Hey! Ugh, I hate that it's been like forever, but here's Chapter 21! Thank you so much for all the crazy awesome reviews I got for chapter 20...sorry it took so long on the update. Things have been insane busy and there were technical difficulties. I have a new system for updating though that should work better than what I've been doing...

I know this chapter may not have all of the action you wanted, but I promise that I'm getting there. Sorry if it seems like this story is drawn out...

Chapter Twenty-One

I stepped through the revolving door into the impressive lobby of our target building. To my right steps led down to a trendy bar area where several businessmen sat sipping cocktails. The center of the grand room held an elaborate fountain that shot water into the air, but didn't come close to reaching the 20 foot tall ceilings. Trendy music was playing softly in the background and added to an atmosphere that just screamed money and influence.

I took all of this in as I made my way to the counter that stood behind the fountain. Two concierges stood behind; both of them male. I smiled; this made my job even easier.

Sure enough, as I reached the counter both of the guys eyed me in a way that was more than casual. I tried to hide my disgust and smiled innocently while pulling my shades up to set them on my head.

One of them spoke, "How may I be of service Miss?" The one named "Jared" asked.

"Oh, well I'm new to the area and I'm interested in finding a place to stay. Several of my friends recommended this lovely building. I was wondering if I could look at a few spaces that are available?" I said while tilting my head and keeping a sweet smile on my lips.

Zach must have given Ryan a comms unit, because I heard him speak in my ear. "I've entered the building; I'll be at the bar."

Not making it obvious that I could hear him, I continued talking to the concierge as he tapped away on his computer. "You know, this really is a lovely building, and I wouldn't mind having to see you two every day," I cooed

Unfortunately the concierge decided to not fall for my act. "I'm terribly sorry Miss, but you cannot see units in this building without an appointment. I'm afraid it's our policy." Internally I was thinking about every single way I could single handedly take the concierge down. But I played it cool.

Leaning even closer over the counter, I looked at him. "Are you sure you can't make any exceptions? I promise that it will be worth your time." I gave it one last shot. I also took the opportunity to place a bug on the underside of the counter.

Jared shook his head again no. I silently cursed and moved on to plan B.

"Oh well what a disappointment. But before I go is there any way I could use your ladies' room?" I asked.

Jared apparently decided I was harmless and took pity on me. "Yes, you may. It's just down the hall by the elevators across from the business center."

Finally something was going my way. I quickly thanked the concierge and took the hallway toward the elevators. Lucky for me, a man was just stepping on one to go up to an above floor. I slipped in the elevator just as the door was closing.

The man avoided all eye contact so I didn't make any attempt to chat. I randomly pressed a floor from the elevator buttons and then took the opportunity to study the man in the reflection off the doors.

He was dressed in an expensive business suit, and carried a classic black briefcase. His rather small face had beady eyes that were enlarged by glasses. He wasn't at all attractive, and something about his manner made me slightly uneasy.

The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. I waited a moment when my fellow companion didn't get off before realizing that this was my floor. I hastily exited the elevator and looked around. As I did so the comms unit in my ear was filled with the sound of Zach's voice.

"Cam, what the bloody hell are you doing! Get out of the building now! You have no idea what you are going into!" Zach warned.

"Stop Zach. I'm on the eighth floor, the concierge wasn't any help at all, but I was able to catch an elevator. Ryan, is there any way that you can tell me what floor Jason Snider has a room on?" I said in a low tone as I walked down the hallway, trying to get a lay of the land.

"I'll try Cam, but there are no guarantees." Ryan replied.

"Cammie, stop. Come out here and we'll regroup." Zach continued to plead.

"No Zach," I'm doing this with or without you." I hissed. "Now pull up blueprints of the building and tell me where I'm going."

Zach decided to take my advice, because I heard him type on a laptop. But then opportunity struck my eye.

A maid had just come out of a room with a cleaning cart. I casually walked down the hall toward her, but when I got near I stumbled slightly on my tall heels. I grabbed her arm for support and she reached to steady me.

"Watch your step," she smiled. What she didn't notice was me reach for the all-access key card that was clipped to the cart. Of course, I did it in an instant, so not many people would.

I continued down the hall and took a left, still unsure of where I was going.

"We're golden boys, I got an all-access key. Now Zach, where am I going?" I whispered.

"Okay Cam, if you continue to go straight, there should be a stairwell. Ryan, we need your intel." Zach said.

I walked down the hall until I saw a door labeled "EMERGENCY EXIT" "Okay boys, let's go." I demanded.

Moments later, Ryan finally spoke. "Oh you guys so owe me. Don't ask me how, but Jason Snider apparently has a room on the eleventh floor."

