Sighted

Chapter 23: Perfect Timing

Owen

"Time to play, Gin."

Why are you like this?

     Despite her tone, I know my sister understands the signal and is on making her way on foot to DemGen, from her location at a café down the street. My mom and I are currently in the back of a taxi, heading to the same destination.

I think it's cute. Bowden chimes in.

      We decided that the demon can't come inside the building with us, too much risk. I'm sure he's very memorable from last time, when we used him as a distraction, not to mention half of the security guards would be able to sense him. He is going to meet us after we extract Peter, with the getaway vehicle, a plain delivery van that he showed up with this afternoon, saying he 'borrowed' it.

     This morning had been incredibly busy. After Gin made sure Alex got home, we headed to our parents' house with Dylan. The halfling will stay there a couple of days, while Mom came back with us. Bowden offered to materialize the kid there, but I wasn't about to have that demon there unsupervised, where he could potentially hear and see embarrassing things about my childhood.

     After returning home, the three of us, plus Bowden, started our preparations for today. We're forgoing our usual method of communicating with cell phones and Bluetooth devices, instead we're using hidden ear pieces with constant audio feeds. I was able to get enough for all of us on short notice, they're used but they'll do the trick. I just did a little customization in order for them to bypass the communications block within the DemGen building.

     Everyone has committed Peter's picture to memory, as well as studied the floor plan I was able to put together from the security footage. Peter should be working on the seventh floor with the rest of the technology research and development team. I hacked into the system a few days ago for two reasons. The first was to put an appointment on the calendar of the head of Peter's department. Mom is going in, posing as a rep for an IT company and I'll be there as her personal assistant.

     The second was to create an ID in DemGen's system for Gin, placing her as an intern. She has a fake ID that should fool the scanners. It was funny to watch her transform into an office worker today, where she'll enter the building with her hands full of coffees purchased from the cafe. We tried to downplay her appearance with a frumpy pantsuit, a messy bun and false glasses, the key to her first task is to not be noticed.

I'm almost to the front. Gin updates us, knowing that once she's inside we won't be able to speak freely over the link. Mom and I listen closely, but it's hard to track where she is in the lobby, until she reaches the gates. I hear a different voice, asking her to stop. After a few tense seconds, we hear Gin over the ear piece, speaking to someone else.

Oh, thank you! I've never quite heard that tone of voice from Gin, and I assume she's getting into her role. My nerves are still on edge, while the taxi pulls closer, almost to the front of the building now. I'm through, got help holding the coffees. Moving to the drop points.

     I breathe out a sigh, feeling my mom relaxing next to me as well, after the explanation. As Gin moves onto her part of the plan, Mom and I focus on our part. We pull up and I pay the fare, stepping out and holding the door for my mom. As odd as it was to see my sister in professional clothing, its even weirder to see my mom step out from a cab wearing heels, smoothing down her slim skirt and adjusting the matching jacket. She marches forward like she does this all the time.

     Falling into step behind her, we head into the lobby. Once we're through the revolving doors, we head to the front desk. The friendly receptionist checks us in and directs to the sitting area off to the side. We sit and wait to be escorted upstairs, both of us focusing on the plan.