“You did not!” I said, trying to sound totally incredulous. I knew from his conversation with Marni, that even though I was new, I brought in twice as much as the other crew members.
“I did. And you’re going to have to do that to any new recruits, too. I’ll start training you in about six months or so. No point in giving you too much too soon. Besides, you’re still too green.” He scratched his nose. He was lying. He thought I was totally ready. “You need to get the picking side of the business down perfectly before we move on.” He smiled, genuinely happy with the deal he’d just forged.
I nodded hard once. “Okay. Thanks for listening to me. I’m sorry I went crazy. I’m just really worried, you know.”
“No problem. If you ever feel crazy again, just come to me…It’ll all be worth it in the end. Let’s get you home. It’s late, and I expect good things from you tomorrow.”
I smiled. “No worries there.”
Earlier, while he held me close and I’d sobbed my guts out, I’d put my hand in his pocket, opened his phone, and attached a bug that was not only a listening device, but also had a tracker, inside. Score.
I texted Jeremy after leaving Kamal. Get to the office. Major change. Heading in now.
Chapter 13
When I arrived at HQ, everyone but Summer had assembled in the conference room. I could see through the glass walls that they were seated, probably tired from a hard day’s work.
“He looks good, doesn’t he?” Summer said into my ear from behind me. “Too bad he doesn’t feel the same about you.” She left to go into the conference room as quick as she’d come. I followed behind after sighing.
As soon as I entered the room, I announced, “The buy has been moved up to tomorrow morning.” Gasps and general muttering filled the room.
“And how do you know this, Agent Hadden?” Siron asked.
“I was just with Kamal and he told me.”
Siron’s gaze flicked to Summer and back to me. Summer was stone, her eyes fixed on me. A splotchy redness appeared on her neck.
“You were on your way home,” Summer accused, her body leaning toward me, the muscles in her neck going taut, her jaw tight.
“I was,” I said in a calm voice, “but then I realized I could use the rest of the evening at the fountain to get more info of Kamal.”
“You should have told me that.”
“I didn’t realize I had to tell my shadow where I was going.”
Summer’s nostrils flared. It looked like she was holding something back.
“Give us the details, Agent Hadden, and next time, let Agent Barnes in on your plans when they change. It does you no good to have a shadow you give the slip. And it doesn’t matter if the buy has moved up because we will be activating the trackers later tonight.”
“That’s the thing,” I said. “Kamal is keeping the new drives with him since he’s meeting Marco, his drive buyer, tomorrow morning. He didn’t see the point of taking the drives to the bank, only to take them right back out again.”
“In that case, we pull Kamal in tonight,” Siron said, “and use the girl, Marni, to get him to give up the drives. If he thinks Marni is in danger, he’ll talk.”
“We don’t even have Marni, yet. He won’t talk without knowing we have her. Even if he did break, it would be too late. I have a better idea and it won’t even involve the girl. I’ll follow Kamal to the bank and then intercept the drive after he retrieves the rest of the drives from the safety deposit box.”
“I think he knows what you look like by now,” Summer said.
“That’s why I have disguises. I’ll go in like a normal day of work, and change into a disguise after I get into the Louvre so I can follow him.”
“Now that’s thinking,” Halluis said. “We can keep an eye on him from the time you enter the Louvre until you exit and then we’ll put you back onto him.”
“This sounds good,” Siron said. “Agent Hadden will keep to her same pattern so Kamal won’t suspect anything. Summer will act as her shadow. Ace will monitor all the tech from a van that will follow Kamal. Halluis will drive the van and Jeremy will provide support. In case she loses visual, Jeremy and Ace can keep Agent Hadden informed over the com where Kamal is, and Jeremy can be ready to help if Kamal gives her any trouble. Rosabella will monitor the mission from HQ.
“Now, everyone, go home and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. I’ll see you bright and early.”
Everyone but Jeremy and I hurried out. I smiled at him. He smiled back, looked at the floor and moved toward me. I imagined him whispering something sweet into my ear and giving me a light kiss, but instead, he put an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “It sure feels good to be back.” It was like he was greeting a guy friend that he hadn’t seen in a long time. His arm left me in one swift motion, and he walked out, leaving me feeling deflated.
I made my way to the exit, stopping to get a drink from the fountain in the hall. When I straightened, Summer was standing right next to me, sneering. I couldn’t stop my hand from going to my heart. “You startled me.” Again, I had no clue she’d been there.
“If you ever make me look bad in front of the team again, I’ll have to hurt you.”
I held my tongue.
“You made me look bad today, really bad in front of Siron. I’m going to have to make you pay for that.” Her voice was firm, set. She meant every word, and I had no doubt she’d follow through.
***
The next morning I got an early start with
