璇玑之心刃·冷血悍将-第123章

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　a　nice　check　for　it；　Allen　reminded　himself。　The　‘person‘　had　to　be　female。　Kelly　would　never　worry　about　guarding　a　man　that　tightly。　Men　just　didn‘t　think　that　way　about　other　men。　If　nothing　else；　it　sure　sounded　interesting。
‘You‘re　not　screwing　me　around；　are　you？‘　he　had　to　ask。
‘That‘s　not　my　way；　man；‘　Kelly　assured　him。　‘My　rules：　it‘s　for　information　purposes　only；　and　it‘s　a　quiet　meet。　Okay？‘
‘You　know；　anybody　else；　I‘d　probably　say　e　right　in　here　and　that　would　be　it；　but　I‘ll　play　along　with　you。　You　did　break　the　Gooding　case　open　for　me。　We　got　him；　you　know。　Life　plus　thirty。　I　owe　you　for　that。　Okay；　I‘ll　play　along　for　now。　Fair　enough？‘
‘Thanks。　What‘s　your　schedule　like？‘
‘Working　late　shift　this　week。‘　It　was　just　after　four　in　the　afternoon；　and　Allen　had　just　e　on　duty。　He　didn‘t　know　that　Kelly　had　called　three　times　that　day　already　without　leaving　a　message。　‘I　get　off　around　midnight；　one　o‘clock；　like　that。　It　depends　on　the　night；‘　he　explained。　‘Some　are　busier　than　others。‘
‘Tomorrow　night。　I‘ll　pick　you　up　at　the　front　door。　We　can　have　a　little　supper　together。‘
Allen　frowned。　This　was　like　a　James　Bond　movie；　secret　agent　crap。　But　he　did　know　Kelly　to　be　a　serious　man；　even　if　he　didn‘t　know　squat　about　police　work。
‘See　you　then；　sport。‘
"；Thanks；　Frank。　‘Bye。‘　The　line　clicked　off　and　Allen　went　back　to　work；　making　a　note　on　his　desk　calendar。
‘Are　you　scared？‘　he　asked。
‘A　little；‘　she　admitted。
He　smiled。　‘That‘s　normal。　But　you　heard　what　I　said。　He　doesn‘t　know　anything　about　you。　You　can　always　back　out　if　you　want。　I‘ll　be　carrying　a　gun　all　the　time。　And　it‘s　just　a　talk。　You　can　get　in　and　get　out。　We‘ll　do　it　in　one　day　…　one　night；　really。　And　I‘ll　be　with　you　all　the　time。‘
‘Every　minute？‘
‘Except　when　you‘re　in　the　ladies‘　room；　honey。　There　you　have　to　look　out　for　yourself。‘　She　smiled　and　relaxed。
‘I　have　to　fix　dinner；‘　she　said；　heading　off　to　the　kitchen。
Kelly　went　outside。　Something　in　him　called　for　more　weapons　practice；　but　he‘d　done　that　already。　Instead　he　walked　into　the　equipment　bunker　and　took　the　。45　down　from　the　rack。　First　he　depressed　the　stud　and　action　spring。　Next　he　swiveled　the　bushing。　That　allowed　the　spring　to　go　free。　Kelly　dismounted　the　slide　assembly；　removing　the　barrel；　and　now　the　pistol　was　field…stripped。　He　held　the　barrel　up　to　a　light；　and；　as　expected；　it　was　dirty　from　firing。　He　cleaned　every　surface；　using　rags；　Hoppe‘s　cleaning　solvent；　and　a　toothbrush　until　there　was　no　trace　of　dirt　on　any　metal　surface。　Next　he　lightly　oiled　the　weapon。　Not　too　much　oil；　for　that　would　attract　dirt　and　grit；　which　could　foul　and　jam　the　pistol　at　an　inconvenient　moment。　Finished　cleaning；　he　reassembled　the　Colt　quickly　and　expertly　…　it　was　something　he　could　and　did　do　with　his　eyes　closed。　It　had　a　nice　feel　in　his　hand　as　he　jacked　the　slide　back　a　few　times　to　make　sure　it　was　properly　assembled。　A　final　visual　inspection　confirmed　it。
