Page 194 of Red Marked

I park where I can see the door.

Star’s hand goes to the handle.

“You should stay in the car. Someone might recognize you.” I look at the wig. “I doubt it, but we can’t be too sure.”

Her hand drops into her lap. “I suppose you’re right. Jett had a couple of friends from work. We used to hang out with them from time to time.”

“You’re definitely staying here, then.”

She nods.

The lobby has a plastic fern in one corner and a rack of pamphlets about workplace safety in the other. The human female behind the desk looks up from her screen and smiles like she hasn’t seen a visitor all week.

“Afternoon. I’m here to see Basalt from site operations.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“I don’t. I was given his name.” I put my hands in my pockets. “I run a private security outfit. We’re bidding for the guarding contract on your distribution warehouse, and I was told he’s the person to talk to.”

“Oh.” She picks up the phone. “Let me see if he’s free.”

She murmurs into it, listens, and puts it down.

“He’ll be right down. You can take a seat.”

I don’t. I stand by the pamphlet rack, take my phone out, and open the camera. I hold it low against my thigh, angled up, thumb on the shutter, and scroll through nothing with my other hand.

A door at the top of the stairs opens.

The male who walks through it has dark hair, is middle-aged, and is a shifter. He fits the bill for what we’re looking for. In fact, I’m trying not to get hopeful.

He goes to the desk first. She says something and points at me, and he nods.

I lift the phone like I’m reading a message and press the button twice. Then I pocket it and step forward with my hand out.

“Hi, I’m Basalt.” His grip is dry and quick. “I believe you’re looking for me?”

“I’m Cole from Ironclad Security.” I let go. “I was told you handle the guarding contract for the warehouse.”

“Somebody steered you wrong.” He hooks a thumb toward the loading dock. “I run the site, but I don’t sign for it. Anything on paper goes through procurement at head office, and from what I hear, they’re not taking on anything new.” He shrugs. “We’ve just had another cutback.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I will give the head office a call.”

He nods, looking tired. “Good luck. I wouldn’t bank on anything.”

“Sorry to waste your time.”

“No trouble.”

He’s already turning for the stairs.

I’m back in the sun before the door has finished closing behind me.

Star sits up when I open the car door.

I hand her the phone.

She takes her sunglasses off and puts them on the dash. She looks at the picture and immediately shakes her head.