No One To Trust: Rockford Security Mystery Series

by Dobbs, L. A.

  Resolved, he took a seat on her sofa and pulled her down beside him. Snickerdoodle jumped up on the other end, searching around for more treats. He’d considered asking Shelby to come with him when he snuck back into the casino, but now, no way. If she got caught trespassing once more in Katherine’s condo, chances were far higher she’d get charged too.

  No. This was a mission he’d complete on his own.

  Risky? Hell, yeah. But now he’d risk anything to keep Shelby safe.

  Even his precious freedom.

  * * *

  Shelby snuggled closer into Chase’s side and rested her head against his shoulder. After her tear-filled meltdown, they’d decided to chill at her place and watch movies. She’d ordered a pizza and opened a bottle of chardonnay from her fridge, and they’d spent some nice quiet time together. It felt good—awesome, really—to be alone and relax with someone where she didn’t have to be on guard or pretend to be someone or something she wasn’t.

  With Chase, she could just be herself and know that was okay, that was enough.

  He kissed the top of her head and stroked his fingers through her hair, chuckling at the antics of the zany actors on screen. He’d sat through her favorite romantic comedy even though she was sure a tough guy like him would’ve preferred a blow-em-up action flick instead. His kindness made her care for him all the more. And those feelings seemed to be going around too, seeing as how one of her two hermit cats had jumped up and now rested across the back of the sofa behind Chase’s head, his ginger tail swishing near Chase’s ear.

  Snickerdoodle, though, had claimed the prime real estate, draping himself across Chase’s lap with his hind legs stretched atop Shelby’s. The somewhat awkward arrangement still worked, since they used his long back as a table for their dinner plates. Shelby snickered while Chase slipped the dog tidbits of pepperoni from his meal. “You’re a dog person aren’t you?”

  “I guess.” Chase shrugged and grinned. “And you like cats?”

  “I like both. And birds. And horses. And—”

  “And every other creature on God’s green earth, right?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. Not bugs though. Not a fan of those.”

  “What?” He looked at her with mock affront. “You got something against tarantulas?”

  “Uh, yeah.” The movie ended and she grabbed the remote. “What should we watch now? I picked the last time, so it’s your choice.”

  “Hmm. Okay.” He took the remote and scrolled through the onscreen choices, stopping at a newer release horror flick. “What about this one? Zombies too scary?”

  “Nah. Zombies work for me.”

  “Cool.” Chase started the new film then tossed the remote on the coffee table where their feet rested. Snickerdoodle grew restless and they both barely managed to pick up their plates before the dog jumped down. “Well, okay then. Guess he didn’t appreciate being disturbed.”

  “Guess not.” Shelby finished her last few bites of pizza then set her plate on top of the empty pizza box. “Oh well, his loss.”

  “Got that right.” He waggled his eyebrows provocatively at Shelby. “I’ve been known to have the best lap in town.”

  She giggled. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “Your loss.” He set his plate atop of hers on the table then pulled her tight into his side again, his hand resting comfortably at her waist. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  As the film progressed and the scenes moved from infected hospital patients to a mass of drooling undead chomping on brains, Chase kept up a running commentary of funny remarks. Normally, people who talked constantly during movies got on Shelby’s last nerve, but his humor made it fun.

  “What do you think they make those brains out of?” Chase asked, his expression serious.

  “No idea.” Shelby shrugged. “Gelatin maybe?”

  “Really? Gelatin? What flavor?”

  “I don’t know, brain flavor?”

  “Okay, ew.” He laughed. “Don’t you ever think about stuff like that? Like people get paid excellent money for all these special effects things and I think that’s fascinating. I watched a documentary once about how those guys make all that stuff and they said most of what they use are normal things you have in your kitchen. Like corn syrup and red food coloring for the blood and stuff.”

  Shelby leaned away and looked him in the eye. “Well, I can honestly say I’ve never, ever thought about blood flavored gelatin until tonight, Chase. Thanks for the new experience.”

  “I aim to please.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  Snickerdoodle returned from the kitchen, his muzzle wet and dripping from the drink of water he’d obviously gotten and he eyed Chase’s lap again. Chase patted his lap and Snickerdoodle jumped up and they all settled back in. Shelby drew a deep sigh of satisfaction, even though the day had been crappy, the evening was turning out absolutely perfect.

  16

  The next night, Chase hovered near the side employee entrance to the Lucky Ace, tension gnawing a hole in his gut. At least darkness had fallen about an hour earlier, giving him better cover for the covert nature of his mission. The alley adjacent to the door appeared empty too, making him feel a tad less apprehensive.

  He leaned against the brick wall to wait for Owen. He’d texted the guy before leaving Blake’s house and feigned a need to pick something up for work as an excuse to come to the casino. Dangerous, sure, but what other choice did he have? He needed dirt on Katherine Bryant and where better to find it than in her condo?

  The metal door beside him pushed open and Owen Rockford peeked his head out, punctual as always. “Hey, man. Should you be here?”

  “No,” Chase said. “Definitely not. But like I said—”

  “I know what you said.” Owen blocked the entrance with his muscled bulk. “Now tell me why you’re really here.”

  Well, shit. Chase exhaled and kicked a non-existent pebble with the toe of the black motorcycle boot. “C’mon, Owen. If I don’t find something on Katherine, I could end up back in prison. And now Shelby’s going to end up homeless. I can’t let that happen, man.”

  Owen regarded him with a narrowed brown gaze for several seconds before stepping aside and cocking his head toward the casino interior. “Whatever. Fine. Get in here then.”

  They walked side by side down the back service halls toward the same entrance he’d gone out onto the casino floor with Shelby a few nights earlier. The one closest to the executive offices and the private elevator to Katherine’s condo.

  “You know if you get caught, I’ll lose my job.” Owen paused outside the door to the casino. “Please, man. For both our sakes, play it cool, eh?”

  “Will do.” Chase leaned a hip against the door to open it. “Cameras off?”

  Owen backed away, hands up and head nodding. “I did not see you here tonight because I’m long overdue to leave.”

  Great. After a deep breath, Chase headed out into the marble hallway and over to the elevators, head down and baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He’d just reached into his pocket for his trusty latex gloves when he collided hard with another person.

  “Excuse me.” Startled, he glanced up to find himself face-to-face with Katherine Bryant. Crap. The gleam of triumph in her eyes made his skin crawl.

  She clucked her tongue, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. “Chase Evans. Never a smart move to return to the scene of your crime. Didn’t they teach you anything in prison?”

  Chase shoved the now useless gloves back into his pocket, his pulse thudding loud in his ears. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. He wouldn’t.

  “What’s the matter, Chase?” Katherine tilted her head and wrinkled her nose. “Worried about your new little sex toy? Be a shame for Shelby to lose that shelter.” Her tone reeked with insincerity. “Especially with her father dead. Accidents happen so easily these days, don’t they?”

  All his protective instincts blended with his loath
ing for the bitch before him. Without considering his actions, Chase leaned close, his expression leaving no doubt that he meant business. The thought of anyone or anything hurting Shelby made him damned near homicidal. Katherine stepped back against the wall.

  He lined in, jabbing a finger at her face. “I swear to God, you pathetic, conniving bitch. If you touch one hair on Shelby’s head or harm her in any way, you’ll pay. Understand?”

  Katherine chuckled, not appearing the least bit concerned. “You never were the sharpest crayon in the box, were you, Chase? Guess dropping out of law school was a good career choice.”

  “Hey!” A security guard called from the other end of the hall. Chase’s stomach nosedived to his toes. Crap. He’d played right into the bitch’s hands. The guard pulled his Taser and pointed it directly at Chase. “Step away from the lady, sir, and put your hands behind your head.”

