Beta had no plans to hire more bodyguards. Every additional person around him meant another risk of exposure.
He pretended to take a phone call, then said to Michael, "The matter's been resolved ahead of schedule. I have to fly back to New York now. Take me to the airport immediately."
The sudden decision caught Michael off guard, but as a professional, he immediately carried out his employer's instructions.
Outside the airport terminal, Beta said a brief goodbye to Michael and watched as the dutiful bodyguard drove away.
After confirming Michael was gone, Beta walked a long loop around the terminal before heading to the taxi stand. He took a cab straight back to the hotel and quickly cleared out anything in the room that might leave a trace, making sure no biological evidence of his presence remained.
He checked out and left.
As for any traces that might have remained, he left them to the hotel's professional housekeeping staff to clean up.
--
Back at the safe house, Beta shed the disguise he'd worn for thirty-six hours.
Facing the mirror, he slowly peeled away the carefully crafted mask, revealing his real face. Sticky adhesive still clung to his skin, which was slightly red and itchy from being trapped beneath the mask for so long. He carefully peeled off the adhesive film, then rubbed out the hair gel that had held his hair in place.
Standing at the sink, he scrubbed his face vigorously with cold water, then took a satisfying hot shower and thoroughly washed the sweat from his hair. After changing into clean, comfortable clothes, he let out a long breath and sank into the safe house's soft bed.
He turned on his personal phone. More than a dozen unread messages popped up in succession.
They were all