Seattle 2009
The distant rumble of thunder caused her to look up at the grey sky with a growing sense of nervousness. The questionable, no, the dangerous task she was about to partake in could not be swayed by the impending storm. The inclement weather only added to the heightened risk she was taking tonight. Her stop was just around the corner, so she quietly asked the taxi driver to stop within a block of the large, multi-story building in downtown Seattle.
"Ma'am are you sure?" the driver asked her slowing the taxi to a stop "it looks like it's about to pour."
"I'll be fine," she insisted, handing him the crumpled up bills for the charge of the ride.
The driver thanked her, watching her slip out of the seat and march up to the building before driving away.
The rain had just begun to drizzle as she walked the street, trying to blend in with those around her but struggling to maintain composure. Her outfit was hampering her ability to camouflage in. She had carefully selected the little black dress from her closet with matching heels. Her hair was a different story. Wearing it down would surely give her away so she had no choice but to tie it back with a ridiculous clip the size of a small satellite orbiting earth. She debated bringing a jacket but that would be an extra thing in her hands that would no doubt draw suspicion to her. But as the rain drops hit her bare skin, she started to regret not bringing it. Her only true weapon to back her up tonight was a larger than normal clutch bag. Bejeweled with a silver chain and clasps, she could easily conceal anything in it, and tonight, its sole purpose was to bring justice.
As the crowd of people entered and mingled in the lobby of the building, she found it easy to slip in amongst the crowd. Everyone here was dressed like her, women in dresses, hair thrown up, men in suits and ties. She had made the right choice in picking this event. The newly renovated downtown loft area would be opening soon, and this was the celebration party. The prominent businesses had given millions in donations to the project because they all assumed the investor was a good guy. She knew otherwise.
She managed to ease her way into the main event room, eyes scanning the large crowd for her target. He would not be easy to find amongst the other dignitaries and rich elite of Seattle. But she also knew he had habits, things that needed to be tended to, business deals always flying, phone calls to make, hands to shake, she would find him when he was at his most distracted. A waiter passing around trays of hors-d'oeuvre nearly bumped into her. She dodged them with quick reflexes, knowing any sort of accident would draw attention to her and ruin her plan.
Getting away from the main reception area was key, but she needed to keep her target in sight. Luckily, an empty table had cleared, and she positioned herself in the seat facing the crowd, so she could remain hidden but still lie in wait. After the hors-d'oeuvre's, she knew wine and other mixed drinks would be served. From the kitchen entrance, she spotted various waiters and waitresses carrying trays with enough alcohol to power this party for hours. She tightened her grip on her purse when she saw him pick up a red wine and sip it twice before setting it down at his table. Everyone else in his group had done the same. She had to be very careful not to lose sight of his. Music started to play from the orchestra on the small stage near the lobby. People were toasting their glasses together, laughing, swaying with the music, all while the rain pelted the building outside. When it came down to it, she was not worried about getting caught. What she feared the most was being wrong. Because being wrong meant she had lost her nerve. After several agonizing minutes of watching people drink, she watched on the edge of her seat as her target abandoned his table with what she assumed was his date; a woman in a similar dress and heels whom he leads over to the orchestra, so they could watch and possibly dance. Her chest was burning now with an overwhelming ache telling her to proceed now before it was too late.
Slipping from her seat, she strolled casually through the crowd, keeping an eye on her target whose back was still to her. There were still two people at his table and she wondered if they really knew him or had been assigned those seats. It occurred to her that she should have donned a waiter's uniform instead. That would have at least given her a reason to scoop up the wine glass without drawing suspicion. She stopped walking, wondering if it was too late to go back and steal a uniform and a tray. In her moment of hesitation, the other two guests vacated the table. Her luck was turning now and there was no going back. She reached the table, being careful not to lean against any part of it or rest her hands on anything but the wine glass.
She used the tissue stuffed in her clutch bag to pinch the wine glass at its stem. Glancing around one last time for any onlookers, she scooped up the empty wine glass, seeing the residue from his drink still swirling at the bottom letting her know he had drank from it, and placing it delicately into the zip seal plastic bag she brought with her. From the nearby cart of silverware, she grabbed a replacement glass and positioned it perfectly on the table. Her target was still on the dance floor watching the orchestra, no one had made her. She delicately slipped the glass in its bag into her clutch purse but could not close the snaps on it. Cursing to herself, she fumbled with the bag and started walking towards the exit, stealing glances back at her target and his guests. Not a single person paid any attention to her as she finally managed to snap the bag shut. It was now painfully obvious she was concealing something in her bag and she needed to get out of here quickly. She tucked the fragile bag under her arm, trying not to crush it as she meandered towards the exit. She reached the double doors in the lobby, stealing one last glance at her target who was still unaware of her presence before slipping out the doors and into the night.