Dead in a Week (Forensic Instincts 7)

“Yes. I’m parked directly across the street from the apartment and the covered parking area. I’ll be able to see her leave and to make sure she doesn’t make a surprise return. You haven’t heard from Aidan, have you?”

“Not yet.”

“Neither have I.” Simone’s forehead creased with worry. “I know this is business-as-usual for him, but I’m on edge anyway. Unrealistic as it is, there’s a part of me that was hoping the mission was already completed and that the team was on their way home with Lauren.”

“I understand.” Terri sounded concerned, too, at least for Terri. “I half expected to have gotten the thumbs-up from Aidan by now. That having been said…” She continued, back to her get-it-done self. “You and I must compartmentalize so we can be effective at our part in this investigation.”

“Agreed.” Simone glanced up as a runner jogged by—a tanned California girl with a blonde ponytail. Definitely not Jia li.

“Do you have all your tools ready?” Terri asked.

“Um-hum—along with my gun.”

“I see.” Terri didn’t sound surprised. “I’m sure Aidan wasn’t happy about that.”

“No, he wasn’t. But it’s a necessary precaution, especially once you fire off that text. Who knows whether either the mole or Jia li will turn violent once they realize they’ve been compromised. The mole will likely recognize me from Nano, and I need to be prepared.”

“Of course.”

“Are you going to tell me what I’m downloading onto this USB drive?”

“Later. Time’s too tight right now. Jia li will be leaving for her club meeting any minute.”

Abruptly, Simone sat up in her seat. “Sooner than that,” she said as a blue BMW exited from the enclosed lot. The driver signaled right and pulled out, at which point Simone got an excellent view of her. “Jia li is on her way.”

Simone waited five minutes to make sure her target didn’t return unexpectedly for some forgotten item. Then she grabbed her purse— complete with everything she and Terri had discussed—got out of her car, and calmly strolled across the street.

The garden apartment complex was three stories high, charming in an outdoorsy, California kind of way. Each unit had a private wooden terrace wrapped around it, with a broad window that overlooked either the landscaped grounds or the outdoor pool. Lots of palm trees and lush greenery lined the stone path that Simone walked up as she made her way to the quiet entranceway door.

There she paused, taking out her cell phone and, brows drawn together in feigned frustration, seemingly checked and rechecked her text messages.

It took less than ten minutes for a young couple—holding hands and gazing intimately at each other while laughing at some private joke—to exit the building. They moseyed their way out, letting the door swing shut behind them, barely missing Simone as they did. They moved on, oblivious to Simone and the whole damned world.

Simone caught the handle just before the door shut completely, the hint of a smile at her lips. Nothing like twentysomething lovers to give her the unnoticed entry she sought.

The lobby was nothing more than a polished oak floor, two tufted armchairs, and some striking potted plants. No front desk. No front doorman. As always, Terri was spot-on with her research.

Simone turned left and headed down the deserted hallway to apartment five. She paused, listening for approaching footsteps and simultaneously scrutinizing the hallway. So far, so good.

She took out her lock-picking tools and went to work.

Three minutes later she was inside, ready to go.

The living room was straight ahead, decorated with a matching sofa and love seat and two accent chairs, all done in muted shades of turquoise and pink. Peaceful watercolor artwork hung on the walls, and there was a simple glass coffee table in the center of the furniture grouping. All very feminine and tasteful. More mature than youthful, but that was no surprise, given Jia li was far from the average grad student. She played in the sophisticated big leagues and her decorating tastes reflected that.

Simone didn’t waste a second. She crossed over to the sofa, took out the key fob, and knelt down, sliding it across the carpeted floor just beneath the center section of the sofa. Out of sight. Out of reach. But so innocuous that, if and when found, it would seem insignificant.

In a heartbeat, Simone snapped her purse shut and retraced her steps, then hovered with her ear against the front door. She heard a bunch of footsteps accompanied by laughing voices as a group of people made their way down the hall, passing Jia Li’s apartment, their voices fading away as they neared the lobby.

There were no other sounds alerting her to further activity, but Simone still waited a good few minutes longer. She wasn’t taking any chances. Jia li’s apartment door was visible from the lobby. She had to make doubly sure that whoever had passed had also left the building.

Utter silence endured.

Carefully, Simone opened the door a crack and peered both ways.

No one.

She slipped out of the apartment, reengaged the lock, and walked out of the building with the same easygoing veneer with which she’d arrived.