Page 55 of The Lost Empress

Captain Neal also had suspicions regarding whether this kind of security would be a priority since the new management had taken over the city. The man seemed to think that the police department was more concerned with benefiting from their rule, rather than making things more secure. That was an accurate assumption since many of the morally defunct police officers seemed to be milling around the Federal Reserve Bank.

The other work stations around Gen were mostly unoccupied. There were a few people typing and sifting through papers in various corners of the darkened office. But still, Gen checked over her shoulder before pulling out the flash drive that Captain Neal gave her.

She did as he told her and inserted it into the tower of the computer waiting for it to be detected and show up on the screen. Her eyes flashed to the time. If the magical clapboard only made her incognito for four minutes then she was out of time. Desperately Gen hoped that she’d be granted the longer amount or otherwise, things were about to get very dramatic.

Tapping the surface of the desk, Gen began the process of copying over the files to the flash drive. A series of progress bars popped up, moving forward but not fast enough for Gen’s liking.

Every noise now made Gen jump, thinking it would be the magic from the clapboard saying “Cut” in her head, informing her she was no longer going unseen. When two men strode by her workstation, Gen hunched down low, thinking she could hide behind the screen if her defense wore off while they passed by her.

Her nose was almost touching the screen, watching the progress bar while holding her breath. The men were talking in a hush, but something about them yanked at Gen’s attention. She peered around the monitor just as a young woman strode over to meet them.

“Commissioner Sloane,” the woman said, pausing the pair of men and making Gen nearly jump to her feet. She couldn’t believe that she was seeing the new Commissioner of Los Angeles on this spy mission into the police headquarters. What were the odds? And he was the source of many questions and conspiracies for her.

The man wasn’t all that intimidating looking with his light, receding hair, small eyes and large nose. However, he was dressed impeccably. Even Gen could discern that though she didn’t know much about modern clothing.

He narrowed his beady eyes at the woman. “Officer Davis, can’t you see that the Chief of Police and I are in the middle of a conversation?”

Gen glanced at the screen. The files were almost complete. Just another few seconds.

“Of course, Commissioner, it’s just that?—”

He held up his hand, interrupting the woman. “It can wait.” Commissioner Sloan turned back to the other man who was shorter, with red, orangey hair and dressed in uniform. “The Commissioner’s Ball is tomorrow night. Ensure that you’re there for the entire event, from seven to midnight. Is that clear?”

Tomorrow was the night of the bank robbery, Gen and her team had deduced. Was it simply a coincidence that the Commissioner’s Ball was at the same time?

Very unlikely, Emperor said in Gen’s head. The Chief of Police is in on the robbery.

Really? she replied, studying the man. You read that in his mind?

Yes, but that’s all I know right now, Emperor stated. Oh, and your files are ready. Get out of there.

Gen jerked her gaze back to the screen, seeing the message saying the process was complete. She pulled the flash drive from the computer and pushed up to her feet, knowing she had less than a minute until she was seen by all, attracting much unwanted attention and trouble.

“What is it now, Officer Davis?” the Commissioner asked at Gen’s back as she hurried for the door she’d come through.

“It’s Captain Neal’s credentials,” the woman said, making Gen nearly cough with panic.

“You mean Tom Neal’s credentials,” the Chief of Police corrected. “He’s no longer a captain on the police force.”

“Right,” Officer Davis replied. “That’s the problem. Our security system just got an alert that his badge and password have been used. It appears that he’s in the building.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

OUTRUNNING THE LAW

Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, Los Angeles, California, United States

Gen hadn’t made it all the way out of the door to the Major Crime Division when a disembodied voice rang out in her head, saying the word she was dreading.

“Cut.”

The magic hiding Gen from security had expired, leaving her vulnerable. Even worse, Gen was deep in the bowels of the police department headquarters. And quite possibly even more devastating was that Captain Neal’s credentials had been detected by security. That meant that the guards would be tightening up controls and even more on alert.

Maybe this could work in Gen’s advantage, she consoled herself hurrying down the hallway, keeping her head low. The guards would be looking for Captain Neal who was a middle-aged, tall, dark man and not a young woman with blonde hair. She was dressed in all black, nothing conspicuous but she also wasn’t wearing a uniform like most around the building.

Turning the corner, Gen halted at the sight of three police officers gathered around the elevator. She’d taken that on the way up to the Major Cases Division, wanting to be as fast as possible. But she’d also been pretty much invisible. Now, she was thinking the stairs were a much more practical approach.

All three officers halted, giving her confused expressions. They didn’t recognize her and she was in a very restricted area of the headquarters. Backing up, Gen glanced over her shoulder for the door to the stairwell.

---