Jenny wished the earth would open up and swallow her as she watched the real Adam Krasniqi take the microphone from the MC.
How could I have been so stupid? She thought, feeling humiliated. She had been talking to the target all along and hadn't even realized it. She quickly went over their conversation to see if she had said or done anything to give herself away. No she hadn't, thank heavens, but still she had been a fool. She hadn't even remembered to ask his name.
Jenny Mills would never have been so dumb. This Ivy Black was beyond stupid. But then how was she to know the man on the love seat wasn't Adam when it was his picture that was pinned on Adam's file. Obviously the police had made a mistake, meaning they didn't know what he looked like either. She remembered Cole's warning.
"With these people, things aren't always what they seem."
Well no more foolishness she told herself. Now she knew her target, she would concentrate on the mission. Adam stood on the podium and looked directly at her with a mocking smile, which made her want to hit him. So this was the monster who had murdered her grandmother. She didn't care if he looked like a, L'Uomo Vogue model, she would take him down.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Adam began. "Thank you for coming to this event. My family and I appreciate it. Many of you may not know that I have been in Europe for some months on business, but now I am back permanently. As part of tonights events we are auctioning off some works of art, but this particular one," he pointed to the painting he and Jenny had been looking at, "the proceeds will be donated to a children's hospital."
There was a round of applause. He looked at Jenny and smiled again. She returned the stare, but not the smile.
After a few more words he walked down from the podium and was immediately surrounded by business men, a few beautiful women, and bodyguards.
Jenny saw talking to him again tonight would be impossible. So she had one more drink and headed for the exit.
At the door she turned to see if Adam was watching her but he wasn't. For some crazy reason she felt slightly disappointed.
She sighed and left. Outside she retrieved her phone and called Cole.
"Damn Jenny I have been calling all evening! Why didn't you answer? Are you okay?" He asked slightly panicking.
"Yeah , sorry. Crazy evening. Meet me at the café near the mall, I'll brief you."
"Make sure you are not followed."
"Okay, but I don't think Adam would have me followed."
"Better safe than sorry." He said.
She agreed and headed for the cafe, using her cop tactics to shake off anyone who may have been following her. Cole was waiting for her when she arrived.
"Are you okay? What happened to your phone?" He asked as she joined him.
"It was taken. No phones were allowed in the place."
"So did you get anything?"
"Yes. I got to know who the real Adam Krasniqi is and he looks nothing like the picture the cops have. The real Adam Krasniqi is tall, dark hair and eyes, great physique and really good looking," she stopped because Cole was giving her a strange look.
"What?" She asked defensively.
"Nothing. It's just that, you seem excited about him. I can hear it in your voice."
"Of course I am excited. I finally know what our suspect looks like."
"So who is the guy most people think is Adam?"
"He was at the gala too. I don't know who he is yet, but I will find out. I am meeting Adam at a bar tomorrow. I will make sure I work my way into him."
"Okay. Good job. Keep me posted, and once again be careful. The guy is a dangerous killer."
"Nobody knows that more than me." She said bitterly.
******************
Unknown to Jenny, Adam Krasniqi had seen her leave. He'd had his eyes on her right from the moment she walked in.
He had been in mid-conversation with a business man when he saw her.
The shape of her body had attracted him at first, then his eyes had caught her face and his jaw dropped.
She was stunning. He had dated a lot of beautiful women but there was something different about this one. Her skin, her face, and the way she walked, all had a huge effect on him.
Roy, his personal assistant, bodyguard, and right hand man noticed the change.
"Everything okay boss?" He asked.
"Yeah." He dissmissed the lawyer and pulled Roy aside. "You see that sexy woman in the black dress who just walked in? Who is she?"
"Let me check boss."
He went to find out while Adam watched Jenny, fascinated by the elegant way she was sipping her wine.
Roy came back. "She is on the guest list. Her name is Ivy Black she works for an antique firm called Helman."
"Is she one of Tan's women?" Adam asked. "I noticed she has been looking at him since she walked in."
Roy frowned at the love seat where Dritan and his girlfriends were. "I doubt. She looks too intelligent and sophisticated for Tan." He said.
"I want to go and talk to her."
"Is it safe boss? She could be a spy or a cop."
"Yeah, that's why you will get someone to follow her when she leaves here. Follow her and find out everything you can about her. She interests me."
Roy frowned. The last few times Adam had been interesting in women they had turned out to be spies working for the Ciampi family. He didn't think Ivy Black would be any different, but he would do as he was told.
"Yes boss."
Adam handed his glass to Roy and went to join Jenny. Roy went to make the arrangements. As soon as Jenny left the hotel one of his men was right behind her.