you said she would be. Unless there’s another brunette hanging out for the sake of it, of course. Not especially tall though, but I guess it’s a matter of opinion. You want me to show you the back way out?’
‘Where does it lead to?’
The bartender said, ‘There’s an alley that runs parallel to the street out front. You can take a left or a right and she’ll never know you were here.’
Victor pretended to think. ‘I appreciate the offer, but if she is out there then she knows I’m here. Slipping out the back won’t change that. I don’t want her taking it out on you guys instead of me. I’ll deal with her. Thanks for the assistance.’
The bartender nodded and went to serve another customer. With maps available at the touch of a screen the team would know about the alley and its two exits. If they were concerned enough about losing a visual on Victor to send two watchers inside the club, then they would have both exits of the alleyway under surveillance. Which meant each of the two vehicles would now be parked instead of doing circuits. The man in the cap would be in the back seat of one of the cars, because they couldn’t take the risk of putting him on foot again.
Two inside the club. Five sitting in cars. One woman outside. All possible routes watched. No way to go without being watched. No way to escape the surveillance.
But the team had made one crucial mistake. In sending in two watchers they had inadvertently given Victor all of the team’s positions.
So there was no longer any need to escape.
EIGHT
From the archway glowing with ultraviolet light, the unshaven young guy with the big grin emerged with an even bigger grin. He walked a little awkwardly. The dancer followed a few paces behind him. She used her fingers to comb the knots out of her hair extensions and had a look on her face that said it was just another day at the office. Her eyes met with Victor’s as his gaze swept her way and she smiled, practised and sultry as though he had brightened her life with his mere presence. He didn’t need to gesture for her to head in his direction.
She had a slow, awkward walk because her skin-tight dress hugged her legs to her knees and let only an inch of air pass between them. She was no older than twenty, with hair so blonde it was almost white. Her skin was a deep caramel colour. Her smile widened as she grew closer to Victor, recognising the quality of his garments and speculating on the limit of his credit card. He made sure to smile back and stare lustfully for the benefit of the two watchers. He held open the chair next to him, patting the seat with his palm for the dancer to sit beside him.
‘I’m Claudia,’ she said as she sat, one manicured hand immediately resting on his nearest thigh.
‘Alfred Schule,’ Victor said back.
‘Pleasure to meet you, Alfred.’
He let her ask him a few pointless questions that were designed to relax him and make him feel as though she was genuinely interested in what he did for a living and where he lived, and not purely concerned with how much money he might spend on her. He played along and soon she was laughing at everything he said.
‘I need you to do something for me, Claudia.’ He took his wallet from his jacket and placed some cash on the table, watching her gaze lock onto it. ‘I want you to slap me across the cheek.’
She smiled despite her confusion. ‘I’m sorry, what?’
‘I want you to slap me as hard as you can. As though I’ve stepped out of line. Then I want you to grab a friend and tell her to entertain the man in the sportswear near the bar. I’ll buy him a dance.’ He placed some more cash on the table. ‘And I’d like to pay you to make sure the man with the briefcase sitting in the corner has a similarly good time. I want you and your friend to make them feel extra special. Tell them it’s on the house because they’re first timers. And they’re both pretty shy, so don’t take no for an answer. Okay?’
She looked at him and back to the cash and then nodded. ‘Sure, whatever you want. It’s your money.’ She scooped it off the table. ‘But I’d really rather dance