There was a small coffee shop on the far end—yay!—and only one uniformed security guard at the main desk.
Perfect.
Ten minutes later, Dewi was heading to the bathroom to take care of other pressing business.The guard had already switched off the recording function on the system.The cameras still showed a live feed, so no attention would be drawn by having blank monitors, but it wasn’t being captured.He’d back it up to 6:00 am and set it to reactivate at 12:00 noon.Hopefully, if anyone did look, it would appear to be a systems glitch.
But the missing video ensured it wouldn’t capture her or Alvarez.
She found the parking garage door and did a quick walk-through to get a feel for the layout.After checking the time, she made another bathroom stop and then headed to the coffee shop.
There were only five small, round tables, but no one was sitting, although there were three people in line.
Dewi called Alvarez when she spotted him walking into the lobby.“How are we on time?”she whispered in her earpiece.
“I’d say be out there no later than twenty minutes from now, to be safe.It’s a four-door, black Mercedes.He always pulls up next to the elevator, puts it in park, and opens her door for her.”
“Can you position yourself to see him drive in?”
She glanced over and saw him take a seat along the front window.“I can see from here.”
“Good.I’m going to get a coffee—all hail caffeine—and then go out to the garage.When you see him turn in, let me know, and I’ll start walking like I’m heading to the elevator.”
“Roger roger.”
She was feeling a little antsy when she put her order in, and had been tempted to Prime one of the baristas to speed things up, but then she had her coffee in hand and returned to the garage.
She was there about twenty-five minutes when Alvarez spoke in her ear.“Heads up.Turning in now.”
She faced the elevator, head down over her phone, but glanced at the ramp.Sure enough, there they were.“Don’t speak unless I directly address you.Can’t tell how well she can hear.If I lose you in the elevator, donotcall me back.I’ll call you.Once you see the car pull out, leave the lobby and go get our car.Give me at least twenty minutes, then prepare to pick me up right here.”
“Roger.”
Dewi timed her arrival at the elevator perfectly, just as Jacinta stepped out of the car.Dewi offered both the driver and the woman a smile, and when they processed that she was pregnant, too, their nearly matching scowls immediately transformed into polite smiles.
Then Dewi pretended to stumble.When the driver reached out to steady her, she immediately Primed him with the simple command that he never saw her.“Oh, thank you!I’m so clumsy right now.”
Easy-peasy.
At first Dewi wasn’t sure if the driver would leave Jacinta alone with her.But once the elevator doors slid open, she followed Dewi inside.Dewi hit the button for the floor below Jacinta’s destination, and as the doors slid shut she saw the driver had already moved to get back in the car.
She waited until Jacinta reached over and pushed the button for her floor to grab her wrist and Prime her.“¿Hablas inglés?” If she didn’t, Dewi would need Alvarez on the phone ASAP.
“Yes,” the woman said, her eyes going blank as Dewi used her Prime to take full control of her.
“Good.”Dewi hated doing this, especially because this woman gave her a…weirdfeeling.Not a pleasant weird, either.“I’m your old friend from school,” Dewi continued.“Did you go to college?”
“Yes.”
“You and I were good friends there.I’m visiting the dental office on the floor below yours.Do you have a receptionist or AA?”
“Yes.”
“When you arrive, tell them that you’re expecting me, and to wave me right through and hold all of your calls while we visit.And leave your office door open for me.Got it?”
She nodded.“Yes.”
“Won’t take long, because of my dentist appointment.And I’m leaving for home today, so we can’t get together any other time.Understand?”
“Yes.”
