Page 10 of Stealth Mission

Perplexed by the coincidence of this woman’s similarities, I force myself not to stare and offer her a smile. “Lead the way.”

Without hesitation she extends a hand. “I’m Cornelia.”

Not only does she look like the woman we’re hunting, she’s remarkably pretty, but after seeing that silky black hair tangledup around my arms at the bank, I’ve got a taste for only one thing.

“Pleasure is mine.” I bow over her hand.

She makes a pleased sound as she drops my grip. “Such a gentleman, some of the men around here could use a lesson.”

“I try to be.”

There’s something a little too saccharine in her smile as she takes my offered arm. “Let’s get you a drink.”

A drink I won’t consume.

But she doesn’t need to know that.

Her delicate hand hooked in my arm, she guides me down a long marble-tiled hallway to a set of stairs. Also gold. We climb up to the third floor with her narrating the artwork as we go.

Cataloging the layout of all the doorways and recesses, I nod and smile without giving a crap about whose uncle was in that ugly-ass oil painting.

Once we hit the veranda, right away she leads me to the bar.

The bartender shares a glance with her. This time her smile is stiff when she turns to me. “I suggest you try a Tequila Sunrise, it’s locally grown. Well, the tequila is.”

“Sure.” She could order me a cup of gasoline for all I care.

Less than sixty seconds later, I’m holding a cold glass with a sunset-colored drink that has a sprig of some kind of orchid sticking out of it. “You said the mayor was asking about me?”

“First things first. You need a good strong drink.”

I suppress a grin.Roofie strong?

Cornelia hurries me toward a crowd, totally unaware that I’m spilling my drink intentionally as we go.

Blond curls bouncing, she parts the throng of people. “Excuse me. Excuse me. The mayor’s new guest is here.”

It’s easy to spot him over the top of the crowd. I’m a head taller than most. The man’s holding court. A circle of apparent admirers circling him like feeder fish.

Groan.

When the last of the people split and we step in front of the man, he holds up a hand. “Thank you, Cornelia, I’ll be done in just a minute.”

Screech. I’ve never seen a woman’s face fall so fast.

Trying not to show her disappointment, she looks up at me. “I’m sure he won’t be long.”

“I’ve got all night. I’ll just wait over here.”

She doesn’t follow as I walk away toward the edge of the balcony, a spot where I can assess the crowd. Get a feel for what’s going on. There’s a conveniently placed blooming plant too.

Hope it likes Tequila.

I lean against the waist-high concrete balustrade, cross my dress shoe over my ankle and settle in for the show.

There’s plenty of people-watching to do and since no one is looking my way, I toss the rest of the drink.

From somewhere to my left there’s a throaty feminine laugh. “It’s a crime in Karma to poison a plant.”

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