There was a knock on the door. Ilan and Eran Green entered. “Danny is on his way up. We just confirmed his car entering the building’s parking.”
A very self-aware Tamar stood in front of them in her clingy dress and high black heels. The veiled brown-green eyes surveyed her quickly.
“Yes, that’ll do very well,” the PI said. He handed her the recording device, a small silver pendant that she wore on a thin silver chain. It dangled in plain sight inside her cleavage.
“How is it going, Tamar? How do you feel?” Green asked.
“I’m good.” She was petrified. “What if he asks about my chain?”
“Say it belonged to our mother and Abba gave it to you as a gift,” Tally said. “To raise your spirits or something.”
She flattened her thumb over the pendant nervously.
“He’ll take your phone from you, believing you might record him on it. It’s good. He’ll ask you to empty your bag, and you’ll agree.” Ilan had coached her on this already, but she was glad of the repetition. “Offer the chain last. Ask him ‘do you want to check this as well?’”
Tamar nodded. She caught the silver locket between her thumb and index finger and rubbed it, for good luck.
“Hey!” Aviad called from the living room. “What’s that noise? Are you touching the device?”
Tamar released the locket.
“Remember,” Ilan continued, “you need to act the way you acted with him before. Don’t be nicer or more accommodating. This guy is shrewd and guilty, and he will be suspicious.”
“Okay,” Tamar said in a steady voice, proud her teeth weren’t chattering.
“Whatever you do, be yourself, and don’t lie. Always use the truth when you can.”
Tamar nodded. Ilan had drilled her multiple times, going with her over different scenarios and conversations. She was as ready as she could be.
“Don’t drink anything he offers you. Not even water.”
Tamar immediately became thirsty.
“The minute he tells you anything remotely interesting on the wire, we’ll swoop in like the bulldogs we are,” Green promised pompously.
“My boss, Keynan, should have called you in the first place, but he said he didn’t want the Securities Authority involved.” Tamar enjoyed throwing Keynan under the bus.
“Plus, Danny Golan’s father helped him get the job in Peaks,” Marina contributed.
Ilan winked at her and addressed his friend.
“Yehuda Keynan wanted to sweep this under the rug.”
“We’ll tear Keynan to shreds, don’t worry,” Eran Green said, although it was him that said looking into Peaks would be a political nightmare. It was because Green wouldn’t start an open, official investigation that she had to wear a wire and a revealing dress and go meet the biggest douchebag in the Middle East.
“Don’t go into his bedroom,” Ilan said, making her anxious all over again. “Stay in the living room or kitchen area where we can see you.”
Aviad entered and whispered something in Ilan’s ear.
“Does anyone know a Gideon Sela?” Ilan asked. The usually cool PI was angry. “He’s at the door claiming he was invited.”
“I invited him,” Tally said to Tamar’s great surprise.
Aviad left the room. When he came back, he wasn’t alone. Standing next to him, pale faced with black shadows under his beautiful hazel eyes, was her Gideon.
52. Gideon
“Hi,” Tamar said.