*You don’t want to be drunk, she’s got a derringer in her bag and a knife in the lining of her dress, I’m doing some more checking, it’s a lot harder than it should be.*
He looked at the girl, considered her many very attractive features, many of which he wanted to get more closely acquainted with. She looked back, her smile small but warm, the dregs of her martini swirling in the glass.
“I’ve had a yen to see the city lights from the observation deck of the Empire State Building, you interested in joining me?” He asked at last, he’d checked to make sure it was open earlier. “Then a late meal back here?”
She blinked, her mouth pursed, and a wrinkle appeared between her eyes, which widened. He realized that he’d somehow gotten her distracted, off plan, she’d spent an hour with him already without setting the hook and establishing the terms. She looked at him, then away, “Uh, El...look...”
He touched her hand, “Don’t sweat it Loretta, I may be a hick but I’m not a simpleton, I know the gig. Look, tell you what, you spend the evening with me, you get the meal, etc, gratis and I’ll gift you the going rate so you don’t get in trouble.”
For some reason her cheeks reddened and she looked about ready to cry or maybe get angry. Then the professional mask slid back into place and she was the perfect companion again, “Why that sounds wonderful El, and well, who knows what the evening will bring.” The smile was wider, but cooler, hardly touching her eyes. Which saddened Elgin as he got up, paid the tab, tipped the barman and walked with Loretta to the ‘cloak room,’ to collect her coat, a neat leather piece.
It was nearly midnight when he set his coffee mug down and looked at her profile, she was strikingly attractive. She must have a tough constitution to have remained healthy plying the trade under the control of people who saw her as a depreciating capital asset rather than a human being.
Cutter interrupted, *Tough in a lot of ways, she’s no victim, at least not now, she works for the Russian mob, but also for the Russian government, she may be an assassin, she is certainly a spy and an agent provocateur. It’s mostly a cash business so there’s only so much I can find but my guess is that she is being paid to seduce you tonight.*
Elgin thought about this, but before he could come up with a plan her cell phone chirped, she jumped a little, she pulled the phone out, “Sorry, my sister, I better see what she wants.” Smiling at Elgin she got up quickly, neatly and strolled towards the lobby.
*Lie, it’s a man, a Russian, Viktor Ushakov, a bigshot, she knew it was him, his number is programmed to over-ride the phone’s mute function. Best guess is he’s liaison between the Mob and the spy service. He’s asked her what the status is, she said she’s just finishing a late snack, that you’d done tourist sites, he’s being rude about your manly attributes, she’s defending you as nice.*
*Okay, I don’t need a blow by blow, just tell me if he tells her to off me would you?*
*He’s told her she can cut you loose for now the customer has another angle. I’ve invaded Viktor’s smart phone, he’s in a room with the Russian from the negotiations. Uptown location old mansion.*
*Okay, let me know if they decide to kill me,* he almost slipped and spoke aloud to the voice in his head.
*She’s cute and she’s hot but she’s the enemy El. I’m you, and you’re me in some ways, I know you’ve got the hots for her, but could you kill her if she tried to kill you?*
*What’s the other hold they have now?* Elgin snapped back, or tried to, its hard to snap when you’re subvocalizing.
*I’m trying to find out, these folks are pros nothing much on them, their phones are specials, just phones and when they’re off they’re completely off so no GPS or cell tower traces except when they’re actually talking. They have some kind of satellite based pager built in to switch on the phone for incoming calls.*
Loretta/Elena had switched off her phone and was weaving elegantly, even rather sensuously towards ‘their’ table. *So?* Elgin subvocalized.