Chapter 32 #2
“Does she ever meet with anyone there?”
“Sometimes a priest, and not always the same one. I hid a camera in there and can watch from close by. I worried it’d look suspicious for me to keep showing up at the exact same times if the driver is paying close attention.”
“Do we know if she carries?” She thumbed through dozens of pictures of the woman.
“I think she does. Those pictures don’t show it, but I’ve spotted a print several times. She sometimes has a larger purse that looks heavy. I would be shocked if she doesn’t carry, considering who she’s married to.”
Dewi sat back and closed her eyes to think for a moment. She didn’t have much of a time cushion. The faster she accomplished this errand, the easier her life would be, and the less obfuscation she’d need to engage in on the tail end.
That wasn’t her main consideration, but it was pretty damned high on her list.
“What’s the situation with her getting into and out of the car at work? Secure garage or open lot?”
“Parking garage. The public can access it, because it’s for the building. There’s an entrance directly to the ground-floor lobby, as well as an elevator to upper floors.”
“Security?”
“The building has security, but there are a bunch of various businesses on different floors where the public can go unrestricted. Their floor isn’t exclusive, either.”
“No card access required in the elevators?”
“Correct.”
She opened her eyes. “Meaning any member of the general public could step into that elevator with her?”
“In theory, yes.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “In theory? This isn’t quantum physics. Either the elevator exists, or it doesn’t.”
“I don’t know their surveillance system.
I spotted a camera in that elevator car, none in the stairwell, many in the main lobby on the ground floor, one in each of the other elevators, and at least one in the lobby on their floor.
I have taken the elevator to that floor and got out, like I was visiting one of the other businesses.
But in the garage, the driver always lets her out of the car and walks her to the elevator.
If someone were to approach, I suspect he’d stop them. ”
She grimly smiled. “And how about if a pregnant woman approached?”
He looked like he was about to argue with her, but she waved off his protests.
“Alvarez, you need to understand something. After what we’ve been through the past several months, I will do whatever it takes to protect this pack.
I am Head Enforcer, and yes, I’m pregnant.
But I swear to you that I’m not getting into a gunfight or looking for trouble.
We have to find the easiest and safest way for me to approach her and have a little uninterrupted time to talk without drawing undue attention.
At least fifteen minutes. And we can’t be certain the church is the best option.
Too many witnesses to wrangle, and we don’t have control of the premises.
But if it’s a business in a building accessible to the public, that raises fewer questions and gives me better cover, while also allowing me an opportunity to be alone with her. ”
She sat forward again and swiped through the pictures to the ones from inside the office building. “That elevator services all floors, or is it an express elevator?”
“All floors. I think it’s more of a service elevator because of its size and lack of decor, but it’s well-maintained.”
“What are the most publicly accessible businesses between the second floor and their floor?”
He reached for the tablet and scrolled through to a picture of the lobby’s directory board, then returned the tablet. She studied it for a moment. “I think my tooth will be bothering me tomorrow.”
“Say again?”
She pointed. “Dentist. On the floor below theirs. That’s what that means, right?”
He looked and nodded.
Dewi grimly smiled. “Perfect cover. What about the stairs? Are they locked?”
“No. Boss, are you sure about this?”
“Yes. Because after having a ‘chat’ with her, we’ll know her plan and the extent of her knowledge, or if anyone else knows. It’s better to do this now and not let it grow into a larger problem, right?”
“I’ll ask this one time, boss. Can we please hold off and call in one of the male Primes?”
“No,” she said. “Because even being Primes, they won’t be able to get close to her without drawing at least a little attention.
Sorry for the reverse sexism, but no one will suspect a pregnant woman of anything nefarious.
” She patted her stomach. “And I promise there won’t be any trouble.
On the ride up, I’ll Prime her to expect me in the office, that I’m an old friend from school.
I’ll get off at the lower floor, then I’ll walk up to her floor and have a little chat with her. ”
“Why not just get off with her?”
“It’ll give me a chance to scope out that floor’s lobby before I go into the office.”
“When do we do this?”
“Tomorrow. We’ll get there early. I’ll go into the lobby and talk to security to find out about their system, have them delete all footage from when we’re there, and to make sure all the cameras are turned off until lunch time due to a ‘technical glitch’ so there’s no chance of us being seen.
Also, I want to ask if there is independent security on their floor, or if cutting the main system will also kill cameras on that floor. ”
“And then?”
“Then you drive me to the airport, and you either fly out with me or resume following her. We’ll probably know within a few days, at the most.”
“Know what?”
“Oh, you’ll know.” She really didn’t want to give him more details than he needed.
Plausible deniability.
“But if you do stay behind to follow her,” she added, “the next time she gets out at the church, I want you there. Inside. Every time, if it’s more than one day in a row.”
“Every time?”
“Yup. Until I pull you from the assignment, or other, eh, circumstances dictate. Are you packed and ready to leave?”
“Yeah. My shipping container lands in Texas this week. That was the fastest I could get it shipped, like you ordered.”
“Good.” She sat back. “How’s the room service in this place?”
“I haven’t tried it.”
“Then let’s do it because we’re not leaving until early in the morning. And when we do, we’re checking out. You can get a different hotel room as needed every night. Don’t stay in the same place twice.”
She waited until after the food was delivered and she finished eating to call Ken on her work phone via the secure app. That was SOP, and would reduce her digital footprint there. “Hey, stranger. How’s life?”
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yep. Trip’s going well. Hopefully, I’ll be back tomorrow night.”
“That soon?”
She laughed. “I mean, I can stay away longer if you—”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Of course I want you back here, sweetie. I just thought you’d be gone longer.”
“We’ll see how it goes. And I promise that, barring emergencies, I shouldn’t need to travel again for work until after the baby’s born. How’s Lyssa…”
Ten minutes later, they ended the call, and she stared at her phone for a moment. Her lock screen was a picture of Ken holding Lyssa, a gorgeously handsome smile on his face as he looked down at the baby, with the baby grinning up at him.
Alvarez slowly shook his head.
“What?” she asked.
He shrugged. “That was some expert-level verbal dancing, boss.”
“I didn’t lie to him. And if you think I enjoyed that, think again.” She dug her charger cord out of her bag and plugged the phone in. She’d traveled even lighter than usual, knowing she wanted this to be a quick trip, and using her laptop bag as her purse, in addition to a small carry-on.
“Do I even want to know what might happen?” he asked.
“Probably not, because I don’t know. If I’ve read this situation completely wrong, then yay, you can catch the flight with me.”
Doubt filled his face. “Really?”
“Really. Contrary to popular belief, I prefer to settle things as quietly as possible. My gut tells me this won’t be one of those cases, but a girl can dream, right?”
“I hope so, boss.”