“No time to gloat, Kim.” Kumar. “This is it. Everyone ready?”
“Aye,” Finn said. “I have Martha in my sights.”
Dani and Michael answered together. “Ready.”
“Start the clock…” Kumar paused. “Now.”
Dani tuned out Finn’s voice talking to Martha and focused on picking the lock to Victor’s office. Michael stood on lookout.
“Need help?” he asked.
The last pin in the lock lifted. “Nope.”
They slid into the dark office. Michael used a small flashlight and handed her the first bug. “Underneath the top desk drawer.”
While she used the adhesive to stick it in place, he went to the shelf containing awards and plaques. They’d hidden four of the five when Dani bumped into the planter by the lounge chair. The plant toppled over, spilling potting soil on the light-gray carpet.
“I can’t hold her, guys. She’s on her way up!” Finn’s voice registered in Dani’s comms.
She looked at Michael. “Help me.”
He snagged a magazine from the coffee table and handed it to her. He stood the plant back up while she scooped dirt onto the magazine cover.
“Guys? Where are you?” Kumar asked.
“Still in the office.” If Michael was stressed, his voice hid it well.
“Get out of there. The elevator’s almost there.” Finn’s voice didn’t hide the stress at all.
Dani slid the soil she had off the magazine and back into the pot. “There’s still more?—”
“We gotta go.” In one quick swoop, Michael tossed the mag back on the table, grabbed her hand, and stepped out the door. It had just shut when the elevator dinged to announce its arrival. Dani scrambled to slip her heels back on.
They held hands and walked through the hallway sitting area like they were strolling through a museum. They had to fake their way through whatever came next. Two voices carried out of the elevator as it opened.
Martha and Judd Downey stepped out.
“Danielle?” Judd scowled.
“What are you two doing up here?” Martha marched toward them.
Dani grinned. “I told you. I really wanted to meet Mr. Bellmont. I was hoping?—”
“But how did you get up here? I had access to this floor cut off.”
“Really?” Michael scratched his head. “I guess I wasn’t really paying attention. We wandered around. Found the stairwell…”
Dani picked up where he left off. “And here we are. If nothing else, I was going to leave a note.” She perked up her smile as much as she could. At this rate, her cheeks were going to be sore by morning. Hopefully they bought it. “I didn’t realize you would be here, Mr. Downey.”
Martha said nothing as she scrutinized them. Her phone buzzed. She broke eye contact enough to look down at it. She typed something in and waited for a response.
Michael cleared his throat. “Since no one is here, we can go back?—”
“Not so fast.” Martha showed her phone to Judd, then looked back at them. “You’re in luck. Mr. Bellmont just arrived. And he’s willing to grant you an interview.”
“Really? That’s wonderful. We can meet him right now.” Dani looped her arm through Michael’s.
“Victor has a lot to do, and he doesn’t have much time. He said he only wants to meet with you, Ms. Kim. Judd will take you down to the bar to see him. I, on the other hand, would very much like to talk to your boyfriend here. I have a business opportunity I’d like to discuss.” Martha’s expression morphed from harried, overworked assistant to cold and calculating.
