PROLOGUE
The man in the black car watched from across the street as they left the restaurant. His target gestured wildly to the girl next to him, and she threw her head back in laughter. He looked rather proud at the response he had solicited from his companion. She punched him playfully in the arm after he made another comment, but they continued to laugh nonetheless. When they reached the car, the man watching them expected them to say goodbye to each other. Only they didn't. The girl climbed into the passenger seat of his target's car instead.
This was not part of the plan. The man double-checked the picture clipped to his instruction sheet without taking his eyes completely off their vehicle. It was definitely him. She wasn't supposed to be going home with him tonight, though. Still, the engine that started and the lights that turned on certainly indicated otherwise. The man grabbed the black mask he had brought with him and slid it over his face. If there were any cameras watching them when it happened, no one would be able to recognize him. The stolen plates on his car would lead the authorities in a completely different direction as well. The man waited only twenty seconds before he pulled out into the street to follow them.
He picked up his phone and dialed the number on the sheet.
The cool voice he'd spoken with only two days ago picked up immediately. "I expect your call means that the job is done."
"No ma'am," he replied. "There's been a slight set-back."
The cool voice snarled. "What is it?"
"The girl is with him."
"His girl?"
"I believe so. They seem friendly enough."
"She is supposed to have a night shift today."
"Perhaps he is dropping her off, ma'am."
"We can't take that risk. If you're wrong and they get too close to his neighborhood, you could be spotted."
"We can postpone to another night. I can keep trailing him."
"No," the voice spit out. "No delays. Everything is already in motion."
"And the girl?"
"Can you get rid of her?"
The man hesitated. "It would be…risky, ma'am. On such short notice, there would probably be too much evidence."
"No matter then," she replied. "If it's his girl, she could prove useful."
"So you would have me proceed?"
"Yes," said the cool voice, back to complete composure. "Grab them. Grab them both."