Page 30 of Daddy's Oath
“Like I told you both,” Ace said. “Just my tools. Can I put my damn hands down now, please? I’ve got other units to go in and I still need to get on the roof. I don’t have all day.”
He hoped they wouldn’t follow him to verify those claims. He’d just have to worry about that in a few minutes. Right now, he needed to talk his way out ofthisjam.
“Go ahead,” the woman said. “What’s your name?”
“Jim.”
“Last name?”
“Taylor.”
“Who do you work for?”
“All City Electric and HVAC.”
The woman nodded. Finally lowering her gun, she didn’t holster it but left it dangling in her hand at her side.
“What’s going on here? Is something crazy happening around this place?” Ace smiled, raising his eyebrows as if excited by the prospect. “Like in the movies?”
“We are not at liberty to comment in an ongoing investigation,” she said.
“It’s best you move along, and this unit is off-limits until further notice,” the other marshal added.
“Sure.”
You don’t have to tell me twice,Ace thought.
“Wait!” the woman called out as he was almost to the door.
“Yeah?” It was awkward to half turn back, holding his toolbox in one hand and the A-frame ladder hanging off his other shoulder. He made sure they knew how uncomfortable he was, hoping they wouldn’t talk too long.
“How did you get in here?” she asked.
“Key. Super gave it.”
He noticed her eyes falling to the open door’s knob. Apparently, seeing that it wasn’t broken reassured her that he was telling the truth.
It was a half-truth, Ace noted silently.
He had gotten in with a key, but one Stryker had furnished him. A key that was supposed to unlock almost any door. How he’d gotten it, Ace didn’t know.
Unfortunately, Lana had fled before she could grab anything, including her keys.
Ace could tell the deputy was thinking it over. “All right. You’re free to go.”
He went as casually as possible, though the cumbersome ladder made things a little awkward.
Thankfully, the two deputy marshals didn’t follow him.
He made it downstairs and to the van without incident.
Chapter Fifteen
“So the Marshals’ service picked you up on their cameras?” Isaiah asked.
The Guard was back at the mansion, and Ace had peeled his disguise off and showered. He was still drying his hair with a towel as he stood in the den wearing nothing but gray sweat shorts.
“Sure did.” He finished with his hair and then slung the towel over his shoulder. “The thing Stryker gave me picked up various electronic devices hidden in Lana’s apartment. But get this: they’re not all the same. Two different styles and brands.” He passed Isaiah his cell. “I managed to get a few pics. Made it look and sound like I was dictating notes about the ductwork into my phone.”
