Afterburn by Karen L. Abrahamson
* * *
Wolf straightened his suit jacket over his shoulders before knocking on the hotel suite door. The last hour had been busy, setting things in motion.
He knocked and waited for Fitzsimmons to answer. The man had chosen the best suite in the Hotel 1000 luxury hotel. The glass and steel building positively reeked money which seemed odd, given Fitzsimmons was on government pay. But it was possible that heading up Homeland Security brought a whole lot of perks beyond the power. Wolf shifted his suit jacket again and knew he looked smart. He’d fit right in.
A click, and the door opened into an empty foyer that gave onto a parlor of marble counters and fireplace and luxury furniture, set before a breathtaking view of Elliott Bay and the harbor. Far different than the old brick buildings of the Pioneer district just to the south. Wolf glanced back at the door. Closed circuit camera and automatic door release. Nice.
Fitzsimmons stepped out of the double doors that led to a tousled bed with silk sheets and duvet. “About time you got here.”
The man settled his pristine tie under his prehistoric visage and Wolf pulled his gaze away. “It took more time than expected to forge the letters. We had to make it realistic that Vallon Drake was obsessed with Lamrey. I wanted to check them personally.”
Fitzsimmons’ gaze was cool as he gathered his briefcase and headed for the door.
“As long as it turns up the Seattle PD heat. We need them looking for her, and looking hard.”
“The courier should be delivering then to Clint Blacklock as we speak. It should light a fire, I think.”
“And you’ve got that detective’s phone under surveillance?”
“Of course.” It was the best Wolf could do after the disaster at the Drake house last night. How had the woman managed to slip out of his hands was beyond him. Warned by the damned cop, he was coming to believe, though how the cop had known eluded him.
“Good. Then I believe we have enough to pay Gleason and company another visit. Best we get there before they destroy anything of use.”
“Sir?”
“Apparently there’s been a decision to purge the files. Unfortunately for them, power outages are making the task somewhat difficult.” His thin lips curved into a vulture smile. “Shall we?”
Wolf swallowed back his sense of destiny as he followed Fitzsimmons out the suite door and down the silent elevator. It was coming. Everything was coming. Power would be at his fingertips. He’d be in charge of the AGS soon enough.
As soon as they lopped off the head of the snake.