Rogue Ghost (CIA Ghost Series Book 1) (11 page)

Vicki saw the way the two of them looked at each other and wasn’t buying that they were just friends. Maybe they actually believe it themselves and didn’t even know it yet but she could tell there was something more there between them. “Well, should we get going?” she asked everyone.

Parker went into Cole’s apartment and leaned against the wall, trying hard not to get upset. She’d been trying to fight the feelings she had but it was no use. The harder she tried to fight, the stronger the feelings became. She had feelings for Turner and she wasn’t able to block them out. She wished she could just quit and try to live a normal life but already knew that was out of the question. Cole came walking in from the bedroom and saw that she was upset. She wasn’t crying but he could tell she was fighting back tears.

“You OK?” he asked.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”

Cole heard the group leaving Turner’s apartment and looked out the window, watching them get into a car. He glanced at Parker and kind of deduced what was wrong. “Looks like his date’s a pretty girl,” he noted.

“Yeah. Seems so.”

“Meet her?”

“Uhh, yeah. Yeah, I did,” she replied. “Have you ever thought about what it’d be like to do something else? To be a normal person.”

“If by normal you mean a nine to five job, Monday to Friday, taking the kids to soccer practice in my minivan, then the answer would be no. I’m not cut out for that type of life. I enjoy guns, I enjoy violence, I enjoy not knowing what’s going to happen, and I enjoy doing what I do so all the other slobs out there can have that life if they want it,” Cole explained. “You?”

“Every now and then. More so lately it seems.”

“I guess everybody goes through it at some point. Need a few more minutes?” Cole asked. Even though he embraced his reputation as a cold, heartless person, he really did care. He just didn’t always show it or want people to know it. But he could tell that Parker was becoming increasingly conflicted about things and felt a little bad for her.

“No. I’m good. Let’s go.”

They drove to Whispers, which was jam packed with people, and from what they’d heard had become one of the hottest places to be over the previous few months. It was a two story club with a bar, stage, and dance floor on the lower level. The second floor was open in the middle so people could watch the action below and was mainly set up for tables, so people could sit and have a few drinks or eat, along with a few VIP booths. Once Parker and Cole got in, they walked around the lower level for a little while, just staking the place out. Cole looked miserable, like he wanted nothing more than to punch someone in the face. Clubs weren’t his scene, and he hated those kind of crowds.

“I’m starting to think we should’ve brought Turner on this,” Cole stated.

“Miss him already?” Parker teased.

“What? No. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just…I don’t think we’re very convincing as a couple. Plus I hate this type of stuff. You and him would’ve looked more believable here.”

“We’ll be fine. Everybody will just think I’m the young girl interested in you for your money,” she joked. “It’s L.A. Money over love happens quite often.”

“Good point,” he nodded.

They eventually made their way upstairs and sat down at a table near the center of the room against a railing, which enabled them to look down at the first floor. They sat there for about ten minutes just observing everything around them.

“We’re never gonna get anywhere just sitting here,” Cole stated.

“Well we can’t just walk around aimlessly, they’ll spot us for sure if they’re here.”

“We’ll have to take a chance at some point.”

“Yeah, when there’s something worth taking a chance on,” Parker said. “You know, something doesn’t seem right.”

“What is it?” Cole asked, looking around.

“No, not here. In general.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Does it seem like this has been too easy so far?” Parker asked.

“How so?”

“I don’t know. Everything just seems off. Heath lied to me about where he went to school. He had no reason to do so unless he was already planning something. If he’d been planning this for months, or years, would he really have been dumb enough to let us catch up to him. I mean, he had to have known we’d have tracked his email to Ryan and that we’d have him under surveillance. Why take a risk like that when it doesn’t seem like he has any further use for him?”

“I see what you’re saying. But maybe he thought he’d have a few more days until we got out here. Don’t forget, he thought he disabled the video of him in that room. So he wouldn’t have suspected we’d have been on to him so quickly and wouldn’t have been looking through his emails yet. He could’ve thought he had another week and been out of here by the time we arrived to find him,” Cole replied.

