Covert Alliance. Linda O. Johnston
2
Kelly wished she could stand there and eavesdrop on Stan’s conversations—unobtrusively, without encouraging his disgusting flirtation with her. But she knew she had to stay on top of the requests made by all customers at the tables to which she’d been assigned. At least that included the one where Stan sat.
She didn’t believe he would spill the information she sought right here, in public. But he might drop even just a tiny hint that could lead her, eventually, to what she needed.
Consequently, she passed the table often, refilling water glasses and coffee cups, smiling and inquiring whether everything was okay. Stan had started a loud, friendly conversation with one of his colleagues and more or less ignored her, except to ask for a coffee refill now and then. Kelly also made sure that Alan, as well as his tablemate, were satisfied with the service. To them, she was a server here, and that was all.
She hoped.
Kelly didn’t realize how much of a strain it all was until the entire group, presumed security guys included, finally filed out of the restaurant. Only then did she start breathing normally again.
“Good job,” Ella told the entire group of servers as they stood in the kitchen awaiting the next food items to bring out to remaining and new customers.
“She always says that,” Tobi Marolo whispered out of the corner of her mouth. Tobi had told Kelly she had worked there for decades, even though she was only in her late twenties, around Kelly’s age. When Kelly gently called her on it, she admitted it only felt like she’d practically been born working at this place. “It’s supposed to make us feel happy and actually do a good job...next time,” Tobi continued.
Kelly laughed. She really did feel happy—or at least relieved. Her second hurdle since arriving back in Blue Haven had been leaped, and seemed to have been successful. The first had been landing this job. The second was seeing Stan in person and not being identified by him. He’d never have simply ignored her if he’d thought she could possibly be Shereen—or anyone else who mattered to him.
She still had no idea how she would accomplish hurdle number three: seeing her nephew, Eli, the real reason she had broken promises and rules when her identity had been changed for her protection, and she’d returned to Blue Haven.
Hurdle number four? She had anticipated she might face it—having to deal with someone undercover here who was part of the Identity Division, the government agency that had helped her tremendously but whose commands she was now ignoring. She just hadn’t thought she’d have to face it this soon. If Alan was who she believed he was, that obstacle was now potentially as urgent as the others.
And then there was the most critical, number five: finding a way, at last, to bring Stan down and help Eli.
For the rest of the morning, Kelly went through the usual rituals of greeting customers, handing them menus, making suggestions and taking their orders. Then she served them with a smile, making sure their experiences here were completely positive.
She didn’t always love the aromas floating through the kitchen, particularly the occasional burning of a dish. And it was tiring to be on her feet all the time. Plus, trays full of food could be quite heavy.
Then there was the uniform she wore. Stan wasn’t the only one who eyed her as if she were bed-bait. Maybe that had been Alan’s only interest in her, too, despite her suspicions. If he weren’t security in any form, she might even have considered reciprocating, since the guy was pretty darned hot.
But many men seemed to notice her here—and not only her. Ella had chosen the cutesy outfits for the female servers who made up most of the waitstaff, Kelly was sure, to appeal to male customers. The Haven was essentially a glorified coffee shop, but it had a longtime reputation for catering to the powers-that-be in Blue Haven. It didn’t hurt to give the men some eye candy while they were here.
Or that was what Kelly had heard, anyway.
Soon, the early lunch crowd began to arrive. Kelly ramped up her energy and her serving skills, but was disappointed when she didn’t see anyone she recognized as being on the city council. She glanced outside as often as she could, toward the other restaurants and shops across the street and foot traffic coming from the east, the direction of the city offices.
But nothing and no one useful to her appeared.
Until...
When it was nearly noon and the kitchen was crowded with servers entering with trays of empty plates and leaving again with food to serve, Ella appeared from the office near the restrooms at the back. “We need a few of you for something different this afternoon,” she said. “The city council members who were here enjoyed their breakfast, as usual. They’ve now called a special session for all the council members. I’m glad to say they’ve ordered in a buffet-style lunch at their offices. Twice in one day! And we won’t let them down. Who’s willing to go over there and deliver and set up the food?”
Kelly almost cheered in her delight. That was exactly why she had applied for a job at this restaurant. But she caught herself and forced a slight smile that she hoped appeared more as if she wanted to please her boss than anything else. “I’ll be glad to, Ella.” Glad? Heck, she’d be thrilled.
And she really was thrilled when Ella chose her, among several of the waitstaff who also volunteered.
* * *
Alan looked forward to a busy afternoon—one in which he could actually get some work done. Work that he was really here to do.
After he briefly visited the moderate-sized computer room that the Blue Haven Police Department allowed the private security force to use as an outpost in the main government building, an ad hoc meeting of the entire city council was called. They were to discuss some vital matters about street widenings—vital to the town, but not of particular interest to Alan.
Yes, he’d have to do his best to ensure that the city council members remained safe. But that didn’t mean he had to sit in on every session. Popping in and out while looking as if he were patrolling the building and surrounding area would be enough.
Too bad he hadn’t known this morning, while still at the Haven, that he’d remain on duty with no break. He could have bought his lunch to go. Taken an opportunity to speak with that server Kelly once more. Maybe even confirmed she was who he figured she was.
Plus, spending a little additional time with her would provide a bit of pleasure as well as an opportunity for professional observation.
He shrugged off that thought. He’d see her again sometime. Soon, in fact. He would plan for it. But he had to make sure he didn’t keep her on his mind. He had other things to think about.
Like doing both his jobs.
For now, Alan was alone in the security headquarters room. He typed his password into the computer and saw the views on a half dozen security cameras.
Everything looked fine, at least for now.
The city council offices were located in the Blue Haven Government Plaza. The plaza was about ten years old, new enough to have been built in a higher-security age. There was a screening system for the public at the entrance, plus security cameras on all floors.
That should have made Alan’s job easier—and perhaps it would if he were merely part of the Blue Haven City Council’s private security force. But it made it harder for him to get away on his own to conduct the investigation he was really here to do.
He’d managed once, though, to sneak into Stan Grodon’s office early on when he’d first arrived in town and gotten on his computer. Surprise, surprise—there had been no open files containing anything about his missing wife. Even the encrypted files appeared to be about finances, not Andi Grodon.
He had to approach his investigation in other ways.
At least the council members treated the security force just like their own staff, acting friendly to them and even asking them to do things beyond their actual responsibilities—such