Page 105 of Never Flinch

Itwillbe safe, Trig thinks, turning off the radio.Whatwon’tbe is at the far side of the park.

If, that is, he gets another four days. They know the name he uses at meetings, but do they know his real name? He thinks they don’t.Hopesthey don’t. And that version of Trig had a beard (one that covered the scar) and wore contact lenses. After his picture wasin the paper in connection with the Duffrey trial, he shaved and went back to glasses.

He needs four more days. Until then, he’ll stand down. No more killing. Then, two more.

Two at least.

Chapter 16

1

Holly catches up with Kate’s truck at Sharko’s BBQ on Route 59 in DuPage County. They eat, then push on together.

For public consumption, Kate’s three-person party is registered at the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, on East Walton Street. In actual fact, Holly has reserved a suite and two connecting rooms in her own name at the Peninsula, on East Superior. This has worked before but doesn’t this time, and not just because Kate has been followed from Madison by an ever-lengthening comet tail of eBayers. Some of these autograph-hungry pilgrims from Madison and points west have gotten in touch with Chicago eBayers, and some of those must have had contact with the anti-Kate brigade, because they’re also waiting and ready to be, in the words of one protestor, “Chicago nasty.”

Cops are keeping them on the other side of the street, but when Kate and Corrie get out of Kate’s F-150, they are greeted by a shower of babydolls soaked in fake blood. Most fall short, but one hits Corrie Anderson in the shoulder, leaving a red smear on her white blouse. She looks at it, surprised, then, on autopilot, bends to pick it up.

“Don’t,” Holly says. She has pulled her Chrysler in so close behind Kate’s truck at the loading/unloading zone that the bumpers are actually touching. She takes Corrie’s arm and hurries her under the canopy. Kate has already gone inside without looking back.

“The new Holocaust!” a woman screams. She sounds like she’s crying. The eBayers leave, realizing their target of opportunity has departed,but the rest of the protestors pick up the crying woman’s word and turn it into a chant: “Holocaust! Holocaust! Holocaust!”

This is their welcome to Chicago, that toddlin’ town.

In her suite, Kate tells Corrie that the press should come here instead of doing the afternoon Q-and-A at the Waldorf. Turning her attention to Holly, she says, “It wasn’t this way on my other tours.”

Someone wasn’t trying to kill you on your other tours, Holly doesn’t say.

“Fuck it, I’m tired of hiding from a bunch ofHandmaid’s Talepropaganda-bots.”

What rises to Holly’s lips isIt’s your funeral, which of course she also doesn’t say. What she says is, “You hired me to protect you, Kate. I’m doing my best. I have no idea how those… those autograph speculators are always ahead of us.”

“Don’t worry about the speculators, just throw yourself in front of me if you see someone pointing a gun,” Kate says. She sees something on Holly’s face that makes her add, “I’m joking, woman! Joking!”

Holly can feel blood rising in her cheeks. “It’s no joke. Does the name Lauri Carleton ring a bell?”

It’s been almost two years since the Carleton woman was shot dead by a man who was offended by her gay pride flag, but Kate knows the name. Of course she does. “What do you expect me to do, Holly? Back down? Show yellow? That’s what they want!”

Holly sighs. “I know you can’t do that, and I understand that having the press conference at the Waldorf doesn’t make sense, at least not now, but…”

“But what?” Kate with her legs planted apart, fists on slim hips. “Butwhat?”

“You might consider canceling it.”

“Not at all,” Kate says. Then adds, “Never.”

Corrie scurries into her connecting room to make calls and get away from any verbal fireworks, but there are none. Holly Gibney is not made to argue, especially with clients. What she’s made to do is her best. So she says she understands, and goes to her own room.

She has two texts, the first from Corrie, the second from Jerome Robinson.

Corrie:I thought U 2 were really going to get into it.

Holly:No.

Corrie:I’m going to the venue. Cadillac Palace Theatre. Have 2 take care of biz. Will be back for an early dinner. Can U get K to her presser?

Holly:Yes. Stay alert.To this she adds an eyes emoji.

She doesn’t like to think of Corrie—who has taken the most abuse from their stalker—going to the venue solo, but there’s only one Holly and her job is Kate. She opens the other text.

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