Page 74 of Only the Devil
But tonight? Tonight we have this. Tonight we can lose ourselves in each other and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.
Her hands slide down to my belt, and I know we’re both choosing the same escape. The conversation about the job and what comes next? It can wait.
Right now, there’s only us, and the desperate need to feel something good in a world that’s gotten too messed up for either of us to navigate alone.
Chapter 24
Daisy
The woman approaching in leggings and a billowy, waist-length tee could blend in as any young suburban mom, but as her long blonde ponytail swings beneath her solid black baseball cap, she reminds me of the actress who played Barbie. She weaves her way through the cafe and a few heads turn, which I’ve heard isn’t ideal for an operative. Perhaps she believes the black baseball cap draws less attention, but for this woman, that tactic is a fail.
Jake set up this lunch meeting with his colleague, saying that if a Sterling employee saw him meeting a woman at lunch, it might raise questions, but that if asked, I can just say I’m meeting a friend. Given I eat lunch with male friends and think nothing of it, I thought he was showing his ass-backwards Southern colors, but now that I see his colleague, I better understand his position.
If these are the women KOAN hires, then ol’ Rhodes really didn’t stand a chance when they targeted him. Of course, he’s so happy these days that if you didn’t know about his girlfriend, you’d assume he’d developed a THC habit.
Brie doesn’t slow as she approaches, her sneakers silent on the café’s worn hardwood. She bends for a hug, and I catch a whiff of floral perfume. I raise my arm for a slow pat, wondering what the eff she’s up to, when she says into my ear, “Smile like you know me. And like me.” Her breath is warm against my cheek, and I force my lips into what I hope passes for genuine affection.
Then she backs away and takes the chair opposite. I followed Jake’s advice and picked a table in the back, away from the windows, and selected the seat where I can see if someone I know enters the café. I had to drive Jake’s car to get to this location, so the chances of someone from work entering are slim, but not a nonzero sum. Still, there’s nothing suspicious about meeting a friend for lunch.
Brie Anderson lifts the utensils—wrapped in a paper napkin—unrolls it, and places it on her lap with the poise of a lady who lunches.
“I love your haircut,” she gushes so warmly I brush my fingers over my hair to remember what exactly I did with it today.
This woman isn’t what I was expecting. Maybe because Jake is so rugged and rough around the edges. He’s someone who could blend in when needed and become less recognizable with a clean shave or a haircut, but he’s strong and I can also easily imagine him in fatigues with a big gun and a scope.
“Thank you for meeting me.” She smiles while twisting to scan the room. Something tells me she’d prefer to be in my seat. “We order at the counter, right?”
I give a quick nod.
“Do you know what you’re getting?”
“I’m thinking about the iced mint-lavender tea and a BLT.”
“Excellent.” I go to pull out my wallet and she waves me off. “It’s on me,” she says, a shade too loudly. “Remember? I owe you from last time.”
I watch as she goes to the counter, but then check out the patrons, wondering who she’s performing for. There’s a mom with a baby stroller who could double as Brie’s sister. An older woman reading a book spread out on the table with a coffee or tea in a cup and saucer beside her. And then the two men who definitely noticed Brie when she entered. The one in a suit gets up and empties a tray into the trash and exits. The guy remaining is glued to his phone, but it doesn’t take long to recognize the scroll and smile routine. He’s on TikTok or something like that, wasting time.
Brie returns with our drinks. “They’ll call my name when the sandwiches are done. How are things going?”
“Fine,” I answer, unsure of what we’re doing.
Jake told me this was to touch base and that they have an update for me. I asked why they didn’t email it and he said Brie’s in the area and Hudson, his boss, preferred to play it this way.
Whatever. The crazy thing about all of this is that Rhodes hired these guys out of concern for my safety, but the deeper I get, it feels ridiculous. I mean, yes, there was the dead body that was moved, but I don’t feel like I’m in danger. At least, as long as I steer clear of the class-action lawsuit, Phillip’s counting on me building his next get-rich-quick scheme. He’s not going to hurt me.
If I insisted that KOAN back off, then Jake would be off on another gig and he’d miss out on the double-salary lotto prize.
I’m basically doing several things I probably shouldn’t do—all for money.
Brie sips from her straw, glancing one more time over her shoulder.
“It’s clear,” I say with an eyebrow raise, wondering who she thinks is tracking us.
She smiles and leans in.
To anyone who cared to observe us, I’m sure we look like two friends, maybe from college, who have since grown into different people. Brie being the tall, sporty, cheerleader-type and me being the oddball friend who recently dropped the Goth wardrobe but is holding onto her collection of piercings with all her might. And the funny thing is, I’m the one coming from the office. I left my blazer in the car because it’s hot as balls, so to the casual observer, in my black jeans and white V-neck tee, I probably look like someone on her day off.
“Sterling Financial sent a lawyer to meet with the law firm out in LA.” Brie pulls apart a sugar packet, the paper crinkling between her manicured fingers. “They shared more information and this law firm has determined there’s insufficient evidence to take the case. They notified Noah. Without evidence of corporate malfeasance, the lawyers claim they don’t have a case, no matter how many names he accumulates.”
