He nodded. When he was a teen, a lot of his friends had found those stories exciting. “Has Marco made any family members angry lately?”
Baker narrowed his eyes. “You’d have to ask the FBI that one.”
“You haven’t heard anything?”
“Nope.”
“How about debt? His business hurting?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Know of any burglaries in the area? Not the usual. Something bigger.”
“Heard there was one at Keating Security last night.”
Ty forced himself not to tense up. “Ha ha. I’m serious.”
“Why? You know something?”
“Not enough. Not nearly enough. But if I find out anything, you’ll be the first I’ll tell.”
The kitchen door swung open and the bartender shuffled back behind the bar, four bags in his hands. He set them next to the soda in front of Baker and scooped up the cash. The aroma of grilled beef and fried food infused the air.
Ty took a deep breath, realizing neither he nor Megan had eaten since early morning. “I’ll let you get back to your delivery. And your shooting.”
“Why don’t you come with me? I know Leo was trying to get hold of you earlier.”
“You wouldn’t know why, would you?”
“Afraid not. But it has something to do with the media. They were crawling all over him, even before the report of the shooting came through. I think it’s tied up with the kidnapping scare yesterday.”
Ty nodded. Kidnapping scare. So thanks to the snowfall and the shooting in Lake Pass, the P.D. had yet to follow up with Doug. At least that much was going their way. So far.
“Other than that, I can’t guess what those vultures are after.” Baker opened a bag, fished out a pepper fry and popped it into his mouth. He tilted the bag toward Ty. “Want one?”
Ty held up a hand. “Tell Leo I’ll give him a call as soon as I can.”
“With all that’s going on, Leo’s a bit on edge.” Baker threw a tip on the bar, stuffed the rest of his change in his pocket, and started for the door with his paper bags. “Your call better come soon.”
MEGAN HADN’T STEPPED INSIDE Lake Hubbard’s city hall since she and Doug had picked up their marriage license. In retrospect, it was not the happiest of memories, yet it was much happier than she was today.
She had no idea if what she was about to do would make her chances of getting Connor back better or worse. She just knew they weren’t getting anywhere guessing which business was going to be targeted by the kidnapper. No matter what Ty said about checking information with the police and mob ties and whatever else, she felt like they were groping in the dark.
Time was running out. She had to try.
She did her best to push her doubts aside. Striding down the hall, she reached the mayor’s office, opened the door and stepped inside.
“Hello. Can I help you?” A woman with bejeweled reading glasses propped on her nose gave her a reserved smile.
“Ah, yes. I was hoping I could have a word with Evan, I mean Mayor Blankenship.”
The woman glanced down at her computer screen. “Well, he has a busy day, of course. I could set up something for you tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait until tomorrow. Can’t you squeeze me in somewhere? It’s kind of important.”
The smile dropped from the woman’s lips. She peered over her glasses, as if sizing up Megan and assessing her worthiness. “And your name is?”
Megan gave the woman her name.
“And your address?”
“He knows my address. Please. This is urgent.”
The woman tilted her chin downward and scrutinized Megan over the top of her glasses. “He knows your address?”
“We went to high school together. He just stopped over to my house yesterday. I assume he knows how he got there.” She felt like a fraud, building up this largely exaggerated connection between them. But being truthful and polite and self-deprecating wasn’t going to get her what she needed.
The woman’s smile was back. “I can check with Mayor Blankenship, if you’ll wait here. What shall I tell him this is about?”
Megan opened her mouth, but didn’t have any words to push out. What did she tell the woman? This is about my plot to steal security information? This is about saving my son’s life, but don’t tell the police?
“Megan!” Evan Blankenship’s voice boomed through the room.
She turned to see him standing in the doorway at the back of the reception area.
“Did you come to say hi?”
“Ah, yes.” She gave the woman a glance.
She was already back to peering through her fancy glasses at her computer screen, as if she had forgotten the problem of Megan Garvey had ever existed.
“Come on in. I have a Christmas tree lighting at the mall in about a half an hour, but since our people have done such a bang-up job plowing the streets, I should still have a few moments to catch up.” He gave her a wink and motioned her into the office.
Megan’s legs felt suddenly heavy, but she forced them to carry her inside.
“Please, take a seat.”
Evan’s office wasn’t large, but Megan had a sharp enough eye to notice the handsome grain to the sturdy oak desk, the beautiful numbered prints decorating the walls and the obvious quality of the buttery-looking leather covering the chairs. His office might be that of a public servant, but his furnishings must be paid for with Harris money.
She sat, the leather’s scent and softness wrapping around her.
Instead of sitting behind his desk, Evan dragged another chair next to hers and sat so close their knees were almost touching. “I was so grateful to hear Doug had your son. What a relief.”
Megan hoped her smile appeared genuine and that Evan didn’t notice how her fingers were trembling. “Thank you. It was quite a scare.”
“I can imagine. Dee Dee and I don’t have children, but I shudder to envision what that kind of situation is like. I think it would make me desperate enough to do anything.”
