Tricks and Traps (Gray Spear Society Book 7) (31 page)

Ford frowned.

Tawni looked around to make sure nobody was watching. She spotted the Pot of Gold Casino a quarter-mile away. The golden walls shimmered in the haze.

"Hey," she said, "the casino is right there. That must be why Cantrell picked this restaurant."

Ford peered at it. "Cantrell owns that?"

"It just opened."

"Where the hell is he getting that kind of money?"

"Maybe he'll tell you," Tawni said.

"Focus on the Indian Head project," Norbert said. "I bet that's where all this began."

"All what?" Ford said.

"Just do your job. We're going."

Norbert and Tawni walked around the restaurant. After spending hours in the same costume, she was finally getting into the proper cop mindset. The police were arrogant, but they also had real responsibilities and faced real risks. It was a tough mix to get right.

Norbert held the door for Tawni. She wasn't used to such chivalry and smiled at him.

The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit. The aroma of barbeque made Tawni's mouth water.

Cantrell was sitting in the darkest corner with two bodyguards standing nearby. He looked at Norbert and Tawni as they entered but didn't show concern.

Norbert brushed by a waitress and went to the opposite corner of the restaurant. Tawni followed. They sat with their backs to the wall.

She studied Cantrell while trying not to be obvious about it. He had a perfect nose and a strong jaw. His brown hair was straight and neatly trimmed. He had a face that could turn a girl's head.

Norbert sighed.

"What's wrong?" Tawni whispered.

"I'm worried about the twins."

"They're in God's hands."

"Those hands aren't always nice," Norbert said. "I've seen how they can destroy."

"What's the worst that can happen?"

"Bethany and Leanna could be turned into walking, emotionless computers or aliens."

"That's no different than before." Tawni smiled to defuse the tension.

He shook his head. "Not funny. They're very sweet young women. I'll grant they have quirks, but underneath, they still want to be loved. They still crave friendship and affection. That could be gone now. They may not even recognize me."

She looked down. "I'm sorry."

"All we can do is wait and see."

The waitress gave them menus. Tawni immediately picked out a full rib platter as her choice. Ever since Aaron had started training her, she had been hungry all the time. She burned a huge amount of energy in those long sessions with him. She could eat as much as she wanted and still not gain an ounce. If anything, she was getting leaner.

Ford entered the restaurant. He looked around, spotted Cantrell, and waved his hand. Ford hustled over to Cantrell's table.

"Hey!" Ford said. "It's great to see you again. It's been too long." His voice came through Tawni's earpiece perfectly.

"Yeah," Cantrell said. His voice was a little muffled but still understandable.

The bodyguards immediately patted down Ford. They reached under his shirt and felt around.

"What's this? You don't trust me?"

"A man has to take precautions," Cantrell said. "It's a dangerous world, as you well know."

The bodyguards backed away and gave the thumbs up.

Ford sat at the table. A beer was already waiting for him, and he took a long pull on it.

"What was your meeting about?" Cantrell said. "When did the CIA start conducting business in Illinois?"

"We were talking about security for the Democratic National Convention in the fall," Ford said.

"Oh, right. That's in Chicago this time."

"It's a big deal. President Haley will be in town. A lot of federal agencies are involved. The Secret Service is cracking the whip to get everybody organized. Somehow, I became the CIA representative, at least for this week. But I'm not here to talk about my dull life. What's up with you? Are you still selling slot machines?"

Cantrell nodded. "It's a great business. Gambling is recession proof."

"It must be really great if you need bodyguards."

"You know me, Mr. Paranoid."

"That's true." Ford smiled.

"Speaking of which, I had more trouble yesterday. You still haven't heard anything at your end?"

"No. What kind of trouble?"

Cantrell sipped from a glass of water. He wasn't drinking beer. "All I know is somebody is riding up my tailpipe pretty fucking hard."

"Why would anybody harass a slot machine salesman?"

"My interests have expanded."

"Oh?" Ford said. "How?"

