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“Excellent decision. I’m sure it won’t be up to Coffee and Cars standard, but still better than cheap drip.” She turned right and cruised through the tiny dark town. “Might not be anything open yet.”
Trevor grimaced. “We’ve got to use cash, so I hope you’re wrong. Even a pre-paid cash card is risky if the card was purchased with a credit card. Mine were, either by me or the Bureau. Closer to civilization, it wouldn’t be a problem, but I’m sure I’m the only FBI agent out in this area.”
Sam jolted upright. “Wait a minute. I’ve got a gas card. I bought it as a gift for my neighbor who clears snow for me. Grab my wallet and look for it.”
“Did you buy it with a credit card?” Trevor pushed away the jealousy running through his veins. He wasn’t here last winter. Opening her backpack, he found the long rectangle and opened it, finding neatly slotted cards. He pulled the ones that looked promising until he found the right one.
“No, I bought it with cash.” She shook her head. “Some of my clients pay me in cash, and it’s easier to just use it for business expenses than go through the hassle of depositing it.”
He wagged his finger at her. “And you don’t have to pay taxes on it because it doesn’t get reported, right?” He yanked his ball cap down to his brows.
She shot a scowl at him and pulled up to a pump. “I certainly do. It’s accounted for and taxed appropriately.”
He opened his door and bent to look at her. “You’re too honest.”
She raised her brows. “Don’t forget it.”
Not likely. Using her card, Trevor pumped the gas, keeping his gaze low. Surely, there were security cameras, but if he didn’t look for them, it was less likely they’d get a shot of his face. He grabbed the receipt and dropped back into the passenger seat.
Sam pulled back onto the highway. Lights came on in a coffee hut, and she went straight to it, like magnets pulling together. “What do you want?”
“Giant Americano with extra shots and a shot of cream.” He usually drank plain coffee, but decent espresso would make their terrifying wake-up call a little more tolerable.
“Why am I not surprised?” She smiled at the woman opening the hut window. “I know you’re probably not ready. We’ll wait.”
“Awesome, thanks.” The window shut.
Sam turned to him. “Shall we check everything while we wait? Three highways out of here, so it’s as good as we’ll get, right?”
“I’m impressed. You’re learning.” From what he’d learned in the FBI’s training, most people weren’t willing to accept the way their lives had changed, let alone figure out the tactics of escape.
She frowned. “I’m not stupid. Plus, I’m friends with a lot of paranoid people who have been dealing with this kind of situation for a long time.”
Trevor held his hands up, palm out. “It was a compliment.”
“Uh huh.” She looked in the rearview mirror and smoothed a finger under her eye. “I forgot the makeup.”
With her braids coming apart under the bright orange stocking cap, and dark circles under her eyes, she should look appalling, but she was still gorgeous. But probably not recognizable to anyone who knew perfectly groomed Samantha Kerr, attorney. “You don’t look anything like yourself.”
She scoffed. “No kidding. I look awful.”
“Hardly. You’re still the most beautiful woman I know. You could be covered in mud, and I’d say the same thing.”
A red tinge rolled up her cheeks. “Right.”
The coffee hut window opened. “What can I get you?” She spoke loudly over the coffee grinder’s whir.
Sam held up two fingers. “Two double macchiatos, no flavor, please.”
Laughter rolled from the woman. “That kind of morning, huh? You got it. Think I’ll have the same.” The window closed, levers flicked, metal clicked, and steam hissed.
“The beautiful sounds of espresso.” Sam put her head back and smiled.
Trevor couldn’t help his grin. He pulled the burner phones out, handed one to her, and put the battery in the other. Powering it up, he plugged it in, then put it in hotspot mode and grabbed his bag from behind the seats. Pulling his laptop, he replaced the battery and powered it up, checking his government email first.
Sam finished about the same time he did. “Andreas came through. I remember seeing Mazama on the map, I think.” She reached a hand to him. “I need paper and pen.”
Reaching into his bag, he grasped his little notebook and opened it to the back, handing it to her. “Rip a page out if you want.”