Megan clasped her fingers together to still them. “Yes. It was horrible.”
“But all’s well that ends well, right? Where is your son now?”
“He’s still with Doug. They are planning to visit the children’s museum.” At least the lies were coming easier every time she told one, although she wasn’t sure that was something to celebrate.
“Oh, that’s nice.”
Silence stretched awkwardly between them, as if they’d burned up every common thread in the span of thirty seconds. She tried to come up with some way of steering the conversation toward Keating. The mansion’s security? Her job? It all seemed to beg questions. Questions she didn’t want to answer.
Even glanced at his watch. “So what brings you here to see me today?”
Maybe Ty was right. Maybe she shouldn’t be here. She couldn’t tell Evan why she needed help. She couldn’t even come up with what she really needed him to do. Maybe this whole thing was a horrible mistake. “You need to get to work.”
He looked at her blankly.
“The Christmas tree lighting ceremony. I’m holding you up.”
“Yes, work. I guess that is my work now. Funny.” He let out a chuckle that seemed a little forced. “Now, where did you say you worked again, Megan? I forget.”
“I don’t think I ever said.”
“Are you still in the computer business?”
“No. I’m working for…I was working for Doug’s cousin Gary. He has an office cleaning business.”
“Was?”
“I was let go yesterday.”
“Yesterday? Really? That’s horrible.”
He had no idea. But miraculously, she had the opening she needed. “That’s why I’m here, actually.”
“I don’t think we’re hiring currently, but I can ask Karen to check with the rest of city government. Or maybe Dee Dee is looking for additional help around the house.”
Megan’s face heated.
She held up her hands. “That’s very generous of you, but I’m not looking for you to give me a job.”
He looked a little relieved and a lot confused. “You said you were fired, and that’s why you’re here.”
“Yes. But I was actually wondering if you might have a word with Mr. Keating.”
“Keating? The owner of Keating Security?”
“I’ve heard he installed the new security system at Harris House. Or is it the Blankenship House now?”
He waved away the name. “It’s Harris House. Dee Dee’s family has such a history here, we aren’t going to change it. She didn’t even take the name Blankenship. I don’t blame her, of course. It’s very long.” His lips pulled back from straight white teeth.
Megan knew it was supposed to be a grin, but the expression looked so practiced, it made her even more uncomfortable. “Anyway, I was fired because I accidently set off the alarm while I was cleaning Keating Security last night. And I thought, maybe if you mentioned something to Keating, he might give me a second chance.”
“And you’re sure Gary Burke would hire you back if Keating gave his blessing?”
She had no clue. But it was the only idea she could come up with that might get her back inside Keating. “I’m sure of it. Gary has been good to me.” At least that was the truth. All in all, he had been.
“Then consider it done. I’m sure Keating will do what he can to ensure he keeps Harris House on his client list.”
Megan gave Evan a smile, an authentic one this time, and tried not to think of the fact that once she had the security information from Keating’s computers, she would be turning over Harris House security codes to a kidnapper along with the rest. She might feel like a lying, pathetic sleaze at the moment, but getting Connor back was worth the price. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m sure you’d do me a favor if I needed one.” He grinned, as if he had one in mind this minute.
“You bet.”
“And come election time, I might just have to call in that favor.” He added a chuckle to the grin, but Megan had the feeling he wasn’t kidding at all.
Chapter Ten
Megan had thought she was about as uncomfortable as she could get when she’d asked Evan Blankenship for a favor. She’d been wrong.
She stood frozen in the doorway of Julianne’s, the chime still sounding in her ears. The outside of the shop had held no more clues to what kind of business went on inside than the listing at Keating Security. But the moment she stepped inside, she had no doubts.
A mannequin stood in front of the store modeling the latest in leather and chains, a whip in its hand. Erotic art covered the walls, hot and explicit enough to make her blush. Some kind of musk perfumed the air. And every shelf held some kind of phallic toy, fur-lined handcuffs or various clamps and devices that made Megan cringe.
And in the middle of all of it stood Ty, a grin on his face. “Glad you found the place.”
“Funny. I don’t think I am.” She stepped inside and let the door close behind her. She took one step, then another. The deeper she ventured into the place, the more exotic the wares became. Finally she just riveted her gaze to Ty, although she wasn’t convinced looking at him was safer.
He let out a laugh. “Isn’t this place great? Not sure it should be on our list, but…”
“Hello,” a feminine voice cooed from behind her. “Welcome to Julianne’s House of Pleasure.”
Megan turned around to find an older petite woman who looked like she’d be more likely to offer a cup of chamomile tea than pleasure of any kind.
The woman stepped out of an office located at the side of the store, a smile on her face. “What type of pleasure can I help the two of you with today?”
“Um, you don’t actually…” She wanted to pull a bag straight over her head. And here she thought her face was hot in Evan Blankenship’s office.
“Don’t actually?” She raised her brows.
“Provide pleasure,” Megan choked out.
The woman gestured to the displays around her. “I provide the tools. He’ll have to give you the pleasure.” She tossed Ty a wink.
