Page 11 of Covert Affair

6

CODY

I keepa close watch on Stacey’s performance from the television playing her dressing room while messaging Cole, who is adding insult to injury by tormenting me.

Apparently, Smitty decided they should have a viewing party for me back at home. Logan has taken on the task of capturing every sighting of me and creating memes. All of which Cole has forwarded while he laughs his ass off.

Cody: Keep laughing. I saw Mariah Carey and got her number.

If only that were true. Still, I know my brother. Cole has had a crush on the pop music icon for a long time. I expect him to respond with a sarcastic remark but, his next message is all business.

Cole: Hey bro. Uhm. That reporter that snapped a picture of you and Stacey this morning? He just outed you. That’s not all though…His background check doesn’t come back clean.

Cody: Tell me you’re joking. I thought you said he was clean.

Cole: Not at all. He’s there tonight. Facial recognition software picked him up in one of the red carpet feeds. I’ll brief you later. For now, get Stacey out of there, he’s made a public threat. I’ll notify the appropriate authorities.

Right on time, Stacey steps into the dressing room, and I let out a sigh of relief. The last thing I wanted to do was get caught chasing her to safety.

“Soooo, uh, change of plans,” I tell her, keeping my voice even.

“What do you mean?”

“Turns out our reporter friend that snapped that picture of us this morning, isn’t who he says he is.”

“No. No. No. No. This cannot be happening.” She puts a hand on her forehead. “I’m going to need you to elaborate; what aren’t you telling me?”

“The night’s over. We need to get out of here.”

Another message from Cole comes through.

Cole: I’ve alerted Grady’s team too. The four of you need to make a quick exit. Limo’s waiting. Stay together and get to the airport. I’ll take care of things from here.

It looks like my trip to the Grammy’s just got a lot more interesting.

“Do I have time to change my shoes?”

I look down at her feet and the heels that cost more than my yearly salary. “Are you seriously worried about shoes right now?” I do nothing to hide the disgust in my voice.

Stacey ignores me and pulls a pair of slip-on shoes, without a heel, from her bag. “I don’t know why I wasted my breath to ask. I could care less about the shoes. I don’t want to be running for my life in heels. Jerk.”

An apology is on the tip of my tongue, but a knock on Stacey’s dressing room door halts it.

I put a finger to my lips signally for her to be quiet while I approach the door.

“Cody, it’s Robert, I’ve got J and Miss B. Let’s roll.”

I open the door a fraction, with my hand on my weapon, and confirm, never one to be too sure. “We’re ready,” I look over my shoulder at Stacey. “Leave your things. Let’s go.”

I expect her to fight me or at least give me lip about it. Instead, she provides a timid nod, and in an unexpected move, she reaches for my hand.

Robert and Bama quickly navigate us through the hallways and out to the exit. Pretending not to know or notice these two all night has been fun.

We all slide into the waiting limo, Grady and the ladies first, Robert and I closest to the doors. The minute the wheels are rolling Grady starts with a dozen questions.

Robert’s fingers are busy, flying over the keyboard on his phone – no doubt talking to Cole and the team.

I tell them the very little that we know. Careful not to give away too much since I’m unsure of Bonita's role in all of this. While I talk, I send off a message about her to Cole. His quick reply tells me that he’s one step ahead.

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