I totally promise I did not mean to do the boltanics maneuver on Preston Winters. It was an accident. If I had known it was him I wouldn't have done it. The guy looked up at me terrified and out of breath.
"Cammie" he choked out weakly. I quickly got off him and helped him to his feet.
"Oh my goodness Preston I am so sorry!" He coughed and made a waving motion.
"It's no big deal."
The sirens still blared and the emergency light flashed.
"Preston, what are you doing here?" I asked confused. At first, I thought it a coincidence but his body language told me it was anything but coincidence.
In my ears, I could hear Bex and Macey talking.
"What is that bloody noise? Did you break into the display Cam?" Bex spoke.
"Did you just say Preston?" Macey asked.
He leaned in and gave me a hug. I stopped frozen. Then he grabbed my hand. Something rough held between my hand and his. Preston looked me right in the eyes. "It's good to see you, Cammie." Something was definitely off about his demeanor.
He released my hand, leaving the paper in mine. He gave me a half-smile then walked into the crowd of people leaving the museum.
I quickly stuffed the paper in my pocket and headed towards the exit.
"Cammie!" Bex was yelling in my ear.
"I'm on my way out," I muttered. "Meet me in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden."
I quickly slipped out the door and headed down the lawn of grass towards the sculptures. Bex and Macey stood admiring a skinny rabbit-like statue sitting on a rock.
"It is quite sophisticated," Bex said. She tilted her head to the side.
"Ehh, it's alright," Macey said looking bored. She looked around and locked her eyes on me. "Cammie!" She waved her arm. She looked like any other tourist meeting up with friends.
"So what's the stitch?" Bex asked in a low voice.
"Not here," I said. A quick nod from both told me they understood. We headed towards the car, where Liz was monitoring everything.
When we got into the van the bombard of questions came.
"Preston?" Macey asked, she looked irritated.
"Yes."
"Winters?" Macey looked more confused than ever.
"Do you know anyone else named Preston?" I asked, a little annoyed." He gave me a hug and handed me this." I pulled out the small piece of paper and unfolded it.
I found Susie at the gazebo on Tuesday and 21:00.
-Z
"Oh, he's good." Bex smiled. I wasn't sure if she was referring to the fact that Preston successfully accomplished a handoff or that Zach had totally planned this whole goose chase.
"I'd be lying if I didn't kind of turn me on," Macey said nonchalantly. We all looked at her. "Preston. I'm talking about Preston, not Zach ew gross." She made a gagging noise.
"It is quite impressive considering the nature of his smoothness." Liz agreed.
"So what I'm hearing is Zach sent you all the way to D.C. just to tell you to go to Roseville? AND for some reason, Preston is helping him? Despite being internationally wanted all around the world?"
"Considering the world we operate in does the unexpected really surprise you still?"
"More than it probably should." Bex
"Statistically speaking our particular situation had a higher chance of happening than the Winters-McHenry campaign."
Macey glared at her.
"Hey, it's better than your fiance, leaving you at the alter because he works for a highly secret, highly dangerous terrorist organization and is now wanted all across the world for an incident far more worse than killing a member of the royal family." Liz shrugged. Then she looked at me. "Sorry Cammie."
I rolled my eyes at the whole situation. "I guess we should go get my cat." I said looking at my friends.
"That's one bloody lucky cat," Bex added.
"There is just something I don't understand," Macey spoke up. "Preston is helping Zach?"
She had a point. Zach and Preston's relationship had never been the best. They were civil and all but there was definite tension and had been since my forgotten trip to Rome, which still remains unknown to all that exactly happened. "It is strange," I admitted. "If only we had someone who could extract information from him."
We all looked at Macey.
"I am not getting anything out of Preston. We broke up. I don't even want to hear his voice." She crossed her arms as if it was final.
"Okay, but it's not like you're really broken up." Liz added.
"Plus you did just say his handoff turned you on." I added. The look she gave me could have killed me.
"What about "it's over" doesn't sound like a breakup."
"Because we all bloody well know you and him will just get back together." This was true. We all knew that when they "broke up" they never really broke up. The longest breakup they've ever had only lasted four weeks. Right now it had been two weeks.
'"No! This time's for real. I'm sick and tired of all the other attention he gets from girls. AND how he acts about it." Ever since Preston really filled out and started core training, not to mention Macey helping him choose better clothes, Preston became very attractive. He and Macey together were absolutely stunning and despite the fact that Preston only had eyes for Macey, she was more than peeved about the attention he got from other girls.
"Oh come on!" Liz threw her hands up in the air. "JUST KISS HIM AND GET THE INFORMATION!"
"Well said Lizzy!" Bex beamed, proud at Liz's voice.
"Fine!" I will seduce Preston into giving me information, only if, Liz will agree to get Jonas to get me access to next month's Vogue. I am determined to be trendy before they release it." Liz rolled her eyes.
"You know I could do that myself." Liz looked offended.
"Yes, but you will be busy helping us fund Zach. I wouldn't want to overwhelm you."
Liz thought for a moment, then smiled. "I guess you're right."
"Okay, then it's settled. Cammie and I will go to Roseville, Macey will go to New York to seduce Preston, and Lizzy will whip Jonas' butt in another game of chess and extract the vogue magazine." Bex stated. She was excited about our mission, the thrill of the chase was something she always loved.
"Well, I guess we are going back to our home away from home." I looked at Bex.
"Back to the town where it all started."
Roseville, here we come.
