“Huh? Oh him? Yeah, ish, I see him from time to time. He’s cute.” He grinned, his brows bouncing up and down.
“He was staring at me, with his mouth open, and then grinned and winked.” She said, bemused.
“Oh reeealllyyy.” Nobu said, extending the word in a singsong voice.
“Shut up. I just thought it was a little weird.” She said.
“Maybe like most of us, who don’t see what’s under our noses, he finally saw you. You know your mother is right, you should grow your hair out.” He laughed.
“Shut up. Asshole. I like my hair like this, it’s easy and convenient as you well know.”
“Well then just wear a little more makeup. Especially now that you’re on his radar.” Nobu grinned, fluttering his eyelids.
“Idiot.” Imani punched him in the arm and he yelped and sniggered.
“You know it wouldn’t hurt you to go on a date from time to time. Even if it isn’t a serious one.” He counseled.
“Ugh, and what kind of guys are out there? Whiners and little boys. No thanks.”
“No, there are all kinds of sites out there. Maybe fill out your wish list and see who pops up?” He said, warming to the subject, as he rubbed his hands together.
She gave him a dark glare and was saved from further discussion when the taxi stopped. Nobu paid and they both got out. Both looked around. She put her blonde wig on. No one noticed. Figures, she thought.
Racine Plumbing Bar and Grill was their destination. Nobu went in first, she lingered outside. Once he was seated, she’d go in and request the table nearest him. She was to listen and watch and evaluate. This was Nobu’s second date and he wanted her opinion. She smiled. She’d met some of his dates, some were okay, most were losers.
She wanted him to be happy, so she agreed to come along. She was always up for a good meal and Racine was a good place to eat. She looked over as Nobu’s date came to the table. He was in his mid-thirties, slender, with brown wavy hair and close-trimmed beard. He was a neat man, a professional if she judged right. No burger flipper here. He sat down at the table and he and Nobu began chatting. She heard him say doctor and nodded her head in approval. That was good, he wasn’t a flake.
Nobu was her friend and she wanted him to be happy. She was protective of him. Dating was such a touchy thing, you never knew who you’re going to meet. She’d met some real creeps herself and still did. It didn’t matter, big city or small town, there were creeps out there. Floating around like turds in a toilet.
The downstairs neighbor came to mind. He had grinned and winked at her, and she shook her head. She almost snorted. She didn’t know if he was a creep, but he wasn’t her type. Though to be honest, she didn’t know what her type was. When she was younger, it had been easier, but now, she was jaded.
She took a drink of water and then spit it out across the table when she heard the man say assassin. Both he and Nobu looked over at her, Nobu’s face showing annoyed surprise, his eyes narrowing and the other man, surprise. She grinned apologetically and wiped the water from her face and chest.
“So, you say you like Assassin’s Creed?” Nobu said in a slightly raised voice.
Imani almost put her head on the table, she could feel her face burning. She really needed to get a life and closed her eyes. The waiter brought her order and she ate her lunch, trying to will away the fiery red of her face.
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Several days later, Haiden was following the woman. He was sure now, he’d been at a distance with his binos and studied the features of her face and body. She was a slender woman, tall and she had expressive brows, thick, but not overly so. Enough so that should she choose, they looked masculine, but with makeup, which was what she wore now, was very pretty. Not a beauty, but very pretty. He marveled that she was almost the perfect chameleon, without makeup, she was unremarkable.
Without makeup, she could easily pass for a young man, and he figured that was why she kept her hair short. It suited her as well. With a wig, it transformed her, but her body gave her away. It was willowy and her movements cat like, and perhaps, if she was an assassin, then she might have martial arts as one of the weapons in her arsenal. It would explain her subtle and graceful movements, unconscious though they were.
He stopped, she stopped twenty feet ahead of him and looked behind. He wondered if she sensed him following her. She’d looked that day when she’d jumped into the cab. She had a strong sense of survival instincts, a predator with predatory predilections. He turned around and headed home. He’d have to be careful with this one, it was one of those cat and mouse games where the cat could really kill the mouse. He’d keep surveillance on her, but from a distance, her instincts were too good. He would also go another route, he’d introduce himself to her.
Maybe through her roommate or friend, the other guy she was with. The man looked Japanese, but he wasn’t sure. He was mixed with something else and a little darker than most Japanese that he’d seen. Not Korean, nor Chinese. He’d figure it out he was sure. He’d ask around the building, he was sure someone knew one or both of them.
Ϫ
“I set up several surveillance cams. I did it a couple nights ago, I don’t think you can get in close otherwise. The street has a lot of activity on it during
