“And you feel like the director wouldn’t go along with this plan?” She looked up at him, and he gave her a smile. No, he knew the director wouldn’t go along with this plan.
“I’d rather say it like this to you. Director Young gave me carte blanche and I’ve gotten judicial approval.” Mitch changed the words around to fit his need. It was a skill he’d perfected over the years.
“And that’s to protect me for doing what you want?” Anne asked.
Mitch nodded and looked down at his Doc Martens. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Okay, I’m in. I haven’t told you, but this case holds special interest to me. My brother’s gay. His life hasn’t been easy. People like you, help. I want to help, Mitch. What do you need?” She’d surprised him with that one.
“I need complete surveillance on Mr. DeGeorge, the owner of the coffee shop Elliot Greyson was abducted from,” Mitch said honestly.
“Director Young would have to commission our Information Technologies’ agents…” Mitch cut her off.
“I’m working on a court order now. You have to know some of those guys in the IT department. You know everyone. Go down there with me. Don’t lie to them, just sort of insinuate the approval I’ve gotten. Get me the equipment, I’ll get it set, but I need it monitored,” Mitch said.
“The way I understand it, they can tap into his phone easy,” Anne offered.
“Right, and I can do that myself, but I need people monitoring the activity, listening twenty-four seven, not just recording for me to go through later. I want his conversations, text messages, and all the conversations going on around him. I want everything,” Mitch said.
“All right, and you want web-tapping too, I’m guessing?” Anne asked.
“Yes, absolutely.” Mitch nodded.
“And you will never tell my husband what you witness, correct?” she asked randomly.
“Absolutely not. Scout’s honor.” He suspected what she might be about to do and held up his three fingers, flashing her a big grin.
“Then come on.” Anne was up, walking back into the building and in a new direction. She took him to the back freight elevator, forgoing the standard employee elevators up front. She spent the two minute ride unbuttoning one of her top buttons of her blouse, rolling the waistband of her skirt over one time to shorten the length, and she reached inside of her bra, then paused when she caught him watching, and motioned for him to turn around. Mitch did, not pointing out that he had absolutely no interest in what she had going on. As the doors opened, she tousled her hair, and all Mitch could do was stare at her because she had managed to transform herself from the proper administrative assistant to a hot little number in a hundred and twenty seconds.
“Get that look off your face. You’re making it obvious,” she whispered as she gave an exaggerated walk in front of him, much like she was taking a stroll down an imaginary catwalk.
Damn, if he hadn’t picked the right person for this job.
Mitch smiled as he followed along behind her. For the first time since he started working here, he wasn’t the focus of attention when he entered a room. Anne rounded a corner, Mitch followed and stopped dead in his tracks. She was anchored on the side of a cubical ledge, her arms crossed, effectively shoving her breasts up even farther, and she kept a wide stance, showing a nice view of her mile long legs.
“Jordie, I need help with something. Can you come with me to the conference room?” she asked, her voice a little low. She had the guy’s complete attention.
Mitch had gotten close enough to see this Jordie was typical FBI meets extreme computer nerd, and he fumbled with his words and finally croaked, “Sure.”
Jordie never saw Mitch as he rounded the corner to his cubicle and followed Anne to a small room. Mitch trailed along behind them, shutting the door as they entered. It was the first time Jordie looked his way. The lust-filled gaze turned somewhat panicked until Anne took over again.
“Jordie, this is the new deputy marshal working for Director Young, remember me telling you about him?” she asked and crossed her legs in front of him. Damn, she’s good.
“Nice to meet you,” Jordie replied, sticking out a hand, but his eyes remained focused on Anne.
“They’re looking for someone to help in the investigation. Someone who won’t say a word, keep things on the down low. I told them I know just the person. You’re smart, trustworthy, and I know you’ll put your all into this. I’ve watched you work for years, what do you say? Will you help them?” she asked and batted her eyelashes a little bit.
“What do I need to do?” he asked, and for the first time since they entered the room, Mitch felt like the guy had a brain in his head.
