Page 4 of Spies Like Us

“Okay, I managed to clear out all the footage of us and loop it so it didn’t show anything after Bishop was shot. I traced it back, and it’s being recorded on a server with no live feed. I guess there’s really no need for it to be watched twenty-four seven. They weren’t expecting anyone to be down there, so that’s something.” Lathan’s head flopped backward, and he looked up at the ceiling, sighing before meeting our eyes. “There are no cameras leading from the ranger’s cabin to the cells, so I don’t know how he got there, or whether Billy was with him or not, but I can see him talking to someone down in the cells, and he is on his own. Whoever it is, they are just off camera, and I can’t find another angle that shows them. They obviously know the right spot to stand in. Unfortunately, there is no sound on the cameras either, so we can’t hear who it is or what they are talking about. Bishop looks shocked then worried, and then there’s a flash, and he falls down with the bullet in his head.”

“We will just have to wait then. If his body hasn’t turned up in twenty-four hours, I’ll go to the police and report it. His cover was one of Dad’s staffer’s kids. It requires a bit of effort on our behalf to maintain our cover.” Max shook his head and leaned forward, putting his elbow on his knees. “Do you want to let your dad know or should I?” he asked me, and I shook my head.

“You do it. I have to get home. If one of you wouldn’t mind, can you drop me off at the end of the driveway? I don’t trust Miller not to lock the attic window if he gets home before me.”

“Is he giving you trouble?” Dayton asked, his voice soft and rumbly, making a shiver run down my spine.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” I waved off his concern, even though I was a bit bummed. Although I was dead set against joining this team, I came around a little bit. I guessed my attraction to them all helped, but if Miller wasn’t okay with it, then it would never work.

Lathan went to put his laptop down, but Max stood up and stretched, his shirt rising with the motion, and I was momentarily distracted by a set of washboard abs. “I’ll take you home,” he offered, and I looked up.

Lathan frowned. “You shouldn’t be seen driving her around at night. She left the party with me, so in case someone is watching her, I should be dropping her off at home.”

I stood up and slapped Max on the shoulder. “He’s got a point.”

Max sat back down and nodded, though I could see the disappointment in his eyes, and my own feelings echoed it. “I’ll give your father a call then.”

“Say hi to him for me, and tell him I’ll call him with an update after my first shift ends.” I turned to Anders. “I’ll see you for my first shift tomorrow?”

“Yes, be there a little early for your uniform and so I can give you a rundown of what you will need to do.”

“Okay, boss.” I saluted him and gave the other two a wave as I followed Lathan back out to his car.

When I returned home, the attic window was still open, and Miller hadn’t returned. I considered staying so we could talk about what happened, but then I remembered that Jessica would be with him, so I went to bed. She probably came in an hour later.

“Mac.” The voice jolts me out of my memories. I’m leaning against the bar, and Anders is on the other side of me, wear a quizzical look on his face.

“Sorry, I zoned out for a moment,” I tell him, placing my tray on the bar. “Can I get another pitcher of whatever booth seven is drinking?”

He grabs a clean pitcher, holds it under a tap, and starts filling it. “How’s the night going?” he asks over the noise of the crowd. There’s a football game playing on all the TVs, and the commentators can be heard over the loud din of the patrons. I’m not paying attention to what is going on, but by the sounds the crowd has been making, I assume the home team is losing.

My eyes shift to the side where Keith is, and although he’s serving someone and looks to be distracted, he could quite easily be listening, so I put on a bright smile. “It’s really good. Everyone is so nice and friendly, and I’ve made some good tips.”

“Good to hear. Let me know if anyone gives you a hard time, okay?” he replies as he turns the tap off and hands me the pitcher with two more clean glasses.

“Sure will, thank you. I’m so grateful for this job,” I gush, laying it on thick. I turn and see that Matthew is sitting at the end of the bar, a glass of whiskey in hand as he chats to a couple of men. I deliberately walk in his direction with an exaggerated sway to my hips. We are almost certain he is part of the ring, and I need an invite into the sex club, so I want his attention on me. The two men he’s with leer at me, and I smile shyly at them before dropping my eyes.

I deliver the pitcher to the table, and when I turn back, they are deep in conversation with Matthew again.

I take my time cleaning up a table that was just vacated. The police haven’t advised Max of Bishop’s death yet, so if nothing happens this evening while I’m at work, they are going to report him missing in the morning. Apparently, all the main players attend the church in town, including the police chief, who is Billy’s father. It will be good to get everyone in the same room so I can put faces to names. Lathan checked the camera footage this morning, and Bishop’s body is still where we left it.

With my tray piled high with empty glasses and plates, I head back to the bar. Conveniently, Matthew and the two men he is talking to are standing at the end where all the dirties get unloaded. The plates head into the kitchen to get washed, but it’s part of my job to stack the glasses and put them into the washer before removing them and putting them where they belong.

Again, I smile as I pass them, but this time they don’t look away from their conversation. I gather the plates and return them to the kitchen before returning to wash all the glasses. As I pass behind them, I hear one of the men ask about the next shipment. I keep going, not even pausing when I hear this. My back is to them as I wash the glasses, but there is a mirror behind the bar so I can actually see everything that’s going on. The man who asked about the shipment is tall, with dark skin and eyes, and a hooked nose. Maybe he’s of Middle Eastern descent. He has an abundance of gold jewelry on his hands, and his suit looks designer and custom made. The other man is slightly shorter and Asian, and his suit is also custom made and designer. He has no jewelry on, but he does have tattoos on his hands.

“The shipment will arrive next week. We’ll keep it in storage until after the auction and then ship it out as required,” Matthew replies as I bend down and slide the tray of glasses into the washer.

I hear a small whistle, and when I stand back up and peek over my shoulder, I see the two men’s eyes are locked onto my ass.

“That’s a nice new waitress you have there,” I hear the Asian man mutter while I keep my head down and continue to stack the next tray of dirty glasses.

“She’s obedient too,” Matthew replies. “Got down and sucked Anders’s dick like a pro to get the job. Brock over at the high school tells me she used to be one too. The Standishes have taken her in.”

“I might be interested in sampling the goods myself,” the Middle Eastern man says as I bend down again and pull out the tray of glasses, the steam from the machine coating my face in a fine layer of mist.

“I think we have someone interested in her already,” Matthew tells them, and I struggle to keep my body from reacting. I don’t even think they realize I can hear them.

“You do?”

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