The Kill (31 page)
Sarah leaned forward and pulled down the sun visor as the setting summer sun was coming straight in at her.
Parkman looked over. “What’s that smell?”
“Urine.”
“You piss yourself?”
“No. The prison cell was covered in piss.”
“Oh. Great.”
He lowered his window a little and spit the toothpick in his mouth out into the road. He looked over again. “It started to taste like piss.”
“You know what piss tastes like?” She smiled.
“Glad to see you’ve got your humor.”
“How come you’re here? And why did you vouch for me?” she asked.
“Oh, hey, thanks. You know, I could’ve left you there.”
“How could you get here so fast? It’s a ten hour flight. They put me in that cell two hours ago.”
“After I met with your dad I decided to come out here and find out what you were up to. I took a leave of absence. I’ve been in Budapest for about two weeks. It wasn’t until today that I found out where you were.”
“You serious?”
“Yes.”
“They knew where I was the whole time.”
“I don’t have their resources. Remember, this isn’t my jurisdiction. They aren’t going to let just anyone in on their investigations because I’m a cop.” He paused and looked sideways at her again. “Wait, what do you mean they knew where you were?”
“They’ve been watching me. They know everything about me. Even my issues with hair-pulling from years ago.”
“But why? As far as anyone in Europe should know, you’re just an American girl traveling within the Schengen Area. You get up to three months in the Schengen Area without a problem on your American passport.”
“They’ve been following me and watching me, but from afar. I’ve been here for over a month and I just found out. They’re good. Too good. I need to find out why.”
“Oh no. We have to leave Budapest. Every day you stay here is ammunition for them.”
Parkman turned onto a busy street, dropped the Opel into a lower gear, ground the gear and then hit the gas, shooting them forward. He eased it back into third and cruised again.
“Sorry, not used to the stick shift. Couldn’t rent an automatic for the prices they were asking. At least not on my salary.”
“What are you doing here? Seriously. I do appreciate being out of jail, but why come in the first place?”
“You have an uncanny ability to find trouble. I think sometimes you need backup.”
“I do pretty good on my own.”
“I know. But ask yourself. What would’ve happened if I didn’t follow those leads to the compound a few months back? Your wrist was broken. You had hair missing and you were shot and bleeding.”
“The hair was my doing so that doesn’t count.”
They stopped talking. He looked at her sideways. She avoided his gaze.
A few blocks from the hotel, Parkman pulled up at a pizza take-away joint. Hungarian pizza took some getting used to but Sarah devoured her slices without thought of quality.
“Thanks,” she said.
He looked up at her and nodded.
“No, I mean thanks for being there for me. You know I appreciate it. I’m just no good at letting people know it.”
He slowed his chewing and looked up at her. With a mouthful he mumbled a
you’re welcome.
Back in the car, Parkman turned away from the Best Western and drove deeper into the city center.
“Where are we going?” Sarah asked.
“To the Hotel Erzsebet. It’s near the center of town, close to the popular Váci street. It’s also close to the main shopping areas and near the Great Market Hall.”
“What? We’re tourists now and not terrorists?”
“Sarah, we have to show them that you were here for fun and to get away from the shit in America. After a day or so we will grab a flight back to the States and everything will be over. Besides, they shouldn’t get all fucked up about it because you’re hanging out with a cop.”
“It won’t be over for me.”
“I know. If they really were monitoring you, then they would have the Best Western bugged better than a stakeout on the mafia while looking for Hoffa’s remains.”
Sarah turned to him and frowned. “What?”
“Nothing. Look, this is safer.”
“Two rooms?”
“I’d have it no other way.”
She saw his smile. With no toothpick in his mouth it was a rare full smile.
They checked in, got to their rooms and said goodnight. Both of them had agreed to leave the door adjoining their rooms unlocked just in case.
Exhausted, Sarah sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the television. Turning it on would’ve been more entertaining but she hadn’t gotten around to it quite yet.
A shower was first. Then new clothes. Maybe a drink from the minibar and then sleep.
Yeah, sleep. Who knew when she’d get another full night of sleep.
Shit was getting real, and fast.
That immigration officer was coming after her. She could feel it. When the time came she would have to deal with him.
Her arm twitched.
What? No fucking way.
Her arm went numb. She stood up, grabbed the little pad of paper and pen on the desk and sat on the floor.
Then a dark mist enveloped her vision and Sarah blacked out completely.
Parkman’s voice woke her.
She opened her eyes and looked around. The room was the same. The only difference was Parkman. He sat on the edge of her bed. He had the pad in his hand.
She lifted her head and then got up on one elbow.
“Wow. It’s been over a month since that’s happened. I forgot how debilitating it can be. It really knocks you out.”
“I knocked a few times. You didn’t answer. When I came in, you were just dropping this from your hand.” He looked back at the paper he held. “I think you better read it.”
She got up off the floor and sat on the bed beside him. He handed her the pad.
I’m sorry. I should’ve made contact sooner but they had a camera on you and parabolic listening devices. They were watching for contact from me. I think someone wants you for a psychic awareness government project of some kind. I’m looking into it.
Armond is in Budapest.
Tomorrow, 2:12pm, at The Great Market Hall you will see his new face by the red Ape.
Warning: It all ends at the Crypt. Only nine days left.
I’m so sorry Sarah…see you soon.
#
We hope you enjoyed this excerpt. You can find this story and many more wherever Jonas Saul books are sold.
Good reviews are important to a novel’s success. If you enjoyed The Kill, please be kind and leave a review wherever you purchased the book.
Sincerely,
About Jonas Saul
Jonas Saul is the author of the Sarah Roberts and The Kill Series. Visit his website,
www.jonassaul.com
for upcoming release dates. Jonas lives in Europe with his wife, Kate Cornwell.
Contact Jonas Saul
Website:
http://www.jonassaul.com
Twitter:
@jonassaul
Email:
[email protected]