Surveillance (Ghost Targets Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

thinking the same thing," he said, grinning at the surprise on her face. "If you're okay with a sandwich, the cafeteria downstairs does a good one."
    "Do they make a decent grilled turkey, mayo?" she asked. He nodded and she said, "Sounds great, then." She swiped a hand across her desk to hide the monitor display. "Craig, save my workspace. Desk twelve." Then she darted off after Rick, through the frosted glass doors and down the long elevator ride.
    As soon as they stepped into the cafeteria she spotted Dean, Simmons, and Reed all waiting at a table. Reed frowned at Katie until Rick clapped him on the shoulder and said, "She was still plugging away at her desk. Be right back. Don't start without me."
    He led her across to the counter at the head of the room, and as she approached a server caught her eye and said, "You had the grilled turkey?"
    She said, "Midas—" but Rick cut her off with a hand on her arm.
    "Craig, pick up Katie's lunch, would you?" The server just waited for a green light acknowledging that someone had paid, then slid the tray across to Katie with a smile. She grabbed a glass and helped herself to some Coke, then turned to find Rick waiting just behind her.
    "Prices are reasonable. Feel free to put your lunches here on the government tab. If you go off-site, you're on your own."
    "Fair enough," she said with a smile. "We're sitting over there?"
    He nodded and let her lead the way. As soon as he settled down beside her, though, Dean leaned across the table and said, "Canvas still isn't turning up anything, but we may have a lead on a private voice recording."
    Rick shook his head. "No good. I spotted that Friday, but the timing is iffy and nothing on the consumer market would get us usable feed from six tables away in a busy restaurant. I still think our best bet is tourist photos taken outside the restaurant during our window."
    Dean and Simmons groaned at that. Reed said, "I told you." He turned to Rick. "Phillips checked in ten minutes ago and he's willing to reinterview the other patrons, but you're talking serious overtime. He's already pushing a regular week from the time he clocked Saturday and Sunday."
    Rick snorted. "Bullshit. The new girl had his case solved before her ears stopped ringing. Phillips can kiss my ass if he thinks I'm paying for a weekend playing with his nieces in Cincinnati." The others laughed, but an instant later they were back into their case. Katie listened intently, trying her best to keep up, but half of it was beyond her, and they never slowed for a breath. She'd barely finished her sandwich before Rick pushed back from his place, folded his untouched sandwich back into its wax paper wrapper, and rose to head upstairs.
    While the others took their cue and started gathering their things, Katie caught at Rick's sleeve. "Umm...hey, could you help me out for a sec? I still don't know exactly—"
    He patted her lightly on the shoulder and smiled. "Take it easy, kid. It's your first day. No one is expecting miracles. Just nose around and try to get a feel for our system. I'll assign someone to train you up as soon as we get a break in the big one."
    And that was it. He turned away, and the others rose from their places to follow him out the door toward the elevators. Katie was left alone, frustrated and helpless, watching them leave.
    Almost alone. She took control of herself, then turned back to the table to grab her trash, and nearly jumped when she found Reed still seated across from her. He was watching her with a frown, and now he nodded wordlessly to her seat, and she sank back down at the table.
    "What's up?" he said.
    Katie glanced at her watch, then took a deep breath and let it out. "I appreciate the confidence Rick's put in me," she said. "And I realize it's just my first day. I do. But I don't even know where to begin with this case. And I understand all too well that time is short when it comes to something like this."
    He clasped his hands on the table between them,