Kelly　took　two　loaded　magazines　from　a　drawer；　along　with　a　single　loose　round。　He　inserted　one　loaded　clip　into　the　piece；　working　the　slide　to　load　the　first　round　in　the　chamber。　He　carefully　lowered　the　hammer　before　ejecting　the　magazine　and　sliding　another　round　into　place。　With　eight　cartridges　in　the　weapon；　and　a　backup　clip；　he　now　had　a　total　of　fifteen　rounds　with　which　to　face　danger。　Not　nearly　enough　for　a　walk　in　the　jungles　of　Vietnam；　but　he　figured　it　was　plenty　for　the　dark　environs　of　a　city。　He　could　hit　a　human　head　with　a　single　aimed　shot　from　ten　yards；　day　or　night。　He‘d　never　once　rattled　under　fire；　and　he‘d　killed　men　before。　Whatever　the　dangers　might　be；　Kelly　was　ready　for　them。　Besides；　he　wasn‘t　going　after　the　Vietcong。　He　was　going　in　at　night；　and　the　night　was　his　friend。　There　would　be　fewer　people　around　for　him　to　worry　about；　and　unless　the　other　side　knew　he　was　there　…　which　they　wouldn‘t　…　he　didn‘t　have　to　worry　about　an　ambush。　He　just　had　to　stay　alert；　which　came　easily　to　him。
Dinner　was　chicken；　something　Pam　knew　how　to　fix。　Kelly　almost　got　out　a　bottle　of　wine　but　thought　better　of　it。　Why　tempt　her　with　alcohol？　Maybe　he‘d　stop　drinking　himself。　It　would　be　no　great　loss；　and　the　sacrifice　would　validate　his　mitment　to　her。　Their　conversation　avoided　serious　matters。　He‘d　already　shut　the　dangers　from　his　mind。　There　was　no　need　to　dwell　on　them。　Too　much　imagination　made　things　worse；　not　better。
‘You　really　think　we　need　new　curtains？‘　he　said。
‘They　don‘t　match　the　furniture　very　well。‘
Kelly　grunted。　‘For　a　boat？‘
‘It‘s　kinda　dull　there；　you　know？‘
‘Dull；‘　he　observed；　clearing　the　table。　‘Next　thing；　you‘ll　say　that　men　are　all　alike　…　‘　Kelly　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks。　It　was　the　first　time　he‘d　slipped　up　that　way。　‘Sorry。。。‘
She　gave　him　an　impish　smile。　‘Well；　in　some　ways　you　are。　And　stop　being　so　nervous　about　talking　to　me　about　things；　okay？‘
Kelly　relaxed。　‘Okay。‘　He　grabbed　her　and　pulled　her　close。　‘If　that‘s　the　way　you　feel。。。　well。。。‘
‘Mmm。‘　She　smiled　and　accepted　his　kiss。　Kelly‘s　hands　wandered　across　her　back；　and　there　was　no　feel　of　a　bra　under　the　cotton　blouse。　She　giggled　at　him。　‘I　wondered　how　long　it　would　take　you　to　notice。‘
‘The　candles　were　in　the　way；‘　he　explained。
‘The　candles　were　nice；　but　smelly。‘　And　she　was　right。　The　bunker　was　not　well　ventilated。　Something　else　to　fix。　Kelly　looked　forward　into　a　very　busy　future　as　he　moved　his　hands　to　a　nicer　place。
‘Have　I　gained　enough　weight；？‘
‘Is　it　my　imagination；　or　。。。　？‘
‘Well；　maybe　just　a　little；‘　Pam　admitted；　holding　his　hands　on　her。
‘We　need　to　get　you　some　new　clothes；‘　he　said；　watching　her　face；　the　new　confidence。　He　had　her　on　the　wheel；　steering　the　proper　pass　course　past　Sharp‘s　Island　Light；　well　east　of　the　shipping　channel；　which　was　busy　today。
‘Good　idea；‘　she　agreed。　‘But　I　don‘t　know　any　good　places。‘　He　checked　the　pass　like　a　good　helmsman。
‘They‘re　easy　to　find。　You　just　look　at　the　parking　lot。‘
‘Huh？‘
