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Lou shrugged. “We have bigger problems. Kenzie followed Brian.”
She’d worried about the moment when she would have to decide what to do with Brian Peters. “He said he was taking a meeting with a client.”
“He lied. Unless the meeting with the client is in the building across from here.”
Fuck. Tasha went to the small window. Given the time of day and how the sun was hitting the glass, he wouldn’t be able to see inside. She peered out at the building across the street. “He’s got this place bugged.”
“I didn’t find anything, but he could be using something I can’t detect,” Lou admitted. “There are some long-range hearing devices that don’t require a physical bug. Or he could be doing simple surveillance, but according to Kenzie, he’s on the third floor of the hotel in a room he’d obviously taken out in advance.”
“He’s known about the meeting for days. It wouldn’t be hard for him. Did you get the name he registered under?”
“It wasn’t Brian Peters, and he didn’t register. He already had a key. The room is registered to John Smith. Why can’t they be more creative? Throw in a Mortimer or Luigi every now and then,” Lou murmured as she looked down at the laptop. “Kenzie’s pulled back because Zach is worried Brian might see her and recognize her. Cooper’s in place. He’s watching right now, but he’ll bring Brian in if we need to.”
“I’d rather see what he does. Have Coop follow him. Brian doesn’t know Cooper exists. And you need to stay out of sight. He might have someone in place. We know he’s got at least one person he’s working with,” Tasha explained. She didn’t like the fact that Brian had lied to Dare. It wasn’t the first time, but the days had been so pleasant it was easy to forget what they’d seen the night Brian had taken out the threat to Dare. It was nicer to think he was some kind of guardian angel.
He wasn’t. Brian Peters was working an angle, and it was time to figure out what that angle was.
“I was careful,” Lou promised. “I don’t think Brian would remember what I look like if I wasn’t in disguise. I’ve got a couple of things for you. First, stick this in your bra.”
Lou offered her what looked like a sticker, but when Tash took it she felt it was slightly thicker. “Recording device?”
“Yes, and we’ll be able to hear everything in real time. Sorry, but I couldn’t risk bugging the room. Oakley had his team do a sweep. Even if he did pat you down, he wouldn’t find this,” Lou assured her. “I’m screwed if they shut off the Internet, but we’ll have a recording. And take this. That purse won’t fit a gun, but this sucker is for emergency use if you find yourself in a tight spot.”
Lou passed her another sticker-looking device, this one the precise color of Tasha’s skin. A microdoser. It would be filled with a powerful sedative that would take an enemy down in a couple of seconds. The tiny needle had to be engaged in order to function, and it took more than simply touching the table or another part of her body.
“Do you honestly think I need this? It seems a bit extreme for lunch,” Tasha said, taking the small device. When they’d trained on it, the boys and the twins had naturally found it fun to dose each other in an attempt to get better at counteracting the effects. Sometimes when the other person wasn’t expecting it.
“Zach thinks so, and he’s the military smarts of the team when your dad isn’t around,” Lou said with a shrug. “You’ll have to squeeze your fist tight and you’ll feel the safety pop off, then be careful.”
Tasha placed the device halfway between the base of her thumb and her wrist, where she could reach it with her fingers if she needed to. “I need to go.”
Lou nodded. “We’re going to meet in the conference room at the club tonight. Nate will keep Dare occupied. Zach’s heard some rumblings about a couple of intelligence operatives in town. Something big is going on, and I’m afraid we’re in the dark.”
The thought made her gut tighten. “Keep me updated on Brian.”
“Will do.” Lou closed her laptop and slid it into a hiding place on her cleaning cart. “Good luck with them. Oakley’s a massive ass and Huisman… I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something odd.”
Given the trauma he’d gone through in his life, it wasn’t surprising the man wasn’t normal. “Will do.”
She straightened her dress and got ready to play her part.
* * * *
Dare watched Tasha walk away and wished he hadn’t brought her. That fucker outside wasn’t the only threat. He’d seen the way Oakley looked at her. The problem wasn’t that he thought Tasha would fall for his bullshit. She shouldn’t be subjected to it.
