Page 3 of Hidden Ascent

“I’m lost.”

He turned his attention back to his reading material. “Then telling you what street you’re on isn’t going to help.”

“Do you sell maps in here?”

“You want to buy a map?”

“No. I want to look at it.”

“You can’t try before you buy in here. You know how many people I’ve gotta chase out of the magazine section every day?”

She rested her hand on her weapon and stepped up to the counter, grabbing the magazine and tossing it on the floor. “Just tell me where your maps are.”

“Nice try.” He pulled a bat from under the counter. “I’ve had a few would-be robbers come through here this year, but you’re the first who’s dressed up for a costume party. Your gear doesn’t even look real. I’d offer to call the cops, but it takes them too long. It’s easier and quicker for all involved if I simply threaten you myself. Now get lost.”

She pulled out her badge and held it out to him. “Special Agent Taylor with the DEA. It’s urgent.”

“I’ve seen more realistic badges. Where’d you get that, eBay?”

“What is your problem? Just let me see a map, and I’ll go.”

“We don’t sell them. Who uses a paper map anymore? That’s what Google is for.”

“Then I don’t suppose you’d let me borrow your phone’s map?”

“No way.”

“Look—” She noticed a name tag pinned to his shirt. “Dave. I really am a federal agent with the DEA.”

“Oh yeah? Then why don’t you have a phone yourself?”

“I was on an operation. I’m in the middle of a very serious situation. My team was ambushed, and there are two others whose lives are in danger. I need to get to them, but I can’t do that if I don’t know where I am.”

Dave made a face. “An ambush, huh? Sounds to me like you were set up.”

“They’re the same thing. And this gun—” She pulled it out. “Is real. So is this vest.”

“Uh-huh. Well, if I were you, those two you mentioned who weren’t at this ambush, I’d stay well away from them. They’re probably the ones who set you up.”

“You watch too many movies. They weren’t part of the tactical response team. That’s not their job. Now, are you going to stop wasting my time?”

“Sorry, but this is a slow job. I get bored easy, and your story is the best fiction I’ve heard all day. You’re really selling it.” He whacked the counter with his bat. “But I also think you’re psychotic, and if that’s the case, I don’t want to feed your delusion, so please leave the store immediately.”

She didn’t have any more time to convince him of her position, and threatening him wasn’t going to work since she’d never shoot him.

“Fine. But you’re making a big mistake.”

“I can live with that.”

After she left the store, she removed her vest and tactical shirt, tossing them in a nearby dumpster. Anywhere she went would likely elicit the same response. She had to change her tactic if she was going to get anywhere tonight.

Her black T-shirt was plain enough, but the black boots and combat pants she wore weren’t exactly incognito.

Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she tried to walk casually down the street but could feel the stiffness in her body. Nothing about her demeanor was nonchalant. She needed to get help, but she couldn’t fake her way through tonight. She couldn’t pretend she hadn’t just experienced her entire team being murdered. But if she couldn’t get to Fogarty soon…Her hands fisted in her pocket as she pushed away the thought that he was already dead.

A couple blocks farther on, she found a gift store open.

She pushed the beads aside and cringed at the smell of incense as she wound her way through the tight aisles until she saw a forty-something man with thinning hair and wearing a Batman T-shirt putting candles on a shelf.

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