Chapter 318

I contemplated texting Findlay to ask him to meet me somewhere, but I decided to go to The Association to lure him out in case the faction could intercept his messages.

After Amy agreed to help me, I picked her up at the manor, and we drove to The Association Complex and parked in a lot near the front of the main entrance.

At the door, I saw Rodney Wells, the head of the complex security, speaking with another security guard.

“Just go with whatever I say,” I told Amy. “Although this guy gives me bad vibes, I’m going to ask him for help. I don’t want to seem like I suspect anything.”

“Don’t worry,” Amy said. “I’ll follow your lead.”

I took a deep breath, and we walked over to the security guards.

“Hi,” I said with a faux giggle. “Rodney, right?”

He tapped his name tag.

“Oh, yeah.” I giggled again. “I was hoping you could help us. I need to talk to Victor’s personal assistant, Findlay, without Victor knowing about it.”

Rodney’s eyes narrowed. “Why?” The suspicious vibes he was giving off gave me the feeling he was in the faction.

I gave him my brightest smile. “I’m throwing Victor a surprise party for his birthday, and I want it to be extraordinary. Findlay knows Victor’s tastes better than me. His advice would help me a lot.”

“I’m going back to my office that way, Rod,” the other guard said. He was tall and had bushy dark hair. “I’ll take her to Findlay.”

“Don’t forget, Victor can’t know we’re here,” I stage whispered, and the men rolled their eyes.

Rodney stared at Amy. “Who’s she?”

“This is my best friend, Amy,” I replied. “She’s helping me plan the party.”

The guards eyed Amy, and she blushed.

“Okay,” Rodney said. “But she stays with you.”

“Oh yeah, sure,” I agreed. “She’ll stay with me.”

Amy’s pretty brown eyes widened. “I wouldn’t want to get lost in here by myself.”

“Come on,” the other guard said and motioned for us to follow him.

Before he turned away from us, I spotted his name tag, and my heart beat faster. He was Darnell Monroe!

Darnell Monroe was the faction member Findlay said was recruiting other association employees. He was one of them!

I bit my lip and gave Amy a nod. We arranged this signal in case we ran into any faction members. The alarmed look on Amy’s face told me she understood.

We followed Darnell down several hallways until he popped into an office and came right back out.

“Findlay’s in the break room,” Darnell said. “Come on. There’s no danger of running into Victor there. He doesn’t mingle with us worker bees very much.”

We followed him down two more hallways before he held up a hand indicating we should wait outside the door.

“I’ll go in and get him. Stay here,” Darnell ordered before disappearing inside the room.

The smell of coffee and sweets coming from the room was strong, and the sound of several voices reached our ears. I recognized Findlay’s as one of them.

“What does she want?” Findlay demanded. “I can’t get away from those two for a minute. If I didn’t need my job, I’d tell them both where to go.”

I couldn’t believe Findlay was saying these things. He didn’t sound like he was in danger. He must be a good actor. If he wasn’t, he was no longer on Victor’s side.

Findlay knew enough to get Victor killed! I had to know if he changed sides. Somehow, I had to be sure of where his loyalties were now.

He came into the hallway where Amy and I waited.

“What are you doing here?” Findlay asked in an annoyed tone.

That made me angry. No matter what, I was getting him out of this building and finding out the truth right now.

“Sorry to bother you, Findlay,” I said. “But I need your help. “Victor’s birthday is in ten days, and I want to throw him a surprise party. Something really special.”

“What do you want me to do?” he snapped, but at the same time, he winked and put a finger to his lips.

“There are two venues willing to give me a tour this morning,” I said. “Will you come along? You know what Victor likes better than me. It won’t take long.”

Findlay sighed dramatically. “It better not take longer than an hour. Your fiancé keeps me busy enough.”

“It won’t,” I assured him. “But the party is really important to me. It’s his first birthday since we’ve been together.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Findlay stepped toward the break room door. “Let me tell people I’m leaving.”

He called out to someone inside the room, “Hey, Earl, tell Katie I had to leave for a while, but I’ll be back before lunch.”

“Take it easy, Findlay,” Darnell said.

“You know it,” Findlay said and began to lead us back the way we came.

He put his finger to his lips again after we turned a corner, and we walked silently to the front entrance.

It wasn’t until we were safely inside my car and on our way out of the parking lot that he spoke again.

“Daisy, why did you do this?” Findlay asked from the backseat of my car. “It’s too dangerous. Does Victor know about it?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Victor knows, and I did it because he’s worried about you. And after what I heard you say in the break room, so am I.”

“I had to say those things,” he insisted. “I must try to fit in. I know enough to be a danger to them now. If they knew I was Victor's spy, they would kill me.”

I pulled away from the complex and into a nearby street.

“Do they suspect you of being a spy?” I asked.

“They don’t trust anyone one hundred percent,” Findlay grumbled. “You know the old saying about there being no honor among thieves. It’s certainly true of this group.”

“Do you know who the faction members are yet?” I asked.

“I have a list of names,” he replied. “I’ll send you the list now, but don’t give it to Victor for another week.”

“Why? These people could be causing damage to The Association or the world.”

“I’ll have more information by then,” he explained. “I’m close to knowing what’s being smuggled into the country from Virople, where John Cameron hides out, and the name of a third council member who may be involved.”

“The chief of the security guards, Rodney Wells, he’s involved, isn’t he?” I asked. “He reeks of corruption.”

“You’d make a good spy yourself, Daisy,” Findlay said. “Yes, he is high in the faction. And he has a mean streak. Beware of him.”

“Are you positive you will be safe for another week?” I asked. “Victor is worried sick about you. I must tell him something.”

“I think I am, but my husband worries about me too,” Findlay said. “Poor Tony knows something is going on with me, but he doesn’t know what.”

“He must love you,” I pulled in behind Gray’s Restaurant and parked so we could talk in privacy.

“We are fated mates.” Findlay shook his head sadly. “It’s been hard on Tony, but I’ll make it up to him later.”

“I’m sorry you and Tony are going through this,” I said.

He patted my shoulder. “Tell Victor that I’m okay, but I need a little more time. I’ll meet you here in a week with the rest of the faction members' names. They should all be arrested at the same time to stop any from escaping.”

Findlay smiled. “Tell Victor that when it’s all over, I want two weeks off to spend with Tony.”

I grinned. “I’m sure Victor will be glad to give you the time off and pay for your trip somewhere spectacular.”

“Tell him that Tony and I prefer the mountains over the beach.” Findlay chuckled. “We enjoy skiing.”

Amy and I laughed with him.

“I’d like to meet Tony,” I said. “We will have you both over for dinner sometime when this is over.”

“That would be nice, Daisy. Thank you,” Findlay said a second before his phone rang.

He checked the caller ID. “It’s Tony. I hate that I can’t tell him the truth. It would be too dangerous with him working in the complex too.”

Findlay sighed and answered his phone. “Hi, sweetie. What up?” He looked at his phone screen. “Tony. Hello. Are you there?”

“He didn’t say anything,” Findlay said. He looked worried and shaky as he dialed Tony’s number.

He put the phone to his ear and drummed his fingers in the back of my seat. “Come on, Tony, and answer the phone.”

But he didn’t.

“Get me back to The Association right away,” Findlay begged. “Tony doesn’t play games like this. Something is wrong.”