Betrayed 2(70)
“It looks like my job is done here. We’re going to need some time to look over all of those files. We should meet at the safe house.” I’d always wanted to say that, but the safe house in question was his home away from home. His mother was on vacation and had given him a key to make sure that the place was taken care of in her absence. It was apparent that she wanted to get some distance away from him and the tart that he was seeing…namely me. I didn’t leave her with a good first impression.
“It would be a good idea that you get out of there. The longer that you stay, the more likely that somebody’s going to catch you and have questions that you can’t answer.” I searched the drawers, listening to him speak with a chatter in my ear while I was doing it. I found nothing and I mean literally nothing. She had no hard copies and even the file cabinets were barren. She had no use to put something on paper. They were mostly for show to give the illusion that there were folders overflowing with contracts.
“I shouldn’t be surprised. In this day and age, everything is digital and backed up on servers that seem to be impenetrable. I want a reason to celebrate. I think that I can come up with some way to use a bottle of champagne, strawberries, and whipped cream in a deliciously naughty way. I’ll be there soon. Don’t start without me.” I was at the window when I heard two voices approaching.
“I don’t know what you are doing here at this time of night, but you can’t go in there without authorization.” The guard’s voice was shrill and quite strict for somebody that was playing at being a rented cop. “I don’t know you and I’ve never seen you in my life. You claim to be the boss, but there’s no way that I can allow you to go in there without proof.” He was being a loyal soldier and he was following his training to the letter.
“I don’t have time for this nonsense. I was across the street enjoying a drink with a colleague when I realized that I forgot something. You followed me up here like a bloodhound. I’m trying hard to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I’m through playing with kid gloves. This is my authorization. Don’t make me show you it again or I will have you walking the unemployment line before morning.” Lillian had her hand on the door and I could see through the glass that she was about to enter. I looked around for some place to hide. I thought about going under the desk, but that would be like playing with fire expecting not to get burned.
“Oh… I’m very sorry for the inconvenience. I didn’t know it was you and I only heard your name in passing. I don’t want to beg for my job, but I need this to support my family. I’m not going to give you some kind of sob story, but I’m going to ask for your forgiveness. I was told when I started a month ago that anybody that came up here would have to be either insane or in desperate need of a death wish. Nobody is here at this time. Even the janitors are not going to show up for about another hour.” The guard was backpedaling. The authority in his voice now turned to the cracked tone of some kid that was trying to get to first base.
“I’m looking at them now and I’m not happy. You promised me that you would deliver and you haven’t. There’s no way that she can possibly disappear from the face of the earth with no trace. I don’t want to hear it. I want her found with no excuses. If you can’t do it, I’m sure that there are other agencies that would gladly take my money. If it helps, I’ll even offer a sizable bonus for anybody with information that can come forward with the whereabouts of where Lillian is hiding. I don’t want to continually tell you this. It’s none of your business the reason why I want her found.” I was listening to every word, feeling like I was that fly on the wall but in a different way.
There was only one way to avoid detection. I was outside the window, keeping close to the wall and hoping that my feet weren’t going to slip and send me in a desperate grab for anything to break my fall.
“I’ve been patient and now my patience is wearing thin. I don’t know what is so difficult about this assignment. I give you money for a certain task and you fulfill that obligation. It is what makes America great. A contract has been made and I expect results, or you will find yourself in court dealing with so much of litigation that you won’t be able to see a red cent of what I owe you for several years. By that time, you will be bankrupt and begging me to put an end to your misery. I will play with you until I am suitably satisfied that you have suffered accordingly.” Had she known that I was within spitting distance, she probably would’ve had a heart attack.