  Chase did, glancing over as another guard joined the first and moved closer to frisk him. Neither of the two were Rockford employees, unfortunately, meaning, there was no way in hell he could talk them out of another trip to police central. Especially once Katherine started her show.

  Katherine stumbled forward, fake tears streaming down her cheeks as she grasped one of the guard’s beefy bicep with her shaking hand. “Thank God you showed up when you did. This man is a known felon and I was terrified he’d kill me like he did my husband.”

  One guard placed a comforting arm around Katherine’s shoulders and pulled her off to the side while the other secured Chase’s wrists behind his back with a set of cuffs, then radioed in for the cops.

  Yeah, it’s going to be another long night.

  * * *

  It was close to midnight before they finally released Chase from police custody. Thankfully, Moore had been out on another case, so at least he didn’t have to spend his time playing Twenty Questions with her again. Still, his temples throbbed and his neck and upper back were stiff from stress, but at least he was a free man again.

  At least for a little while longer anyway.

  He stopped at the evidence window to collect his belongings, then headed out into the brightly lit LVPD station lobby. Like Vegas itself, the place went twenty-four-seven.

  No rest for the wicked, as they say.

  Head lowered, he walked over to where Blake sat near the far corner of the space. “Thanks for coming to get me, man. I still can’t believe they dropped the charges. I figured after everything that’s happened, they’d nail my ass to the wall this time.” He looked away and cringed. “I can’t believe I walked right into her trap. God, I’m such an idiot.”

  “Yeah. Not exactly a brilliant move there, genius,” Blake said. “And they caught you on camera too, dumbass. Not smart at all.”

  Heat prickled up from beneath the collar of Chase’s black T-shirt. “Sorry.”

  “You should be.” Blake walked out of the station. Chase trailed behind him like a guilty puppy. “And for your information, I did not get the charges dropped. The most I could do was pay your bail to get you released into my custody.”

  “Shit.” Chase halted at the side of Blake’s navy sedan. “I don’t have the money to pay you back right now, but you know I will. Someday. And you know I’m grateful.”

  “Grateful, huh?” Blake glared at him over the roof of the car, “Grateful would be not going to jail in the first place. That would be grateful.” He exhaled loud. “Besides. What was I supposed to do, Chase? Let you rot away in there?” Blake cursed under his breath and yanked the driver’s side door open. “What the hell were you thinking, going back to the Lucky Ace tonight?”

  Chase released his pent-up breath and climbed into the car. “I wasn’t.”

  “Damn straight you weren’t.” After cranking the engine on and revving the motor, Blake sped out of the station lot and into the bustling late-night traffic. Uncomfortable silence descended over them like a shroud.

  Minutes past as the tension between them grew thicker, became damned near palpable. Unable to take it anymore, Chase attempted conversation. “So, you saw the footage, huh?”

  “Yeah, I saw it.” They swerved around a corner and Blake focused straight ahead. “You know, while I was sitting around waiting for the judge to set your bail.”

  Cursing, Chase scrubbed his hands over his face. “Look, man. I’m sorry, okay? I know I disappointed you and I made Rockford Security look really bad, but what was I supposed to do?”

  “Rockford Security?” Blake did look at him then and Chase wished to hell he hadn’t, given his sour expression and the fact The Hurt was in full force. “You were not on a job for me tonight. I made that perfectly clear to the judge. So the only person you made look bad was yourself, buddy.”

  Got that right. Chase sighed and stared out the window again, silent.

  They stopped at a red light and Blake exhaled loud then rolled his neck, his tone emerging a tad less arctic. “What did she say to provoke you?”

  Chase shrugged, still staring at the neon glow of the Strip beyond. “What does it matter?”

  Not like he’d spill any information about his new, deeper relationship with Shelby to Blake anyway. That would only make the guy think he’d been right all along and there weren’t enough animals in the world to adopt as revenge for the kind of supreme I-told-you-so that would most certainly follow.

