Iron Cross (COBRA Securities Book 20)

by Velvet Vaughn

  The director came hurrying over with a look of concern as Finn was getting to his feet. “Are you hurt, Finn?”

  “No, I’m good. Was anyone else injured?”

  “Just some costly equipment and one equally expensive truck.”

  A niggling suspicion had Kayla pushing to her feet and striding over to where the driver was standing, looking shaken up as he talked to two crew members.

  “I’m telling you, I floored the brakes, but it wouldn’t stop.”

  She grabbed one of the production assistants as she passed by. “Where was the truck right before the accident?”

  “In the bay. We parked it there overnight.”

  Finn came up behind her. “What’s going on?”

  “Skate me over to the Zamboni. I want to check something out.”

  She screeched when he bent down and scooped her into his arms. “I meant I’d hold on to you.”

  “I like this way better.”

  She did, too.

  It felt incredible to glide along the ice in his arms. She wanted to close her eyes and enjoy the feeling. When he came to the end of the rink, he placed her down and then took a pair of skate guards from beneath his jersey and snapped them on. The sound of his guards hitting the concrete reverberated as they descended the incline. There was a large garage door on the far wall, allowing for the truck to enter.

  “Where’s the Zamboni?”

  “Probably at the main rink. There wouldn’t have been room for it inside with the truck.”

  Various stains coated the concrete, most leading to the drain in the center of the bay. Kayla bent down next to one that looked fresh. She stuck her finger in the brownish liquid and lifted it to her nose. Just as she suspected, it smelled like fish oil. She glanced around the room. There were no security cameras, which was disappointing. It would’ve been nice to have a video of the crime.

  “What is it?”

  “Someone cut the brake line.” She stood. “Judging by the amount on the ground, probably last night for it to have had time to drain out.”

  “The brakes were cut?”

  She turned to see Shawn and Clint making their way down the ramp.

  “Why would someone do that?” Shawn asked.

  “It could’ve been a prank. Or maybe someone wanted to screw with the shoot.”

  It didn’t seem probable that it was meant to run Finn over. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And who could’ve predicted he’d be wearing a headset? More likely, someone wanted to mess with the production.

  “What now?” Clint asked. “Will the commercial be scrapped?”

  Finn lifted a shoulder. “I need to talk to the director.”

  Instead of cutting across the ice, they walked along the outside of the rink to where the director talked with his crew. When he spotted Finn, he came to him.

  “We’re checking to make sure we have enough working equipment to go ahead with the shoot. If not, we’ll borrow some from a local television station. The passenger side of the truck is damaged, but the driver’s side is good. We’ll push it into place and go ahead as planned. We have footage of the truck emerging through the curtains. With some creative editing, we should be able to piece together something good.”

  Kip came over with a piece of tape wrapped around the center of his glasses, his brown hair mussed. He was rubbing his leg. “That was close.”

  “Are you hurt?” Finn asked.

  “I tripped over some cords trying to get out of the way, but I’m okay. I think I’ll go back to my office to lie down.”

  They watched as he staggered away.

  “You hungry?” Finn indicated the tables covered with food.

  “I could eat.”

  The food selection was impressive with an array of sandwiches, salads and desserts. After they loaded up their plates, they found a seat in the bleachers. Crew members were working to clean the mess from the runaway truck. They just finished eating when Finn was called back to the ice. Shawn and Clint went back to work, so she was alone. It gave her time to check in with the office and call the detective with the Pittsburgh Police Department, Anja Johansen. She wasn’t sure if the television crew would notify the police about the cut brake line. She was convinced it had nothing to do with the murders, but she wanted it on record anyway. She asked Detective Johansen if she could come to the arena.

  Fifteen minutes later, she spotted the woman as she entered the rink through one of the tunnels. She stood to meet her just as the detective looked up and headed in her direction.

  “It’s chillier than I thought in here,” Anja remarked as she dropped to the bleachers.

  “Would you like my jacket?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Thanks for meeting me here, Detective Johansen. I didn’t mean to exclude your partner.”

