By Paths Coincident

Chapter Part 30

Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada

Eliot flicked off his phone and slid it back into the pocket of his jeans. "So, that's done," he told Parker. "She'll be there tomorrow. Maybe then we can get some answers."

"I sure hope so," Hardison put in over the comms, "'Cause I got nothin'."

Some questions had better answers than others. Parker wrinkled her nose. But since they would be getting answers about Colonel Baird's intentions whether or not they asked the questions, it was probably better to choose their own moment.

Eliot felt the horse would help. Parker wasn't sure. Even though Cassandra had said she wanted to see it, Parker had her doubts that Cassandra would like the creature. But Eliot clearly did like his horse, so it was theoretically possible. People were weird.

Maybe the evil horse would scare some truth out of Cassandra. Parker felt a grin tug at the corner of her mouth. That, she could believe.

"I could sure use a drink."

Eliot's voice was so weary it gave Parker the urge to tuck her hand around his elbow and pull him in close. So she did. Maybe that would hold him back from whatever bad place he was sinking in his head. Hardison often did that for her.

"You know what? Your wish is my command," Hardison said, his tone determinedly light. "By an amazing coincidence, this con begins in a bar." Hardison was trying to help, too.

As they walked the couple of blocks to the other hotel, Parker kept her grip on Eliot. When he gave her a little half smile, like he was glad she was there, her chest felt kind of glowy. Eliot took care of her and Hardison a lot. So it was nice when they were able to take care of him back.

His arm was solid and radiating heat, which was a good thing because the disappearance of the sun had stolen what little warmth had developed during the day, and the icy wind was fluttering at her skirt. The air smelled of snow and spruce trees, and it tasted of cold. Parker ran her free hand along the bare skin of her leg. Those were bumps all right. She was freezing like a popsicle. Skirts were such stupid articles of clothing. Especially in the winter.

Nevertheless, she had it on Sophie's authority that this was the best way to flush out a bad guy.

Back when she'd been taking grifting lessons, Parker had asked Sophie, "If I dress like this and act like we practiced, am I making those men go bad?"

Instead of answering, Sophie had replied, "Let me ask you something, Parker. Nate and Hardison and Eliot are going to be there tonight. Are they going to 'go bad' when they see you?"

"No!" Parker's laugh had turned into a snort. "Of course not."

"You strip off your clothes around Hardison and Eliot all the time when we're on the con. Does that make them behave any differently?"

Parker had considered. "Well, they turn around if I'm not wearing any underwear, but that's silly. I don't care if they see me."

Sophie had smiled in that way that made Parker feel like she'd just been hugged. Sophie had the best smiles. "Exactly. They're good men. And they don't make you feel uncomfortable no matter what you're wearing or not wearing. You can't turn them bad or good. That's something they do for themselves."

"Then when guys get all creepy?"

"That's because they're already bad."

"So then I can stab them."

"Yes, if it won't blow the con, or even then, if you feel afraid."

"Okay." Parker had filed Sophie's advice in her brain. Men who made her feel like Nate, Hardison, or Eliot were good. If they made her feel icky and wouldn't leave her alone, they were bad, and she could make them go away.