The reason I chose this restaurant is that it has all sorts of décor along the windowsills, which makes great camera hiding spots. I can watch and listen to each camera frommy laptop. The best part is that all of it will be recorded. And to ensure they have to sit at that table, I called in a few favors, and right now, Lightning’s girlfriend, Alicia, and Thunder’s girlfriend, Madison, are sitting at one table. At another table is Piper with her back to the entrance in case he recognizes her, and she is sitting with Willow, her friend and Durango’s girlfriend. And yes, this small café only has three tables. All other seating is at the counter.
Ten minutes before the meeting, Peter pulls up. I’d bet money he planned to set up some cameras of his own.
He steps into the café, and I watch him through the glass window. He stops. I turn up the volume on my laptop.
“Wow, crowded,” Peter says.
“Have a seat,” Savvy says.
He glances around and finally sits.
“Do you mind if I record our conversation?” Savvy asks. She’s holding her phone up.
Peter puts his phone in the middle of the table. “Sure. I’ll do the same.”
Good, she has his permission on camera.
“Have you been in hiding?” Savvy asks.
“Why do you ask?”
She shrugs. “I know what it’s like.”
I smile. She’s doing great. Making him feel comfortable.
Peter chuckles. “Yeah, I guess you do. I have been hiding out, but you will still be able to reach me.”
“I did. I really needed to talk to you.”
“About the cartel?” Peter asks.
“Not exactly. I want to know why you are spreading lies about me?” Savvy asks.
“I’m not lying.”
Okay, Peter is staying calm. I was worried he’d walk out when hit with too direct a question.
“Yes, you are. I never worked with or for the cartel! They were trying to kill me!”
Peter leans forward. “Why?”
“I’ll tell you everything, but first, I need to know why you are making up stories and going after Reed and his employees,” Savvy says.
“Again, I’m not making up stories, but I’ll tell you why I’m doing this podcast.”
I lean forward. Is he going to admit he’s Stacy’s brother?
A waiter stops by the table, and they order coffee. Once he leaves, Peter grabs a napkin and plays with it.
“Last year, when I first started the podcast, I made friends with an FBI agent. A couple of months ago, I went to visit him again, and I overheard someone in the office talking about Reed Hawthorne Security and the cartel. It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots.”
Their coffee is brought out, and Peter grabs some sugar packets and pours them in.
“Connect what dots?” Savvy asks.
“That Reed used his connection with the cartel to frame Stacy.”
Savvy takes a sip of her coffee. “I don’t get how you came to that conclusion. Did the agent say Reed used them?”
