Heartless People |Book 3|

Chapter 33

"This is your life and it's ending one moment at a time."

—Chuck Palahniuk

JENNIE

I took a deep breath as I stepped out of our car and headed towards the federal building. It seemed as if everything and everyone was working against us. Was this really how our lives were going to end? Was this karma? Were we being tortured for all of our sins before we died?

With each step across the white gravel and towards the building, my heart hammered against my ribs as the warm summer wind cut into my face like the dull blade of a butter knife. I could feel the beads of sweat that crawled down my face, neck, and breasts and the story that was our lives played out in my mind—the first time I met Lisa; the first time I shot her; the first time we fucked followed by the first time we actually made love; our first kill together; our first miscarriage; and our first child.

The sun felt like a giant interrogation light on my skin and I moaned softly to myself in disgust. Never had I hated the sun as much as I did in that very damned moment. I felt so exposed, you didn't do this type of shit in the day—everyone was awake, alert, moving around.

"We have nine hours left, Jen," Lisa's voice sounded via the earpiece I'd donned. I knew that we have nine fucking hours; I'd watched the time fly by as we were stuck in rush hour traffic. It was a different type of hell being powerless in a car as time flew by. A whole motherfucking hour, if I didn't know better, I would have thought that Avian had planned that as well.

"Your purse and ID, ma'am," the security guard said at the entrance.

I gave him both, and as I stepped through the metal detector, another woman patted down the sides of my dress.

"State the nature of your visit."

"I have a meeting with Director Doers," I lied.

He nodded as he handed me my bag and ID. "Sorry for all the extra security, Mrs. Manoban. With the ongoing threats, we have to be thorough. Just head to the front desk and they'll let you through."

"Of course, I completely understand." I smiled, as I tucked the bag under my arm and walked to the black counter that sat before the elevator bank. When we'd first returned to Washington, we'd planned to break into the J. Edgar Hoover Building. I'd known that I needed to have a look at Avian's computer, considering that I couldn't hack it from the outside. However, our plan relied on only the night staff being here, not every goddamn agent.

I had walked across enemy lines and into their territory.

"Welcome to the J. Edgar Hoover Building, Mrs. Manoban. I wasn't sure if you were going to make it. Your wife is already upstairs."

"I came straight from the spa. I'd completely forgotten about this meeting," I giggled.

"That's alright. Ms. Jessica Sung has already cleared you both on behalf of the President. However, as I told your wife, Director Doers has not yet arrived," the woman said from behind the counter.

I didn't want to have to use the President or Jessica for this—it was messy; however, there was no way we could break in without drawing unnecessary attention.

"That's alright." I leaned against the counter. "He told us we could just wait in his office. Is my wife there now?"

She frowned. "I'm sorry, ma'am, that's against protocol."

Who gave a shit?

"Sarah," I read her nametag. "Does he need to call you or something?"

She sat up straighter. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Even if he were to call me and grant permission, I wouldn't be allowed to do so simply because it's against protocol and I could lose my job. The best I can do is give you a pass to go up and wait with your wife."