“Likewise. I’m glad you tried to steal my coffee.”
He chuckles. “So am I. A bit gutted you caught me, though. A lavender latte sounds quite nice.”
“Trust me, it’s amazing.”
“So I’m told.”
7
Wesley
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Madison doesn’t leave the house very often, apart from the occasional coffee or food run—bit of a shut-in, that one, though I suppose I can’t judge because I’ve been accused of the same—so I’ve been stuck in the van for days, waiting for the chance to get in her apartment.
While I waited, I got all the information I could from the usual places. I was able to find out where she was born, how she grew up, her school records, her social security number, her bank accounts, her car’s VIN, her credit history, her payment history, her medical records, her weekly routine, her pizza order, her gym membership, her fucking Netflix account…
Once I started, it was hard to stop collecting the details of her life. And now I have everything, but it’s nowhere near enough. I can’t stop myself from trying to catch glimpses. My eyes are glued to her every time she goes anywhere. The pull to get those cameras inside her apartment has become almost a physical pain in my chest—and even that might not be enough to satisfy this hunger.
I know I shouldn’t have made contact like that—before I had all the data and was ready—but I rationalized it because I needed to get a tracker in her purse, and I haven’t had many opportunities. But truth be told, I didn’t even try to come up with another plan. I saw her turning into that coffee shop, and I just went after her. And once I saw the way she looked at me with those sultry caramel-colored eyes and heard the purr of desire in her voice…
With a sigh, I grab the energy drink can from the holder in the center console and drain the last drops, making a face at the metallic tang that the last warm sip of something always seems to take on.
Madison’s car tracker stops moving at the retirement home where I now know her grandmother lives, and I realize this is my chance. Last time, she was there for over an hour—that should be enough time to get in and do what needs to be done.
Before I leave the van, I shut down or divert any security cameras that might catch me, both on the block and within her building. I adjust the white hard hat and grab a clipboard that has the fake paperwork that I’ll pretend to fill out using a pen with the cable company’s logo. Because details matter.
The building itself requires two keys for entry, but an elderly tenant passing through lets me in even though she’s “not supposed to” when I tell her I’m upgrading their internet. Madison’s flat has a physical lock that I pick, two cameras that have easily diverted feeds just inside, and a door alarm that triggers after 30 seconds without a code. Luckily, this particular system has an override code that they use at the factories when refurbishing them for resale.
Oh, and a guard cat.
I bend down and allow the cat to sniff my fingers. Having given the proper greeting, I’m accepted easily, and I give him a scratch behind the ear. But when he tries to rub up against my trousers as I stand, I dodge out of the way. I like cats, but being covered in hair is sort of the antithesis of being sneaky.
I pause for a second to take it all in. This is her private space, and I get to poke about without her knowledge. I can see how she lives when no one is watching. Heady excitement thrums in my veins. I’m hardly ever out in the field anymore, what with Mac and Dimitri having it well in hand, so I half-forgot what an adrenaline rush it can be.
It’s a tidy place, full of color and knick-knacks. I inhale deeply, smelling feminine soaps with indistinct florals, kitchen grease, cleaning supplies and weed. There’s a pipe with blackened bits on her kitchen counter, which makes me smile, for some odd reason.
I move through methodically until I find what I’m looking for. Her bedroom. Well, her computer—it just happens to be in her bedroom.
The desk and desktop computer occupy almost half the space. I note with appreciation how well-managed her cables are and how recently she’s cleaned her lint screens. She takes good care of her investments. The computer has amismatched look, which I know means that she built it herself and that she only replaces components when they get too old or slow to serve her anymore. I’m impressed—this is more than I was expecting to find, since the vast majority of people buy machines pre-assembled. Madison Cooper must be good with computers.
I tap the mouse to wake up the screen and win that bet with myself that there’s a password. Of course, there’s a password. Well… that’s what the cameras are for. If I can properly aim one at her desk, I should be able to see as she types it the next time she logs in. Once I have her phone cloned, not even dual-factor authentication will be a problem, if she has it.
The sound of my own phone buzzing in my pocket nearly startles me out of my skin. I check the ID and only just manage to catch my groan. For a sniper, his timing is terrible sometimes.
With a sigh, I place an earpiece in. “What?” I ask, hearing an edge in my voice as my heartbeat slowly readjusts to the lack of imminent danger.
“Hey buddy. How’s it going?”Mac asks around a mouthful of something.
I swear that bloke is always eating. “Fine. I’m a bit busy for a chat,” I say. Even though I’m alone, I keep my voice low—you never know how thin the walls are in a place like this. “I’m setting up surveillance in the target’s flat.”
The cameras are of my own design and well-built, if I do say so myself. They’re incredibly small and contain powerful microphones as well as decently high-resolution cameras—but not capable of swiveling or zooming in, so strategic placement is necessary.
Mac whistles.“You’re inside her place right now? Why the hell did you answer the phone?”he chuckles.
With a noise of frustration, I stretch up and deposit a camera just inside the lip of the air vent in the ceiling, facing the front door. “Despite all evidence to the contrary, you dooccasionallyhave something useful or important to say.”
“You flirtin’ with me, Short Round?”
