Free Blowback (The Black Cipher Files Book 1) by Lisa Hughey Page A

lab. We’re driving through and stopped to see a friend of ours. Barbara.” Lucas zeroed in on what would put this infant at ease and hitched up his pants so his white socks and black shoes showed beneath the hem. Very non-threatening, easy going, everybody’s happy. “She told us she had to work late, but we could stop by before we headed down South.”
    “One minute, sir.”
    I tilted my head, examining my fingernails. I pretended to frown over a chipped nail while I peered through the cover of my eye lashes, searching for any other cameras than the one aimed at the door. I found two more. One on each corner of the building, doing a sweep of the parking lot.
    I stayed to the side and slightly behind Lucas, using his body as a shield.
    The buzzer sounded.
    I was one step closer to finding out what was in that syringe.
    As we entered the lobby, the guard stood, puffed out his chest, hands on his hips, drawing attention to the gun belt resting low on his waist.
    “I’ll have to ask you to sign in.”
    “No problem, son.” Lucas signed two names with a flourish.
    Fred and Betty Stone. Are we heading back to Bedrock after this?
    Lucas rubbed his index finger over an eyebrow, drawing the guard’s eye to a large gaudy gold ring on his right hand and away from his smirk.
    “I’ll need to see identification.”
    Shit. My brain must be fried. No i.d.
    Lucas reached into his back pocket and flipped open an alligator skin wallet. As the guard leaned over to look at it, Lucas diverted his attention by talking and gesturing with his hands.
    “Barb’s an old friend. So glad we could touch base with her.” Lucas snapped the wallet closed as the steel-reinforced door to our left swung wide open.
    The guard was trying to figure out if he should ask to see it again or let it go. Nice moves.
    A woman, Barb presumably, strode toward us in a pristine lab coat and nylons. Her high heels tapped out an even rhythm on the black granite floor, except for a tiny falter when she saw me.
    She was gorgeous, with skin the color of a frothy latte, large chocolate brown eyes, and a pixie cut of thick black hair. High cheekbones brushed with blusher and full lips painted a soft amber subtly emphasized her beauty. She’d taken the time to do her makeup before we got here. When she smiled, her focus on Lucas was warm and very friendly.
    “So good to see you.” She kissed him on the cheek.
    Although her smile didn’t slip, as she turned to me, she assessed me with sharp interest and not a shred of welcome.
    As Lucas draped his arm over my shoulder, I cursed him silently. He’d slept with me yesterday. How long had it been since he’d slept with her?
    I saw the ‘oh shit’ realization hit him.
    Time for damage control. Barb needed to be put at ease. I needed her expertise. I shimmied out of Lucas’s light grip and walked cautiously toward her, hands out.
    “Barb, sugar, I’m so pleased you could fit us into your busy schedule.”
    “Anything for you and Fred.” She held my hand in a fierce grip, her knuckles white.
    I hugged her stiff form and whispered in her ear, “Get us somewhere private.”
    “I can’t take you on a tour. Security, you know. But there is a visitor’s lounge.” She hustled us to the steel door. Then she swiped an employee badge through a reader, punched in a series of numbers, and practically shoved me through.
    As the door shut behind us, I noted the security cameras along the ceiling. The hallway was wide with dark grey industrial carpeting, startlingly white walls, and very bright halogen lighting. Interspersed at regular intervals were light grey doors, all with keypads and magnetic card readers to grant access, and cameras aimed at each entrance.
    “Do y’all have a little girl’s room?” I patted the tips of my wig, staying in character in case there were cameras I couldn’t see. “I need to use the facilities.”
    “Sure.” Barb turned a corner, tugging me with her and Lucas trailing behind us.