Page 20 of 44.1644° North
“Hey.” He patted my face with his gloved hand. “Brennan?”
I ignored him, dropping my coat and things, patting my pockets for my keys. I frowned into his face. “Did I leave my keys inside?”
“No. Brennan, hey. Hello? Skylar? Sky? Still with me?”
I opened my eyes. Shook my head.
“How much did you have to drink?”
I held my hand up and began to count it out.
“You think? Because I was watching. It didn’t look to me like you had that much. Is it possible someone spiked your beer?”
“Who? You?”
Even in the shadowy light I could see he was taken aback. “Me?No. Not me.”
I said confidently, “I think it was you. I think you’re up to no good, Rory Whatever Your Name Is.”
“Rory is what my name is. And I am up tocompletelygood.”
“Nnnn. That’s what they all say, Rory No Name.”
He gave an unsteady laugh. “Jesus. Let’s get you to your cabin, and then—”
“Andthenyou’ll tell me your name.”
He made a sound of exasperation, stooped to grab my things, and pushed them back into my arms. “My name is Rory Torr,” he said crisply. “Special Agent Rory Torr to you.”
Chapter Five
After a moment, I asked suspiciously, “Why just to me?”
He looked up and said to the moon, “Never mind.”
So I said to the moon, “If he’s an FBI agent, he has identification.”
Rory said very quietly, “Ihaveidentification. When we get to your cabin, I’ll show it to you.”
“Yeah. No. Show me now.”
“I’mthe one you’re worried about?”
“I’m notworriedabout you. I don’t trust you.”
He swore quietly, unzipped his jacket, felt around, and pulled out one of those flat leather badge wallet things. He flipped it open, held it under my nose, and said nothing.
The gold shield crested by an eagle with wings spread glinted in the flickering light.
I considered, nodded solemnly. “In God We Trust.”
“That’s not what it says. That’s on our currency. The FBI’s motto is Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.”
“That’s not what it says. It says Federal Bureau of Investigation.” I squinted. “Department of Justice.”
He snapped shut the wallet, just missing the tip of my nose. “Can we please,pleasefind your cabin before everyone in the county knows who I am?”
“Who are you?”