Death's Last Run Read Online Free Page B

handed it to Amanda. “This always freaks me out. Saying goodbye to my identity in some random airport or café. I always wonder, will I get my real self back?”
    â€œI think you’ll be fine. We’re not going deep into Communist Russia. Do you know how to snowboard?”
    â€œNo.” Clare slid her new wallet into her knapsack. It was about as ratty as her old one — maybe there was hope for her new wardrobe.
    â€œThat’s fine. I’ve arranged a lesson for tomorrow. You don’t have to be a pro on the slopes when you get there. The snowboard is a hand-me-down from Lucy’s older brother. The hockey bag is from her younger brother.”
    â€œI get to ride a guy’s snowboard?”
    â€œThought you’d like that. You’ll want to get up to speed as fast as you can. Sacha loved snowboarding and her peer group spends most of their downtime on the mountain.”
    â€œI’ve been studying snowboarder lingo,” Clare said. “On UrbanDictionary.com, and from movies and stuff. So I’ll have a clue what they’re talking about.”
    â€œGood work,” Amanda said.
    â€œThanks,
boss.
” Clare sounded sharper than she’d meant to. But whatever; it was true that Amanda wasn’t in charge. “Sorry. I mean, I know I’m on your turf, and I’ll cooperate. But I work for the FBI now.”
    â€œAc-tu-al-ly . . .”
Amanda let the word trail so it sounded like it had about six syllables. She tapped a slender finger against her lips, as if she was trying to break some terrible news and was secretly gleeful about it.
    â€œActually what?” Clare glared.
    â€œWe agreed that the FBI could send an operative, but the RCMP insists on running you jointly.”
    â€œRunning me.” As if Clare were a dog, or a car.
    â€œI’m not a handler anymore, but because you and I have worked together, we all agreed that I could step into the role again. I’ll report to both organizations. Your team leader in New York will have your contact info and he can call you for an update anytime. And you can contact him.”
    â€œGee, thanks. I can talk to my boss while I’m working.” Clare had to rein this in. She felt like she was visiting her parents — riled to act like a teenager all over again despite everything she’d learned in the world since leaving home.
    â€œCome on, Clare. I’m looking forward to working together.”
    Clare stared into her coffee. Tim Hortons wasn’t as good as she remembered it. “I’ve learned a lot in the past year.”
    â€œI’m sure that’s true,” Amanda said. “But I’m not your obstacle, despite what you seem to believe.”
    Clare looked out the window at the runway, wet with Toronto winter slush. In the distance, a plane took off. Half of her wished she was on it, heading back to Noah and her life in New York instead of about to jump on another plane that would take her even farther away. She was glad Amanda was traveling on a different plane so they wouldn’t be seen arriving together. “So what
is
my obstacle?”
    Amanda pursed her lips, as if trying to decide how much to share. Finally, she said, “You know that Inspector Norris with the Whistler RCMP wants to close the Westlake case as a suicide.”
    â€œUh, yeah. This has all been in the news.”
    Amanda sighed. “If you prove Norris wrong, his credibility comes into question.”
    â€œIf
I
prove him wrong? Is he going to blame me if it turns out Sacha was murdered?”
    Amanda tilted her head to one side, which Clare took as a yes.
    â€œCan I meet with him? Maybe in person I can let Norris know I’m not hostile.”
    â€œI don’t think that will help.”
    â€œWhy? I can be diplomatic if I have to. I told you I’ve learned a lot.”
    â€œI don’t think he’ll appreciate a twenty-four-year-old trying to placate