Free JET V - Legacy by Russell Blake Page A

her time, enjoying not being in a headlong rush for once. Washington and all the killing seemed a million miles away now, and even though they’d only left two days earlier it could have been an eternity – part of another life, a chapter thankfully closed for good.
    As she towel-dried her hair, her thoughts lingered on Matt. He’d just naturally accompanied her. It had never even really been an option to go their separate ways again after the assault on Arthur’s compound…and Alan’s death. Ostensibly, he was going with her to recover his diamonds, but they both knew that there was more to it than that. At least they had time, now, with no deadlines or pressure. Time to explore the energy that crackled between them whenever they were close…
    She knocked on his door, her hair still damp, and he greeted her, barefoot, wearing jeans and a dark blue button-up silk shirt with a stylized martini glass and brand name boldly embroidered on the back. Very American, she thought fleetingly as he welcomed her in.
    “I’ll just be a minute,” he said, gesturing to the two chairs by the window.
    “No problem. So…do they pay you to advertise stuff on your clothes?”
    He laughed, his face lighting up at the unexpected question. “No, but now that you mention it, they should. These things actually cost more because of the design…”
    “The American consumer is never short of things to spend his money on, is he?”
    “More the global consumer, nowadays. But yes, it’s amusing that we’ve had to invent ways to spend a hundred fifty bucks on a ten-dollar shirt. I’m told it’s good for the economy, though,” Matt said, sliding his shoes on.
    She noted he had shaved, and again remarked to herself that he was a good-looking man. “Then why does the economy suck?”
    “I haven’t bought enough shirts, I guess.”
    “Selfish bastard, aren’t you?”
    “You don’t know the half of it. This is a knockoff I got in Thailand.”
    Jet held his gaze and they both smiled at the same time. “What’s for dinner? You going to keep starving me?” she asked.
    “After the mastodon steak in Dallas, I’d have thought you’d sworn off food for a month.”
    “Nonsense. I’m just getting started. Got to keep my strength up.”
    “Excellent. I figured we could head downtown, park, and walk around till we see something promising.”
    “Lead the way. I’ve got all my stuff locked in the room safe. You have money?”
    Matt patted his pants. “Big wad of green so I can show the lady a good time.”
    “Now you’re talking.”
    They spent twenty minutes strolling along the sidewalks with the other evening pedestrians, ambling with no particular destination in the balmy night air, the temperature perfect. Eventually Jet took Matt’s arm and pulled him toward an upscale restaurant with a Mexican courtyard theme, and in moments they were at a cozy table near one of the oversized windows, surrounded by well-heeled diners. Music seeped softly from hidden speakers, a sultry melody with a crooning male singer just loud enough to embellish the backdrop of chatting patrons. After studying the menu for a few minutes, they made their selections and settled back into their seats.
    “So mañana , huh? We’re headed down Mexico way? Kind of exciting, don’t you think?” Matt asked.
    “I’ll never be happier than when we’re across the border. Let’s just say I don’t have particularly fond memories of the U.S.”
    “No, I don’t expect you would after the last week. Frankly, I’ve been away for so long that it seems more of a foreign country to me than Thailand. I guess you acclimate to whatever you’re around, and that becomes your norm…”
    “That has to be weird for you. I mean, this place is so…big. Everything’s big. Big roads, big cars, big malls, big portions, and big people. Almost the polar opposite of Thailand.”
    “Yes, and everything is clean, have you noticed? We’re obsessed with hygiene. Most everywhere