“Well, Deputy Marshal Knox knows the ins and outs more than I do. You know he’s the one Director Young personally assigned to handle this case,” Mitch just looked at her. She was clever as shit. She never one time said the director approved this, but used his name two times and implied it all over the place.
“I need to monitor someone’s activity through their cell and online. I need equipment. I’ll get the wiretaps set in his office myself. I just need the cell phone monitored and some web-tapping,” Mitch said quickly.
“Who’s gonna monitor once it’s set,” Jordie asked. He looked excited at the prospect. Finally, something that took Jordie’s eyes off Anne’s breasts.
“We could use your help,” Mitch offered.
“That’s all you need?” Jordie asked, acting like that was the easiest thing in the world. Aaron would have probably said about the same thing.
“That’s it, man. I see Anne brought me to the right person.” That caused Jordie to sit up straighter in his chair.
“How do you want this to work?” Jordie asked.
“You can go through me. Mitch’s going to give me all the details as he knows them. As soon as I have them, I’ll forward them to you and so we begin,” she explained.
“Okay, I’ll get started as soon as you give me the green light. I’ll also stay in touch with you, Anne. Does your husband know?” There was disdain in his voice. Jordie must have had the hots for Anne for a while now.
“Absolutely not,” Anne replied, flashing the computer guy a big smile.
“So we’ll talk in code,” Jordie instructed.
“That would be great, Jordie,” Anne rose, all legs and boobs in Jordie’s face. “Thank you so much!” She kissed him on the cheek. Good thing she was on his side.
Chapter 34
Once the warrant had come through, Mitch laid out his plan to Connors and Brown in a very private, closed-door meeting. Mitch came prepared to fight to the death to make sure Connors didn’t leave that office and tell one single person their strategy to tackle the case.
Connors caught him completely off guard when he declared his complete acceptance of the wiretapping, and even thanked him for taking the steps to have a federal judge review the case.
Connors stepped up and began calling in favors to the short list of his trusted support staff. As a senior agent, no one questioned him when he asked for onsite, around the clock surveillance on both the coffee shop and monitoring the taps they planned to place.
“They’re moving. They should be in front of the coffee shop within the hour,” Connors said as he hung up the phone.
Mitch actually reached across the table and high-fived the guy. “I thought you’d fight me.”
“We were told to use whatever means necessary to bring this case to a close. You covered our asses, and since we don’t know who to trust anymore, it’s not like we can ask for permission,” Connors reasoned, and Mitch wondered right then if aliens had taken over his temporary partner’s body.
“Better to beg for forgiveness, than to ask for permission anyway,” Kreed added. Mitch leaned over and gave him a fist bump. That had totally been their motto over the years they had worked together.
“So you’re going to break into the office tonight?” Brown asked.
“We’ll go. He’ll be
the distraction.” Mitch hooked his thumb toward Kreed.
“I can cause some chaos,” Kreed affirmed confidently. “I’ll set the tap under the bar while Knox works the office. Connors, you and Brown will be with surveillance to verify everything works.”
“I’ll have a surveillance van about a block over. They can pick up both signals as needed.”
“Jordie’s also hacking into DeGeorge’s computer and setting up the web-tapping at his home and the office,” Mitch added.
“Anne must be involved. He falls all over himself to impress her.” Brown laughed.
“No shit. He was putty in her hands,” Mitch added, laughing when he thought about how effectively she’d worked him.
“So how long do we give this to work?” Brown asked.
“Our warrant gives us three weeks, but with our presence back in there, it shouldn’t be more than a couple of days—no more than a week. DeGeorge’ll get spooked, we’ll know it. Besides, eight hits in nine months dictates it’s time for another strike. They have to be getting cocky as hell by now,” Mitch said.
“We’ll need to take shifts. Someone should be with surveillance at all times,” Kreed detailed.
“That’s not the way it works here,” Connors began.
“We’re deputy US marshals apprehending a fugitive. It’s definitely how it works with us,” Mitch said.
