Page 146 of Hard Rain

“I want Whip.”

Whip frowned.

“The fuck?” Axel growled from next to him.

Boone glanced toward the observation glass, gave a single nod, and stepped out of the room with Davis.

“You okay with this?” Davis asked Whip.

“I have to be.”

“Go,” Boone said.

Axel scowled at him.

“I know him better than anyone,” Whip said quietly.

“I’m going in there with you.” Axel’s chin jutted.

“Wait for me.” Whip gave the smallest shake of his head.

Axel exhaled through his nose.

As Whip moved toward the door, Axel caught his forearm.

Their eyes met.

“Five minutes,” Axel said.

“Deal.”

Axel let go.

Whip stepped inside and closed the door. The room felt smaller from the inside.

He pulled out the chair opposite Cutter and sat without speaking.

For several seconds, neither man said a word.

Cutter studied him.

“They’ll lie to me.”

Whip met his eyes.

“About what?”

“Whether I’m already dead.”

The words hung between them.

Whip watched Cutter’s hands. No shaking. No fidgeting. Just clasped together on the table so tightly the knuckles had gone white.

“You think Charleston’s coming after you.”

“I know he is.”

Cutter stared at the table, the pause reminding Whip of chess matches where one player stopped looking at the board long before the game was over.