“Give me a moment, please.” She thought for a moment and then Jada got out her phone and dialed a number.
“Who is this and how did you get this number?”
“Monika.”
“Yes.”
“Jada West speaking.”
“What can I do for you, Jada?”
“I need a favor.”
“Whatever you need.”
“Superb. Is it possible for you to meet me someplace?”
“Just let me know where and when,” Monica said.
“How about the Bemelmans Bar on East 76th.”
“Isn’t that in The Carlyle Hotel?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I could be there in an hour,” Monika said, and they ended the call.
When Monika arrived at The Carlyle, she went directly to the Bemelmans Bar. It was a sophisticated, upscale piano bar, which was adorned with Ludwig Bemelmans' famed murals on the walls. She looked around for Jada and found her and Victor seated at a table near the back.
“Would you give us a minute, Victor?” Jada asked.
Once Victor was gone, Jada explained the situation to Monika. “I need to be sure that it is indeed Mr. Baldwin that plans to become the detectives’ informant before I take it to her.”
“I understand. His life depends on you getting this right because Rain will kill him,” Monika said.
“Can you help me with this?”
“Me, Xavier and Carla aren’t doing anything right now, so I can throw the whole team at this.”
“With everything that is going on in our house, time is of the essence,” Jada reminded her.
“Don’t worry Jada, I got you.”
Chapter Twenty-four
After breaking into Ingram International, Carmen and Kamau took the flash drive and journals that she copied back to the station for a more detailed examination. During the ride, Carmen explained exactly what she was involved in and about the flash drive that Simpson gave her and about their contents.
“What do you think is on the drive you copied?”
“I hope it will tell me what it is about the first drive that’s worth killing over,” Carmen said and settled into her seat.
When they arrived, Kamau escorted Carmen in the building, and then they took the elevator up to her floor. She signed him in as her guest and he was given a badge that was coded to grant him access to the areas Carmen designated. He started to tell Carmen that he already had an all access badge, but he looked at her beautiful face and her smile as she checked him and decided why bother.
“I’m just gonna step in the restroom. I’ll catch up.”
“It’s down that hall and … and you already know where the restrooms are, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. I’ll catch up,” Kamau said again and started in that direction.