Page 51 of Tango

“Here are the chemical lockers, Vivian.” Piper put her hand on the metal door. “We need to document each bottle and the quantity on a spreadsheet. The quantities don’t have to be super precise. If the bottle has been opened, eyeball it and say, for example. ‘16 oz container a third full.’ I need an approximation to know what to order.”

“Okay.” Vivian pulled her mini-laptop from her purse.

“I’ll help you in a minute,” Piper said, heading into the hall, leaving the door open behind her. She badged herself into the computer room, her hand shaking so hard she wasn’t sure the security device could read the biometrics.

She wasn’t sure how that all worked, and she didn’t care. What mattered was that no cameras faced this particular computer screen bank, protecting the data from someone accidentally (or on purpose) seeing Alabaster secrets.

Piper booted up the computer, then slid Chanti’s coded flash drive into place.

A click sounded near the door, and Piper whipped around, guiltily hiding what she’d been doing.

“My apologies, Dr. Phillips, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Owen said from the doorway. “Mrs. Harcourt-Swain would like to speak to you.”

“Now?” Piper asked, her face tensing.

“Yes, ma’am. She has a small window and needs to speak with you before it shuts. I’m afraid that your assistant can’t be in this area without a badged escort.”

“Could you tell her? Ask her to gather her things and not leave anything down here.”

Piper was going to talk to Ria, and then she’d skedaddle. She’d have what she’d come for.

As Owen went to talk to Vivian, Piper checked the thumb drive for the green light Chanti said would indicate the code had run. Finding the light aglow, she pocketed the thumb drive, shut down the computer, and left the room, checking that it locked properly behind her.

Vivian stood in the hall, pushing her computer into her handbag.

“Sorry, Vivian, I was called upstairs. They have specific rules.”

Owen held out his hand, and Piper handed him her badge.

“Owen, Vivian can stay in the reception area with Jay while I go upstairs, can’t she?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They dropped Vivian off and proceeded up to the third floor. They had just turned onto the hall leading to Ria’s office when the conference room opened and a man in tactical pants, but not a security uniform, emerged with a Malinois by his side.

The dog’s gaze fixed on Piper.

And for the first time that day, Piper felt safe. She let out a long breath and adjusted her shoulders.

“Mrs. Harcourt,” the man said.

Piper licked her lips. “Um, no. I’m Piper Phillips.”

He turned toward the portrait of Amanda and Lionel, then back to her. “Excuse me. My mistake.”

Piper put her back to the wall to make room for them to leave, and honestly, she’d hoped to sneak a pet of the dog. Maybe a pat on her rump.

“Please.” His smile was genuine as he brushed his hand out, indicating she should go first.

Piper mistook the gesture and reflexively extended her hand for a shake.

He stepped forward to slide his hand into hers.

His grip was warm.

An unexpected rush of hormones turned into a blush so strong, Piper imagined it lifting her hair at the roots, poofing her up like a porcupine.

Oblivious of the moment, Owen stepped forward and knocked on Ria’s door, opening it enough to announce, “Mrs. Harcourt-Swain, Dr. Piper Phillips.”