‘Lincolns　and　Caddys；　honey。　Always　means　good　clothes；‘　Kelly　noted。　‘Never　fails。‘
She　laughed　as　intended。　Kelly　marveled　at　how　much　more　in　control　she　seemed；　though　there　was　still　a　long　ways　to　go。
‘Where　will　we　stay　tonight？‘
‘On　board；‘　Kelly　answered。　‘We‘ll　be　secure　here。‘　Pam　merely　nodded；　but　he　explained　anyway。
‘You　look　different　now；　and　they　don‘t　know　me　from　Adam。　They　don‘t　know　my　car　or　my　boat。　Frank　Allen　doesn‘t　know　your　name　or　even　that　you‘re　a　girl。　That‘s　operational　security。　We　ought　to　be　safe。‘
‘I‘m　sure　you‘re　right；‘　Pam　said；　turning　to　smile　at　him。　The　confidence　in　her　face　warmed　his　blood　and　fed　his　already　capacious　ego。
‘Going　to　rain　tonight；‘　Kelly　noted；　pointing　at　distant　clouds。　‘That‘s　good；　too。　Cuts　down　visibility。　We　used　to　do　a　lot　of　stuff　in　the　rain。　People　just　aren‘t　alert　when　they‘re　wet。‘
‘You　really　know　about　this　stuff；　don‘t　you？‘
A　manly　smile。　‘I　learned　in　a　really　tough　school；　honey。‘
They　made　port　three　hours　later。　Kelly　made　a　great　show　of　being　alert；　checking　out　the　parking　lot；　noting　that　his　Scout　was　in　its　accustomed　place。　He　sent　her　below　while　he　tied　up；　then　left　her　there　while　he　drove　the　car　right　to　the　dock。　Pam；　as　instructed；　walked　straight　from　the　boat　to　the　Scout　without　looking　left　or　right；　and　he　drove　off　the　property　at　once。　It　was　still　early　in　the　day；　and　they　drove　immediately　out　of　the　city；　finding　a　suburban　shopping　center　in　Timonium；　where　Pam　over　a　period　of　two　…　to　Kelly；　interminable　…　hours　selected　three　nice　outfits；　for　which　he　paid　cash。　She　dressed　in　the　one　he　liked　best；　an　understated　skirt　and　blouse　that　went　well　with　his　jacket　and　no　tie。　For　once　Kelly　was　dressing　in　accordance　with　his　own　　worth；　which　was　fortable。
Dinner　was　eaten　in　the　same　area；　an　upscale　restaurant　with　a　dark　corner　booth。　Kelly　didn‘t　say　so；　but　he‘d　needed　a　good　meal；　and　while　Pam　was　okay　with　chicken；　she　still　had　a　lot　to　learn　about　cooking。
‘You　look　pretty　good…relaxed；　I　mean；‘　he　said；　sipping　his　after…dinner　coffee。
‘I　never　thought　I‘d　feel　this　way。　I　mean；　it‘s　only　been　。。。　not　even　three　weeks？‘
"；That‘s　right。‘　Kelly　set　his　coffee　down。　‘Tomorrow　we‘ll　see　Sarah　and　her　friends。　In　a　couple　of　months　everything　will　be　different；　Pam。‘　He　took　her　left　hand；　hoping　that　it　would　someday　bear　a　gold　ring　on　the　third　finger。
‘I　believe　that　now。　I　really　do。‘
‘Good。‘
‘What　do　we　do　now？‘　she　asked。　Dinner　was　over　and　there　were　hours　until　the　clandestine　meeting　with　Lieutenant　Allen。
‘Just　drive　around　some？‘　Kelly　left　cash　on　the　table　and　led　her　out　to　the　car。
It　was　dark　now。　The　sun　was　nearly　set；　and　rain　was　starting　to　fall。　Kelly　headed　south　on　York　Road　towards　the　city；　well　fed　and　relaxed　himself；　feeling　confident　and　ready　for　the　night‘s　travail。　Entering　Towson；　he　saw　the　recently　abandoned　streetcar　tracks　that　announced　his　proximity　to　the　city　and　its　supposed　dangers。　His　senses　perked　up　at　once。　Kelly‘s　eyes　darted　left　and　right；