The Perfect Veneer by Blake Pierce

Author:Blake Pierce [Pierce, Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blake Pierce
Published: 2023-04-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Zoe Bradway was starting to get nervous.

Visitor calls weren’t allowed at Western Regional Women’s Psychiatric Detention Center after 10:00 p.m. and it was already 9:49. This was cutting it very close.

She sat on the couch in the “social room,” pretending to watch the television mounted to the wall. But her brown eyes, hidden behind her short dark hair, were actually fixed on the clock on the wall next to the TV. She was hoping to hear her name announced, ready to pop up the moment it was.

At just a shade over five feet tall and barely a wisp over a hundred pounds, she hardly took up any space next to the other patient inmates on the couch beside her, especially in her current position, curled up in a tight ball, hugging herself. She silently reminded herself not to get too agitated, not to pick at her hangnails and make them bleed or do anything else that would draw unwanted attention from the staff or a fellow inmate.

Then, finally, at 9:52, an orderly called out, “Bradway, you’ve got a call. Better make it quick.”

She was up and hurrying to the phone room before he’d even finished the sentence. She knew this was likely the last chance she’d be able to talk freely. After her call to Jessie two weeks ago, the authorities would have begun the process of trying to get a warrant to listen to her calls.

Western Regional PDC would have fought it, as they invariably did. Sometimes they won. Even when they lost they could usually delay the process by a month. But they’d never failed to make the government jump through all the legal hoops, which meant two weeks minimum. That would be tomorrow. So tonight, she could talk without fear of being recorded, though she’d still be careful just in case.

“This is Zoe,” she said after picking up the phone.

“We’re a go,” replied the emotionless voice on the other end of the line. “It should happen tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?” Zoe asked. “No hiccups?”

“I can’t make any guarantees obviously,” the caller replied, “but they’re clueless. They have no idea that I know exactly where the bait is, dangling, unaware of its fate. Frankly, I could have gotten the job done today if I wanted to, but I know that’s not how you want this to play out. So I let my trigger finger itch.”

“Good,” Zoe hissed into the phone, “remember, this has to be done the right way if you want full payment. Portion two only comes after I see video evidence on the news, Ash.”

“Don’t call me by that name,” Ash hissed in return. “And don’t question my ability to get the job done. Underestimating me is a mistake that I’m all too used to by now. Why do you think I cultivate this perception? It’s so that I seem like I’m not a real threat, but that misperception makes it easier for me to strike. You hired me for a reason. Remember, I facilitated coups while in the military.

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