“I should have been there.”

“I can appreciate how you feel,” he said.

She opened her eyes and stared at him, saying nothing.

He said, “All right. Maybe not completely. But no matter what, at this point I don’t think those places are safe for you. I mean, if I were you and these people knew where I lived and worked, I wouldn’t be going back there right now.”

“I’ll have to risk it. I’ve got to be there this morning, Jack. I’ve got to. And let’s face it, you didn’t leave many of them standing.”

Jack didn’t like it, but he could see he wasn’t going to change her mind. And even if Baker and whoever he had left were planning a move, he doubted they’d pull it in front of the staff at the Center. But as soon as she stepped outside alone…

“All right,” he said. “Go to the hospital, then have a guard walk you to the Center. Then stay there. Have lunch sent in. Do not set foot outside that building until I pick you up and take you to your hotel.”

“Hotel?”

“Yes, hotel. You don’t think you can stay at your apartment, do you? That’s where they’ll be waiting for you.”

“Who’s ‘they’?” she said. “After you got through with them last night, I don’t think there’s any ‘they’ left.”

Jack shook his head. He’d seen Kemel and his boss mercenary get away. How many more did the Arab have in reserve? And even if the answer was none, he could always hire more.

“The one who shoved you into the van is still up and about,” Jack said.

That seemed to have the desired effect: Alicia stiffened and looked away.

“Okay, okay,” she said. “Which hotel?”

“Haven’t decided yet. But I’ll pick you up at five and we’ll use the rush-hour mob to our advantage.”

“Fine,” she said sullenly, and wrapped her coat more tightly around her.

“Do I have your promise?”

“Yes.” Now she looked at him. “Why do you care what happens to me?”

The question startled Jack. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve got that ‘key’ you found. You don’t need me anymore. In fact, it would probably be to your advantage if they got hold of me.”

Jack stared at her, holding back his anger.

“No answer?” she said.

He spoke slowly. “No… just wondering if I should dignify that with an answer.”

“Oh? I’ve offended you?”

“Damn right. You… you’re a customer. We have a deal. A contract.”

“I didn’t sign—”

“We shook hands,” he said. “That’s a contract.”