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She went to the balcony, stepped out to admire the view. “You know we’re on government per diem, right? We’re not going to be able to put this room on the expense reports.”
He mumbled something, and she turned, her elbows resting on the balcony railing. “What was that?”
“Free upgrade.”
“Ah, Ms. Blonde at the front desk. Did she slip you her phone number with your key card?”
She had, but Nicholas only shook his head. He joined her on the balcony, pointed to the right. “Look, Mike, the Piazza San Marco, Saint Mark’s Square, is right down there. There will be tourists and pigeons thick on the ground. Not good.”
“I agree, but what else can we do?”
He didn’t say anything, merely studied the entrance to the square.
Mike said, “My room may be a dump, but at least it’s secure. You’re too exposed here, out front, for the world to see.”
He moved closer, pulled her in. She smelled like saltwater and lilacs.
Mike rested her head on his shoulder. “This whole thing, Nicholas—we have no idea what we’re stepping into. So many people . . . I know, to be expected, since this is tourist season, but any of them could have a gun or a knife. We don’t know the face of Kitsune’s enemies. I’m relieved you asked Lia to call the Carabinieri. If there’s trouble, they’ll already know it’s coming.”
“I called the Carabinieri, too. They’re not happy to have the FBI running around their city, but they’ll back us up, if needed.”
Mike pointed. “Look at him.”
Nicholas edged to the glass and saw a man standing by the Hotel Danieli gondola stop, staring directly at their window. When Nicholas made eye contact, the man shoved a toothpick in his mouth and strolled away.
“Yes, they’re watching,” Nicholas said.
“Kitsune’s people?”
“No. I think we’re Kitsune’s people.”
“That’s irony for you.”
“It is indeed.” He gave her a blazing smile. “Time, Agent Caine, to have ourselves an adventure.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Venice was even more crowded than the last time Nicholas had visited, only a year ago. He stood at the door of the hotel, staring out at the crowds. It was an operational nightmare. He understood why Kitsune had picked Piazza San Marco to meet, the crowds were also protection from enemies neither of them knew, but any of them could be used as a hostage, or taken out as a target.
He checked his watch, turned to the team behind him. “Adam will stay here, but the rest of us should get going. We’re supposed to meet Kitsune in forty-five minutes, enough time to do a full sweep of the piazza and get each of us into position.”
Mike said, “We’re going to stand out, since we’re not in tank tops and shorts. Even with our jeans and shirts, we have to wear jackets to hide our weapons, and believe me, in the middle of the day, in this heat, that’s odd. There’s nothing we can do about it, so try to look like this is normal to you. Everyone ready?”
Lia said, “Here are your comms.”
They inserted tiny earwigs and tested tiny mics hooked under their shirt collars.
Mike said, “Testing, one two.”
Lia nodded, tested Nicholas’s and Louisa’s. “Good, all of you are clear as a bell. I’ll be monitoring your frequency.”
Nicholas said, “I spoke to Major Salvadore Russo at the Carabinieri. He said his men would be here, so our backup’s in place. I sent him our photos, so they’re watching for us. I hope he was smart enough to keep his men in uniform. That would discourage anyone after Kitsune.”
Lia said, “I’ll be up on the balcony of the Doge’s Palace and have a great view of the piazza and all of you.”
“I’ll hang back a bit,” Louisa said, “follow you into the piazza, cover you.”
Nicholas said, “Louisa, once I’ve spotted the soldiers and they’ve spotted me and Mike, and we’re as certain as we can be that the scene is clear, we’ll do the meet with Kitsune. Everyone has their vests on, right?”
