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“Might be dark in there,” Mauz said. “Keep an eye on the kid.”
“Will do, but I gotta say, this is bad,” Jag said.
“Define bad,” Mauz said.
“A lot of kids, adults too, teachers and parents, I guess. Plus security.”
“It’s not ideal,” Mauz said. “That’s been established, but it is what it is.”
A lot of their jobs weren’t ideal: concerts, red carpets outside of award shows, and political rallies to name a few.
But in those situations it wasn’t important that they stay hidden. In fact, most of the time, it was better that they remain visible, a deterrent to anyone contemplating making a move against their clients.
Having to stay at a distance from the kid made things harder, but that was their job.
“How you coming on those service companies?” Mauz asked Holt.
“Good." He glanced from the binoculars to his phone, an expression of concentration on his face. “So far everything’s checking out.”
Mauz tapped the steering wheel and watched as a man and a woman got out of a late-model sedan and headed for the entrance. They were holding hands, but that didn’t mean anything.
“Got a couple on their way in,” Mauz said into the comms system. “No kids. Probably a date, but keep an eye out. Guy’s got blond hair, woman’s a redhead in a flowered dress.”
“Copy,” Jag said.
A car pulled up to the curb and Mauz held out his hand. “Give me those binocs.”
Holt handed them over and Mauz watched as a woman got out. She bent down to say something to the man in the driver’s seat, then rushed into the aquarium holding her bag while the man remained in the car at the curb.
Mauz followed her progress, watching as she got in line, then seemed to explain something to the ticket agent. She didn’t hand over a credit card or cash, and a minute later the ticket agent waved her in.
“Got another woman coming in alone,” Mauz said into the comms system. He took a photo of the license plate just in case. “Dark hair, jeans, white T-shirt. Looks like she might be looking for something, but keep an eye out anyway.”
Some kid had probably left their backpack or souvenir inside the day before.
“Will do,” Jag said. “No sign of the couple in the reef area. The kid’s going to the bathroom with one of the chaperones.”
“Keep an eye on that door,” Mauz said.
“Yep.” A minute passed before Jag spoke again. “I see the woman. She definitely seems to be looking for something. She’s checking the floors around the exhibit.”
“Copy,” Mauz said.
“So far these all check out,” Holt said from the passenger seat. “Should I —”
A high-pitched peal rang through Mauz’s earpiece, cutting off the rest of what Holt was saying.
Mauz sat up straighter behind the wheel and spoke into the mic. “What the fuck is that?”
“Shit. Fire alarm,” Jag said.
“Do you have eyes on the kid?” Mauz asked.
“No, he’s still in the bathroom, I think.”
“You think?” Mauz demanded.
“The overhead lights have come on, but there are kids everywhere.” To Jag’s credit he sounded calmer than Mauz felt. He thought of the couple who’d entered the building fifteen minutes before, the woman who seemed to be looking for something. Coincidence? Maybe. ”I’m trying to get near the bathroom but security is telling everyone to evacuate the building.”
