This performance had taken some wrangling, but it had come off without a hitch. He’d wanted to put Zo? to the test but hadn’t been sure how to do that until he’d discovered she worked at the Golden Gate Mall. It had a reputation for pickpockets and shoplifters, thus providing the perfect environment for assessing her. He couldn’t afford to hang around waiting for criminal inspiration to strike of its own accord so he’d walked around the mall, being sloppy with his wallet and iPhone. He’d made himself an obvious target and it had paid off. While he was in Macy’s, he’d put his phone down to pick up a shirt, and the kid in the 49ers sweatshirt had grabbed it. It couldn’t have worked out better if he’d wanted it to.
Zo? had gone through her trial by fire. Now it was his turn. He had to know how much she remembered. He was risking everything, but it was a calculated risk, so sure was he that she had no solid memories of that night. He squeezed his way through the crowd and announced himself to the first police officer he encountered.
“Hi, it was my cell phone that guy stole. Who do I talk to?”
“Come with me,” the officer said and waved him through.
The policeman walked him over to a sergeant to make a statement. Beck performed his account for the official record. He made sure he injected shock and dismay to add a human element to the story. He couldn’t be a nothing-but-the-facts guy. He’d just been robbed. It was a life-altering moment, and he needed to act accordingly.
There was a bored and dissatisfied aspect to the sergeant’s demeanor. He showed no excitement at taking a criminal off the streets. It was what it was. Just another one for the crime stats. Beck didn’t blame him. He guessed the cop had seen this a thousand times. To him, it was probably just another sad indictment of human society.
Between the sergeant’s questions, Beck snatched quick glances at Zo?. There she was—the one that got away. He never caught her looking in his direction. She was too busy with the cops and paramedics.
“We’ll have to hold on to the phone as evidence.”
“Really? I suppose you would.”
“We should be able to release it back to you in a couple of days.”
“Sure. Whatever you need. What happens now? Do you need me to stick around?”
“No, I’ve got your details. You’re free to go, and we’ll be in touch about your phone in the next day or two.”
“Thanks. Is it OK if I say a quick thank-you to the security guards? Those guys went the extra mile, and it’s the least I can do.”
“Sure.”
Beck couldn’t deny the tingle of excitement coursing through him as he crossed the short distance to his would-be heroes. Here was his moment of truth.
The paramedics had finished up with Zo? but were still working on her colleague. He gingerly inserted himself in between the paramedics and cops.
“Hello. Sorry to disturb you guys, but I wanted to say thanks. It was my cell phone that got stolen and you two recovered.”
He purposely made eye contact with Zo? and didn’t get a reaction from her. He couldn’t decide if she was hiding it or not.
“I really don’t know what to say other than thanks. You two are great.”
“It’s our job,” Zo? said. “He broke the law and he shouldn’t get away with it.”
Her tone was hard and unforgiving.
Bravo, Beck thought. He’d made a woman of her, although part of him wondered if her remark was a coded message to him.
“It may be your job, but I’m just sorry you two got hurt. Are you guys going to be OK?”
Zo? touched her cheek where she’d been hit. She looked like a before-and-after photo for implants. One side of her face was twice the size of the other. Her cheek was red and inflamed right now, and he guessed there’d be some pretty impressive bruising by the end of the day.
“We’re going to be fine,” Zo?’s colleague said in fine, superhero style.
Beck guessed he was still flush with adrenaline. Zo? seemed dazed by her encounter. Her stare was glassy and unfocused. While her colleague was ebullient, she was withdrawn. Was that why she didn’t recognize him?
“What about that gash?” Beck said, pointing at the security guard’s chest.
“It looks worse than it is,” the paramedic attending to Zo?’s colleague said. “There’s no muscle damage, which is good. Luckily, the knife wasn’t sharp enough to do any real harm. We’ll be taking them to the ER for a proper checkup.”
“We need to get these two to the hospital now,” the other paramedic said.
“Again, I can’t thank you enough for what you did today. My name is Brad Ellis,” he said and put out a hand to Zo?’s coworker.
“Jared Mills,” he said, taking Beck’s hand and giving it a powerful shake.
“Good to meet you, Jared.”
He held his hand out to Zo?. She took it. Her hand was warm but dry to the touch. Not a hint of nervous sweat. “Zo? Sutton.”
“Nice to meet you too, Zo?.” He made eye contact and looked for a flicker of recognition, but saw none. Zo? didn’t recognize him. He smiled, and it turned into a grin.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN