Chapter 2 #2
Gomez’s disbelieving scoff shouldn’t have been as funny as it was. Luke snickered and wheeled Gomez out of the kitchen so he could finish cleaning up. “Did you finish packing?”
“Almost.” Luke finished sweeping then opened the refrigerator door. “Okay, I meal prepped for you. Everything is labeled. Snacks are also prepped and within reach, which you would have realized if you’d opened the fridge. Do not attempt to cook, Gomez. Promise me.”
Gomez sighed. “I promise. You forget a pot on the stove one time….”
One time that had nearly burned down their first apartment and scared the life out of Luke. He’d opened the door to a billow of smoke and a coughing Gomez waving the flaming pot around while trying to figure out where to put it.
“Once was more than enough. I’ll be home in a couple days,” Luke teased. “Don’t destroy the place without me.”
“I won’t. Stupid interview is stupid.” Gomez sighed dramatically then looked up at Luke with an unusually serious expression. “I have a bad feeling about this, Luke.”
Luke frowned as he pulled one of the snack trays he’d made from the fridge. Gomez may be a lot of things, but a worrier wasn’t one of them. His friend’s heightened level of concern set Luke on edge. “I’ll be careful. I’m more worried about you breaking something else while I’m gone.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to return myself to the hospital bed of shame and pop a few pain pills.
I do not recommend breaking bones. This is misery.
Besides, you bribed Karlotta to take care of me while you’re gone.
I’ll be fine. That woman cooks like a fiend.
I won’t even be tempted to go into the kitchen while you’re gone. ”
Luke grinned at the reminder of their neighbor who was coming to assist Gomez in his absence.
They both had a weakness for her Venezuelan food.
Ever since Gomez’s fall, she’d been bringing them meals every couple of days.
Between her help, the nurses provided by Gomez’s insurance company, and Luke, they’d been able to manage the past couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, Luke needed to get to work so they could continue to live in the ridiculous lifestyle to which they’d become accustomed.
Gomez, who was the actual sweet summer child in their friendship, had no clue how much their condo had cost. They had an ocean view from the fourteenth floor.
Luke had paid cash and had the entire place remodeled before he’d brought Gomez to see it.
His friend’s “rent” was a reasonable amount that Gomez had never questioned. Luke deposited the money every month into a high-yield savings account with his friend’s name on it. He’d made sure Gomez would be well provided for in case anything ever happened to him.
“Go pack before I change my mind and handcuff myself to you so you can’t leave! And don’t die. I can’t pay rent without you!” Gomez’s bellow brought another smile to Luke’s face.
“You can’t pay rent with me. And I’m going! Be nice to Karlotta or I’m going to refuse to scratch your toes for a week!”
Luke returned to his room, closed his backpack, and hooked it over his shoulder. After making sure Gomez hadn’t died trying to get back into the hospital bed, Luke left the house and went to meet his contact.
Normally, Luke spoke directly to the CEO when doing an exchange, but he’d accepted a package now and again from his boss’s trusted assistant.
Very few people within the company knew of Luke’s existence, much less his identity.
Perky Patrick, as Luke had taken to calling the guard dog to the CEO’s office, was one of only two people in the entire company other than the boss himself.
Luke took a wandering path to the coffee shop where he and Patrick planned to make the exchange.
Even though Luke didn’t catch sight of anyone tailing him, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following him.
When nothing out of the ordinary occurred along the meandering route, Luke let out a sigh of relief.
Gomez had messed with his head. Nothing new there.
Patrick stood outside the local bistro with two large coffees in his hands. He handed one to Luke and tossed him a flirty grin.
“Sorry I’m late,” Luke said, returning Patrick’s smile with one of his own.
“I suppose I’ll forgive you, just this once.”
Luke gestured toward one of the small bistro tables, and Patrick walked quickly to it. As he sat, Luke brushed his thumb over the small flash drive attached to the cup’s bottom. Target acquired.
With a quick sleight of hand, Luke slipped the drive off the cup before taking a long drink of coffee. It’d be a shame to let such delicious ambrosia and such charming company go to waste.
Patrick babbled on for a few minutes about nothing and everything. To anyone watching, they looked like two old friends catching up over coffee. Patrick glanced at his watch then stood. “Back to work I go. It was good seeing you, Luke.”
“You too. Thanks for the coffee.”
Patrick nodded before rushing to the corner and a waiting cab.
Luke waited a few minutes before leaving the bistro.
After making a couple trips around the block and enjoying the rest of his coffee, Luke didn’t see or feel anything suspicious.
He tossed the now-empty cup into the trash and called for a ride to the airport.
Once inside the safety of the car, Luke slid the drive into the hidden pocket sewn into the waistband of his pants. It wasn’t until he’d made it through airport security that the feeling of being watched returned.