Page 34 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 13-16
Myers pulled a sad face. “That’s too bad, I was looking forward to your stories. You always order the best food.”
Damian grabbed one of the notepads and scribbled down the name of a local restaurant and a quick dinner order for twenty. He passed it to Myers. “Here. And tell the owner that Sathers sent you. They’ll take care of you.”
“You’re too good to us, Sathers, truly.”
Damian grinned. Myers was a solid client. He hated to run out on him like this, but the other meeting he was fitting in was more important than Myers’ entire account. Each step he and Richard and Émeric were taking in concert with Sevastyan and Ellisandre was a step towards Jun’s freedom. And Rei’s.
“Drinks on me next time,” Damian said, gripping Myers’ arm. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Oh, I think I’m the one who has to make it up to you,” Myers grinned, holding the note paper like a prize.
Outside in the car, Damian called the dining establishment he’d directed Myers to and let them know to prepare for him. He prepaid for several bottles of wine and was assured that a private room would be open. By the time he’d finished, they’d arrived back at his hotel.
Mexico City was starting to light up in the early dusk. Damian left his security in his room and slipped out a service entrance wearing a different suit than when he’d entered, a wide brimmed western hat pulled down over his head. He waved down a taxi, taking it to a nondescript building near the government center. A man he’d never met before approached him just inside the doors. He checked his watch and turned without speaking, leading Damian into an office, then left. A few moments later, a woman appeared in a blue suit, long hair up in a severe bun. “Mr. Sathers.”
Damian nodded. “I don’t have the honor of knowing your name.”
“Not important. I’m merely the emissary. You asked for discretion. Anyone watching will assume you and I are meeting.” She took him through her office, down a staircase, through an underground passage, up into a different building, and then to an elevator. “I don’t know who you are meeting. The elevator will take you to the right floor.”
Damian nodded. Thanking her didn’t seem right. She turned on her heel and left, posture perfect. He girded himself and summoned the elevator. It opened at once.
The floor was empty when he stepped out. He scanned up and down and moved towards the one open door.
A short woman behind a large desk looked up as he looked around the door.
“Mr. Sathers.” She stood, waving him in, then stepped past him, looking both ways, and shut the door. The blinds were already down inside the office.
“The space is secure. That was your request, yes? You can speak freely.”
Damian forced his shoulders to relax. “You had the place swept for bugs?”
“Three times, the last time thirty minutes ago. My staff thinks I’ve lost my mind.” She grimaced. “I’m assuming this is serious. You went through some trouble to reach out.”
Damian opened his bag and pulled out a laptop. “We had to bypass the officials who’ve been bought off. We're hoping you are willing to cooperate, once I’ve shown you our evidence.”
He clicked play on the video Sevastyan had shared. While it played he looked away. He didn’t need to see it again.
“Enough.” The woman hit the spacebar herself. “Who are you working with?”
Thirty minutes later, Damian was in the elevator again. He changed his suit jacket, this time pulling on a sloppy pullover, stuffed the hat in his bag and put a baseball cap on instead, added loud sunglasses and ambled out into the street, looking left and right. He recognized nothing, having not entered this building from the outside.
Now to find a taxi to the airport where his security would meet up with him again with his luggage.
The number of lessons Ellisandre had casually passed on in the last few weeks was frightening. He’d known they were capable and intimidating, but he’d never considered that they had training on par with MI6. It wasn’t fun traveling without his phone so often. He was used to being attached to at least one, but for these meetings he’d been leaving all phones behind. It was like being untethered, out in the world on one’s own.
Waving down a taxi took longer than he’d hoped, but not so long he was worried he’d miss his flight. Once in the back of a cab, he closed his eyes and counted the hours until he would see Jun again. His wolfling would be asleep, probably curled up in the big bed with Collin. It didn’t matter. The bed was big enough for all of them. Richard would be the one with them tonight. Émeric was in Japan. Ami had come through for them. The head of international investigation’s mother-in-law frequented one of her shrines.
Damian’s security was waiting inside the airport. Damian ignored them, going into the restroom to change back into himself before rejoining them.
A tall, frail looking old man in a tie-dye shirt bumped into Damian as he waited in line for security. “Two days.”
Sevastyan.
“Hey man, you good?” Damian said.
Sevastyan caught himself on his cane. “Didn’t see you.”
“No worries.”
