“Anything I can help with?” Jamie said.
She shook her head, fighting for breath.
He hopped out of the car, shutting his door behind him. Before she could protest, he’d opened the rear door and slid in beside her. He slipped a hand around her waist. “Breathe with me,” he said. “Like we practiced.”
Yes, that was one thing he could help with. She lowered her fingers to the keyboard, exhaling, and let her chest fill, without effort. As her breath settled, she began typing. She caught movement outside—Rafe and Holly exiting the elevator, Holly’s gaze fixed on the phone.
“If you two are up to something in the back of the car,” Rafe murmured, his hand on his cuff link, “now would be a good time to pretend you’re not.”
Jamie sniggered, reaching his other arm around Samira to activate his mic. “Only virtual excitement in here.”
Rafe and Holly opened the front doors and dropped onto the seats. They removed their earpieces and switched off their mics. Jamie did the same.
Holly shook out the contents of her clutch, drew out the fob and held it on her palm. “Too easy.”
Samira took it, her hand trembling again. “I can’t believe I’m actually holding this.” She switched screens. The triangulation would have to wait. Jamie squeezed her waist as she accessed Hyland’s server and carefully input the string of numbers on the fob.
Samira swore, as a warning flashed up.
“What’s wrong?” Holly said.
“It’s telling me this is the wrong number.”
“Could you have keyed it in wrong?”
“I swear I didn’t but I can try one more time without it locking me out or raising a flag.” She waited for the code to refresh. “Okay, Jamie, watch over my shoulder and make sure I get it right.”
She input it and pressed Enter.
Incorrect number. You have one more attempt.
“Damn,” Samira said. “This must be a fob for something else. Another account, maybe.”
Holly slumped. “I knew it was too easy.”
Samira ran her hands through her hair. “Something you have.What else could it be? What else does he carry—?” She straightened, picturing him walking to his car in his tuxedo. “Oh no.”
Jamie tensed. “What?”
“Next best guess? An app on his cell phone. Damn.”
“How long until he’s due back?” Holly said.
“Thirteen minutes,” Samira said. “But we can’t walk up and...pickpocket him. It’s over.”
Holly twisted in her seat. “When he returns to the hotel he’ll go up to his room, right? And when you get home at the end of the day, or into your hotel, what’s the first thing you do?”
Samira shrugged.
“You empty your pockets, right? Keycard, wallet, phone, whatever.”
“What are you suggesting?” Samira’s neck goose pimpled.
“I wait in the room for him.”
“No.” Rafe and Samira spoke together.
“And do what?” Rafe continued. “You might fool a concierge and a few security guards. You won’t fool her father.”