  The light turned green and Blake accelerated. “In case you weren’t aware, I have lip readers on staff. If you don’t tell me, I’ll find out easy enough anyway.”

  Well, crap.

  Chase smoothed his hands down the legs of his dark jeans and tried to make his response as innocuous as possible. “She threatened Shelby, okay?”

  “Huh.” A slow, knowing grin spread over Blake’s face.

  Chase battled the urge to punch his boss’s smug smile clean off. “Don’t go there, man.”

  “Go where?” Blake gave him some serious side-eye as they screeched around yet another corner. “Like I care about your love life.”

  “Just don’t, all right? I can’t take anymore shit tonight.” Chase sighed.

  “Right.” Blake chuckled. “You do seem a bit stressed.”

  “Really? Because being accused of murder, arrested for assault, having your girlfriend’s life threatened and her dreams destroyed if I can’t solve this goddamned mess isn’t enough to put a guy a little on edge about.”

  Girlfriend? That was the second time he’d thought of Shelby as his that night. Funny, but the idea of a life, a future, with her didn’t scare him the way commitments always had in the past.

  Chase shifted in his seat. In fact, sharing a life with Shelby sounded pretty damned heavenly. Of course, they hadn’t really discussed those things at all. And wouldn’t either. Not until this whole black cloud of uncertainty was lifted. Then, maybe, they might have a chance at something real.

  “You need proof that bad, huh?” Blake asked, breaking him out of his reverie.

  “I’m willing to risk going back to prison. What do you think?”

  They headed out of Las Vegas proper and into the desert night toward Summerlin as Blake’s stiff posture relaxed a tad. “I have a few people between assignments. I’ll have them go over the footage and see if we can’t find something, anything. We’ve already got a team studying the hard drive from Warren’s office computer for the surveillance footage from those office cameras. They haven’t uncovered anything yet, though, so I’m assuming he has it stored on an encrypted private server somewhere. It’s a long shot, but if we can locate that server and the footage, there’s an excellent chance we’ll know who killed Warren Bryant. Owen’s promised to keep an eye out for anything suspicious too.”

  Chase clenched his jaw as warmth welled in his chest. It had been so long, too long, since anyone treated him with respect, with dignity, with kindness. The fact Shelby and Blake and his family did so on a daily basis touched him more than he could say. “Thanks, man. I really do appreciate the help.”

  "Hey, I owe you my l
ife. It's the least I can do."

  Chase opened his mouth to argue. What he'd done that day on that security job long ago he would have done no matter what. He sure hadn't done it to get favors for life and wanted to assure Blake that he didn't owe him anything, but Blake held his hand up stopping him before he could get any words out. "And I hate to see a person like Katherine Bryant think she can get away with framing someone for murder."

  17

  Late the following afternoon Chase stood once more outside the employee entrance at the Lucky Ace. No cloak and dagger this time, thank God. This time he was here legitimately, because of a phone call from Owen he’d received shortly before leaving Rockford Security for the day.

  Jittery with adrenaline, he shuffled from foot to foot to keep himself from going nuts. What seemed like a millennium later, but probably had only been a few seconds, the door opened and Owen leaned out.

  “You found something?” Chase struggled to keep the excitement from his tone.

  Owen waved him inside then led him to his office. “Not just something, my man. I found what you need.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.” Owen took a seat behind the bank of flat screen monitors and clicked a few keys on the computer in front of him. “Take a look at this. Already backed up to Rockford’s servers too.”

  Chase leaned in over Owen’s shoulder and squinted at the black and white footage. “Where’s this at? I don’t recognize the background.”

  “The VIP bar. Warren didn’t have cameras in there, but the cops ordered me to install one after your first encounter with Katherine. Guess they figured it might come in handy.”

  Onscreen, a man stood with his back to the camera. His hair was dark and his jacket had some kind of logo on the front breast pocket. Chase squinted. He’d seen that logo somewhere before, but for the life of him, couldn’t place it at the moment. His mind was racing too bad.