  “Please, call me Anja. Detective Mitchell isn’t my partner. We do occasionally work cases together, but most of the time, we’re solo.” She glanced at the destruction. “What happened?”

  Kayla explained the runaway truck, Finn’s near-miss and the cut brake line. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the missing woman or the murders, but I wanted it on record anyway. It would’ve been almost impossible to know where Finn would be when the truck lost control. The unsub might’ve just wanted to cause problems, or it could be random.”

  When the detective didn’t speak, Kayla turned to see the woman studying her with an assessing look. “Finn’s girlfriend my ass. You’re a cop.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “You’re some kind of authority.”

  Kayla debated whether to keep up the pretense or tell the detective everything. Her instincts were spot-on, and she trusted the other woman. She decided on the truth. “I’m not a cop, but I work for a security company. One of my coworkers is friends with Finn. He asked me to check things out. I might’ve bent the truth about our relationship, but not about his alibi on Sunday night. I was with him for the entire evening.”

  Anja nodded slowly. “I believe you. For the record, I don’t think he has anything to do with the murders.”

  “He doesn’t.”

  “What’s the name of the company where you work? I’d like to check out your story.”

  “I’d expect nothing less. COBRA Securities in Bloomington, Indiana.”

  Anja’s eyebrows shot up. “You work for COBRA Securities? Wow, I’m impressed.”

  Kayla gave her the number to call to speak with either Luke or Logan. “I’d appreciate it if you kept this between us, not even telling Detective Mitchell. We haven’t told Finn’s closest friends. They think I’m his girlfriend.”

  Anja glanced at the ice again. “Not a bad undercover assignment. He’s something.”

  It couldn’t be jealousy causing Kayla’s fists to clench. She had no claim on Finn. Anja was a beautiful woman with hair so blond, it was almost white and eyes a light gray. And she was young for a detective. Kayla would guess late twenties. She’d look good on Finn’s arm. Once Kayla returned home, there was nothing to keep the two from dating.

  The thought made the food in her stomach revolt, so she pushed it from her head. As they watched, the truck was shoved into position, the damage hidden from their viewpoint. The lights and cameras were back in place, though fewer than before.

  Anja’s phone beeped a text. “I have to go. I’ll send officers to interview the crew and to look at the truck.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate you coming.”

  “No problem. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  Once Anja left, the afternoon passed quickly. Finn was filmed executing impressive stick work with a puck and standing next to the truck. They even had him speak in front of a large green screen, which would allow the production department to drop any background image behind him. Once the director was satisfied, he thanked everyone for a job well done. Several people spoke to Finn before he was free to leave. He showered and changed back into his street clothes in the small locker room next to
the rink. Darrel was waiting to take his uniform and pads. She tried to return the jacket, but Darrel held up a hand and told her to keep it.

  She was happy to see two policemen speaking with the director, while two others inspected the truck. Someone had tampered with the brake line, so a crime had occurred. Even if nothing came from the investigation, the incident would be on the record.

  Georgiana sashayed forward and threw her arms around Finn’s neck as he exited the locker room. Kayla experienced the irrational urge to yank her off. Finn took care of it by stepping back.

  “I was watching the last few takes. It’s going to be a fabulous commercial,” she gushed, reaching out to grip Finn’s arm. Kayla gritted her teeth. Could the woman not keep her hands off him for two minutes? “You’re a natural in front of the camera, Finn. And what great exposure for the Punishers! I can’t wait to see it.” She turned to Kayla. “Don’t you agree?”

  Finn had nearly been flattened by a runaway truck, and the production company lost thousands of dollars of equipment, but all she was worried about was the bottom line. “Yes.” It was the easiest and least confrontational answer she could give.

  Chapter Seven

  Finn led Kayla back to her SUV. With the mishap earlier, the shoot took longer than expected. He’d spent twenty minutes talking to a policeman who was writing a report on the incident. One of the camera operators showed him the footage of the runaway truck and Kayla’s diving tackle to save him from being flattened. He’d been impressed. Damn impressed. He already knew she was skilled, or she wouldn’t be working for the top security company in the country. But seeing her in action was something else. The cameraman had been amazed, too. He joked that his girlfriend wouldn’t have risked her life like that to save him. It was a sobering reminder that Kayla was here for a job and not him.

