Page 6 of Pretty Plaything

Troy Owens, probably the most wanted man right now, lives in the apartment building across from me.

For a scientist who hasn’t had any special training, he’s very slippery, and he’s often changing his identity.

He’s dyed his hair a few times in the past few weeks I’ve been watching him. Now his hair is black again.

I see him as he scurries to the entrance in his black coat, and I press myself against the wall as he glances everywhere around him. It can’t be easy to have the secret recipe for a new drug, which is at the moment called H-376, that could change everything and completely tip the market in favor of the one who has it.

Many people like me would want to find him, but so far, only I managed to do it. After watching one of his men meet with the Lionettis, I followed the guy for a few days until he led me straight to Troy.

A few others have tried.

I saw them.

But Troy did too.

I’m the only one he hasn’t managed to figure out or lose.

And tonight is when I’m going to make my move.

I’m sure Troy has plenty of offers, and the Lionettis are the main candidates to buy the recipe.

With it, they’d be unstoppable, and I’m sure Orlando Lionetti doesn’t want to miss this perfect opportunity when he’s always had such a good nose for business moves.

But the recipe is going to be mine, and then the Lionettis will come to me.

I slink through the shadows, moving fast and quietly. There’s a secret alarm at the front door and a camera that alerts Troy of anyone who enters.

That’s why I have to find another way.

The sleepless nights I’ve spent around Troy’s building will pay off. I wedged a tiny piece of wood under the open window on the first floor.

A smile stretches my lips when I see it’s still in place. As carefully as possible, I push the window up and haul myself inside.

I’m in someone’s office, and I wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness before moving forward.

Troy has more cameras, but I already found the layout of the building and I know how to switch off the power. Once the power’s gone, it will alert Troy that something’s up, and he’ll try to run away.

But that’s exactly how I intend to get him.

He’ll come to me without even realizing it.

I turn off the power, and then I slip down the hallway to my hiding spot and get ready. It doesn’t take long before Troy shows up.

He’s about to run past me when I grab him from behind. A yelp escapes his throat. He thrashes, but I quickly press a chloroform rag over his mouth.

When he goes limp, I drag him with me to his apartment. I could take him somewhere else, but I want that recipe, and I’m sure he has it somewhere with him, even if that sounds stupid.

But he seems like the kind of man who doesn’t want to let anything out of his sight for too long, or at least that’s the impression I got while observing and studying him and his habits.

I tie Troy to a chair and look around the apartment. The rooms are plain and a little shabby, but I can’t see any secret spot where Troy may be hiding the recipe.

I’m far from a scientist, so it may be hiding in plain sight.

I just can’t see it.

“Wake up.” I slap Troy’s face.

His dark brown eyes go wide after he cracks them open. He fights against his restraints, but it’s useless.