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“Why?”
Habib looked sheepish. “I’ve always wanted to see Hollywood.”
Jasmine laughed. “Sure, why not L.A.? It’s far enough away. We’ll drive a few hundred miles, then take a plane.”
“I’ll get rid of the car,” he said.
“Don’t go back to where you live. Consider that place abandoned. Buy some new clothes and a suitcase.”
“Right. Can I get you anything while I’m out?”
“Yes. Get me a couple of bottles of Chivas Regal scotch and some soda water.”
“All right.”
“I think you’d better shave your beard, too.”
“Can I keep the mustache?”
“No. You have a New York driver’s license, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And your picture is with the beard?”
“Yes.”
“They’ll be using that photo,” Jasmine said. “You don’t want to look anything like it. Get a short haircut, too.”
“All right.”
“Get going, then.”
Habib got going.
Jasmine read the paper for a while, then suddenly she saw herself staring at her own face on the TV, at New York 1, the local news service. The volume was turned down, and she turned it up.
“… woman is being sought all over the city by the police and the FBI. The FBI has announced a reward of five million dollars for information leading to her capture.”
Jasmine turned off the set. She had been expecting this, but not such a high number. Now she could only leave the house for missions—no strolling around the city, even with blond hair.
Holly got out of the SUV in front of James Rutledge’s building, rang the bell, and was buzzed up.
Kelli Keane answered the door. “Hi, Holly, come on in,” she said.
Holly surrendered her coat but kept her briefcase. “What a beautiful place,” she said as they walked through the kitchen to the living room.
“It’s what Jim does,” Kelli said. “He uses the apartment as a showcase for prospective clients. They’re always impressed. I was surprised to get your call.”
“Isn’t Jim here?”
“Any minute,” Kelli replied. “He’s on the way home from a job.”
“May I see the bedroom?”
“Of course. Right this way.”
Holly walked into the big room and checked the corners for her cameras; no sign of them. She smiled inside. “Beautiful.”