  He opened the door and waited for her to be seated before closing it and rounding the hood. Though she had said nothing, he had a feeling she might not appreciate the chivalry. She was the strongest, most capable and independent woman he’d ever met. But manners were ingrained in him from his childhood. His mother made sure he treated women with respect. He couldn’t turn them off. If she asked, he would try, but it’d be hard.

  As he started the engine, his stomach rumbled. He hadn’t had a chance to grab anything to eat after lunch. He glanced over at Kayla. He wanted to take her to his favorite Italian restaurant. No, it wasn’t a date. Still, he wanted to spend time with her. Get to know her. “Are you hungry?”

  “I shouldn’t be after hitting the catering table, but I could eat.”

  “I know a great little Italian place. They serve the best spaghetti Bolognese in town.”

  “It sounds delicious.”

  As he navigated to the restaurant, he warned her, “It doesn’t look like much on the outside.”

  “Those are usually the best places to eat.”

  He found a parking spot in the packed lot next to the building and led her inside. As soon as they crossed the threshold, it felt as if they’d stepped into an authentic Italian eatery. The smells hit first—a mixture of garlic, spices, fresh bread and fragrant food—and sucked you right in. The lighting was dim, with candles glowing brightly on every table. Murals of the Tuscan countryside adorned the walls. Soft music played in the background, and a welcoming fountain bubbled merrily.

  “Mr. Bates!”

  A smiling middle-aged woman with a cap of curly black hair wrapped her arms around him. “It’s so good to see you, dear.” She stepped back, her measuring gaze taking in Kayla. “And who is this beauty?”

  “Maria, this is my girlfriend, Kayla.”

  The woman placed both hands against Kayla’s face. “So pretty. You will make beautiful babies together.”

  Finn sucked in a breath. A vivid image of Kayla pregnant with his child almost buckled his knees. When Maria motioned with her hand and said, “Follow me,” he couldn’t move for several seconds. Maria didn’t notice his reaction as she continued, “I have your favorite table available.”

  Shaking his head, he hurried to catch up. Kayla quirked a brow. “Favorite table? You must bring your dates here often.”

  As a matter of fact, he did not. Usually, he was with Shawn or Clint or one of his teammates. He’d brought his parents several times, but few dates. He didn’t get the chance to tell her that as Maria fretted over them. Soon they were seated in the round booth in the corner. It was the best seat in the restaurant, with the large sides blocking views of other patrons, giving the feeling of seclusion.

  “This is fabulous.”

  “It is.” But he wasn’t checking out the room. He was looking at her. Candlelight played over her features, and he wanted to lean in and taste her lips again. He moved slowly, giving her time to back away.

  Maria returned, breaking the spell. She chatted animatedly, blissfully unaware of what almost happened. He sat back while she placed glasses of water and a plate of focaccia bread drizzled with olive oil, salt and rosemary, on the table. Holding up a bottle of wine, she asked, “Can I pour you a glass?”

  “Thank you, but I don’t drink,” Kayla demurred.

  Though he usually imbibed on the tasty vino, he declined since she wasn’t drinking. Besides, he was driving.

  “I will give you a few minutes with the menu.”

  “Thanks, Maria.”

  Finn waited until she left before saying, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you don’t drink. I opened those bottles Sunday night. You should’ve said something.”

  “Oh, I occasionally do, and red wine is my favorite, but I don’t drink on the job.”

  There was a bucket of cold water in the face, reminding him that this wasn’t a date. He’d been sucked into the seductive atmosphere, the romantic lighting and private booth. He sighed. Maybe it was a good thing they weren’t dating judging from all the garlic he was about to ingest.

