Jimmy sat down across from Ciara and Todd sat opposite Tammy. They ordered an appetizer and from all outward appearances it looked like a typical double date.

Especially to Rona Reeves who had been walking by the window. She looked in and saw Tammy and Ciara. Wanting to see who they were with she kept looking. Camouflaged by the people at the table between her and them.

Finally she got a clear view. The man Tammy was sitting with she didn’t recognize but she immediately recognized Jimmy James and she thought to herself. “ooh I have something on him now.”

Just as she thought that Jimmy and Ciara reached for the same cheese stick. As they both pulled the appetizer in their own direction the crust broke and the cheese began to stretch. They each put their own piece in their mouth and began to eat toward the middle trying to reach each other. Just as they both reached the middle of the table it broke.

Everyone laughed and it seemed to Rona now that it was just a date and nothing more and she left. But she still planned to tell her boss, Ira Roth about it the next morning.

Jimmy glanced over his shoulder and then he leaned in and said to Ciara, “This is safer than me coming by the office. We have spies at the label now and for me to get this to you we had to have an alternate plan. He slid a small piece of paper folded in half to her. Ciara took it and slid it into her menu to read.

Jimmy said, “It’s the list of the studios and their managers phone numbers. They all have been contacted by me and they know you will be paying them a visit soon. Most are already on board, a couple are curious but weren’t fully sold. I’m sure you’ll have know problem with that.” He smiled and Ciara shot him a knowing glance.

“Anyway now that we’ve met, you have my contact number outside the office. Call me when you need me and we can meet casually without drawing suspicion.”

“We should probably have a code of some kind where I can call you at Venom too.” Ciara said. “There may be a time when Roth shows up and you need to know.”

“That’s easy,” Jimmy said. “The master is too hot. Means don’t come by. Can we raise the master 2db? Means come by after work. Those are common phrases people use when they call me. The actual number value doesn’t matter.  The ‘too hot’ and ‘raise’ are the key words. I don’t think Rona would know those phrases if she heard them.”

Tammy and Todd seemed to be hitting it off like it was a real date instead of just a casual non Chinese dinner. Ciara noticed this but she was really jazzed to work.

“You wanna ditch these two and go back to the office with me and put together a plan?” Ciara said sizing up that Jimmy was anxious to be involved. His mastering of the band’s new single had really turned him on to their music but due to his working for Venom his enthusiasm had to be curbed just to keep his job.

“Alright,” Jimmy said. “Let’s go!”

He and Ciara left the restaurant and drove back to the garage. Ciara arrived first but waited until Jimmy arrived to go in. When they headed to the back door it was wide open.

Jimmy stepped in front of Ciara and reached inside the door for the light switch. He turned it on and the room filled with light.

From first glance nothing had been disturbed. Everything was how Ciara and Tammy had left it.

“Well nothing’s outta place. As far s I can tell nothing’s missing. I’d better check Tammy’s office though.” Ciara said. She turned on the light and the room was just as Tammy had left it. Nothing was amiss.

“What are you doing, Jimmy?” Ciara asked as she walked back in to the main room and saw Jimmy on a ladder.

“I just remembered that Jenkins was caught conspiring against Venom with a bug. I checked your phone and it was fine but I still had a sneaking suspicion there was one and…”

He reached into the wall and just above the door he found an RF bugging device. He covered it with his hand and put his hand under his arm to shield the device from picking up

“Sure enough, here’s a little listening device.” Jimmy said under his breath. He motioned with his finger to be quiet and then he motioned for Ciara to follow him outside.

“It’s my guess since Jenkins is so good with listening devices that Roth pressured him into bugging your place for him. This could work in our favor with it being there and you and Tammy knowing about it.” Jimmy said thoughtfully.

“Here’s the thing that bothers me. Jenkins isn’t that sloppy. He may have intended for you to find it or he may have known I was involved and by me finding it I expose myself and he can manipulate me.”

“Won’t we have to be careful what we say if there is a live bug in there?” Ciara asked concerned that she and Tammy might end upon giving Roth all access to their plans.

“Only in the outer room. Tammy’s office isn’t bugged yet. If he was here trying to get that room done we would have caught him. That’s probably why the back door was open. He probably bolted when we drove up. Which means important conversations for the meantime happen in Tammy’s office and false information can be fed to whoever has their ear next to the receiver on the other end.” Jimmy assured her.

“Well right now we need to find Tammy,  bring her up to date and plan a strategy. But I am gonna make sure this door is locked this time.”