“But we don’t have a fugitive yet. Let them do their job. They’ll keep us updated,” Connors suggested.
“You take the first shift,” Mitch said to Kreed, ignoring Connors altogether.
“I’ll take the next shift,” Brown offered.
“Then that leaves me overnight, because Connors has a family—he gets the morning shift. Great, thanks!” Mitch feigned a smile at drawing the graveyard shift.
“Whatever, man! That’ll give you plenty of time to sex up your boyfriend and still get a couple of hours sleep.” Kreed aimed his smirk right at him. Mitch shot him the finger and picked up the closest thing to him, his stapler, and threw it at Kreed who caught it before it could make contact with his head.
“Shut the fuck up, man.” Mitch couldn’t help the grin that broke out across his face.
Kreed gave him a kissing sound and mocked him with a pretend phone in his hand. “I’ll call you as soon as I can… I miss you already… Ohh! Yes, that’s it…” Kreed ducked out of the room, but his laughter could be heard down the hall.
“For the record, I don’t sound like that,” Mitch said good-naturedly to Connors and Brown. He didn’t care what anyone thought. Cody was a keeper he planned to have around awhile. They all needed to get used to him.
Chapter 35
Mitch and Kreed entered the coffee shop a little before closing. The time of day where the staff was at the end of their shift, ready to lock the doors, clean the place, and get the hell out of Dodge. He learned early on this was always the perfect time to get information or have free access to just about anything in the building. No one ever seemed to care.
Kreed took on the job as distractor. If possible, he would plant a bug under the main counter. Mitch would take care of the rest of the place, including DeGeorge’s personal office. Brown, along with the surveillance crew, sat parked in an unmarked van down the street.
As luck would have it, a young woman manned the counter. The stars and moon must have aligned because Kreed could be very charming in certain situations. Girls usually lost their minds where he was concerned.
“Hey there, pretty eyes, they have you working here all alone tonight?” Kreed asked in a deep Southern drawl. Mitch watched as her smile grew bigger and her eyes glazed over.
“Nah, Denise’s in the back, getting ready to close. But you guys came in yesterday, didn’t you? You were with the investigators, right?” she asked, all perky and eager to talk.
“You have a really good memory, Jazzy. I’m impressed,” Kreed said, staring straight into her eyes, anchoring an arm on the counter.
“Have they figured out what happened to Elliot Greyson?” she asked.
“I just consult. I’m a deputy US marshal, but this looks like a cool place. What’s the best drink you have here?” Kreed had her hook, line, and sinker.
“I’m heading to the john,” Mitch mumbled, neither Kreed nor Jazzy, at least that was what her name badge read, looked his way.
“It depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want a hot or cold drink?” she asked, her voice turning coy, and just like clockwork, Mitch even mouthed the words as Kreed spoke them.
“I always like it hot.” Mitch even gave that wink he knew Kreed bestowed on the girl as he turned the corner to the bathroom. Instead of going left to the men’s room, he went right. He reached for the doorknob and found it locked. No problem there, he just had to hurry.
Mitch reached inside his jacket pocket, pulled out a small black leather case, and within seconds, jimmied the lock free. He quickly stepped in, shutting the door behind him. The office was filled with boxes, probably overflow storage, and the desk was stacked high with paperwork. Actually, clutter filled the entire space. Better for him. Mitch worked fast at inserting the listening device into the phone. Once complete, he dialed Brown’s cell to make sure they were picking up the signal.
“Kreed works faster than you,” Brown said as he answered the phone.
“Fuck you, can you get a signal?” Mitch said.
“Hang on, they’re working it.”
“I don’t have all day,” Mitch added.
“They got it,” Brown responded. Mitch’s triumph was short-lived when heard a key being inserted in the doorknob.
“Shit,” he barely whispered and quietly placed the phone back on the hook before ducking into the only place he could find to hide in the overcrowded office. He slid under the desk. So not the best place, but maybe this would buy him a little more time before being spotted.
