Page 47 of So Sinister
She turned around.His eyes shifted to the left, then the right, then back down.His fingers fiddled with his tie.“What we discussed… This was spoken in confidence, of course.”
Faith’s lip curled.She didn’t dignify that with a response.She just left the office and left Donald to consider exactly what sort of man he was.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The Expert looked around the building, marveling at the size of the structure and the efficiency of the security officers pushing passengers through the facility.Officers stood in several out-of-the-way locations observing the passengers, identifying threats.The TSA had definitely improved in the years since the Expert last worked with them.Perhaps if the Great Incompetent had worked for them five years ago, they might have avoided…
But no, the TSA had failed too.They were prettier and shinier, but they were just as prone to failure.Even now, they were allowing a man with a fake ID and a live bomb to gain entry to their airport.Well, to be fair, he had no intention of entering the airport.He wasn’t here to murder civilians, only to exercise judgment on the Great Incompetent.
He approached the security office and noticed one of the observing officers watching him.He ignored them, behaving just like a normal passenger who had every right to approach the security office to ask a question.
Still, the officer approached, hands behind his back, half-lidded eyes zeroed on him, shoulders relaxed but coiled like springs.He reminded the Expert of the Lesser Incompetent, the first one he’d exercised judgment on.
This wasn’t good.If this officer stopped him—
“Excuse me, sir,” the officer said, stepping in front of him to the left, not directly in front lest he make this man anxious but close enough to strike like a snake if he needed to.“Can I help you?”
“No thanks,” the Expert said, “I just need to talk to the security office.”
“Perhaps I can assist you,” the officer insisted calmly.
“That’s all right,” the Expert said.“I just need to talk to the security chief.”
“May I ask what this is about?”
God damn it.The Expert folded his arms across his chest to support the small, book-sized explosive he carried inside of his jacket.He frowned, putting on the air of an imperious, entitled passenger, someone they might as well just humor to get him out of their hair.“I’m following up on missing baggage,” he informed them.“I was told by the TSA that I would receive it within the week.”
“We have a baggage claim center located in the South Pier of the terminal,” the officer informed him.“Those claims are handled by the airlines.The baggage claim center has offices for each airline here at Ronald Reagan.”
He gestured helpfully to the door that would lead to the South Pier of Terminal 2.The Expert frowned.“I want to talk to the security chief.”
“Baggage complaints are handled by the airlines, sir.”
The Expert tapped his feet.“I was told by the TSA that they were handling my claim.”
The officer’s eyes changed, hardened with suspicion.That wasn’t good.That wasn’t good at all.“The TSA doesn’t handle baggage claims, sir.Please allow me to escort you to the baggage claim center.”
Where you’ll wait with me.Where you’ll discover that I don’t have an actual complaint.Where you’ll realize that I’m full of shit and detain me.Where you’ll discover the bomb and have me arrested.Where the FBI will very quickly discover who I am and what I’ve been doing.He glanced at the office beyond.And the Great Incompetent will get away with it.Just like he did last time.
The Expert’s face flushed.No.That wasn’t acceptable.
“Sir, I want to talk to the security chief.”
“No, sir.If you have a valid complaint, representatives from your airline will validate it.”
Ifhe had a valid complaint.If.If.
The Expert chuckled.His fingers tightened on his sleeves.“IfI have a valid complaint.Oh, man.”
The officer’s hand fell to a taser clipped to his belt.“Sir, let’s go to the baggage claim center.”
“Yeah, my complaint is pretty fucking valid, buddy.”
The Expert was losing control.That wasn’t good.Self-control was critical.
But really, if?If?
“You know, the Great Incompetent ruined my life.”The Expert chuckled.“He literally ruined my fucking life, did you know that?”