“Maybe. It just feels like there’s more to this, you know?”

“There probably is. We just need to get that first break.”

“We already did. Ryan found it. That’s why we’re here.”

“Well, I’m gonna walk around. We’re not gonna get anywhere just sitting here,” Cole said, getting impatient.

“Wait,” Parker told him. “Let’s go to the bar.”

“Why?”

“Everyone knows if you want information you go to the bartender.”

“I didn’t know that. Who says?”

“Everybody. It’s the unwritten rule,” she remarked.

“Really?”

“Bartenders and waitresses. Nobody knows what’s going on more than them.”

Cole made a face that seemed to suggest he agreed with her, or at least was willing to go along with her. They went back downstairs and made their way to the bar, Parker making sure she sat near one of the male bartenders.

“Why we down here?” Cole asked, sitting at the end of the bar.

“Cause men are weak. Once they see a pretty girl they’ll say just about anything if they think she’s interested in them.”

“What, you don’t think we could get the same info out of a woman bartender?”

“No,” Parker answered.

“I do have some charm you know.”

“You have no charm. Nobody’s gonna open up to you about anything.”

“That’s hurtful.”

“Please. You’re about as charming as a grizzly bear.”

For the next hour, Parker ordered drinks, and flirted with the bartender, talking to him whenever he had a free minute.

“You planning on closing the place down?” Cole sarcastically asked. “You got nothing so far.”

“I’m getting to it. You have to work up to it.”

“Uh huh.”

Parker waited a few more minutes before starting to ask the questions she really wanted to know. The bartender made a few more drinks before coming back down to her again.

“Want another?” the bartender asked.

“I dunno. I think I might be done,” she told him. “I don’t wanna get too drunk tonight.”

“You look like you could handle a few more.”

“So what’s a girl gotta do to get up to one of those VIP tables up there? I heard there was a movie producer up there and I was hoping to get my resume in his hands.”

“You and everyone else.”

“So it’s not possible?”

“Not unless you’re on the guest list.”

“Oh. I didn’t even see anyone come in,” Parker said.

“That’s cause they all come in through the back door. All VIP’s and their guests come in through the back door. There’s a special entrance for them so they don’t get bogged down at the front.”

“Oh wow. That makes it tough.”

“Each table up there has it’s own security guard. They won’t let anyone through if you’re not on the list. So there’s no way you’re getting through,” he told her.

“That’s a bummer. Any way you can tell me who the VIP’s are this week?”

“Nah. The list is locked in the manager’s office.”

“Any way you could get me in there so I could take a peek?” she asked. “I promise I’ll make it worth your while,” she seductively said.

“As much as I’d like that there’s no way we can get in there. Only way you’re getting in there is through the skylight in the ceiling.”

“Oh well. Guess I’ll have to keep trying the old fashioned way.”

Parker looked over to Cole and smiled, rubbing it in his face that she was right and could get the information she wanted. He moved his lip to make a disapproving face and rolled his eyes, though he was glad they got what they wanted and it wasn’t a waste of an evening. They left the club and went back to Cole’s car to plan their next move.

“Club closes at two. Bartender said everyone’s usually out by five,” Parker stated.

“Go home for a few hours. Come back around five?” Cole asked.

“Yeah. Sounds good. When we come back, you disable the alarm system and I’ll go through the roof.”

“Why do you get the fun part? Why do I get stuck disabling the alarm?”

“Cause you’re better at it.”

“How do you know?” he wondered.

“I’ve read your file. Besides, everyone knows you’re a go through the door guy,” she told him.

“Who’s everyone?”

“Everyone who knows you.”

“Really?”

“Going in through the skylight requires agility and careful precision. Not really your strong suit. So going through the roof…that’s me. When it comes time to break in through a door…that’s you,” she said, patting him on the shoulder.

“Fair enough,” he grumbled. “Why go through the roof anyway? Why not just break in through the door?”

“Because we don’t know if they have any security there or anyone else who’ll be in the building. If there are then we’d have to bypass everyone. The skylight gives us direct access to the room. Plus it’s easier that way.”