His acting skills were impressing Tawni. He projected innocence and confidence perfectly.

"That's not important," Cantrell said. "What matters is I have money, which I'm willing to share with my good friends. If you help me out, I'll certainly consider you a very good friend."

Ford hesitated. Tawni could tell he was contemplating his allegiances. She quietly put her hand on the gun in her holster. One of the benefits of dressing as a cop was she could carry a weapon openly. Norbert grew more alert and tense.

"I'll continue to make inquiries," Ford said. "It would help if you gave me more details."

"Sorry," Cantrell replied. "I can't do that."

"I'm a little surprised though. You always seemed like the kind of guy who could take care of his own business."

"I will," Cantrell said. "I just need a little assistance this time."

"You've certainly led an interesting life. Five years as a spy in Russia. The Indian Head mess. Now this business, whatever it is. Do you ever wish you were still with the CIA?"

"Getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to stand on my own feet, to follow my own vision. I was glad to put the agency in my rear view mirror."

"You must have mixed feelings," Ford said. "The CIA trained you. They gave you a real job. You were just a two-bit hustler before you became a spy."

Cantrell smiled a little. "Three bits, at least. For me, the real education was Indian Head. That project opened my eyes. That's where I learned power isn't just money. It's control over other people. It's holding their souls in your hand and squeezing." He made a tight fist.

"You're being a little dramatic."

"Maybe."

"Do you stay in touch with anybody from that project?" Ford drank some beer. "You worked together for so long. You must've made some lasting friendships."

Cantrell shook his head. "No. They were a bunch of boring science geeks. I was the only one who really grasped the implications of the research. I saw the meaning behind the math. I guess that's not completely true. There was one other guy who got it."

"Who was that? Did I meet him?"

"Dr. Vidal Santiago. I called him the mad scientist. His insights kick-started the whole initiative and pushed it in the right direction. A truly inspired man. I wish I knew where he was these days. I'd love to hire him. If you run him down for me, I'll be grateful."

Norbert took out a notepad and wrote "Vidal Santiago." He underlined the words.

"I'll try," Ford said. "Hold on. Don't tell me you're still interested in that research. If the CIA found out..."

"They won't, right?" Cantrell said.

"Right."

The waitress came by and took Tawni and Norbert's order. Tawni didn't appreciate the distraction but tried to be gracious. Norbert ordered just a hamburger.

The conversation between Ford and Cantrell switched to reminiscing about their days together in Russia. This topic was fun but irrelevant. Tawni waited impatiently for Ford to steer the discussion back to Indian Head.

At one point, Cantrell confirmed he had met the Shkotovo Company while stationed in Russia. His bodyguards were mercenaries.

The meeting dragged on. The only good part was Tawni got a chance to eat. The ribs were cooked to perfection, and she happily filled her belly.

Finally, Ford said, "I really wish you'd tell me more about what's going on. It seems serious. I want to help you."

"Sorry," Cantrell said. "Maybe if you prove yourself useful to me, I'll let you into my inner circle."

"You're making me nervous. I have a wife and kids. I can't go to prison."

"I guarantee I'm out of the espionage game. You have nothing to worry about. My last foreign contact was a call to customer support in India. These days, I'm just a businessman, and business is good. I have to get back to work. It was great seeing you again."

Cantrell stood and left the restaurant. His bodyguards followed close behind. On the way out, he glanced at Tawni and Norbert. She looked back at him confidently like a real cop would.

When Cantrell was long gone, Ford came over to sit with Tawni and Norbert.

"Satisfied?" Ford said.

"Not really," Norbert said. "You got one name out of him."

"I learned that Indian Head isn't as dead as I thought."

"You seem worried."

"There is a reason the CIA killed that project," Ford said. "It was bad news."

"Did it involve mind control and addictive behavior?"

"That was the rumor. How did you know?"

Norbert smiled. "If you want to see the end result of that research, visit Cantrell's new casino. Don't play the games though. You might never stop."

"Are you serious?" Ford raised his eyebrows.

"Go wait by the car. We have to make a phone call."

