Page 23

“Remindmewhythefuck you agreed to this?” Bee snarked from behind their laptop.

We’d set up near the window of a busy coffee shop, across the street from the Rose and Swan pub. It gave me the perfect vantage point to look out for where my target was expected to be heading for a cheeky after-work drink any minute now. From Bee’s research, they had a very productive Monday, and this would be the perfect time to strike.

“It’s an easy job,” I explained, relaxing in my chair enough to appear content, while I watched the pub’s entrance like a hawk.

Bee took a bite of a flaky pastry, crumbs flying as they spoke, “Uh-huh. You’re not swaying that lawyer over to the dark side with this move, you know.”

“I’m not trying to,” I said a little too quickly. “He asked for a favour, and I have the time to help him out, is all.”

“Only because you’ve been avoiding your actual job.” The words were harsh, but Bee’s eyes were full of concern. “I get needing to rest over the weekend, but it’s almost been a week since you first tried—”

“It’sfine. I’ve got a few more days until the deadline.” At least, I hoped I did.

Roman’s client still said the diary was at Emerson’s office. All I needed to do was buy Emerson enough time to get what he needed from it and then steal it before it went back into police custody. Easy peasy. Everybody won. Well, the people important to me won.

When did I start thinking of Emerson as someone important to me? Ugh, this scent match crap was messing with my head. I’d managed to stay away from him since leaving his penthouse Friday morning, but deep down, I was itching to see him again. My mind kept playing scenarios of how I could “accidentally” bump into him again, like I had some schoolyard crush. Fucking embarrassing.

Things just felt better around him. I felt more like myself, even when I had to defend my morally questionable career. Being in his presence soothed something inside me, and I missed that feeling. I missed him. The way he challenged me. The way he looked at me like I was the centre of his world when I talked about trying to fucking rob him.

When I closed my eyes, I could still see the look on his face when he insisted he could keep me safe. He genuinely believed it, and I wanted to believe him, too.

Bee passed me a small device from their backpack that looked remarkably similar to a vape pen. “Here, this should record everything you need and send it straight to me here in real time. Even if you fall on your arse and break it, if I’ve heard the words here, we’ll have it saved. Just stick it in your pocket, get in as close as you can, and don’t get caught.”

I twirled it in my fingers as a blond woman wearing a sharp pantsuit with a distinctive red coat and bag headed into the pub. Exactly as described. Three men in suits followed her closely, laughing and playfully crowding each other—her colleagues.

Perfect. The whole gang’s here.

Shoving the device in my jeans pocket, I stood. “Never do.”

Bee snorted into their coffee. “Until recently, sure.”

It didn’t take long to find my targets inside the pub, crowded around a high bar table. Most of the large firms in the area would still have people working late into the evening, but this group was celebrating a big win in technology development. Technology that Norah’s client, Claudia, claims they stole from her.

Once I’d grabbed a coke from the bar, I positioned myself at the window, pretending to people-watch with my back to the group I was actually here for. There wasn’t anyone between us, so the mic should pick up their conversation clearly. Shooting a text to Bee, I waited for the chaos.

It only took a minute for my phone toping, along with everyone within ten metres of me.

Here we go.

One of the men quickly spoke, his voice rumbling with a deep timber. “Mate, did you seriously just click an unknown link over public Wi-Fi?”

“It’s an article about our project,” a younger voice replied. “Wait a sec, Georgia! You need to read this. It says they’re pulling our funding!”

Georgia scoffed, “What? It has to be fake. We barely closed that deal two hours ago.”

Young-voice continued, “It was only posted ten minutes ago. It says that police have launched an investigation into the creation of our tech, prompting an immediate loss of funding from the firm.”

The third man finally spoke up. “Crap! It must be Claudia. She said she was going to get a lawyer. But how does the press know already?”

The first voice shushed him. “Shut up. That’s impossible.”

Young-voice started panicking, “But we were careful. She’s got nothing on us! They can’t prove we stole anything.”

“Keep your fucking voice down, James,” Georgia hissed.

I kept the recording going for another twenty minutes, quietly enjoying my drink and scrolling through my phone as the suits behind me collectively crapped their pants. I really didn’t think they’d fall for a fake news report that easily, especially one that popped up directly on their phones. What a bunch of fucking idiots. The recording wouldn’t be enough for any convictions, but it would get a warrant to search for hard evidence. Either way, my job was done.

Bee and I quickly regrouped at the coffee shop before heading straight to the Morgan & Watson office. Unlike the last time we were here, we stood out like sore thumbs amongst the suits still milling around the reception area. Yet no one stopped us as we made a beeline to the elevator. Good to know that we could stroll right in if we walked with enough purpose.