He hung up and said, “Last guy just left. Room’s open to hit now.”
I turned to Creed and said, “What’s the Grail showing?”
He messed in his bag, a screen illuminating his face. He looked up and said, “The computer’s on the move. That guy’s got it with him.”
Knuckles said, “Great. What do you want to do?”
I thought about the problem set, then said, “We continue the mission, but we’ll break it into two phases. Knuckles, Jennifer, and I will be phase Batman. Brett, you and Veep will be phase Robin. Go link up with Veep at the hotel. Crack into the room and see what’s there. If it’s full of stolen shit, go ahead and call the police and give them a line that’ll get them inside the room.”
“Like what?”
“Whatever. Tell them you’re a tourist and was walking by and saw some armed guys sneaking in or a domestic dispute or whatever. Just get them to breach the door so they find all the stuff.”
Knuckles said, “And phase Batman?”
“We’re going to follow that computer until it reaches another bed-down site. Since he’s walking with it, I’m pretty sure he’s not going back to the abandoned hotel. Maybe he decided to keep it for himself instead of selling it, or maybe he’s fencing it tonight, but we’ll follow it and execute phase two when it stops for the night, calling in the cops just like we’d planned.”
I turned to Creed and said, “Show us the map.”
He pulled out the Grail like he was exposing the Manhattan Project inside the bar and showed the screen. A pulsing blue marble was moving east on Cumberland Street towards East Bay Street, only a couple of blocks from where we were sitting.
I said, “Okay, Creed, you stay and keep us updated on the target. Knuckles, you go get our Jeep and stage on East Bay in case this guy goes mobile in a vehicle. Jennifer and I will head out on foot and catch up to him.”
I bent down to the bag I’d brought and withdrew some earbuds, passing them around. I said, “Use the exercise channel. Questions?”
Knuckles said, “Weapons?”
“Not if we’re going to call in the cops. We already have too much explaining to do as it is, and all we’re doing is watching until that thing stops. Anyone else?”
Brett shook his head and walked towards the door, calling Veep on the way. Jennifer tossed Knuckles the keys to the Jeep and I said, “Don’t wreck it.”
We hit the street outside and I got a comms check from the rest of the team. Jennifer and I crossed over King Street at a jog, reached Meeting Street and I said, “Creed, status.”
“He’s on East Bay headed south. Still on foot.”
We reached East Bay and I said, “Which side? Can you tell?”
“East side. I say again, East side.”
Jennifer tugged my arm and flicked her head, saying, “Half a block up. Single man.”
I followed her directions, ignoring the smattering of tourists coming and going from the various restaurants along East Bay, and spotted him. He was still in a hoody and sauntering along at a leisurely pace, a backpack over one shoulder, walking without a care in the world.
Yet.
Chapter 10
Jennifer and I stayed on the west side of East Bay and slowed down when we came abreast of the target. He reached Vendue Range and took a left, heading to the harbor. We crossed East Bay and caught up just in time to see him go into a place called the Griffon.
I’d been there a few times before. With wood paneling, an oak bar, and about a hundred beers on tap, it was about as close to a true English pub as you could find in Charleston. Its unique kink was signed dollar bills stapled to every surface, something that was a tradition from folks visiting. It wasn’t a tourist trap, but being on Vendue in the heart of the peninsula, it also wasn’t a hidden local’s place, so why the guy was going inside was anybody’s guess.
Maybe he just wanted a beer.
We gave him a minute to get settled and then followed behind, entering and pretending to let our eyes adjust to the gloom. I spotted him at a table in the back, sitting with some guy wearing a business suit.
The only other table available was a postage stamp–sized one near the front door, which worked out well as it allowed us to see his location without having to crane our necks in an obvious attempt at surveillance.
The waitress came over and we ordered a couple of rum and Cokes, which was a shame since we couldn’t drink them.
