Deception

A half an hour and two busses later, they decided it was time to investigate, especially since the woman had made herself comfortable by lying down on the bench.

They stood beside the bench and looked at the reclining woman. Her coat was pulled over her head.

“Ma’am?” Vera tapped on where he thought the woman’s shoulder probably would be. “Ma’am, it’s not safe to lay here at night like this.”

The woman pulled her coat down off her face and spoke to them with not a little authority. “The name’s Martha, and please stop bothering me. I merely stopped here for a short rest.” With that, she dismissed them by promptly pulling the coat back over her face.

Nicholson spewed out curses Vera never knew existed and led the way back to the car to report that they had lost Mrs. Levy.

Rosemaria slammed the phone down at her desk and jumped to her feet. “They lost Lila, dammit! We need to get over to the 405 now.”

Coleman, Waite, and Osborne looked ready to go as they checked their holsters and headed for the door.

“I thought you told them to really follow her this time and not be conspicuous.” Coleman said as they followed Waite and Osborne down the hall.

Rosemaria frowned. “I did. She outmaneuvered them.”

“Then let’s return the favor.”

She saluted Coleman and smiled her way out the door.