If anything came up, John could reach her on the cell and she wasn't about to sit in that room all night. Chapter Twenty The hotel restaurant was closed when Beth and Cade arrived in the lobby, but the bar and lounge area was still open. Their menu at that hour was rather unimpressive, and Cade politely said so. "Well, sir," said the lone waiter, "There are still a few places open on Peachtree Street," and he named three. Cade thanked him and he and Beth headed for the doors. As they passed the big glass windows by the luggage check-in desk, Cade very deliberately allowed Beth to see his reflection eyeing her reflection's rump and legs. Pretending to have been caught in the act, he said, "Sorry. I wasn't kidding about your legs, you know." Beth gave him an aloof, arched-eyebrow look, but she said nothing and worked hard to conceal a grin as they continued out the doors to the street. At the same bar and grill where he'd shot pool with Mandi, they ordered burger baskets and beer. Beth was more than a little surprised when he ordered two baskets with extra fries. "Wow," she said, "And I thought I was hungry." "I was going to order three, but I didn't want you to think I was some kind of a pig." She thought he was joking, of course. Their conversation ranged over the events of the previous two days, then she asked questions about Mandi, none of which he could answer. With some incredulity, Beth said, "For someone who's bunking with her you don't know a helluva lot about her." "Nope. Guess not." "What do you know about her?" "Not much. Haven't needed to. Besides, she's just crashing with me to avoid being pestered. I'd rather know about you, Beth. How'd you get into this business?" Shrugging, Beth said, "I was a Delaware cop who never got out of the office. I was bored shitless and going nowhere. The NIA said they could use me, so I switched over." "Seems to me I first saw you in -- what? -- 1993?" She nodded. "Right after we busted that colonel at the Watergate in March." "You were impersonating an Air Force captain and I said something about being a sucker for a woman in uniform. If I recall correctly, you rolled your eyes and sighed at me." "I'd heard that line thirty times by then." Doing his best to look hurt, Cade said, "Hey, it wasn't a line. Put on a uniform sometime and try me. I'll fall all over you, ma'am. Putty in your hands, and all that." As their food arrived, she snickered and said, "Sure, I'll do that someday. Pass the salt and pepper." They chatted some more as they ate, and when her food was gone, she began filching his french fries as they talked. Cade pushed the burgerless basket toward her and reached for the second burger. "Mind if I order another one?" he asked. In some startlement, Beth asked, "You got a tapeworm or something?" "Nope. Just hungry tonight for some reason."