Jacinta’s eyes opened wider.“You’ve made others?”
Dewi used that moment to retract her fangs and give herself a beat to regain her composure.“All right.I’ve had it with you.It’s a pretty easy choice I’m giving you, lady.And if anyone asks you about me, I’m an old friend from college.Once I walk through that doorway, you’ll act normal.You won’t make a scene when I leave.Everything’s fine, we had a short chat to catch up, and that wasall.You’ll barely remember anything aboutme.The only details youwillremember, butnottalk about to anyone, are the two choices I gave you.There arenoother options—destroyallthe evidence and never speak or think about it again, even if someone talks to you about it, or kill yourself if you still attempt to tell or pass the information to someone.”
Dewi was going to release her but felt a little petty.“Stick your finger up your nose and mine for gold.Make sure to do that a few times today in front of people.”
Dewi giggled at the woman’s wide-eyed horror as the index finger on her free hand buried itself to the first joint in her nostril.
She released Jacinta and headed to the office door.Before opening the door, she turned.Jacinta still looked shell-shocked.“This isallup toyou,” she reminded her.“If I were you, I’d pick the first choice and live a long life.Good luck.”
Dewi slipped her sunglasses on and pulled her hand into the sleeve of her hoodie to grab the door handle.She’d clocked a couple of cameras on her way in and suspected that, while they could see her, there would be no way to identify her.Still, she was careful to keep her head tipped down, hopefully keeping her face deeply enough in shadows cast by the hood and the brim of the hat she couldn’t be recognized.She didn’t know if the IR lights in the hoodie would help with that or not, but it didn’t hurt.
Then she stopped at the receptionist’s desk for just a moment to tie up that loose end and make her forget that she saw Dewi leave.
“Why didn’tyou Prime her to forget you altogether?”Alvarez asked as they headed to the airport.She booked her flight to Tampa after getting into the car.Before they’d left the hotel that morning, she’d looked up flights and already knew which one she’d catch if all went well.
“Missing me leaving the office isn’t sus.But other people saw me either on the way in or out, and I can’t just walk around Priming everyone there.They had cameras in their office.If anyone saw me and asks, I was an old college friend.They won’t care if I leave.”
“Ah.Smart.”
“I have a good idea every once in a while.”She settled back in her seat and struggled against her growing nausea.
Not because of morning sickness, but because of what she saw in the woman’s mind.
And what she expected would happen.
Sooner, rather than later, if forced to guess.
“You’re looking a little green, boss.Want me to stop and get you something?”
“No.At least I had my coffee this morning.I’ll grab something at the airport.”
“Guess that means I’m not coming with?”
“Sorry.Not today.Need you to tail her day and night.I’m especially concerned about the church.”
“In what way?”
“I want you there every time she is.I don’t care if you feel you have to dress up like an altar boy and blow a priest—no offense, and just kidding,obviously—but I want you to keep eyes on her.”
He glanced at her and she sensed him trying to formulate a question.
“I meant it that you don’t have to blow a priest,” she said.“Unless youreallywant to.No judgment from me, as long as everyone’s a consenting adult.I don’t kink-shame.”
He finally snorted.“I donotenvy you and your job, boss.”
She closed her eyes.“Yeah, I get that a lot.”
“I suspect no one will ever challenge you for your job, either.
“Unfortunately, I get that one a lot, too.”
She had to talk him into just dropping her at the terminal and not walking inside with her.“Go back and tail her.I’m probably safer in an airport than anywhere else.And if you can’t get that camera out of the church, just leave it.Your prints aren’t on it, and it can’t be traced to you, right?”
“Correct.”
She grabbed her bags and climbed out, then turned and leaned in.“Call meimmediatelyif anything happens.Day or night.And you donottalk to anyone besides me before talking to me.About this, I mean.Got it?”
“Any parameters?About what I’m looking for?”
