I stare at the screen, the hot chocolate warm in my hand. My stomach still tingling from his touch. I type out a message.
Hazel
I think I just accidentally had a date with a serial killer.
12
B&E BROTHERS FOR LIFE XO
Flynn
I swipethe nail polish over my thumb, adding a second coat.
Lachlan lowers his binoculars and glances at where my hand is resting against the dashboard. “Violet, huh?”
I put the lid back on the bottle I swiped from Hope’s bedroom. “Lilac, actually.”
Lachlan’s gaze is heavy. “That girl’s in your head.”
I hold his stare and blow on my nails. He can disapprove all he wants, it won’t change anything. Hazel’s not just in my head, she’s in my whole fucking body.
“You’re supposed to be paying attention,” he scolds.
“There’re two guards. One at the front entrance, one around the back. They walk the perimeter every hour, on the hour, and then swap places. There are currently four construction workers still inside, along with Senator Claren, his aide, and Vanessa Creely, the CFO of Claren’s twisted as fuck charity.”
Lachlan shakes his head and lifts his binoculars. “It’s weird how you can do that.”
It doesn’t feel weird to me, it’s just people watching. I used to sit for hours studying the world, waiting for the right image to capture. These people are boring to watch. I’d much rather have my eyes on Hazel but I need to find some dirt on Claren fast andwhile his political office is guarded to the teeth, the free clinic he’s building is slightly more… breakable and enterable. Plus, if I was a corrupt government official, I wouldn’t hide my secrets in my work office and I have a feeling this so-called charity is nothing more than a cover.
“Claren’s leaving,” Lachlan says.
I lean over his shoulder. We’re parked across the street from the clinic next to a corner store with peeling paint and neon stickers in the window. Claren, in his slick black suit, couldn’t look further out of place here if he tried but building the clinic in this neighborhood is part of his plan to provide services where they’re actually needed.
We watch as Claren, his aide, and Vanessa walk out of the half-finished building.
“Think she knows the director of her sexual assault survivor’s foundation is a rapist?”
“I hope not. You ready?”
I blow on my nails one more time then zip up my hoodie. “Construction workers?”
“Leaving now.”
I grab the flashlight from the glove compartment and climb out of my brother’s Mercedes.
It’s not dark yet but the sky is overcast and with a cap pulled low on my brow I’m unlikely to be recognized.
I wait till the senator’s been driven off in his fancy sedan before crossing the street.
The construction workers haul out their gear and lock up behind them. I keep my head down and start walking, not so accidentally jamming my shoulder into one of the builders as he heads to their van.
“Watch it,” he mutters.
“Sorry, man.” I bend to pick up the bucket he dropped, my other hand slipping into his coat pocket as I hand it back tohim. My fingers curl around metal and I smile at the guy before carrying on walking. I keep going till I’m around the corner then I duck into an alleyway and take out the walkie talkie stashed in my pocket.
“Roger roger, over and out. The eagle has landed.”
The radio crackles but Lachlan’s voice comes through loud and clear. “What the hell are you talking about?”