“How bout we just go through the door and eliminate whoever gets in our way?”

“The object, Cole, is that nobody knows that we’re there. If they know we’re there then it could spook Nazarov if he feels someone’s on his tail.”

“Seems like you always wanna cut out the fun stuff,” Cole stated. “Hopefully Nazarov is on the VIP list otherwise it’ll be for nothing.”

“Gotta start somewhere.”

It was close to eleven so the pair left to go home for a few hours so they could at least get a little sleep. Once they got there, Parker noticed that Turner’s lights were still off. He could’ve got home first and already went to bed, she thought. Or he was still out having a really good time, which was more likely.

“I noticed Turner’s not home yet,” Cole stated, walking to his apartment.

“Oh really? Hadn’t noticed.”

Cole snickered. “Or, maybe he’s just having a really good time,” he said, bringing a look that could’ve killed him if it was possible. “Just saying.”

“I’ll see you in a few hours,” she said, Cole laughing as he entered his apartment.

Parker got to her door and unlocked it, standing there as she looked over toward Turner’s place. She wondered if she should knock on his door to see if he was there, just to see how his night went. But then she thought if Cole was right, and he did hit it off with his date, and she interrupted, she’d never forgive herself for that. She also thought of just turning on the listening devices she planted in his apartment, but thought better of that too. She decided to just forget about everything and go to bed since they had an early start planned. An hour went by, Parker tossing and turning in her bed constantly, mostly thinking about Turner. She still couldn’t get over why she was getting so hung up on him. She thought maybe it was just time catching up to her. She’d bottled away feelings for so long that it was bound to eventually take over at some point when she finally met someone worth being with. Maybe it was a sign that her days as an agent were coming to an end. Regardless of what her superiors thought, when thoughts other than the missions at hand are overtaking your mind, it’s time to rethink whether leaving is the right thing to do. She then heard what sounded like voices coming from the parking lot. She jumped out of bed and ran to the window next to the door and peered out. She saw Turner walking Marissa over to her car, both appeared to be smiling and laughing. Marissa then gave him a hug before getting in her car. Parker kept watching as Turner approached his apartment. He appeared to be in a good mood judging from the smile that seemed to be entrenched on his face. She desperately wanted to go over to him and start grilling him on how his night went but knew it wasn’t a good move. At least she took some comfort in knowing that Cole wasn’t right with his assertion. Her brain kept telling her to just go back to bed but it wasn’t being relayed to the rest of her because she opened up the door and walked out. She was only wearing a tank top with short shorts as she stepped out though she wasn’t sure what exactly she was going to do.

“Oh. Hey Ryan,” she said, pretending to be surprised to see him.

“Hey,” Turner replied, looking her over, though trying not to look perverted while doing so. “What’s up?”

“Oh. I was uhh, just gonna run to my car real quick. Think I left something in there that I needed.”

“Oh,” he said, enjoying watching her walk to her car.

Parker could see that Turner was still looking at her so she sat in the passenger seat of her car and opened the glove box, then pretended to look in the back seat. After a few minutes of fake searching she quickly walked back to the apartment.

“No good?” Turner asked.

“Nope. Must still be inside somewhere,” she smiled.

“What’re you looking for? Maybe I can help.”

“Oh. It’s just a file about something. I guess I just misplaced it somewhere. I’m sure it’ll turn up soon.”

“OK,” he said, noting she seemed a little flustered.

“Well.”

“Are you OK?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Why?”

“You just seem like…I dunno. Like something’s going on,” he told her.

“Nope. I am good,” she said, clapping her hands together.

“OK. Well I guess I’m gonna hit the hay then.”

“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yep,” he said, putting his key in the door.

“Oh. Almost forgot. How’d your date go?” Parker wondered, hoping he’d say it went badly.

“Ah, you know, I guess it didn’t go too bad.”

“Oh. Well that’s good,” she lied. “Right?”

“Uhh…I guess. She seems like a really nice girl. Smart, attractive, down to earth.”