Title: The 355
By: greygoose70
Chapter 13
Calling it quits for the day everyone returned to their room at the Hilton McLean Hotel.
"I should have worn different shoes," Kate declared kicking off her four-inch heels the moment she and Rick entered their deluxe studio suite located on the eighth floor. "Think I'll go take a soak in the fitness tub."
"Care for some company." Rick replied giving her one of his smirkish grins.
"Absolutely," she said stripping off her sweater letting it fall to the floor. Rick following her lead began removing his clothing as well.
Later nestled between the vee of Rick's legs leaning against his chest their bodies immersed in the hot soothing swirling water she heard him ask, "you're not falling asleep are you."
"No but I could very easily," she answered stifling a yawn.
"What do say we go take a nap before dinner, order in, then find a movie or something anything to help me keep my mind off this case for a while."
"Sounds good, I could use some relief from it myself."
After drying off they moved to the king-sized bed, crawled between the luxurious soft sheets to the center of the bed positioning themselves as they always did him on his back her head on his chest.
"What would like for dinner?" Rick asked while they got dressed in comfy clothes following their nap.
"I don't know. Do they have Chinese?"
"Let me find the menu," he replied then began searching through the desk drawers. "Found it. Humm, they have a roast pork lo mein."
"That sounds good, what wine would go with it?"
"I'll ask when I order dinner," picking up the phone and pressing the number for room service. "A Cabernet Sauvignon," he told her upon hanging up.
"How soon," Kate asked, "I want to wash my hair."
"Want some help?"
"Nooo, I want to be done by the time dinner gets here."
"Kill joy," he muttered watching as she closed the door to the en suite.
"That was delicious, I'll have to see if Kwan has something like it."
"It was good. So, time for a movie. Anything in particular you'd like?"
"How about a rom-com."
"A romantic comedy for the lady it is." Then clicking the remote began searching through the TV's selections. "Look here, 'The 20 best Romantic Comedies'." As he scrolled the list he commented "have seen each one some more than once" then came upon 'When Harry Met Sally'. "How about this one, Kate?"
"Oooh, I love that movie, let's watch it,'" she said excitedly.
It was just as the credits began to roll down the screen that he noticed it; her soft breathing with that l little snort every fifth or sixth breath. He reached over and switched off the bedside lamp then scooted down to a lying position trying not to awaken her. Kate let out mumbled hum as she matched his repositioning stopping when her head rested between his neck and shoulder.
3:00AM, The Air and Space Museum
She carefully traversed on hands and knees across the roof stopping where it became glass then removed her backpack. Taking out her circular glass cutter she began cutting an eight-inch circle. After five rotations she stopped took out a roll of clear Gorilla Tape and ran a single strip across the diameter of the cut then tapped along the circumference until the circle of glass broke loose, the tape preventing it from dropping. Lifting the glass out she set it aside, removed the device from the pack, checked that the alarm was set for the correct time then lowered it through the opening so it rested alongside the airplane exhibit hanging there. She replaced the glass securing it with multiple strips of tape, slipped on her pack, retraced her way back from which she came then escaped from the roof and back to her motel.
0800, The Hilton-McLean Restaurant
The Agents 355 (plus 2) group sat eating their breakfast in silence, none of them wanting to begin discussing what could potentially happen over the course of the day. It was Rick that ultimately broke the silence when seeing that everyone had finished. "Okay everybody listen up. I have made arrangements for us to utilize one of the hotel conference rooms, so if you will grab your coffee and follow me we can get started."
As the group entered the room they saw where seven work stations have been set up with three large screen monitors against one wall. "We're going to do our search differently today ladies," Rick began. "For one, the museum has been closed; secondly we are going to utilize the security cameras and scan every square inch of the museum from top to bottom. If you suspect you see anything that doesn't belong or is out of place put up on one of the big screens so we can take a closer look at it."
"How do we do that," Vittoria asked. "Terri, you want to answer her," Rick replied.
"Each big screen has been labelled. From left to right they are S1, S2, S3. Hold down the Control and Alternate keys and type in the screen label." Terri then did a demonstration and the image from her computer appeared on Screen 3.
"How about camera selection is it the same," Kate requested.
"Each station has a schematic of the area that station is assigned to and its camera locations. Just select a camera with the mouse and you will have control of it. If you want to zoom in use the scroll knob on the mouse. You can also use the arrow keys to make minor adjustments," Terri explained.
"What if we have blind spots,," Ilsa enquired?
"Make note of it and we'll try and pick it up on another camera."
"And if you can't, Rick?"
"Then it's back to the museum we go Ilsa."
The Holiday Inn, that same morning
At 9:05 Renee Gavlin (the name she had checked in with) called down to the front desk informing them she is checking out and could they call for a cab. She was told her bill and a cab would be waiting for her. Twelve minutes later she exited the hotel, stepped into a waiting taxi telling the driver to take her to Union Station.
TBC