Free The Good Soldier by L. T. Ryan Page A

in front of us, muttering each order under breath. In a thick, East Carolina accent she asked, "Can I get y'all anything else?"
    We shook our heads in unison and waited for her to leave before speaking.
    "What else?" I asked.
    Abbot looked up at me with his mouth slightly open like he wanted to say something else but was holding back.
    "I know there's something else, Abbot. What is it?"
    He placed his fork and knife on the edge of his plate, sat back in the booth, folded his hands together and placed them on the table. He stared at me for what felt like ages before finally speaking.
    "There's the chance, Jack, that this could be coming down his chain of command. Understand?"
    "You haven't spoken to Delaney," I said, not a question.
    "No, I haven't. So you need to know," he lifted his hand and wagged an outstretched finger between me and Bear, "that this could go badly. Once he digs into it, if it's his, uh, organization behind it, he'll turn. He's that kind of guy. Personal loyalties are superseded by the job."
    I nodded. I understood, in a sense. In another I didn't. The job was just a job. There was a personal code of conduct that couldn't be violated. You might be able to move the line now and then, but there had to be a point where the line couldn't stretch any further without breaking. And when a friend needed help, that line was drawn thick and deep.
    "Who does Neil work for?" Bear asked.
    Abbot shook his head and looked down at his plate.
    Bear looked from him to McDuffie. "You know?"
    McDuffie hiked his shoulders and shook his head. "Never heard of him in my life. I'm a damn prison warden. I'll leave the spy stuff to you guys." He chuckled and then stuffed his mouth with a forkful of butter and syrup covered pancakes.
    "That information is on a need to know basis," Abbot said. "Right now-"
    "Don't tell us we don't need to know," I said. "At least give us this."
    Abbot said nothing. He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head toward the window.
    I sighed and shook my head. "OK, then. How're we getting up there? Can't travel on a plane right now. TSA will flag us."
    Abbot turned his head, pointed at the keys. "You're taking my car."
    I reached out, picked the keys up off the table and stuck them in my pocket.
    "But listen," Abbot said. "It won't be long before that car's hot. Understand? Like I said, I don't know who is watching and who's not."
    I nodded.
    "You see blue lights, you be ready to run, Jack."
    I nodded again.
    We finished breakfast without saying another word, and then we walked out together. Bear and I collected our things from McDuffie's car. Abbot walked us to his.
    "Delaney," Abbot said to me. "He's a bit of a shifty character, Jack. But you can trust him."
    "As long as his agency isn't behind this," I added.
    Abbot's pursed his lips together and drew his eyebrows down. "Yeah."
    We stopped in front of Abbot's car, a new silver Audi A8. I whistled and ran my finger along the sleek body of the car. "So this is what my dirty work pays for, eh?"
    He stood behind the car and smiled while I opened the driver's door and slid into the leather bucket seat. He moved forward and rapped on the window. I started the car and rolled the window down.
    "Take it easy with her," he said. "Please. Oh, and no smoking."
    I shrugged. "We'll see."
    "Here," he said. I looked over and saw him holding a billfold stuffed with cash and a few credit cards. "This should cover anything you need. Pin numbers are in the center. Commit them to memory. There's a bag in the trunk, where the spare would normally be. Inside that bag is an assortment of weapons." He paused and stared at me for a moment. "Don't get caught with them."
    By the time I had the money in my pocket, Abbot was gone. I turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared approvingly. We pulled out of the parking lot and then hit the I-95 north on-ramp. I pushed the gas pedal and hit 85 miles per hour before we merged onto the interstate, then wove the car