Page 78 of Dangerous Liaisons

“He would figure—worst case scenario—you balk, and he takes care of you quietly.”

Cole stared.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll save you. Just wear a mic next time.”

He blinked, then grinned. “I almost hope he tries it. I’d like to see that.”

She had the impression he had reverted to some Cro-Magnon man, who believed he would take care of her. There was a first time for everything.

He turned to the universal cell phone emulator in the rack to his left. The gear was a new model that looked more like an expensive home stereo with a keypad than a cell phone.

“Did you set up a cell account?” he asked.

Jesse donned the headphones at her station and switched off the mic. “I registered a new cell phone account under an assumed name. When Lanton has the call traced, it’ll originate two blocks away in the opposite direction. All he’ll know is that you’re close.”

“Let’s see what we can stir up. Ready?”

“Ready.”

Cole put on the headphones and punched Lanton’s number on the keypad. The phone rang four times before the voice mail recorder picked up and a low-grade computerized woman’s voice said, “Please leave a message.”

The tone sounded, and Cole said in Perez’s voice, “Senor, I suggest you answer next time. I do not like to be kept waiting.” Cole cut the connection. “That should make him jump.”

He leaned back in his chair, his sleeves going taut across his arms. Jesse couldn’t resist, and ran a hand down his arm. The muscles coiled under his gray dress shirt. Eat, drink and be merry, she thought. For tomorrow we may die.

“We might have some time to ourselves,” she said.

Cole grinned and leaned closer.

The phone emulator rang. Jesse blinked. Damn. She checked the number on the long, narrow screen. Tom’s number flashed in green numbers.

She hit the connect button. “Yeah.”

“He’s on the move. My God, you should see him.”

Jesse gave Cole a nod and mouthed, he’s moving. “Where to?” she asked Tom.

“I have him on the surveillance camera leaving his office headed toward the elevator. Hold on, he’s at the elevator.”

A long pause followed. Jesse’s heart pounded.

“He’s getting on the elevator,” Tom said.

“Is he leaving?”

“One second, I’m watching the lobby camera—there he is. I’ll be right there.” The line went dead.

Jesse punched the end button. “You drive.”

Cole ripped off his headphones and rose. He brushed past, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Now we’ll see if he cracks. My bet is, not yet.”

She gave a perfunctory nod as he slid into the driver’s seat, then turned the key. The van engine kicked over and settled into an idle.

The radio chortled an incoming transmission. “I’ll be there in two seconds,” Tom said.

Jesse rose and stepped to the back door. She swung open the door as he rounded the corner of the van and climbed inside.

He squeezed past her and into the rear seat. “Let’s roll.”

He spun to face the bank of equipment on the driver’s side. Reaching to the double line of square pushbuttons on the tracing receiver, he punched ON, CurrLoc, Mode3 along the first row. The screen above the buttons snapped on, displaying a city map centered on their current location.

The mechanical clank of Cole engaging the transmission was all the warning Jesse had before the van rolled forward, then stopped. She scrambled into her seat as the van accelerated in a tight U-turn, throwing her sideways against the armrest.