alley.
“As you Americans say, this isn’t over by a long shot,” Juan whispered.
*
“Claire.” Joe spoke softly into the mike hidden in the mouthpiece of his cell phone.
“Yes?” Claire sat in the van alone, watching Shelby take a seat across from the most fashionable woman she’d seen in ages. Studying Emma Casey, she understood what kept Cain so interested. Emma didn’t just have looks; the confrontation with Luis confirmed that.
“Anything interesting happening outside?”
“That would be putting it mildly. I’d explain, but I’m busy right now. What can I do for you?” She adjusted the focus on the small telescope bolted to the floor at one of the widows, bringing the players at the table into better view.
“Just checking in. Cain’s praying, of all things, so we’re stuck in limbo here until she’s done.” He laughed before adding, “Considering how short her confession was, we may be wasting our time chasing around after her.”
“Or maybe she had a hotline set up at home to save time?” Claire ventured, waiting for the waiter to finish so Shelby could begin her talk. “Sorry, Joe, gotta go.”
“Problems?” Shelby asked, and pointed to the spot where Juan and his men had encountered Emma and Lou. Lou was sitting at the next table with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Nothing we can’t handle,” Emma answered, meaning herself and Lou. “Since I’ve become Miss Popularity, maybe I just should stay home more. Can’t go anywhere these days without attracting an unwelcome crowd.”
“Does that include me?”
Emma drummed her fingers on the Formica-topped table much like Cain had done that morning and expelled a long breath. “Look, I appreciate you sitting with me that night Cain got shot. Perhaps I never took the time to say that, but we’re not friends. We’re not friends now, and I don’t plan to include you in my appointment book for shopping and lunch dates so, yes, that includes you.”
“I just worry about you.”
“Ha!” The short laugh came out so loud that several people stopped what they were doing and stared. “Is that sort of like the IRS showing up at your house just to see if you’re financially secure and help if you’re not?” Emma moved her hand so the nice young woman who was waiting on them could put the mugs down. “We’ve already entertained one of your coworkers today, so forgive me if I come off a little short. I was an idiot to think you’d ever really leave us alone.”
“What do you mean you entertained one of us this morning?”
“That’s it.” Emma pushed the mug to the middle of the table and stood up. “Lou, could you call for the car. We’re leaving. I’ve had enough bullshit for one day.”
“Wait,” Shelby tried. She stood up, but she instinctively refrained from touching Emma. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then call the office and get an update. I’d think, as FBI, you’d be better informed than this.” She strode out and started up the street from where she’d come earlier that morning, leaving Shelby confused.
“Claire,” she whispered.
“I’m on it. None of our team members should have contacted the Caseys this morning. I personally checked with Agent Hicks before we headed out. You’d think she would know, since she
Shelby returned to the van. “There’s one thing I know for sure,” she said as she closed the door behind her.
Claire held up a finger and finished her call. “What’s that?”
“The farm girl’s here to stay, and she’s grown a long set of claws and fangs since she left the city four years ago. I thought she was the sweet and innocent one.”
“Silly rabbit,” Claire joked. She switched off all the equipment, since they were in a wait pattern. “No one’s scheduled to visit the Casey house today, but the small team assigned to the location saw Curtis go in and come out about fifteen minutes later. Since he’s a fellow agent, they didn’t call it in.”
“I wonder—”
“What he was doing there?” Claire finished. “Whatever it was set off this shitstorm we’re riding out now.”
“What could he have told them to make both Cain and Emma venture out with so little protection?”
Shelby voiced the question out loud, but Claire didn’t think it was directed at her. She hadn’t been with the team long enough to know the dynamic among the agents. So far she surmised that Shelby, Joe, and Lionel worked as a cohesive team, but Anthony had his own agenda and played it out with no thought of keeping the others informed. He was following the path of the infamous Barney Kyle.
“Do we break up and follow Emma?”
Shelby closed her eyes for a long moment and shook her head. “No, we follow the plan and wait for the guys to report in.”
“Joe did report in while you were across the street. They’re hanging out by the gift shop until Cain finishes her prayers.”
“She’s praying?” Shelby’s eyes popped open. “God help us all.”
Claire laughed, then stopped when she saw that Shelby was serious. For once in her life she wanted to slap herself for giving up a nice comfortable desk job.
