Maybe“GoOllie” wasn’t the best mental cheer, because that’s exactly what he did.Nexttime,I’llhave to mentally chant,ComeonOllie, ask me out.I’llsay yes, have no doubt.
Apparently, everyone came early for their coffee this morning because as soon as we get through the huge line of people, we have no one in the line.Whichwas good, because behind the counter got to be a mess in my hurry to help everyone.Plus, it’s giving me lots of chances to glance atOllieasIwipe everything down.Thereis something about this man that has been exciting me in a wayIhaven’t been in such a long time.
He’sdoing something on his computer, looking all studious, and gives his glasses a nudge up.I’vealways wondered what kinds of things are going through his head as he’s working on his laptop or reading a book in the mornings.He’san accountant—maybe he thinks in numbers the same wayIthink in words.
Ihappen to be looking inOllie’sdirection (again) when a man in a suit strolls into theCoffeeLoft.Hedoesn’t come up to the counter to order—he goes straight toOllie’stable.It’sthe same guy who came and sat down at his table yesterday.
Thenit hits me—this is the guy!Thespy,Imeanintelligence operative!I’mpretty sureOlliecalled himJace.Ooh.Hedoeshave a bit of aPierceBrosnan/ 007 quality about him.IwatchOllieto get clues as to how he feels aboutJaceshowing up again today.Severalemotions cross his face in rapid succession, and within the first minute ofJacebeing at his table,I’mpretty sureeveryemotion has crossedOllie’sface at least once.
IwishIcould hear their conversation.MaybeifIgo out to wipe off the empty tables,Ican overhear a few things.Oh, butIdid that yesterday whileJacewas here.Willhe suspect thatI’mtrying to eavesdrop ifIdo it again today?
Probablyso.He’san intelligence operative, after all.He’strained to notice things like that.Theguy doesn’t have a coffee.MaybeIcould make him one and take it over to him.Tellhim it’s on the house.Afree sample.Pumpkinspice lattes are really popular right now.Butthey’re also one of those love-it-or-hate-it kinds of things.Maybea maple cinnamon latte.What’snot to love about those?Actually, he looks like a honey almond latte kind of guy.Icould do that.
I’mabout to start making it whenIseeOllieglance at me before his eyes are back onJace, andI’mfrozen, cleaning cloth in hand, mid-wipe.He’stalking, andI’msure they’re talking about me.Ollieis probably telling him thatIwas the other voiceJaceheard through the listening device.Hopefully,Ididn’t getOllieinto trouble by going with him.I’mbetting that it was a secret mission thatIdidn’t have clearance or whatever to know about.
ThenOllie’seyes meet mine again, and this time they stay on me as he raises an eyebrow and motions to come over.
“Nora,I’llbe right back,”Isay asIabandon my cleaning cloth, head around to the other side of the counter, and walk toOllie’stable.
Olliestands and pulls out one of the chairs at his round table for me, andItake a seat right between him andJaceas he introduces us to each other.
“So,”Olliesays, “remember how yesterday you said, ‘Weshould do this again sometime,’ andIsaid that if the opportunity to be a spy arises againI’dlet you know?”
Isit up a little straighter. “Yeah?”
Olliemotions toJace, andJacesays, “Justbefore five o’clock yesterday,Ollie’scoworker met with the client that we suspect is aiding a terrorist group.”
“Andthey met in the records room?”Iask.
“Theydid.Thankyou for placing the bug.”
Igrin atOllie, and he grins back.
“Fromthat meeting, we discovered thatOllie’scoworker planted some paperwork inside an older file in the records room that he knew would never get looked at again.Whichwas smart, because if they were suspected of anything, investigators would only search that client’s file for information, not others.Soit’d stay well hidden.”
“Doyou know what is on the papers?”Ollieasks.
“Fromtheir conversation, we have a good idea.Wethink it’s some original contracts between the client and a shell company that is funding the terrorist organization.Thedocuments contain details about seemingly legitimate transactions that, in fact, are not.Sincethey’re contracts that may be necessary later, they don’t want them destroyed but they do want them kept in physical form to avoid digital files that could be traced.Sothey hid them in a place they think is safe.
“Webelieve that those contracts contain the name of the shell corporations, bank account details, and maybe even references to individuals that could provide us with some new leads.Sowe really want a copy of those contracts.”
Ollieleans back in his chair like the air was sucked out of him. “Ican’t believe thatTadis aiding terrorists.Imean, he’s always tearing me down andIknowI’lldo an actual happy dance when the day comes thatIno longer have to work with him, but still.”
“Itmay not all be as it appears when it comes toTad,”Jacesays. “Basedon some smacking sounds we heard during their meeting, we think that maybe his client is a honey trap.”
“Awhat?”Olliesays.
Isit up straighter. “Theywere making out in the records room?!”Thisis getting even more interesting.
Jacenods. “Theyweren’t helpful enough to spell out their whole arrangement or anything, but from what wegathered, she told him that she’s divorced, that her ex-husband is a bad man, and that he’s trying to steal her company out from under her.Tadbelieves he’s helping her funnel money to a trust fund for her daughter.”
“Howcan he not know?”Ollieasks. “Hemay not be the most brilliant accountant ever, but he should still be able to figure that out.”
Jaceshrugs. “Hewouldn’t be the first guy to have his thinking impaired by a beautiful woman who’s willing to make out with him in a records room.”Heturns his attention to me. “I’veaskedOllieif he will get me a copy of those contracts.Heasked me if it’d be okay ifIread you in and if you could join him on the mission today.”
“Ifyou want to,”Olliesays. “Imean, you don’t have to.ButIwant you to.”
Asmile spreads across my face.Okay, this is a start.It’snot exactlyOllieasking me out, but it’s leaning in that direction.Plus, this will be fun. “Iwant to,”Isay toOllie.Then,Iturn toJace. “Whatinformation do you need from me to vet me for this mission, or whatever you need to do?”
