuclear threat.'

'Nuclear threat?'

'There was this one guy, I swear to God. He just wouldn't believe me. He wanted to open the boxes and check out the mints himself. It was the only thing that would stop him.'

'Did they treat you all right?' 'I've stayed with worse people since I've been here.' 'I'm glad you're okay,' Orlando said. 'I was worried.' 'Why worry?' Nate said. 'I'm a professional hostage now.'

Orlando smiled. She gave Quinn a quick glance, then stepped to the curb and raised her hand. 'Taxi,' she called out.

Within seconds a tan Mercedes cab pulled over.

'Where are you going?' Quinn asked.

'I need to take Garrett home,' she said as she put a hand on her son's shoulder. 'I just wanted to make sure Nate got out okay.'

Quinn was surprised. He'd hoped for a little more time to debrief, more time just to talk.

'Couldn't we . . . I mean I was hoping . . .' He tried, but couldn't finish what he wanted to say.

She seemed to sense his meaning anyway. 'Give me a little time,' she said. 'I just need to be with my son for a while.' She hesitated. 'I'll let you know when I'm ready.'

'Sure,' Quinn said. 'I understand.' Orlando helped Garrett into the taxi, then hugged Nate again.

'You're going to do fine,' she told him. 'Listen to what Quinn tells you. At least ninety percent of it's good advice.'

When she turned to Quinn, he didn't know exactly what she was going to do. So he put out his hand. She took it, then pulled him forward and embraced him with her other arm. She kissed him on the cheek. Soft, tender. It was all he could do to keep from turning his lips toward hers. When she let go, she looked at him for a moment. He thought she might say something more. Instead, she finally turned, climbed into the cab, and rode away.

Quinn watched the taxi as it drove through the Brandenburg Gate and disappeared into Tiergarten.

After about a minute, something wet hit his face. He looked up. The sky was covered with clouds and it was beginning to snow.

An involuntary shiver ran up Quinn's spine. He looked over at Nate. 'Have you ever been to Hawaii?'

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