He had the audacity to laugh.
Megan was no prude, but she sure felt like one in this place. “No, I think there’s been a mistake. We didn’t know…”
“Didn’t know what?”
She glanced at Ty, but he just grinned, as if he was enjoying the whole situation and wasn’t about to bail her out of it.
“I didn’t know a place like this existed. At least not in a little town like Lake Hubbard.”
The woman seemed to find this amusing. “That’s why we don’t advertise, dear. Those who want to come here know where it is. Those who find it bothersome don’t. Everyone is happy, which is our aim, of course. Now can I help you with something to extend the pleasure he gives you, perhaps?”
Another chuckle from Ty.
She was going to slug him. “I’m sorry. We have to go.” She grabbed Ty’s arm.
He didn’t move. “I was wondering, do you have other services?”
“What are you interested in?”
“Maybe in-home massage? You don’t make house calls, do you?”
Megan stared at Ty. What was he doing? He gave her a wink, and she felt like slinking out the door.
The woman narrowed her eyes, as if sizing him up. “No, I’m sorry. We don’t do anything like that. We just have the shop.”
“I’m sorry to hear it.” He stepped to the counter and took a business card from a holder on top of the cash register. He scribbled something on the back and handed it to the woman. “My phone number. In case you start offering more private services.”
The woman took the card. “We’ll see. In the meantime, you might want to try some of the items here. You can also order online, if that makes you more comfortable.”
Megan stuffed her hands into her pockets and looked from one to the other. Ty must be up to something. But until she knew what, she’d just have to play along.
He thanked the woman and gestured toward the door. “Shall we?” he asked Megan.
She nodded, glad to be leaving.
On the way out, Ty circled through the store. He paused near the office door and directed a pointed look at a security keypad next to another door, probably leading to the alley in back of the building. She followed him to the front of the shop, taking note of another alarm code pad next to the main entrance. Ty held the door open for her and stood to one side of the pad to avoid blocking her view.
The system was a simple one, more simple than the one at Keating Security. In fact, it looked as though only the doors were alarmed, no windows, no motion sensors. But that discovery did them little good. The place didn’t hold anything valuable enough to justify kidnapping to get the alarm code.
They stepped outside. Crossing the street, they walked past a stand of evergreens to Ty’s car, parked at the curb in front of a local snow-covered playground. The park backed up to the wrought iron fence of Harris House, and kids raced down the slope away from the fence on red and blue sleds, their happy shrieks piercing the air.
Megan swallowed a wave of emotion. She waited until they climbed back into Ty’s car before she spoke. “Private services? What was that about?”
Ty raised his brows. “You mean, you’re not interested in having an in-home massage?”
For a second, thoughts of Ty himself skimming his hands over her naked back flitted through her mind. She shook them away. “I’ll pass.”
“I was wondering why someone might want to break into a sex shop. What would a burglar steal that would be valuable enough to justify kidnapping?”
Just what she was thinking. “There’s big black market demand for fur-lined handcuffs?”
He chuckled low in his throat. “Well, that might be. But I was thinking they might be doing something illegal behind the scenes.”
“Prostitution.”
He tilted his head, acknowledging that was exactly what
he was thinking. “Or dealing drugs. Something that would mean they had money or something valuable like drugs in the store, something worth enough to go to great lengths to steal.”
“And if there isn’t anything like that?”
“Then we need to cross it off the list. But maybe we should take another look first.”
She shot him a frown. She appreciated what he was doing, trying to lighten things up, especially since they seemed to be getting nowhere. But even Julianne’s House of Pleasure and Ty’s teasing couldn’t loosen the knot in her stomach. In only a matter of hours the afternoon would draw to a close and evening would settle over the snowy town. The kidnapper could be calling at any moment, and they were no closer to knowing who he was or getting what he wanted. “What if there is no answer? What if we can’t find it in time?”
“Then we’ll figure out something else.”
“What else?”
Ty shook his head, looking as lost as she felt. He stepped toward her and encircled her with his arms.
She should step back. Stand on her own. But she didn’t have the strength for that anymore. No, that wasn’t true. She didn’t have the desire. God help her, she wanted Ty there with her. She wanted to lean on him. She wanted to hold him. She wanted him more than she’d wanted any man in a long time…any man since him.
She gave herself to his embrace.
She didn’t know how long they stood there like that, and she didn’t care. She could do nothing else. She’d fought her feelings for Ty for so long, ever since they were kids. She couldn’t fight anymore.
A muffled ringing tone reached her ears.
Megan’s heart jolted and started pumping double time. She pulled out of Ty’s embrace and looked up at him.
Wordlessly, she unzipped her bag with a shaking hand and fished inside for her cell phone.
What if it was the kidnapper? What if he’d seen the two of them together? Or what if he’d seen her walking into city hall? She pulled the phone from her bag and looked at the readout.
Not the same number. A number she recognized. She punched the on button and held the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Megan. I’m glad I caught you.”
A Cop in Her Stocking Page 9