Page 18 of What Remains

“Yeah, well, no.But.” Flexing his fingers, Harvey held his hands over a heater. “You guysreallylucked out finding this hot spring.”

“Wouldn’t have without the van,” John said. “Or Matvey.” At the sound of his name, the boy’s dark gaze flicked toward John. When the men started talking, Matvey had hunkered down to a squat next to Davila.Which I would, too, if a bunch of guys are talking in a language I didn’t understand.Matvey was probably worried he’d be left behind. Or—given what the boy had been and seen and done—worse. “Don’t forget that. Matvey helped us.”

“After he fleeced you,” Harvey put in. “And shot your pal here.”

“An accident,” John said.

“Yeah.” Davila draped a protective forearm around the boy’s shoulders. “We’ve already kissed and made up.”

“And don’t change the subject,” John added.

“Fair enough, but let’s reverse the equation,” Harvey said. “How aboutyoutellmehow you knowDriver? You guys on a mission together or something?”

“Yes,” John said at the same time that Driver said, “In a manner of speaking.”

“Uh-huh.” Harvey stroked his chin. “So, which is it?”

John glanced at Driver. “You want to answer that? Seeing as how I was a touch indisposed at the time?”

“Oh?” Davila’s eyebrows arched. “Indisposed? Do tell.”

“Maybe later,” John said. “If you’re good.”

“Which of you is the ventriloquist,” Harvey said, “and which is the dummy?”

“Him,” John and Driver said at the same time.

“Cute.” Driver favored them both with a dead-eye. “You guys practice a lot?”

“Only when I’m alone,” John said, cribbing from Woody Allen, a man with the moral compass of a chipmunk but who had, nonetheless, directed some spectacular movies. He made ago-aheadgesture to Driver. “Answer the man. Like I said, I was there only in body.”

Driver turned to his men. “Let’s just say that neither John nor I figured the other made it out alive.”

“Yeah? Sounds like some story, Boss.” After a pause, Harvey added, “That was a hint.”

“Noted,” Driver said.

“Don’t feel left out or anything, Harvey,” Davila said. “I’ve found out more in the last four minutes than I have in all the days I’ve been trapped up here.”

“That’s because it’s a long story,” John said.

Harvey checked his watch. “We got some time, I figure.”

John opened his mouth, but Driver cut in. “Nothing to tell.” His tone carried a note of finality, as indiscussion over. “Ancient history.”

With which John begged to differ. “Driver, they told me at Ramstein that you were dead. That you’d died with Roni.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Harvey held up both hands like a traffic cop. “Died with who? What’s he talking about? When we got orders to divert, Boss, you never said anything about?—”

“First off,” Driver said, “because I didn’t know forwhomwe were diverting.”

Meaning what?John had to press his lips together to keep that from leaping from his mouth.That you would have slow-walked here if youhadknown?

“Second,” Driver continued, “it’s a long story and some things truly areonlyneed to know.”

Davila cut in. “What he’s saying, Harvey, is however high your clearance or mine, it still ain’t high enough. Just to clarify, you understand. Which means you and me, we have something in common. We’re both working with guys with secrets. Me, I’ve gotten over that. You, though…”

Oooh, he’s good.John was developing a new level of appreciation for Davila.When in doubt, sow division.

---