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Mina brings the laptop off the corner desk. I’ve already got it hooked up to the printer and the blank label in the machine. I log in, load the label making software, and create a reasonable-looking fake. It just has to be visually passable, it doesn’t have to be scannable.
“There’s packing tape in the bag, set up that box for me,” I say, while I finish the label.
“I didn’t know I was going to be doing assassin secretarial work,” she snarks.
“Gotta crawl before you can walk, pet.”
This box is much bigger than the one with the delivery, and it’s how I’m getting the bomb in. I go into the supply closet and bring out all the materials I’ve gathered. I assemble the bomb and place it gently inside the larger box.
I affix my new decoy label to the actual package being delivered and slip it inside. I add a small surveillance camera and packing peanuts, then seal up the outer box and tape the original label to the top.
Mina follows me out to the car.
“I’ll be back for you at seven thirty. Be ready to go.”
* * *
“Hey, man,”The guard says when I stroll into the lobby an hour later. He’s blond with stubble on his face and a name tag that says “Teddy.” He clearly recognizes me from last time. That’s good.
“I’ve got a special delivery for Mr. Stryker in the C Suites. It requires his signature.”
I pull out the scanner and scan the real label on the outside of the larger box and show the screen to Teddy. He checks for the sender and the recipient’s name. And then he waves me on to the elevators. “I’ll tell Mr. Stryker you’re on your way up.”
“Thanks.” Then I notice the yellow caution tape in front of one of the sets of elevators. “Elevator down?” I ask. I hate when I have to behave like an idiot to pull data points out of people.
“Yeah, happened just after lunch. We can’t get anybody out to fix it until tomorrow. You can imagine what a pain in the ass it is to manage a building like this with only one working elevator. Lots of people grumbling and taking the stairs today. We’re lucky the fire marshal didn’t shut us down, but they’re too busy setting up for the parade.”
“You going to that?” I ask. I fucking hate small talk, but not acting interested in other people’s lives makes you look like a sociopath, and it’s probably not the best look when I’m trying to plant a bomb.
“Yeah, Me and my kid. You?”
I smile broadly. “Wife and two kids. We’re bringing them. They’re super excited. Should be a great time.” I plaster on a giant cheesy grin like some schmuck who’s got nothing more exciting than Fourth of July fireworks going on in his life.
“Great, maybe I’ll see you there!”
“Maybe!” I chirp back like a jovial dumbass, and then I get the hell away from him and onto the one remaining working elevator as quickly as I can.
I ride up to the top floor and then slip down the emergency stairs to thirteen. The last time I was here, I picked this spot because it’s been gutted and has nobody on it right now. It’s close enough to the top floor to be able to take out my targets without actually having to get too close to them.
I learned while staking out the listening devices that the project to remodel this floor is on hold until the fall, which makes it even more perfect as there’s no chance of running into construction workers.
They can remodel all they want to, but they’ll never get tenants on this floor. Most tall buildings don’t have a thirteenth floor. They just skip it and go to the next number, but this building is different.
They’ll have to renumber the floors and skip thirteen. People are still stupidly superstitious. Though to be fair, I’m planting a bomb on the thirteenth floor, so maybe their paranoia about these things is sound.
I quickly rip open the box and set the bomb in the proper location directly under the conference room. We’ll start the timer with a remote from the car later tonight. I take the mini camera out of the box and get it set up. We’ll be able to monitor from a distance so I can make sure everything runs according to plan.
I take the smaller package out and go back up the stairs. It might be quicker to jump on the elevator, but the last thing I need is for Teddy to glance over at the wrong time and wonder why the light for thirteen is on.
I deliver the package, get Stryker to sign for it, and mark it delivered in the system. As I get back on the elevator, I think it’s such a shame that beautiful watch is going to blow up with the building. Such a waste of four thousand bucks. Fuck it. I’ll expense it to the client. He can afford it.
7
MINA
Brian is back at the house at exactly seven thirty, as promised—like he’s taking me out on a date or something. I’m surprised he doesn’t have flowers. But I look again, and hedoeshave flowers. Dark purple roses—almost black. He gives me the roses and kisses me on the side of the neck.
“Go get us some food. I’ve got to get ready,” he says. He takes a step back and lets out a long, low whistle. “I like you in weapons. Looks good.”
