Street Game (GhostWalkers, #8)(86)

“They’re good,” Mack acknowledged. “They changed hand poses. Keep moving. Slow, though. We need a chance to spot anyone tailing you. Take your time.”

Griffen gave the two performers a small salute and continued on his way, wandering through the live art. He was an imposing man and easy to keep an eye on. Mack knew his shadows would hang back. The man in the trench coat ambled on the outer edges of the exhibit, although he did study the first picture for a long time just to make certain that small tribute the sergeant major had given them hadn’t been anything more.

Gideon, Javier said. Take a good look at the woman standing just by the first painting. Average height and weight. Short dark hair. Dressed like everyone else. She blends in. Gray jacket with hood. She’s sipping coffee and thumbing through the art info.

I got her.

I got a feeling about her. She got out of the way when my little group came hurtling through there. Smooth. Fast. Clean. Really clean, Gideon. She’s a plant. If not with them, then law enforcement. And she blends too well.

Mack smiled. Javier had a gift. If he said the woman had moved too smoothly, she had. He switched to watch the kid in action. The teens had congregated by the corner of the stage and were doing a mixture of tricks and dance moves. As always, Javier was in the middle of them. No one, not even Mack, could catch him looking at Sergeant Major. And most likely, after dropping the earpiece into Griffen’s pocket, he’d never so much as glanced at him. That wasn’t his job. His job was to spot the enemy.

I’ve got her, Javier, Gideon reported. If she moves when he does, I’ll let you know. Right now, Bond-boy is keeping fairly close. I’m guessing Skull-boy takes over when he starts his walk to the coffee shop.

Ethan, seated on one of the benches, glanced at his watch, folded his newspaper, gathered up his briefcase, and began to walk out of the square toward the coffee shop. He passed the woman Javier had pointed out without glancing at her. His cell phone rang and he stopped, a foot from her, and answered, spoke briefly with his back to her.

Send those pictures to Jaimie, Mack said. Did you get any of Bond-boy?

A couple, Top, but I’m not certain they’ll be good enough, Ethan answered.

Jaimie can do anything with her program, boss, Javier said. She’s a goddess.

Mack knew she could work magic with her computer, but this was so important. In the end, all of their lives would depend on her skills. They had to know who was supporting Whitney and trying to kill Kane and Brian. They had to bring them out of the shadows and into the open where his team could take them down.

She is, Mack said, meaning it. He was lucky to have Jaimie, to know someone with her skills, let alone have her for his partner.

He watched Sergeant Major make the circuit around the live art show, admiring the various pictures. “Okay, do your usual brisk walk out of there. Get back to your usual routine. Head for the coffee shop like you always do. Get in line, order your favorite drink. Don’t sit down. I want you to stand in front of those three posters on the back wall and read them. Javier will be right next to you. Put your cell phone in the right pocket of your coat. Once he has your phone, don’t move. Take your time drinking your coffee. This is important, Sergeant Major. He’ll be sending the data to Jaimie. If they have a trace on that phone, she’ll find it and do a back-trace. They can’t know there’s anything wrong. They have to think you’re the one with the phone, not Javier.”

“But . . .”

“Keep walking. He’ll drop the cell back into your pocket. Paul will call you, a casual conversation, just follow his lead. This will work. They’ll record the conversation with Paul and we’ll get an address. And don’t talk to us, just go about your business, following the instructions. This is what I’m trained for. You’re covered all the way.”

Sergeant Major moved into the swarm of people on the sidewalk, heading downhill from the square. San Francisco was all hills. One either went up the hill or down it, but there were very few flat areas. It was good exercise and Griffen was big on utilizing the local terrain for his workout, rather than hitting the gym. Still, it was difficult to walk down the street in the open air, surrounded by tall buildings, where at any moment someone could put a bullet in his head.

I’m moving with him along the rooftops, boss, Gideon reported. I’ve got an open route. Lucas is running interference for me. Bond-boy is well ahead of him, almost at the coffee shop. Skull-boy is back about two blocks. They’re giving him plenty of room. Someone told them the old man has sharp eyes.

And the woman?

She hasn’t moved yet. She’s difficult to spot in the crowd.

Mack’s gut twisted. Marc, hang back and watch her. Don’t lose her. Stay up high and watch that woman.

Ten-four, boss.

Sergeant Major just got stopped. A woman appearing to ask directions. She’s handed him a map. She came up from his left. He has the piece in his right ear, Gideon reported.

Mack swore under his breath. Such an innocent thing. A tourist? There were several tense moments.

I’ve got her in my sights, give me the go, Gideon said.

I can go in for a closer look, boss, Javier said.

Not a good idea, Mack replied. Hold your position. You pass him too many times and they’ll notice you.

Stay where you are, Gideon said. Sergeant Major is waving me off.

Keep the f*cking gun on her, Mack snapped. It isn’t his call. Just don’t pull the trigger.