Chat by Archer Mayor Read Free Book Online Page B

paying tonight?” she asked.
    He pulled out a billfold and laid three twenties on the surface between them. “Cash.”
    “Cash, it is,” she said cheerily. “Do you have Triple A or another type of discount?”
    He cast down his eyes even farther. She was starting to feel bad for him and wanted to get him into that room before he changed his mind and bolted.
    “Not to worry, sir. That’ll be forty-three ninety-five, with the businessman’s discount. My treat.”
    He looked up partway at that and managed a weak smile, although his beard made it hard to see. “Thanks.”
    She placed a registration card before him. “Not a problem. If you could fill this out, we’d sure appreciate it.”
    As he put pen to card, she added, “And if I could have a credit card for both our security and any additional incidentals, that would be great.”
    He stopped and looked at her straight-on for the first time. Nice brown eyes. “I don’t have a credit card.”
    Right, she thought. No more than you have a nose on your face. But, again, he was looking twitchy to her, so she cut him some slack. “That’s all right. It’ll be my job if you mess up, though, so you better promise to be good.”
    That broke eye contact. His gaze dived for the card before him again. God, she was having way too much fun with this poor bastard.
    She decided to cut him loose with her final zinger. Smiling broadly, she collected the finished registration card and asked, “Two key cards or one?”
    “Two, please.”
    Yes, she forced herself not to say aloud, instead handing over the keys while she glanced at the card he’d filled out. “Your room’s at the end of the corridor, to the right of the vending machines. Have a nice night, Mr. Frederick, and thank you for choosing the Downtowner.”
    He nodded quickly and moved away. She watched him, the small bag still tight in his fist.
And have the night of your life, she mused again. Glad I could help.

Julia: Okay, to get the idea, you should sort of think of the Wizard of Oz.
Cat: ok.
Julia: There’s a woman scientist, a butch team leader, a big-hearted archaeologist, and an alien guy with a snake in his stomach.
Cat: yes. simple. is he gonna do something about the snake?
Julia: Oh, he doesn’t have it anymore.
Cat: oh ok.
Julia: It died, and he couldn’t get another one in time, so he’s on a drug now that mimics what the snake did for him.
Cat: ohhhhhhh of course
Julia: So now he’s only like an alien because he has a gold brand on his forehead.
Cat: oh that guy! ok. i know which one he Is.

Chapter 6
    “ H i, sweetheart.”
    Joe opened his eyes without otherwise stirring, a habit born on the job, where catching a nap, sometimes with coffee still in hand, often made it possible to keep going for hours more.
    But he was sitting empty-handed in his mother’s hospital room. Across from him, she was looking at him, her head turned at last on that white pillow.
    He smiled at her. “Hi, yourself. How’re you feeling?”
    He rose and crossed over to her, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking her hand up in both of his.
    “Woozy,” she conceded, adding after a moment’s consideration, “Thirsty, too.”
    He reached for the pitcher by the bed and poured out a cup of water, fitting a straw to it and holding it so that she could draw a sip.
    She emptied half the cup before setting her head back. “Good Lord, that hit the spot.”
    “How’s your head?” he asked her.
    “Fine. What did I do to it?”
    He pursed his lips slightly, concerned. “You don’t remember the crash?”
    Her response set him at ease. “Oh, yes. Well, most of it. I remember the snow crashing against the windshield. I thought it would break. But that’s about it.” Her eyes suddenly widened and she gripped his hand. “Is Leo all right?”
    “He’s fine,” he soothed her. “Banged up a little, too, but on the mend.”
    She closed her eyes. “Thank God. Poor boy.”
    Joe smiled at that, considering the man’s