"I thought I was done."

"You are," Norbert said, "but we'll give you a ride back to the airport. We're headed in that direction anyway."

Ford left.

Norbert took out his phone and dialed a number.

"You're calling Aaron?" Tawni said.

He nodded.

She heard it ringing, but Aaron didn't answer. She frowned. He always carried his phone and answered calls immediately. He prided himself on never letting it ring more than twice.

Tawni grabbed her own phone and called Smythe. He also didn't answer.

She and Norbert exchanged alarmed looks.

They tried calling everybody on the team, but Kamal was the only person who responded.

"Something is wrong," Tawni said urgently. "Nobody is answering their phones. Where are you?"

"At home," Kamal said. "I was asleep."

"You don't know what's going on?"

"Everything was fine when I left headquarters, but that was hours ago."

"Shit!" she yelled.

Norbert and Tawni ran out of the restaurant. They circled around to the police car in back where Ford was waiting.

Norbert opened the back door, pulled Ford's belongings out, and tossed them on the ground.

"Hey!" Ford said.

"Find your own ride!"

Norbert and Tawni got in the car. He turned on the sirens and drove off at high speed.

The trip back to headquarters was fast. He kept the accelerator floored the entire time they were on the highway. He weaved around any cars that got in his way. Tawni had never been in a car travelling so recklessly, and it was frightening. Norbert was on a mission, and nothing was going to slow him down.

They squealed around the last few turns and arrived at the Rosemont Tower Hotel. She looked up at the top story but didn't see anything obviously wrong. There was no unusual activity around the hotel. If anything, it was a quiet day.

Norbert parked directly in front and killed the sirens. He and Tawni ran through the lobby to the special conference room. It was the quickest way up.

They waved to the hidden cameras in the small room. They waited for it to rise, but nothing happened. The secret lift had to be activated from the security booth upstairs.

"Damn it!" Norbert said. "The booth must be empty. We can't use the basement elevator either. We're stuck down here!"

Fear tightened Tawni's throat. "There must be somebody we can call."

"Marina. I still have her number in my phone from the old days."

He took out his phone and dialed. He turned on the speaker.

Marina answered quickly, "Norbert? Why are you calling me?"

"We're in big trouble. Most of the team has gone silent. We can't reach them."

"Who, specifically?"

"The only people left are me, Tawni, and Kamal," Norbert said.

She paused. "Where are you?" Her tone was all business.

"On the ground floor of the hotel. Nobody in headquarters is answering their phones."

"You have to get up there."

"We can't!" he said. "The elevators won't work unless somebody in the booth presses a button. The exterior can't be climbed. If we tried to land on the roof, missiles would take us out. The whole security system is designed to lock down in a situation like this."

"I remember seeing something on the original plans. A back door."

"You mean the basement?"

"No," she said, "another back door. Aaron put it there so he would always be able to sneak in. Give me a minute to think."

Another secret door?
Tawni thought.
Aaron thinks of everything.

"There is a garden on the north side," Marina said. "Go there."

Norbert and Tawni took off running. They sprinted out of the hotel and ran around to the side. Flowers of all colors surrounded a small fountain. A slatted awning and a low wall protected the little garden. It was a nice break from the sterile glass, asphalt, and concrete all around.

"I'm there," Norbert said into his phone.

"Look for the door," Marina said.

"There is no door."

"It's there somewhere!"

"I'll call you back." He clipped his phone to his belt.

He and Tawni searched the area. She felt all over the fountain for a loose part, but it was made of solid bronze. She got down on her knees and checked the ground. It was ordinary dirt.

"Over here!" Norbert said.

She ran over to him. He was staring at the side of the hotel which was sheathed in brown glass. She looked closer and saw a hair-thin rectangular seam. It was the outline of a narrow doorway. Shadows from the awning helped disguise the slight irregularity in the surface.

"You have sharp eyes."

Tawni pressed on the door, but it felt solid. She rapped on it with her knuckles.

"There must be a release," Norbert said.