Claire Gulliver #02 - Washington Weirdos Read Free

staid life.”
    “I’ve noticed,” he teased, then shaking his head in frustration, “I’ll get some of the guys to run that knife and see what we can get.” He turned toward her. “You don’t have a hanky or a Kleenex, do you?”
    She felt in her pockets and dug underneath the screech alarm to come up with two wads of tissue and offered them to Jack.
    He hesitated looking at them suspiciously.
    “They’re clean,” she assured him.
    He took them and straightened them out, then went over to where the knife still lay on the ground. He used one of the tissues to pick it up by the blade and managed to close it, wrapping it carefully in the other tissue to preserve any prints before slipping it into his pocket.
    “I really need a plastic bag but this is better than nothing.” He returned to the bench looking at her earnestly, “I don’t think there’s any point in contacting the local police now, do you?”
    She agreed. Her attacker was long gone.
    He sat down again picking at some of the debris that had been caught in his shirt while he was on the ground. He looked about the same. Maybe his sandy hair was a little grayer, but maybe it was only the light. She had forgotten that he was attractive. He was only medium height, really about the same as her five foot, nine inches. She remembered crashing into him, nose to nose, when they first met and it hurt. She hadn’t liked him then. But somehow during the two weeks they had traveled together they came to respect each other and, eventually, they came to like each other. In fact, she remembered, they had progressed to a mild interest in flirtation before she left.
    “What are you doing here?” She looked at him thoughtfully, realizing she had been caught up in violence once again, and Jack was on the scene. Was it only a coincidence?
    “I was rotated back last month for some specialized training and, since I was here, I was invited to represent our group at the meeting you’re attending tomorrow. Supposedly I’m to be there in case there are any questions that need answering, but I suspect it’s meant as a bit of reward for my work with you.” He grinned. “That’s how I knew you were coming.”
    That’s when she noticed he no longer spoke with a British accent. “And are you still Jack Hanford? You don’t sound the same.”
    He shook his head, slightly embarrassed. “That was an alias. Actually, my name is Jack. Well, John. Really I’m John Rallins. But you can call me Jack, most people do.”
    She stared at him. “You probably change your name for every assignment. It reminds me of a movie with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. He kept using different names.”
    He laughed. “I know. Charade . Great movie! And she kept asking him if there was a Mrs. Whatever. So, just for your information, no matter what name, I have still been divorced for many years. I still have a grown daughter I try to stay in touch with. And I do have an interest in British history, although I confess I was never a teacher.” He looked at her closely. “Okay?”
    It was completely dark now and she felt much calmer. Jack apparently thought it was time to leave. “How about taking a rain check on the Vietnam Memorial? I’ll buy you a bite to eat and you can catch me up on what’s going on in your life. Sound good?” He got to his feet, reaching a hand out to her.
    She stood for a moment testing her knees to make sure they would hold this time, and then let Jack lead her across the Mall and out to a street where he flagged down a cab.
    They arrived at Georgia Brown’s after the dinner rush was over, so they were seated right away. Claire sat down at their table looking around the vibrant crowded room with curiosity. It was attractively decorated; the ceiling was covered with what looked like copper strands of seaweed floating horizontally through the space. Most of the tables were filled with smart and important looking people, but no one she recognized.
    Her mind was too