35. Amateurs
AMATEURS
MARINA
Marina knew when the first lights came on.
She had been waiting beside the window without appearing to wait beside the window.
One light.
Then two.
Then several more, irregular and distant, glowing against a part of the city that should have been dark.
She counted slowly.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Then she left the flat.
The night watchman inminban was making her rounds outside near the entrance to the compound.
Right on schedule, Marina thought. She would have an alibi with the inminban.
The nightwatchman looked up immediately as Marina approached.
Marina pointed toward the river. “What is that?”
The inminban turned.
More lights had appeared.
“What?”
“Over there.” Marina stepped farther into the courtyard.
“Is something happening?”
Sven emerged from a nearby building.
Marina pointed again.
“Sven, do you see those lights. Do you think there’s a problem?”
“I don’t think so,” Sven managed.
“Have a good evening, “ the inminban’s assistant said, inclining her head.
Then someone shouted in the distance.
Another voice answered.
The inminban stiffened.
Marina wrapped her arms around herself. “What happened?”
“I don't know.”
“Should we go inside?”
“Yes.” the night watchman agreed.
Marina didn't move immediately.
Ri was probably okay. This was probably going right as they’d planned. She didn't want to think about anything going wrong, but the security professional in her knew the one thing she couldn’t get back was time.
So she’d better start imagining what could have gone wrong—and how to fix it right now.