“Yeah.”
“My mind didn’t wander off of you all day.”
“We’re in the same boat.”
He knew she wasn’t going to be as verbal as she’d been in the past. Not with their colleagues listening. “I always knew kissing you was going to be spectacular, but my imagination didn’t come close to the reality.” He heard her breathing into the phone. Some of that warmth started to return to his bloodstream.
“It made me want to do it again . . . soon.”
“Things are starting to turn in the case. I’m more than motivated to find a resolution.”
“You’re not even the one running five miles a day.”
“Running off the frustration created by not being able to even look at you the way I want to might be a good idea.”
“Well, okay, Coach. Maybe on Monday, instead of watching, you put on your running shoes and join us.”
“Maybe I’ll do that.” Not gonna happen.
“Dare ya.”
He moaned. “That’s not fair.” She knew he didn’t duck and weave a dare.
“You think about that. I told Sasha I wouldn’t be long. I’d like to get a decent night’s sleep. Help make up for the tossing and turning I’ve been doing.”
He liked to think he was the cause. “Spreche mit dir morgen.”
“Talk to you tomorrow,” she repeated in English. “Gute Nacht.”
Cooper disconnected the call and stared at his phone. Three years out of the six he spent overseas learning a new language was paying off.
“Bring a backpack and skip the makeup. I told my aunt you broke up with your boyfriend and we were going to spend the weekend dissing guys and making plans for our summer.” Claire stood outside the decoy condo in full view and earshot of Eastman’s surveillance.
Jax was on the other end of the line. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“We’ll have a good time.” Claire lowered her voice. “Any word on where the party is yet?” They were both watching Instagram for the Bat Signal. Between Ally’s feed and Sean’s, they should have something within the hour.
“No.”
“Soon as my aunt leaves, we’ll get ready to bounce.” Claire ignored the camera in the shrubs and walked back in the front door.
Sasha was decked out in her flight attendant uniform and had a suitcase at her feet.
Once Claire was out of range of Eastman hearing her, she addressed the team through her com link. “Anything on Eastman?”
Isaac reported back. “He stopped eating his microwave dinner and looks like he’s preparing to leave his house.”
Claire and Sasha looked to each other and smiled.
By the time Jax showed up at the front door, Eastman was parked up the street and huddled in his car.
“AJ is in position to follow Eastman. Sasha, you’re clear to vacate.” Neil spoke through their earpieces.
Jax had already moved to the single bathroom to change clothes and get party ready.
Claire stayed out of sight when Sasha left the condo, her eye on Instagram.
Outside, the sky had darkened, and the smell of rain sat ripe in the air.
Eastman didn’t move.
All they waited on was the party details.
“Anything yet?” Neil asked twenty minutes later.
“Nothing,” Claire reported.
Jax was texting Ally.
Claire was starting to think the party was a bust.
A ping on her phone had her looking at a direct message from Sean.
“Got it.” Claire rattled off the address, and Jax looked it up on a map.
“Doesn’t look residential.”
“It’s not,” Neil told them. “We’re en route.”
“Right behind you.”
Wearing skintight black leggings, a tiny halter, and a matching leather jacket, Claire slid on her ankle boots and grabbed the car keys.
Jax wore ripped black jeans and a sparkly gold sweater off the shoulder. The choker on her neck had a camera.
Claire would depend on her cell phone.
Together they pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the party.
“Eastman is three cars behind,” AJ said from the back of the line.
Claire kept an eye on her rearview mirror while Jax gave directions.
Her cell phone rang right before they were getting on the freeway.
Elsie’s name popped up on the screen.
“Hey, girl.”
“Did you get the information about the party?”
“Yeah, Jax and I are headed there now.”
“Can you swing by and pick me up?” Elsie asked.
“I thought Kyle was taking you.”
“He’s being a dick. Doesn’t want to go.”
Without any objection from the team, Claire consented.
“Okay. I’ll be at your place in ten minutes.” Claire moved into the left lane to make a U-turn.
“Park across the street and text me.”
She hung up the phone and told the team the address she was headed toward.
“AJ, hold up on the side street during the pickup. We don’t want Eastman seeing you.”
“You got it.”
With an eye on the rearview mirror, Claire noticed Eastman hang back when she turned into the quiet residential neighborhood.
When she parked, Eastman pulled into a driveway and killed his lights.
“Do you ever get the feeling we’re playing cat and mouse?” Claire asked Jax.
“As long as we’re the cats.”
They laughed, texted Elsie, and waited.
Within a minute, Elsie bounced out of her house, a backpack in her hands.
She tossed the pack in the back seat and jumped inside. “Thank you so much.”
She closed the door and Claire pulled away from the curb.
Jax swiveled around in her seat. “Did you have to sneak out?”
Elsie shook her head. “Told my parents we were gonna head to the mall, then have a sleepover. Hope that’s okay.”
“My aunt’s gone, so you can stay over.”
While they talked, Elsie was pulling her bulky sweater over her head. Under was a tight tank top, appropriate for a teenage party.
“What’s up with you and Kyle?”
Elsie groaned. “He’s acting strange. Totally bailed tonight. Which . . . whatever. He’s a drag at these things. I’ll have more fun without him.” The girl kept in motion, different shoes came out of her backpack, and more makeup was put on her face.
Claire turned on the freeway. In her ear she heard Neil telling them the position of Eastman and AJ. The team was already at the venue. “Looks more like a rave than a house party. Lights and loud music. Signs indicate there’s some kind of Hollywood movie shoot going on,” Cooper reported.
“Do we know who’s throwing the party?” Jax asked.
“Jim told me it was Brandon and Russell.” Elsie applied a fire shade of red to her lips.
“Who is Jim?”
“My tutor. He goes to Bremerton. You might know him,” Elsie told Jax. “Jim Cromer.”
Jax shook her head. “Doesn’t sound familiar.”
“Total geek. I think he thinks if he can impress me with party information I’ll hang out with him.”