Page 52 of The One Who Won’t Get Away
Chapter 22
Nadya
ATRAIN STATION THISbusy at this late hour should’ve been illegal.It’s like everyone wanted to go to New York or something.Didn’t they know the New York subway stunk?Literally.
Nick and I waited for everyone to go up the stairs to the platform before following them.The entire way up, Nick kept his hand on the small of my back like he thought I’d fall or run.Or like he wanted to touch me.
No.He wasn’t allowed to want to touch me and not just because I was a witness.I also happened to be a total mess.
I kept that thought as he carried my duffel bag and the painting to our roomette.As he put the bag away for me.And as he made sure I had a soft pillow behind my back on the seat.
I took in the space, immediately noticing the biggest difference between this one and the one we had before.
“No toilet,” I pointed out.“How will we survive without a toilet right next to the table?”
“And bed.I mean, we’ll have to walk all the way out there.”He waved toward the end of the train cart where the restrooms were located.
“But what if I reeeeeally have to go?”I said.
Nick leaned closer to loudly whisper, “But what if you reeeeeally need to breathe?”
I cracked up at that.Seriously, that toilet seat was not a plus.Not at all.
Nick laughed with me as he sat down across, his back facing the direction the train was moving in.Very nice of him, considering moving backward tended to make me feel weird.Not as far as making me sick, but it messed with my brain.
I sat down in the seat Nick had prepared for me.It was technically late, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep.
“I think I’ll be up for a while, but if you need to hit the hay, don’t let me stop you,” I said.
“The only way I’m falling asleep is if you chloroform me,” he answered.
“That would be a whole new violation of FBI ethics.”
“If by ethics you mean criminal offense, then yes, you would be correct,” he said with a chuckle.
I mock-groaned.“You mean I shouldn’t have hauled that bottle of chloroform with me?Well, damn.What a waste.”
The train lurched to life, and the car vibrated with a slow, regular pulse.We sat in silence for a few minutes, just the noise of the train and the creak of the car as it sped up.There was no scenery, just darkness, the faint smear of stations as we blew through them, the flicker of red and green signals.Once in a while, a crossing gate threw yellow light across Nick’s face, making his eyes look unearthly.
Despite not being able to see much, Nick stared out the window.His face grew serious, and at times even angry.Weird.His hands clenched and unclenched, but he didn’t even seem to notice that he was doing it.
“I can’t tell if you’re mad at me or just exhausted,” I said after a few more miles of quiet.
He looked up, surprised.“Not mad.Just...thinking.”
“Thinking about what?”I pressed.
