Page 62 of Choosing Stella

“Or they do nothing.”

“Then I attend a Halloween party with the largest bodyguard in Cascade Point glaring at everyone.”

“I don’t glare at everyone.”

“You really do.”

“That isn’t relevant.”

“It will be if you scare innocent casino employees into quitting.”

I rubbed a hand over my jaw.

She was enjoying this more than she should’ve been.

I wasn’t.

“You’re asking me to take you into a building where we already know someone had enough access to interfere with security.”

“I’m asking you to take me somewhere we can predict.”

“You can’t predict the person.”

“No. But we can predict the place and time.”

I said nothing.

She waited.

Her plan was dangerous, but it made sense.

A stupid plan would’ve been easier to refuse.

“If we do this,” I said, “you stay with me unless something forces us apart. If casino security tries to move you somewhere we didn’t plan or separate us, don’t assume it’s routine.”

“I won’t.”

“You also carry a tracker, but I want more than location. It needs an emergency alert that opens live audio the second you trigger it.”

Stella leaned closer.

“Can you do that?”

“Bancroft can get me the equipment.”

“Where does the audio go?”

“To me and an off-site receiver.”

“Locke would get the mirror?”

I nodded.

“He can monitor without being physically inside the casino.”

“And record it?”

“Yes.”