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"Really bad."
A small laugh. "Okay, I'll stop saying it." He reached out to take my coffee before I could set it down, but backed off at a mock-glare. Then he shifted in his seat.
"So, what I said the other day...Is it still...? About keeping in touch, I mean. Jack's sure not going to give me a way to contact you, so this is probably my last chance to..."
He let the sentence trail off.
I grinned. "Ask me for my phone number?"
"That'd be nice, but I know I'm not getting it. How about e-mail?"
We discussed it for a minute and each decided to set up a new account. I suggested we use other names, to keep things separate. After I gave him one for me, he thought about it for a few seconds, then sighed. "I'm no good at this stuff. Umm, maybe...geez, I don't know..."
"Backdoor Man?"
A laugh. "Your backdoor man. I'll use it. You won't mistake me for anyone else with that."
Quinn looked left and I followed his gaze to see Jack approaching. He leaned toward me.
"So, you know, keep in touch, okay?" A grin, and he sang, "Pick up the phone. I'm always home. Call me anytime."
I grinned back. "Just ring 362-4368?"
"I lead a life of crime."
Jack, who'd heard the end of the exchange, looked from one to the other, blank-faced as we laughed.
"AC/DC?" I said.
Still blank.
"'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap'?" Quinn said. "Our anthem. Or if it isn't, it should be."
"Yours maybe," he said. "I'm never cheap."
Waving the tickets, Jack motioned Quinn aside. We said a quick good-bye, and Quinn promised to be in touch. Jack caught that, and he looked at me, but said nothing, just gestured for Quinn to walk with him.
They headed for the domestic flights area, Jack talking and Quinn nodding. Then Jack passed him his ticket. Quinn shot me a final grin, hoisted his carry-on and merged into the flow of passengers.
Jack walked back to me.
"Got an hour," he said. "Cutting it close for security."
I nodded and he helped me to my feet. As I arranged my crutches, he looked back to make sure Quinn had disappeared, then led me to the international flights gate.
"Jack?"
"Hmmm?"
"Before I go. There's something..." I paused, looked around, then led him to a quieter corner. "Evelyn offered me a job going after some pedophile." I paused. "Vigilante work."
I studied his expression, but he gave nothing away, only nodded, as if this was no surprise.
"You knew?"
"Knew she would." A pause, then he looked at me. "You didn't take it. Didn't say no, either."
"I...couldn't. Either way. Not yet. She said it didn't matter, that if this one falls through she'll find me another."
