Page 91 of Protector Unmatched

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Anxiously, Daphne watched Pearce and Zane disappear in the men’s room. Finally, they were making progress. Now all the guys needed to do was to convince Harcott to hand over the dagger. Pearce had told her that should he refuse, they had several options, one of which was to offer him twice the money he’d paid for it at auction. The other options he hadn’t elaborated on.

Still thirsty, Daphne headed for the vending machines, which were only a few feet away from the entrance to the men’s room. She was already at the machine that sold water bottles when she realized that because her costume had no pockets, she wasn’t carrying any money on her.

“Damn!” she said, and turned to look where the water fountain was located. She had just spotted it when she saw a man in an Indiana Jones costume come out of a door with the sign Men on it. She stared at his face. It was James Harcott.

Daphne looked over her shoulder to the spot where Zane and Pearce had entered the men’s room. It clicked immediately. This bathroom was so large that it had two entrances. And Harcott had just slipped out from the opposite one.

“Pearce, Zane, he’s out of the bathroom,” Daphne said hurriedly via the communications device in her ear. There was static again, more crackling. “Damn it, can you hear me? Pearce? Harcott has left the bathroom. We’re losing him.”

But there was no reply. For a moment, she contemplated running into the men’s bathroom, but it would mean losing sight of Harcott. And once he mingled with the crowd, she’d never find him again. No, she couldn’t wait for Pearce and Zane. She had to hope that as she moved around the hall, somebody from a different team would hear her and help her chase down Harcott.

“Shit!” She hurried in the direction Harcott was heading. “I’m going after him. If anybody can hear me, I’m in sector pink, leaving the men’s room behind me. I’m following Harcott.”

She had to pick up the pace, because Harcott was already turning into one of the aisles lined with various booths of gadgets and memorabilia. Ahead of her, a mob was forming around a group of celebrities, and Daphne saw that the real Khal Drogo was greeting fans and joking with his costars.

At any other time, she would have joined in the fun, but there were more important things on her agenda today than meeting movie stars. She couldn’t lose Harcott.

“Daphne?” A crackling voice suddenly came through her earpiece.

“This is Daphne. Who’s this?” she asked.

“Enya. I’m with Grayson and Ryder. Did you say…” There was more static, then a clear word: “Harcott?”

“Yes, yes, I’m following him.” She looked at the number of the nearest booth she was walking by. “Still in sector pink, just passing exhibit K1560. Did you get that?”

Drums coming from somewhere to her left drowned out Enya’s response.

“Say again?”

But she couldn’t hear anything, so she repeated her location, hoping that somebody had understood it, while she kept her eyes on Indiana Jones. “Heading down aisle K toward the lower numbers; should be getting close to sector gray or green. I think.”

When Harcott finally veered to the left and walked into a short alleyway that appeared to be reserved for exhibitors and was off-limits to visitors, she had no choice but to follow him.

“Hey, lady, no access here,” a guy looking like a security guard called out to her.

She spun around and flashed her VIP pass. “I’m with Jason Momoa’s group,” she lied. “He needs, uh, something from his bag.” She was already continuing down the aisle, and it looked like the guy was gonna stop her, but then a clearly drunk Captain America crashed into a display and distracted the guard.

Daphne sighed in relief and continued down the aisle until it connected with the next row of exhibits. There, she stopped and let her gaze roam to the left and right. Where had Harcott gone? A movement ahead of her made her snap her eyes to it. Harcott. He stepped over a cordon and continued walking down the narrow way behind the exhibits.

“What the fuck are you doing, Harcott?” she murmured to herself, and followed him until the walkway ended. They were behind a stage. She’d seen it on the map earlier. It was located in the very center of the hall. She knew from previous cosplay conventions that the main stage was generally used for interviews with stars, mock fights, and acrobatics, as well as pyrotechnic shows. It wasn’t unheard of that die-hard fans would try to sneak backstage to get up close and personal with their idols. And Harcott was no different. He knew the drill, and had figured out how to get close.

“Hey, Indy,” she called out to him.

Harcott whirled his head to her. For a second, he looked stunned, then he shifted into a casual pose. “Wonder Woman. What’s up?”

She walked up to him. “Just wondering. Is this the way to get backstage where the stars are hanging out?”

He shrugged. “Oh, is that what this is?”

“Oh, please, don’t play innocent with me. You know we’re at the north side of the main stage.” She hoped her communications device would transmit her location to whoever could hear her. “You’re trying to sneak back there, aren’t you?” She chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna rat you out. I’m doing the same thing.”

He relaxed and grinned. “Who do you wanna see most?”

“Oh, you know, I love ’em all.” She glanced at his belt, where next to the whip, a fancy dagger was sheathed. Emblazoned on the handle were the same symbols as she’d seen on the daggers the Stealth Guardians wielded.

Harcott pulled the curtain apart and motioned for her to follow him. “Well, then let’s not waste any time. The show is gonna start in fifteen minutes.”