“Are you looking for something?”
I startled, gripping my keys so tightly that they broke flesh. I glanced over at a thin man with a balding patch on the top of his head and a smarmy smile.
“This is the FBI field office, right?”
The man nodded. “You’re in the right place. Come on, let me show you the way.” He held the door open for me and I walked through, knowing full well he was staring at my ass the whole time.
“You’ll need to sign in and show identification over there,” the man said, pointing to the visitors desk. He followed me, standing a little too close.
“I think I can handle it from here,” I told him, trying to smile. I didn’t need a hanger-on when I was trying to focus myself.
“It’s no problem. I just want to make sure you don’t get lost.” His hand came to rest on my lower back and I quickly moved away.
“Please don’t touch me,” I said quietly but forcefully.
The man chuckled and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Sure thing.” We stopped at the visitors desk and the man turned his questionable charm on the older woman behind the table.
“Hi, Chaz. How are you?” the woman asked.
Chaz? What kind of name was Chaz?
“I’m great, Shirley. Ran three miles before work. Gotta get the cardio in.” Chaz looked at me and I wanted to roll my eyes. He was so obvious, it was pathetic.
“How’s Marla? You two should come over for dinner again sometime soon.” I looked down at Chaz’s right hand and saw a gold wedding band. What a creep.
Chaz pursed his mouth, obviously not appreciating the mention of his wife in front of the woman he was trying to impress. “Yes, well, maybe.” He cleared his throat, shooting me another look. “Anyway, I wanted to help this lovely lady find where she’s going. This is—”
“Hannah. Hannah Whelan.” I produced my driver’s license and handed it over. “I’m here to see Mason Kohler.”
The man beside me stiffened. Interesting.
“Here’s your visitor’s badge. Now just sign here.” Shirley handed me a pen.
“You’re here to see Agent Kohler?” the man asked. “What for?”
His demeanor had cooled considerably. It was more than obvious he didn’t like Mason.
I leaned in close while Shirley made a copy of my driver’s license. “I’m the woman who’s fucking him,” I said demurely, batting my eyelashes.
Chaz’s face went red. “Well, I’m sure you can find your own way, then.” He turned on his heel and walked off without another word. Thank God.
“Agent Kohler is on the third floor. The elevators are in the corridor and you need to go through security over there.” Shirley pointed toward the metal detectors.
“Thank you,” I said and headed toward the two armed men. I put my bag and my keys in the plastic bin and walked through the metal detector without issue. I chewed on my bottom lip, watching as they searched my stuff. One of the security guards picked up my keys and examined them. He poked at the unicorn keychain and I thought I was going to vomit all over the floor.
After an endless few seconds, he put them back in the bin and passed it over to me.
I felt weak with relief as I gathered my things and then headed for the elevator. I was feeling incredibly light-headed. I felt like I was in the belly of the beast. I was surrounded by FBI agents. They had no idea that one of their most wanted stood at the back of the elevator headed for the third floor.
The irony was almost humorous. I would have laughed had I not wanted to pass out.
I somehow got to the third floor without losing consciousness and stepped off the elevator.
Now to find Mason. He had told me he was toward the back. I walked slowly past row after row of desks. Agents working. Agents hunting.
Looking for people like me.
It was almost overwhelming how dangerous this was.
