Counterfeit Conspiracies by Ritter Ames Read Free Book Online Page B

officially hated him.
    After a few more seconds, I heard, "There."
    Finally, the elevator arrived, but I had to wait while a German family of five departed. A businessman jumped on to join me at the last second, and pushed the button for the third floor, so I had an additional stop before I could reach four. As the car rose, I heard the ear bud deliver the sound of a door open and close. The door to my room. Unless he was waiting to greet me when the car arrived, I'd missed my chance at catching him in the act.
    The fourth floor lobby was empty. Just as well. The longer I could be the cat in our little game the better, I supposed. Still, I wished I knew who the man really was.
    Everything looked as I'd left it, except for my purse. The designer bag had a new design feature, a small tear that had been camouflaged by rejoining the leather with a bit of adhesive. Using my fingertips, I discovered the dime-sized disk that now lived under the bottom lining. Irritation made me want to flush it down the toilet, but professionalism stopped me from making such a mistake. If Mr. Hawkes wanted to play follow-the-bouncing-disk, I would just have to make sure he had a good enough journey to make his efforts worthwhile.

 
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
CHAPTER FIVE
    Â 
    Whether Simon was in trouble or in hiding, the last thing he needed was for me to lead Hawkes right to him. I needed time to make plans and lose my tail, and the best way to do that was to get lost in a crowd and plant Hawkes's bug on some unsuspecting tourist. Luckily, the hotel lay near Buckingham Palace, offering me a perfect option. I packed a couple of outfit changes, a pair of stiletto heels and another of high boots, and a few toiletries into the two largest shopping bags. Besides a little black dress, I included a new all-black cat suit. Like most women, I know the virtues of the LBD, but in my line of work being able to blend with shadows is as critical as becoming part of the monochrome at cocktail parties. I swaddled the laptop between the layers, and nestled it halfway down the pile. Once I added my picks and new gizmos into the customized pockets in my Prada, extracted the bug from Hawkes's handiwork and reclosed the slit, I was ready. I slung the new trench coat over one arm. This was London in fall, after all, and the garment afforded my best camouflage as I moved through the city. I hung the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and bid the suite a fond adieu.
    The desk clerk had assured me following Max's intervention that the room was paid for as much as a week if necessary, and the rest of my things could stay without worry. But worry remained my constant companion whenever I gave myself the opportunity, so I grabbed my Prada and the shopping bags and made my way to the nearest tourist trap.
    Buckingham guards had made their daily change hours ago, but the masses still happily filled the area. Young and old perched on the fountain, and laughing groups milled along the pavement, posing before the massive, black-and-gold-topped iron gates, and generally squealing about finally arriving at the royal pilgrimage. I allowed myself to breathe a bit and take in my surroundings. A quick look didn't reveal Hawkes obviously about, but I knew he was too good for that anyway. My ear bud only offered road noise and footsteps. Yet, it was the same road noise I'd been hearing in my other ear, which proved he was close by, if invisible.
    I sauntered a bit. Pulled out my phone and snapped a few shots. Helped an elderly couple decipher their map.
    Finally, I spotted him. Gerald O'Toole. That wasn't his real name, but his old-moneyed, banking family preferred he use the nom de plume since he'd decided about a decade ago that grifting was his preferred occupation. He was the one who taught me how winning at poker required more talent at reading faces than reading cards. I used those same lessons beyond the green baize table every day and counted Gerald one of my best early mentors.
    "Hi,