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Edward was also supposed to be in the restaurant, somewhere that would allow him to take the photos he needed of the person Daniel was meeting with. Daniel wasn’t supposed to look for him, but he couldn’t help but scan for the man every time he lifted his eyes. Nerves ate through him and he just knew if he could see Edward, he’d feel a little better.
Of course, he’d also feel better if he knew who he was meeting. There had been no note as to whether this person as a man or woman, old or young. Or even if he was meeting multiple people. One. He preferred one. He felt like he could fake his way through a conversation with just one person.
His heart rate picked up as the host walked a man in a nice suit through the evening crowd of diners. Air became lodged in his throat as they approached his table…and then walked on by. He went through this repeated up-and-down cycle of fear, relief, and disappointment several times. Edward would definitely be growling at him by now. He needed to relax.
Lowering his eyes to the table, he tried concentrating on the menu in front of him. His Spanish really was horrible, but he was picking up more words each time he ate out with Edward. He was particularly fond of the word “albondigas.” It sounded so regal and noble when it just meant meatball. Pulpo was also fun. And he never really expected to enjoy the taste of octopus.
The delicate sound of someone clearing their throat had Daniel looking up from his menu and blinking several times at a small, slightly round Asian woman with a sweet smile.
“Excuse me,” she said with a mild accent wrapping those two words.
“Yes?”
“Are you Mr. Kevin Jones?”
“Yes.” He was instantly proud of himself for remembering to answer to the other spy’s name rather than his own.
The woman’s smile grew and she stuck out her hand. “I’m Mrs. Han. I believe you are expecting me for dinner.”
Daniel jumped up from his seat and helped to pull out the chair for the older woman. She was not at all what he was expecting, but he tried to smooth any awkwardness with solid manners and courtesy. “Yes, I’m so glad that you could join me.”
“I wouldn’t miss meeting you, Mr. Jones, for anything in the world,” she replied with a girlish giggle.
Daniel returned to his seat and offered to pour her some water from the open bottle sitting on their table, but she waved it off as he’d expected. “I’d forgotten how warm this city gets during the summer months.”
“True, but the people-watching is quite entertaining. I’ve enjoyed the tourists as they bustle from one place to the next.” He forced a smile while trying not to replay his own words back in his mind. Edward had instructed him to purposefully keep his comments light and vague. Not to commit to anything if he could help it. That way he was less likely to get boxed in or trapped in a lie.
A server swept over to the table and dropped off a basket of bread before taking their initial order. Daniel rattled off a couple of interesting things he spotted, while Mrs. Han ordered without ever picking up her menu. She was either a frequent guest of the exclusive restaurant or she had studied ahead of time so she wouldn’t have to take her eyes off Daniel.
The one key piece of advice that Edward had stressed was that he had to keep both hands on top of the table. If he moved one or both below the table, it was likely his dinner guest would believe he had a weapon in hand. Visible hands kept Mrs. Han relaxed. But he really wanted to clench his fists and wring his hands together under the table.
“A little birdie told me that you might have run into trouble recently while on vacation,” Mrs. Han said in a playful voice when the server stepped away.
Daniel relaxed in his chair and smiled broadly. “News does travel fast, doesn’t it?”
The woman shrugged but didn’t appear at all ashamed of the tantalizing gossip that she had in her possession. “I will say that my employer is a bit disappointed that you’ve offered this interesting collection to more than one buyer.”
“I’m sure that you and your employer can understand that it’s about getting the best price for my collection. Offering it up to just one person will surely result in a poor payout.”
“Yes, but how do we know after we pay the sum you’re asking that we are the only one receiving this collection? People claim that things are one of a kind, but it’s all too easy to make copies, isn’t it?” An unexpected hardness entered her voice, and Daniel fought the urge to squirm in his seat.
