Unstrung by Kendra C. Highley

Author:Kendra C. Highley [Highley, Kendra C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kendra C. Highley
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

The Mole

Quinn and I exchange glances as Maren and her lover enter the ballroom. People crowd around them to say hello or shake hands. Piers, sporting a look of debonair cruelty in his formal suit, stands unsmiling a few feet behind his boss. Burly guards, even bigger than the ones I ran across at the lake compound, flank either side. One taps the com in his ear, then leans forward to whisper to Piers, who looks about the room with narrowed eyes. If he’s watching this closely, how will we get to Caldwell?

“If you have an idea, better tell me quick,” I whisper. “Piers is acting like he’s on red alert.”

“We have to get Caldwell to go to the men’s room—it won’t be monitored electronically. There might be an artificial on guard outside the door, but there won’t be video or an audio scanner inside,” Quinn says. “Maybe you can find a way to slosh wine all over his suit. He’ll have to come to the sink to clean up, right? Then I’ll approach him.”

Lots of loose ends with that plan, so I start with the biggest. “What if he calls for help when you start talking to him?”

Quinn rolls his eyes. “Give me some credit, will you? If he acts cagey, I’ll knock him over and run.”

“That’s all you’ve got?” I ask, glancing at Piers. He taps the com-set in his ear and starts an animated conversation.

“I know it sounds stupid, but it’s the easiest way to pry him away from Maren. I doubt she’s so attached that she’ll follow him into the bathroom.”

“What about Piers? Something’s up with him—can you read lips by any chance?”

“No, but—” Quinn says. “Oh shast, don’t look.”

“What?” I ask.

“One of the guards is coming this way. Dance with me, quick.”

We start dancing again, attracting a small crowd, until a voice says, “Excuse me.”

Quinn smiles. “Yes, sir?”

A uniformed man indicates that we should follow him. “I need the young lady to come with me.”

I start shaking, but Quinn says, “Certainly.”

He takes my hand and we follow the man to a dark corner where two security guards wait with Piers. This is it; he figured out who we are. I try not to act nervous, but that’s not easy when I’m anticipating the beating I’m going to receive in short order.

Piers taps his com again. “You sure?...Skies, that’s a problem….Give me two and I’ll be right up.”

He fixes his eyes on me. “You’re an entertainer, yes?”

Quinn gives me a little nudge and I say, “Yes…sir.”

“May I see your mark?”

I hold out my arm. He clicks on a small flashlight and scrutinizes Quinn’s handiwork, then looks up at me with cold eyes. “We believe there’s a spy at the party.”

Quinn squeezes my hand and moves deeper into the shadows, but I don’t need the warning. We’re in trouble. “Oh?”

Piers stares at me for a long moment, like he recognizes me. When his brow furrows, I start evaluating exit plans. We won’t have much time to

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