Suddenly One Summer (FBI/US Attorney #6)(48)

“Tomorrow. Okay.” He held her gaze. “Thank you.”

She caught his look and pointed, getting all huffy. “You say one word about some alleged ‘soft spot’ and I’ll dry my hair at five thirty in the morning for a month. ”

He bit back a smile. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Ms. Slade.”

* * *

WHEN SHE DROPPED by his place the following evening, Ford had just finished preparing the last of their props.

“You didn’t say what the plan is. Is this casual enough?” she asked as she walked into his loft. She’d sent him a text message earlier in the day asking what kind of attire was required for their “mission.”

He looked over her sleeveless white top and summery skirt, and then his eyes held on her strappy sandals. “As long as you can run in those.”

“Ha, ha.” As they headed into the kitchen, she shot him a sideways glance. “You are joking, right?”

“Sure. Mostly.” He grinned when she poked him in the shoulder.

She followed him to the island in the center of his kitchen, where he’d put together large padded envelopes addressed to five of the Peter Sutters. “So, these are the guys who live in single-family homes, townhomes, or two-flats with a front door that’s visible from the street,” he explained. “Here’s the plan: you knock on the door and ask for Peter Sutter. Tell him you live a block over and that a package addressed to him was mistakenly delivered to your place. Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting somewhere close by, ready to snap his photo as soon as he comes to the door.”

She considered that. “All right, that could work. But what if someone else answers the door, and Peter Sutter isn’t home?”

“Depends. If it’s another guy, say that you’re a neighbor, that you have a package for Peter, and try to find out when he’ll be back. You’re cute. A male roommate—at least a straight, single one—will be happy to have you drop by again. But if a woman answers the door and she offers to take the package, just give it to her to avoid suspicion. We’ll move on to Plan C for that particular candidate.”

“What’s Plan C?”

“All questions about Plan C will be answered after the conclusion of Plan B.”

“Meaning, you don’t actually have a Plan C yet.”

“This is true. But when I do, it’ll be genius.”

Shaking her head, she picked up one of the packages addressed to Peter Sutter. “There’s actually something in here. What are you sending these guys?”

It didn’t matter, he’d just needed something to fill the envelope and make it look legitimate. “Pens.”

She laughed. “Pens? Aren’t they going to wonder why they’re randomly getting pens from someone named—” She checked out the return address on the envelope, then raised an eyebrow at him. “N. Drew?”

So he was having a little fun with this amateur detective mission. “It doesn’t matter what these guys think. By the time they open the package, we’ll be long gone.”

She looked at the spread on the counter before them, then took a deep breath and nodded.

“All right. Let’s go deliver some pens.”

Seventeen

JUST FOR THE hell of it, Ford decided to start with Peter Sutter Number Six since Victoria had randomly mentioned him in an earlier conversation.

For all you know, Zoe’s father is Peter Sutter Number Six. And Peter Sutter Number Six is going to turn out to be a really good guy.

Here was hoping.

This particular Peter Sutter lived on a tree-lined street in a single-family home in Roscoe Village, a neighborhood on the north side of the city. There were no street spots available within camera range—even with his zoom lens—so he double-parked the car across the street.

Ford grabbed his digital camera from his messenger bag and lined up the shot. There were steps leading up to Peter Sutter Number Six’s front door, providing the perfect angle for a picture. Satisfied, he showed Victoria. “Now, when you get to the door, make sure you stand off to the right side, so you don’t block my shot.” He pointed on the screen. “See? You want to stand here.”

She leaned in to get a better look at the camera, moving closer.

Christ, she was wearing that sexy perfume again. While practically sitting in his lap.

“Right side. Got it.” She pulled back, her hand accidently brushing against his thigh.

Kill him now.

“And remember, you’re supposed to be his neighbor, so walk to the end of the block and head west when you’re done,” he said, forcing himself to stay focused. “I’ll pick you up on the next street.”

“Sounds good.” She reached into the backseat and grabbed the envelope addressed to Peter Sutter Number Six. “Wish me luck.”

Victoria climbed out of the car and got her game face on. She crossed the street and headed up the front steps of the house, a brick three-story set on an extra-wide lot. Being careful to stand off to the right side, she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

Here goes nothing.

After a moment, the door flew open and she found herself looking down at a boy wearing a baseball cap, whom she guessed to be around seven or eight years old.

He could be Zoe’s half brother, she realized.

His attention drawn to the handheld game device he played with, he barely spared her a glance.