"Good job Ryan," I started pounding up the stairs. My heels killed my feet but I ignored the pain. When I reached the eleventh floor I eased through the door and looked around. Again, the hallways were vacant. I figured the rooms must get bigger the higher the floor number, because doors were spaced farther apart. Spotting a table near the elevator that sported a large floral arrangement, I placed an audio/visual bug.

I continued down hallways and placed bugs at key vantage points that would give us the best audio-video feed. Since we didn't know what room Snider was in, I couldn't bug just one area of the floor. When I had placed all the bugs I walked back to the elevators, only to find they required a room key to move down or up.

I groaned, it was back to the stairs. I was down to the fifth floor when I heard the voices. Footsteps echoed as two people made their way up in my direction. I froze, listening and trying to figure out what to do.

"We need a higher security area, taking chances is stupid." A male voice drifted up to my ears.

"If we make it easy for them, they'll come." Another man countered. "And that's just what we want."

I swallowed and realized they were on the floor beneath me. I slipped onto the fifth floor and prayed that they were going to continue up.

Naturally, they didn't. Shortly after I slipped into the fifth floor hallway, I heard the door open. I quickly turned to head back to the stairs and pretended to be looking for something.

One of the men nearly smacked into me, as I had hoped. I put a look of shock on my face and reached to slip an earring out of my ear.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry sir," I seemed to have dropped an earring." I blushed intentionally and batted my eyes innocently.

My ploy worked as neither of the men proceeded to look suspicious. One of them gave me a strange look though, but the other man elbowed him.

"No sorry miss. Please excuse us." The second man said and they both stepped past me. I couldn't help but smirk. I was good.

This time I managed to make it down to the lobby. I walked back down the hallway with the elevators and toward the fountain. I didn't worry about the concierge noticing me, I was the Chameleon, even in this dress.

I stepped through the revolving door and I exited the building I felt somebody walk up behind me.

"You work almost as well as your father." I commented.

Ryan grunted, "I wouldn't know. You don't operate too bad yourself."

I stopped and spun around to face him as we reached the street.

"I don't mess around when my best friend is being held by terrorists." I looked at his incredibly blue eyes. He stepped closer to me, so that we were almost touching.

"I don't mess around either." He cocked his head slightly. "I think we'll work well together." Then he nodded to something behind me. "You know, he's only looking out for you." I glanced over my shoulder to see Zach sending me and Ryan a smoldering glare from his spot behind the wheel of our car.

I shrugged. "I can look out for myself." Ryan shook his head and stepped back.

We both crossed the street. "It would be good if I could rent a room in that building." Ryan pointed toward the hotel that I hadn't noticed. "We can conduct 24/7 surveillance from there."

I smiled. "Yeah, that's smart."

We reached the car and I opened the door to slide into the passenger seat, Ryan walked around and Zach rolled down the driver's window to talk to him.

"So I'm going to go see if I can rent a room at that hotel right there," he pointed it out to Zach. "I'll request a room that faces the street so we can set up eyes on the building and run 24/7 surveillance. Do you guys just want to hang tight here?" Ryan asked.

Zach nodded, processing and agreeing, "Yeah, we have to talk anyways," he sent a sidelong glance in my direction.

Ryan nodded and turned back to his car. Zach rolled up his window and I reached to take off my heels.

"So, I think I covered areas that will give us really good intel." I broke the awkward silence.

"Cam," Zach said coolly, and I straightened up to look at him.

"Zach, I stopped him, I know what you're going to say. I took a risk. It could have turned out badly. But it didn't. And we have to get Bex somehow." I rambled.

But Zach just shook his head and reached over to touch my face. "Gallagher Girl. We're playing a dangerous game. And I don't want to see you get hurt." His ran his thumb over my cheek. "And that means that we can't go into stuff like this constantly arguing."

I bit my lip and nodded slowly. Zach dropped his hand. Then I remember something.

"Zach," I said. "Don't you think that was all entirely too easy? They didn't have any security cameras in the stairwells or hallways. But yet there was something off about that place."

Zach shrugged, "Well it was easy, but we're also highly trained agents."

I shifted in my seat. "No. When I was coming down the stairs, there were two guys coming up. I managed to avoid them, but I did overhear part of their conversation. They said that "if we make it easy for them, they will come". Do you think they know we're onto them?"

I looked to Zach's face for some sort of reaction but I couldn't read his expression. "I don't know Gallagher Girl."

I was about to press him for more, when his phone rang. He reached to grab it and after glancing at the screen, took the call.

The volume was too low for me to hear who it was on the other end, and Zach didn't say anything until the end.

"Okay," He ended the call.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Ryan." Zach replied. "It looks like its stakeout time."

Oh stakeouts, so much fun! I'd love to hear feedback in a review, constructive criticism is always welcome!

Check out my profile page for when to expect updates! :D Thanks for reading!