“A reposition. I’m gonna run a fishing charter over to Florida. We’ve got four cabins onboard. I can’t give you one for free, ’cause, you know, this is a business, but I can get you to Florida on Wednesday night. No TSA. Shit, no customs at all.”

“You leave the boat there?”

“Yeah, it needs a little work, and my parents live in Lauderdale. I’ll put it in dry dock for two weeks, then charter another fishing trip for the way back.”

Mike noticed his heartbeat in his fingertips. The pounding beat worked through his entire body. Dancing didn’t sound so bad anymore. In fact, dancing would be required. “You didn’t just get me high to make me buy a boat trip, did you?”

“Hell no,” Fodor said, “I got you high to get you laid. Either tonight or three days from now.”

Chapter 38

CHAPTER

38

LAKSHMI SMILED AT the red gift bag on her chest. “Caitlin, you didn’t have to.”

“Normally, I’d have gone full Tiffany’s box, but I figured—”

“Gift bags are easy to open.” Lakshmi held up her broken wrist. Three signatures on the cast so far—Caitlin, Mary, and Aaron. “It’s not your fault I fell, Caitlin. You told me to get down. I can still text and type, and I’ve got some killer drugs.”

She picked up one of the three prescription bottles on her bedside table, sounded out the word. “Nor-co. These are my favorite. Now, my present.”

Caitlin leaned forward. “You have to promise me something.”

“Like what?”

“I’ve already talked to your teachers. We’ve gotten you extensions on several projects, as well as the right to stream your main lectures.”

“Caitlin—”

“I’ve reached out to Doris. She’ll arrange any transportation you need.”

“I can still drive.”

Caitlin got to the point. “I want you to know that we’re here for you, that you’ll be taken care of.”

“What’s the promise?”

She met Lakshmi’s eyes. “You have to finish.”

“Finish what?”

“Promise me you’ll finish your degree.”

Lakshmi looked confused. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Caitlin felt tears in the corners of her eyes, looked away. “Because you got hurt doing my job, less than a month away from graduation.”

“Oh, right.” Lakshmi raised her good hand. “I promise nothing will stop me from finishing my degree.”

Caitlin reached for a tissue, blew her nose. “Good.”

Lakshmi looked like she might cry too. “I thought you were a badass.”

Caitlin shook away the sadness. “Open your gift already.”

Lakshmi tipped the bag over. A slip of paper fell into her palm. “Is this a password?”

Caitlin smiled. “Since your injury will keep you out of the field, that code will let you use my professional credentials on the online financial database.”

Lakshmi lit up. “You’re trusting me with your password?”

“You’ve earned it.”