Page 34 of Secrets in the Dark

My jacket shifted as I leaned in, and I felt the distinctive weight of my badge case against my chest. The impulse to reveal my true identity surged without warning. One simple disclosure could change everything:I'm an undercover detective. There's a major law enforcement action happening tonight. Let us handle Tommy. Stay clear of the theater.

The words formed and died unspoken. If I revealed myself now, she might refuse to perform, disrupting Tommy's timeline and potentially compromising the larger mission. Worse, she might insist on cooperation, putting herself at even greater risk if something went wrong.

"There," I said instead, stepping back. "All set. You should be able to hear me clearly, even with the show music."

"And where will you be?" she asked. The subtle jasmine scent of her perfume lingered between us.

"Close to the front row," I replied. "I've arranged to escort the Al-Khalifa party to their seats. They're high-value clients who've specifically requested my services."

What I didn't mention was that the "Al-Khalifa party" included two undercover agents positioned to monitor Tommy Lace without raising suspicion.

"If you see him make any move—" she began.

"I'll alert you immediately," I promised. "But remember, the goal is to catch him in the act, not to confront him directly. Let security handle the apprehension."

"Security," she repeated, a touch of skepticism in her tone. "The same security that's failed to prevent any of his previous attempts?"

"Different security," I assured her. "People I trust."

That, at least, wasn't a lie. The tactical team positioned throughout the theater represented some of the department's best operators.

She studied me for a long moment, that penetrating gaze seeming to look beyond my carefully constructed facade. "There's more going on here than you're telling me."

It wasn't a question. Her perception was too keen to miss the layers of deception, even if she couldn't identify their specific nature.

"There always is," I acknowledged. "But the important thing is keeping you safe while ensuring Tommy faces consequences."

"And after?" she asked quietly. "When this is over?"

The question carried implications beyond tonight's operation—reaching toward that undefined space between us, the connection that had formed despite our mutual deceptions.

"One crisis at a time," I said gently. "Let's get through tonight first."

Disappointment flickered across her features before her professional mask reasserted itself. "Of course. Priorities."

"Nova—" I started, then caught myself. The name felt wrong now that I knew her real identity. But I couldn't use "Celia" without revealing how much I actually knew.

"It's fine," she said, stepping back. "I should finish preparing. Val wants to run through the finale sequence one more time before doors open."

"Be careful," I said, the inadequacy of the words burning in my throat. There was so much more I needed to tell her, so many warnings and revelations bottled behind operational security.

"Always am," she replied with a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes.

As she walked away, the weight of my divided loyalties pressed down like a physical burden. If everything went according to plan, Lace would be in custody before he could harm her. The money transfer would be intercepted, evidence secured, and the Licata network dismantled.

But plans rarely unfold exactly as designed. And the variables introduced by Celia's presence—her own agenda, her determination to confront her stalker—created unpredictable elements in an already complex scenario.

I touched my earpiece, activating the secondary channel. "Phoenix to Nightwatch. Final position check."

"Nightwatch confirms all assets in position," came Detective Chen's response. "Theater perimeter secured. Dragon's Crown under surveillance. Proceed with final preparations."

"Acknowledged," I responded. "Moving to phase two."

I made my way through the casino's winding corridors to the main theater entrance. The evening's performance would begin in less than forty minutes. VIP guests were already being escorted to their exclusive lounge for pre-show cocktails, the murmur of conversation and clink of glasses creating a background hum of anticipation.

Amid the growing crowd, I located the security panel concealed behind an ornamental column near the theater's main entrance. Designed to look like a standard electrical box, it contained access to the theater's secondary surveillance system. Under the guise of checking a circuit breaker, I quickly installed a miniature body camera disguised as a maintenance sensor. The device would provide our tactical team with a direct view of the front row—specifically, Tommy Lace's seat.

"Phoenix to Nightwatch. Final surveillance package deployed. Visual confirmation of target area in three, two, one..."

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