Read Online Scarlett and the Feds by S.L. Baker - Free Book Online Page B

I said looking at my watch. Scarlett gave me the thumbs up. The coast was clear still.
    Agents Parker bent down and strapped a mic to my thigh and then threaded the mic up in between my breasts where he secured it with tape, it took every ounce of self-control not to slap him across the face, and Scarlett was in a full run, ready to do more than that to the agent. I gave her the evil eye and she threw her hands in the air and went back to her post.
    “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” I snapped.
    “Just doing my job,” he replied putting a small piece of white tape on my skin to secure the wire in place.
    “The device should be undetectable if you get patted down by the Senator’s security.”
    “Even if they do find it, I’m a reporter it’s easy to say it’s just a wire so I can communicate with my camera man. The only downside is that you can’t spy.” I batted my eyelashes like I was actually sad about that.
    Agent Parker wasn’t amused.
    “We have an agreement. If you don’t want to honor it, then I can have a dozen agents swarming Salvatore Industries within the hour and have Victor Salvatore hauled out in handcuffs in a big spectacle,” he said. The corners of his mouth turned down and his eyebrows slanted in.
    “I said, I would help. What else do you need? Jesus H, do you want all three of us to cut our finger and become bound by blood?” I snapped.
    He shot me an annoyed look.
    “Don’t fuck with me, Miss Ellington. We’re in control here, not you.”
    Scarlett was barreling down the alley in full Ninja mode twirling her machetes. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stop her in time. Just as she was inches from Agent Parker’s throat, she heard someone coming and bolted down the alley and started waving her arms sounding the alarm.
    “Miss Ellington, we will be parked down the street in a catering van, listening to everything. Here is a list of questions we want you to ask him.” Agent Davis handed me a list.
    “Don’t screw this up,” he warned.
    “I can’t guarantee he will be willing to talk to me. Our last meeting was intense to say the least. Got to go.” I turned and looked over my shoulder as I headed to the parking lot and both agents had vanished.
    I rounded the corner from the alley just as Ed walked out of the door from the garage.
    “You ready?” he said.
    “Yup.” I had an alibi ready in case he asked why I was in the alley, but he didn’t.
    I was nervous about showing up at this wedding. The press was invited, because it was good for the Senator’s poll numbers, but I wasn’t sure I’d be welcome, and what if the wire was found, then what?
    I heard Scarlett cock her shotgun in the back of the van. No worries she’s got this.
    Ed was not the talkative type and never asked many questions, and I loved that about him. He just did his job. Though I did get the sense he didn’t like Nelson.
    Stand in line, Scar mumbled.
    We pulled up in front of an enormous gaudy mansion, belonging to the Senator’s brother who owned an oil company and used money for wallpaper. The valet stopped us.
    Ed rolled the window down.
    “Were from Channel Six News,” Ed said.
    The tux clad valet motioned for us to head up the small driveway behind the house. The sign said delivery and press.
    Ed pulled up behind the other two news vans and vendors.
    We hopped out and were met by two large security men in black suits, white shirts and gray ties. Scarlett tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if there was some clothing store named Goons R Us where they all shopped. Good question. It did seem it was the uniform of choice.
    “Do you have I.D.?” the bald goon that looked like a defensive end from a pro football team asked holding out his meaty hand.
    Both Ed and I produced our press I.D.’s and handed it to the goon.
    He studied it for a few seconds, scanning his gaze between the badges and us.
    The other goon resembling a coke machine with legs began searching our gear and then asked