Rain tapped against the windows of the safe house, a gentle percussion accompanying the soft gurgle of the coffee maker in the kitchen. Jenna sat at the dining table, surrounded by case files she'd arranged in careful stacks. Her laptop displayed the PWC membership database, with member profiles open in multiple tabs.
The apartment had taken on a melancholy atmosphere that matched the weather outside. Nine days into their operation, the space had accumulated the intimate details of shared living, yet the warmth these details should have created had evaporated overnight, replaced by a chill that had nothing to do with the autumn rain.
Michelle emerged from her bedroom, already dressed in slim black pants and a gray blouse, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, her professional armor fully in place.
"Morning," Michelle said, her tone neutral as she moved to the coffee maker. "You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep. Wanted to review the membership profiles before tonight's event."
Her phone vibrated with an incoming text, breaking the uncomfortable silence. The message was from their handler, Detective Morgan Rivers, using their established code about a fictional client consultation.
"Morgan has information," Jenna announced, decoding the message. "Surveillance picked up unusual activity at the PWC warehouse last night. Multiple vehicles, late hours."
Michelle moved immediately to the table. "Pre-shipment preparation, most likely. They're moving up the timeline."
"Which means tonight's gathering at Sienna's is more critical than we thought." Jenna pulled up the invitation on her phone. "Her hillside home, cocktails and conversation with the PWC inner circle. The perfect opportunity to gather more intelligence before the shipment."
Jenna studied Michelle across the table. "Mina Salgato will be there tonight," she said, referring to the PWC's logistics coordinator. "She manages the shipments according to our intelligence. If I can get close to her?—"
"Too risky," Michelle interrupted, her tone sharpening. "Mina reports directly to Kendall. Getting too close puts you under additional scrutiny."
"It's exactly the kind of risk this operation requires," Jenna insisted, frustration coloring her words. "We have a limited amount of time remaining and a shipment arriving even sooner than planned. We need inside information on their security protocols."
"And if Mina gets suspicious? If she reports back to Kendall, who's already watching you?"
"Then I handle it," Jenna replied, meeting Michelle's gaze directly. "This isn't my first undercover operation, Michelle. I know how to navigate these situations."
Tension crackled between them, professional disagreement layered over unresolved personal complications. Michelle looked away first, moving to retrieve her laptop.
"Let's focus on equipment preparation," she said finally. "We'll need both audio and visual surveillance."
Jenna pulled out the specialized recording devices, laying them on the table.
"The pendant has the best audio range, but the earrings give us direct communication if needed," she said. "We should both wear emergency beacons."
They continued planning in tense synchronicity, bodies maintaining careful distance while minds worked in unconscious harmony. Despite their personal complications, they still functioned effectively as a team—anticipating each other's thoughts, building on ideas, filling gaps in strategy without explicit discussion.
"We should arrive separately tonight," Michelle suggested.
Jenna shook her head. "That undermines our cover. Couples arrive together, especially at social functions."
Michelle considered this, then nodded reluctantly. "You're right. But once inside, we should circulate independently. Cover more ground."
"Agreed. But we maintain awareness of each other's positions at all times." Jenna's tone softened despite herself. "I watch your back, you watch mine."
Something flickered in Michelle's eyes at that. "Always," she said quietly.
As afternoon approached, Jenna closed her laptop with a decisive click. "I need to prepare for the interviews tomorrow as well. Three leadership-track members, including Nicole, who we now know had direct contact with Beatrice before her death."
Michelle's head snapped up. "You're still planning to conduct those interviews?"
"Of course," Jenna replied, surprised by the question. "It's our best access to inner circle members."
"The Vancouver operation—" Michelle began, then stopped herself. She exhaled slowly. "Just...proceed with extreme caution. Nicole's connection to Beatrice changes the risk assessment."
Jenna studied Michelle, reading the concern beneath her controlled expression. "You're worried about me."
"I'm worried about the operation," Michelle corrected, but the response lacked conviction.