“The Styrofoam cups are in here,” he heard Jazzy say as she opened the door. Shit! Where the fuck are you, Sinacola?
“Isn’t this the office?” Mitch rolled his eyes up, thanking god for the good karma being tossed his way when he heard his friend’s voice.
“Yeah, it’s a mess right now,” she said as she stepped inside the dark office. The lights flashed on, blinding Mitch, and he pulled his body even farther under the desk.
“Here, let me carry that for you.” Kreed’s smooth voice almost made him laugh. He could just imagine Kreed batting his eyelashes.
“I can get it,” she said, but her tone was clear—I’d love for you to carry that for me.
“Anything else?’ Kreed drawled.
“I need to enter the sales for the night, but I can do that after you leave. Your friend has been in the bathroom a long time. I hope he’s okay,” she said. Mitch could tell she was retreating toward the door, thank god.
“He’s got that irritable bowel syndrome. Keeps him in there awhile,” Kreed said in a low voice, as though he was telling her a secret, and right then, Mitch decided to kick Kreed’s ass when they got out of there. Besides, how the fuck had he let her come to this office?
“Oh poor guy, my granddad has that. He can’t always make it to the restroom in time.” Mitch scowled as the light turned off and the door shut behind them.
“Motherfucker,” Mitch hissed, untucking himself from under the desk. His big body wasn’t made for such tight places, and he rolled his shoulders and then his neck.
He needed to call Brown back. Apparently he hadn’t hung up the office phone in his scurry to get under the desk. It was sitting slightly askew in its cradle.
“You still there?” he asked, picking up the phone.
“Irritable bowel syndrome?” Brown asked. Mitch could hear them all laughing in the background.
“Fuck you, fuck him. What the hell else am I doing in here?” Mitch hissed, running his fingers across his jaw.
“Turn the computer on,” Brown said, still laughing. Mitch didn’t say a word as he reached down to the CPU and pushed the butto
n on. The screen slowly lit up, and he waited for Brown’s next instruction.
“All right, we’re in,” he said.
“Everything’s good?” Mitch wanted confirmation before he left. This might be the only chance they had.
“Yep, get the hell out of there,” Brown said, and Mitch disconnected the call. He doubled checked the phone, making sure it looked untouched, and went to the door. With his ear stuck close to the door, he listened for any sounds in the hallway. When he heard nothing, he cracked open the door and slid out, making sure the lock re-engaged when he closed the door. Kreed now had captured both women’s attention and was talking at the front of the store.
“Hey, buddy, everything come out all right?” Kreed asked, acting concerned. Mitch cocked a brow, but stayed silent.
“I guess that means no then.” Kreed pretended to wince.
“I’m sorry about that. I know it’s a hard thing to deal with,” Jazzy said, sympathy written all over her face. He gave her a nod and a small smile.
“Are you ready?” Mitch turned to Kreed and asked.
“What, you don’t want a drink now?” Kreed asked, holding his cup in his hand. He lifted it, taking a long drink to hide his smile.
“No, I don’t.” Mitch turned around and hurried out of the building. Every word they spoke was being recorded and he wasn’t giving that bunch any more ammunition to harass him. Kreed took a little longer to exit. When he did, he held out a piece of paper.
“Fuck you, I ought to kick your ass,” Mitch rumbled, stalking toward his rental.
“But you won’t.” Kreed chuckled.
“I might. Irritable bowel syndrome? Are you fucking kidding me, that’s all you could come up with?” Mitch opened the door, sliding in the driver’s seat.
“I had to think fast,” Kreed said, shutting the passenger door and putting on his seat belt.
“Your job was to keep her out of the fucking office,” Mitch hissed, starting the SUV.
“How was I supposed to know that’s where they kept the fucking Styrofoam cups? I was louder than a herd of elephants coming down the hall. You had time to hide.” Mitch’s phone began to ring as he pulled out of his parking spot.
Nice Guys Collection With Added Bonus Material Page 56