  “I should also tell you that I called Detective Johansen to inform her about the runaway truck. I wanted it on record. She came by the arena and we talked. I ended up telling her the truth about where I work and our relationship. She won’t share the information with anyone.”

  Detective Johansen seemed competent and capable. He didn’t doubt she wouldn’t reveal their subterfuge. But, for some reason, it bothered him she knew the truth about their relationship, mostly because he wanted to reach over and clasp Kayla’s hand, to make the pretense real. Then they wouldn’t have to lie to anyone.

  Shaking his head to clear the unrealistic thoughts, he focused on the menu, even though he knew most of it by heart. He was a creature of habit, ordering the spaghetti Bolognese. Kayla opted for the penne with pesto sauce and shrimp. They talked while they waited for the food to be prepared. They’d spent hours getting to know each other the night she arrived. He’d learned many of her likes and dislikes, but he wanted to know everything about her. She fascinated him.

  When Maria delivered the food, they dug in with gusto, sampling the other’s dish. It might not be a date, but it sure as hell felt like one. Despite her trim figure, he was pleased to note that she tucked into her meal with relish. She didn’t move lettuce around on the plate and peck at it like a picky chickadee. Nina had been so fussy, dinners out with her were painful. What little she ate, she wanted it prepared a certain way. She’d gotten into arguments with more than one server and a few chefs. That was why he never brought her here. He was sure she’d find something wrong with every item on the menu. He didn’t want to upset Maria or her family.

  The meal was over too quickly. He wanted to linger, spend more time with her. He was just about to suggest they split a dessert when Kayla’s phone beeped. She swiped it from the table and glanced at the screen with a frown.

  “Someone’s tampering with my SUV.”

  She started sliding out of the booth, but he grabbed her hand to stall her. “I’ll call the police. It could be dangerous.” It might be a drugged up tweaker high on crystal meth looking for money for his next hit, or a violen
t street gang causing mayhem—or a murderer.

  She shot him a look that would’ve cowered a lesser man. “I’ve got this.”

  He scooted out while digging out his wallet. He handed a surprised Maria the cash with a hefty tip and thanked her before darting after Kayla’s rapidly disappearing form.

  #

  Kayla pushed through the door, reluctant to leave the intimate atmosphere and Finn’s comfortable company. Until someone decided to mess with her vehicle, it’d been the best dinner of her life. He was incredibly easy to talk to, and she loved the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. She’d told him more stories about Kai Costa and the other kids at the compound just to keep that look on his face.

  Darkness had fallen while they were enjoying dinner inside the restaurant. She spotted the SUV under the glow of a streetlight. Punching a button on her key fob, she disabled the beeping alarm. Fingering her weapon, she eased closer, scanning for any activity around the Escalade. An older couple were exiting their car a row over. She hastily slid her gun out of sight so as not to frighten them, but they still gave her curious looks. Maybe it was the way she was approaching her vehicle like a wolf stalking its prey. The parking space next to the driver’s side was empty, so she eased around to the passenger side. Whoever messed with it was gone. It wasn’t a random brush. The sensors were sophisticated. They only alerted when someone tried to open the door or pick the locks or…damn. The right front tire was slashed. Someone had punctured it with a rather large object for it to be completely flat in such a short amount of time.

  Finn caught up to her and cursed. “At least it’s only one.”

  It could’ve been a random hit, like kids out making mischief. But it served as a reminder that she wasn’t here to enjoy Finn’s company. The intimate dinner had lulled her into a scenario that she couldn’t afford to indulge. She had a job to do, and that was to protect him from threats.

  Together they worked to change the tire. She could do it herself, but it was nice to have help. Finn then drove to a shop to replace it. Going to a public place with him was an eye-opening experience. At the restaurant with the low lighting and private booth, it shielded him from the other diners. But as soon as they stepped into the tire shop that announced they supported the Punishers with several banners, everyone inside instantly recognized him. She watched in amusement as fans inundated him, all wanting a small piece of him. He posed for pictures, signed autographs, and talked hockey with workers and customers alike. She suffered through several dirty looks from the women while keeping a vigil for any threats.