Free Game On (The Bod Squad Series Book 1) by Gabra Zackman Page A

candy.”
    “Well, what if they eat them?” she asked.
    “That’s exactly the purpose, Bee. These are ingestible. He got the idea from those camera pills they’re now using to find out if people have acid reflux.”
    “Wait a minute,” Susannah said, “people swallow cameras?”
    “I think I have acid reflux,” Jackson said, “because I’m hopped up like the Energizer Bunny. Always ready to rock out a new job, or rock it on the dance floor. Clearly I have too much acid!”
    “Clearly you do too much acid,” the Boss said drily. “Not the same thing. But I digress. On the positive side, Jackson can put the candy on the plate with the falafel, like a free bonus. Then we’ll really have eyes on the street. The cameras are able to take a picture every two seconds, which is transmitted here, to this device.” Bossman unwrapped a cylindrical package, to reveal what appeared to be a fairly real-looking fake hot dog, equipped with faux bun.
    “Shit,” said Susannah, “is that what I think it is?”
    “That’s right,” said the Boss, “it’s a remote access computer and USB port in the shape of a hot dog.”
    “Why a hot dog?” she asked.
    “I don’t know,” the Boss replied. “Scrubs has an odd sense of humor.”
    Lisa Bee piped in, “Seems like the good doctor has some odd fetishes.”
    “That,” Susannah said, “or some odd eating habits.”
    “I dunno,” Jackson said with a grin, “I like the guy.”
    “Exactly my point,” Lisa Bee said. “Not really a ringing endorsement.”
    Susannah thought she caught a look of fleeting disappointment on Jackson’s face, but she couldn’t be sure; anyway, she was too invested in figuring out what the point of the hot dog was and if they could use it in their next move.
    ‡‡‡
    TYKA AND CHAS emerged from the underground café into the sparkling Paris sunshine. They both took a moment to light another cigarette, surreptitiously looking around to make sure the coast was clear. Tyka looked at Chas for a moment. “You are a marvelously attractive man, Chas. Much like your father. I wish we had met under different circumstances.”
    He smiled. “I do too. But to be frank, I’m otherwise engaged at the moment. Or so I hope.”
    “Hmm.” Tyka licked the corner of her mouth. “Lucky lady. Pretty too. I have always thought white-collar criminals preferred blondes, but perhaps redheads are a challenge?”
    Chas appeared startled. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
    Tyka put a hand on his chest. “I have been tracking you for some time, Chas. I know much more than you would be comfortable with. It was your father’s explicit instructions that I not make contact with you—not give you this message—unless I needed help getting to Bruni, or, god forbid, you were in some kind of trouble with these men. I think we have come to the place where both of those things are happening. Your father had a peculiar ability to sense future possibilities. It is exactly what made him such a good businessman.” Suddenly, her eyes darted over his left shoulder. “Shit. We are being watched. I know that one—Luigi, the Boot. He’s a snake. Thankfully, he does not know me. Kiss me, quickly. And make it look good.”
    Chas did as he was told, grabbing Tyka and pulling her to him in a passionate kiss that left, to the observing eye, no question as to their relationship. When they finally pulled apart, Chas let his hand linger upon her ass for a bit, just to make sure they were creating a believable cover. Tyka’s eyes darted over his shoulder. “Good,” she said, “he looks smug, like we have turned him on. Filthy bastard. I’ve seen what he has done to the whores he hires every night. Filthy fucking bastard.”
    “Can I take my hand off your ass now?” Chas asked, arching an eyebrow.
    “Thank you, Mr. Palmer, that will be enough. I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed it, however.”
    The side of Chas’s mouth curved upward. “Well, I can’t exactly say that