legs. I slide the camera to the open side of the door and manage to snap off a series of shots before slipping back down the hall and out the door. They never knew I was in there, which is one of the reasons Gus likes me on these jobs. I'm silent. For good measure, I walk around the back of the house to the office window where I'm able to catch a frontal view of him nailing her from behind on the same desk. They hadn't even closed the blinds all the way. The images would have enough visible to properly identify the people involved.
Fuck, I'm glad that's done.
Once in the truck and on the road, I contact Gus right away.
"Got 'em."
"No shit? Thought the client was paranoid, but I guess he had it right. I'll give him a head's up right away. See if—"
I cut Gus off. "No offense, boss, but I couldn’t care less what the guy wants now. I'll find a quiet spot, upload the pics and then I'm heading home."
I hear Gus's chuckle on the other side. "None taken. Sorry to call you away from the job here, but you are the best person to slip in and out of situations undetected. And just so you know, things have been pretty quiet here this week. No sign of Vedica and nothing happening at the office. The assistant closed the office about an hour ago and went home, so all is quiet. You can crash there and make your way back here in the morning. Get a good night's sleep?"
"I'm good. Want my own bed." My own bed, my own apartment above the diner and who am I kidding, I want to make sure myself the little mouse is holed up safely for the night. Tomorrow I'll try to get up to speed with whatever Neil may have stirred up.
-
A little over three-and-a-half hours later, I drive past Kimeo Lowe's bungalow. It's eleven thirty at night, and her car is not in the driveway. Whatever it is that drove me out this way is making me turn the truck around to drive along Main Street where most of the Cortez nightlife, such as it is, takes place. When I can't find her signature little blue Honda anywhere, I have one more card up my sleeve. Her voluptuous backside will be sore for weeks if I find her at the real estate office, but it's the only place I can think of.
Sure enough, a block from the office I find her car parked on the street. Thank fuck she was smart enough not to park in the parking lot. I park the truck a few cars behind hers and walk. The office is dark and the front door is locked. I head around the side alley where I find a second door. This one isn't locked so I carefully push it open, hand on my gun. I can't hear anything, but a familiar coppery tang hits my nostrils. Without hesitation, I flick the first light switch I come to. About ten feet in front of me, halfway down the hall, is the body of a man. Lying halfway out of the office and into the hallway, he is surrounded by a substantial pool of blood. On soft feet I edge along the wall toward the body, and with my gun now in hand, I swing around, crouching low in the doorway. The office is empty. It's been tossed but no one is here now. A quick check for a pulse reveals the man on the floor is quite dead. Fuck . Where is that woman? Is she hurt? Did she do this?
A slight sound hits my ears. Nothing much. It could've just been air through a vent, but it raises the hair on my neck. I retrace my steps down the hall until I’m standing in front of a door I passed by earlier in the dark. I note that the door is narrower than the office door and from the way it apparently hinges into the hall, I figure it's likely a supply closet or bathroom. Pressing my ear to it I don't hear anything at first, but then the sound I'd heard earlier is clear. Sounds of shaky inhalations—someone is in there. Not taking any chances, I press my back against the wall to the side of the door, carefully turn the knob and feel no resistance. Before I can pull open the door all the way it is yanked out of my hand and a short figure tries to dart past me. My body instantly recognizes who it is when my arm snakes
Fuck, I'm glad that's done.
Once in the truck and on the road, I contact Gus right away.
"Got 'em."
"No shit? Thought the client was paranoid, but I guess he had it right. I'll give him a head's up right away. See if—"
I cut Gus off. "No offense, boss, but I couldn’t care less what the guy wants now. I'll find a quiet spot, upload the pics and then I'm heading home."
I hear Gus's chuckle on the other side. "None taken. Sorry to call you away from the job here, but you are the best person to slip in and out of situations undetected. And just so you know, things have been pretty quiet here this week. No sign of Vedica and nothing happening at the office. The assistant closed the office about an hour ago and went home, so all is quiet. You can crash there and make your way back here in the morning. Get a good night's sleep?"
"I'm good. Want my own bed." My own bed, my own apartment above the diner and who am I kidding, I want to make sure myself the little mouse is holed up safely for the night. Tomorrow I'll try to get up to speed with whatever Neil may have stirred up.
-
A little over three-and-a-half hours later, I drive past Kimeo Lowe's bungalow. It's eleven thirty at night, and her car is not in the driveway. Whatever it is that drove me out this way is making me turn the truck around to drive along Main Street where most of the Cortez nightlife, such as it is, takes place. When I can't find her signature little blue Honda anywhere, I have one more card up my sleeve. Her voluptuous backside will be sore for weeks if I find her at the real estate office, but it's the only place I can think of.
Sure enough, a block from the office I find her car parked on the street. Thank fuck she was smart enough not to park in the parking lot. I park the truck a few cars behind hers and walk. The office is dark and the front door is locked. I head around the side alley where I find a second door. This one isn't locked so I carefully push it open, hand on my gun. I can't hear anything, but a familiar coppery tang hits my nostrils. Without hesitation, I flick the first light switch I come to. About ten feet in front of me, halfway down the hall, is the body of a man. Lying halfway out of the office and into the hallway, he is surrounded by a substantial pool of blood. On soft feet I edge along the wall toward the body, and with my gun now in hand, I swing around, crouching low in the doorway. The office is empty. It's been tossed but no one is here now. A quick check for a pulse reveals the man on the floor is quite dead. Fuck . Where is that woman? Is she hurt? Did she do this?
A slight sound hits my ears. Nothing much. It could've just been air through a vent, but it raises the hair on my neck. I retrace my steps down the hall until I’m standing in front of a door I passed by earlier in the dark. I note that the door is narrower than the office door and from the way it apparently hinges into the hall, I figure it's likely a supply closet or bathroom. Pressing my ear to it I don't hear anything at first, but then the sound I'd heard earlier is clear. Sounds of shaky inhalations—someone is in there. Not taking any chances, I press my back against the wall to the side of the door, carefully turn the knob and feel no resistance. Before I can pull open the door all the way it is yanked out of my hand and a short figure tries to dart past me. My body instantly recognizes who it is when my arm snakes
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