I realized that I'd better come clean. There were two lives in danger; Liz and the witness, and just didn't have any time to work out a slick explanation. Right now, the truth was going to be the fastest way to get things straightened out. So I explained as much as I could about the job for hire through Costignacci and the witness protection file I'd been hired to steal. As much as I could without mentioning Liz.

Hobbes wasn't buying it. Clearly, he was prepared for me to lie, and he wasn't buying half-truths. He seemed to sense that I was holding back on something. "So who's the chick you were with?"

Crap! My mind raced trying to decide how much I could withhold and still say something that was believable enough to get results. Would I be betraying Liz? Could I? If I didn't, she could get killed by Costagnacci's goons. If I did, how could I protect her from anything the Agency might do?

Well?" Hobbes kept up the pressure. He was clearly disgusted by my reluctance to be honest, even at this late date.

The van was pulling into the Agency parking lot.

I made another attempt to avoid talking about Liz. "Look, right now there's a witness in danger of being aced. The file we got from the FBI offices was a witness protection file. A Barry Benish at1226 Riverside Drive. We have to get to him before Costagnacci's guys do."

"Oh yeah, hotshot?" Hobbes countered, "and exactly why would I be listening to you here?"

Hobbes got out of the van, and came around to let me out of the door.

"Hobbes, ya gotta believe me. The guy's life is in danger."

"Yeah, yeah sure. Tell it to the Official."

Things didn't get much better when we got to the Keeper's lab. When you walk in the door and the first thing they do is handcuff you to a chair, you know what's coming is not gonna be good.

The Official, Hobbes and the Keep all took turns yelling at me and generally making me feel like scum.

The most important thing on my mind though, was the witness who's file we'd stolen. I knew Costignacci would have that witness killed as soon as he got that file, and time was running out. I was talking fast, explaining the whole thing to get them to move. But they were being thorough and by-the-book. Hobbes ran a check on Liz and on the car that nearly hit him. Only when the info came back off the wires and confirmed what I'd already said, did they finally believe me.

It took an eternity.

Then I had to help Liz. I knew she'd be in as much trouble as that witness if Costagnacci thought she was working with the Feds. But first I had to get out of this chair.

So, I did what I do best. I lied.

I sweet-talked the Keeper with a highly-believable story about wanting to take responsibility for my actions and help Hobbes protect the witness. She was so gung-ho about lecturing me with that key-chain crap about taking responsibility, she bought it. Hook, line, sinker and copy of Fishing Times.

Life has a screwy way of making truth out of lies sometimes. I hooked up with Hobbes again at Costagnacci's place. But while we were busy bagging 'Johnny Books' and that homicidal witness, Liz slipped away.

I ran to the door and caught sight of her driving away in a Mercedes with the haul from Costagnacci's safe. At that moment, I'd have given anything to be with her. If I hadn't been so close to needing the counteragent, I might have run down the driveway after her. Yeah OK, I'd only have a few days with her until I went nuts, but at that moment it seemed like it might be worth it.

Just for that moment though. Then the heavy hand of reality taps me on the shoulder, and I get that sinking feeling. No matter how much I want it, its not going to happen. Besides, even if I did make that deal, come day six Liz might end up paying the price at the hands of that red-eyed demon. Heavy sigh. I had to drag myself away from the door and back to where Hobbes was reviving the witness.

The hardest thing though, was saying goodbye to her the next day. She'd called to have me meet her "at the regular place." When I got there she told me she had my share of the take. She was so happy at having the money - enough to retire - that she positively glowed. I could tell by her tone she was thinking about saying around and hooking up with me, maybe more long term. It was everything I wanted right then.

It felt like my heart was being sliced open. I knew I could never deal with that.

Liz had always liked me for me. I never had to lie to her, and I didn't want to lose that. But I knew that would all have to change if we stayed together. I'd have to learn to lie to her about what I do, and why I'm doing it, and it would ruin everything. By keeping her around, I'd lose the thing I wanted most.

So, I walked away. If anything, I'd rushed the goobyes. I was afraid if I lingered over 'goodbye' it would become 'hello' again.

Maybe she was right after all. Faster's better.