No One To Trust: Rockford Security Mystery Series

by Dobbs, L. A.

  “So what exactly am I looking at?”

  Owen grinned. “Wait for it.”

  In the next frame, Katherine charged into the shot and argued with the man. He stormed off, his back still toward the camera. Katherine’s expression looked furious and desperate as she stalked off too.

  Chase rubbed his eyes. “Sorry, but I don’t see how her fighting with some strange guy is going to help me.”

  “It’s not done yet.” Owen pointed at the monitor again. “Watch.”

  The footage switched to Katherine’s condo. She stalked in, apparently still pissed from her encounter with the mystery man, and paced for a moment before heading into the bedroom. Even with the shitty camera angle, Chase could see the corner of an open safe in the background. The door of the safe blocked whatever it was that Katherine removed, but she stuffed the object beneath one arm, closed the safe, then walked back out into the living room.

  Antsy now, Chase grew impatient. “Still not seeing the benefit here, Owen.”

  “Patience, grasshopper.” Owen clicked several more keys, then sat back and clasped his hands behind his head. “Jeez, are you always like this? You’re like a frigging roadrunner on crack, man. Settle down already.”

  Chase gave him a dirty look. “Excuse me for having my life on the line here.”

  “Chill, okay? And have a look at these.” Owen pulled out a digital camera and scrolled through several pictures taken somewhere outside. “There’s Katherine walking up the stairs to—”

  “Shit! Is that Shelby’s apartment?”

  “Yep. And I’m not even going to ask how you know that, my man.”

  Chase gave him a disgruntled look. “Just keep showing the pictures.”

  Owen snickered. “Fine, dude. Don’t get your panties in a wad. Here’s one where you can see what she took from that safe. Left it on Shelby’s doorstep too.”

  “What is it?”

  “Some kind of a pin or brooch.” He set the camera aside and pulled a tissue wrapped bundle from his pocket. Inside was the object in question. A stork with its wings spread, loaded with diamonds and gems and tacky yellow gold. “Ugly as hell, if you ask me. But whatever. Katherine’s upstairs with the police right now reporting it missing.”

  “Shit.” Chase backed away, panic setting in. “And you think it’s a good idea for us to have it?”

  “Relax.” Owen rewrapped the thing and shoved it back in his pocket. “The minute she and the cops are gone, I’ll return it to her condo. That’ll make her look stupid when I send one of the guards to make sure she’s okay.” He winked and clasped his hands over his flat stomach. “I’ve been doing that, you know—interrupting her about once an hour—since she put you back in jail.”

  Chase paced the floor of the tiny room to burn off some excess energy. “Still don’t see how this will help. At most, all that missing brooch proves is she’s trying to commit insurance fraud.”

  Owen gave him an impassive stare. “Were you always such an idiot or did prison rot your brain? This pin proves she’s setting Shelby up. Coupled with the circumstantial video footage we have backed up that Katherine thinks she erased? It’s enough to cast doubt on her accusations against you, man.”

  Chase froze. Maybe Owen was right. Maybe it would be enough for a jury’s reasonable doubt. And maybe, if all that was true, then maybe, just maybe this whole thing would be over soon.

  * * *

  Later, Chase returned to Shelby’s apartment. He’d made up some excuse to Blake about spending time in the Rockford IT archives looking for more clues all night or something. Didn’t really matter what he said. From the knowing look on Blake’s face, he saw straight through Chase’s lame excuse anyway.

  He knocked on the door and laughed when Snickerdoodle bounded out to tackle him against the railing again. This was fast becoming a tradition between them and one he wouldn’t mind continuing for a good long time. He held out yet another bag of homemade treats he’d picked up on the way over and Shelby took it, then scrunched her nose.

  “What kind are these?”

  “Not sure,” Chase said, between doggy kisses. “Liver, I think is what the guy said.”

  “Huh.” She sniffed them once more then held them at arm’s length. “They smell like dirty feet.”

  “Nice.” He pushed the slobbering, excited mutt off and walked inside, closing the door behind him. “Well, I guess it could be worse. I guess they could smell like—”

  “And on that note.” Shelby cut him off by kissing him long and deep. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” He squeezed her tight and smiled. “How was your day?”

  “Okay. I got a few new residents in at the shelter.” She pointed at a couple of new kitties joining the two already convalescing in her apartment. “They both have some anxiety issues, so I didn’t want to leave them alone all night.”

  “Good move, crazy cat lady.” Chase laughed and Shelby swatted him hard on the arm. Things felt so good when he was with her, natural and fun and not forced at all. Not like with other people. With others, he always felt like he had to be on his best behavior, like he was under constant scrutiny and constant pressure to surpass other people’s expectations of how an ex-con should act, to prove himself worthy again. With Shelby, he could just be himself.

  He took off his jean jacket and plopped down on the sofa. “I had an interesting meeting earlier with Owen Rockford.”

  “Yeah?” She sat next to him and snuggled into his side as he put his arm around her shoulders. “Anything useful about my step-monster?”

  “Actually, yeah.”

  “Really?”

  “Owen found some video footage of Katherine fighting with some guy down in the VIP bar, then going upstairs to pull something out of the safe. Turned out to be a brooch that she…” He hesitated. Part of him didn’t want to hurt Shelby any more than she already had been, but the other part—the lawyer part—knew full disclosure was best. “Well, she tried to plant it here, outside your place, then report it stolen to the cops.”

  Shelby stiffened beside him, but didn’t say a word.

  He rubbed lazy circles on the soft skin of her shoulder where the neckline of her oversized T-shirt had slipped down. “Anyway, Owen saw what was going on and retrieved it before she ever called the cops. He said once the police finished interviewing her, he’d stow it back in her condo and make her look like a lying ass in front of the cops.” Chase snorted. “There goes her credibility.”

  “Just like that, huh?” Shelby’s voice wobbled a little, and Chase tucked her in tighter. “Wow.”

  “Yeah, just like that.” He tipped her chin up with his finger. “You okay?”

  Tears filled her pretty blue eyes. “I’m good. It’s just a lot, you know?” She sniffled and lowered her head. “First my dad’s death, then all this craziness. I never thought it would get this bad.”

  “Did something else happen today?” Concerned, he threaded his fingers through her silky blonde curls and savored the weight of her head on his chest. “You can tell me anything.”

  “I just… I don’t know. You’ll think I’m stupid.”

  “No, I won’t.” She raised her head and squinted at him. He gave her the time-honored Boy Scout sign. “Swear.”

  She sighed and leaned against him once more. “When my dad first started dating Katherine, I thought maybe things would finally work out for all of us. She seemed to genuinely love him and he was so happy when he was with her. I hadn’t seen him that happy since my mom was alive.” She rubbed her hand under her nose and gave a sad little chuckle. “I guess maybe I didn’t want to see the signs. Signs that Katherine didn’t really care as much about him as she did his fortune. It’s all so heartbreaking, when you think about it.” Her shoulders shook and Chase cupped her cheek, pulling her tighter into his chest. “M-my daddy’s gone. I l-loved him so much and now h-he’s gone and I’m all alone a-and…”

  Shelby’s sobs ripped his heart to pieces. He kissed the to
p of her head, inhaling the scent of her floral shampoo and closed his eyes. He’d stay here forever if he could, or as long as she’d have him. “You’re not alone. Not anymore.”

  She sniffled and looked up at him. “I’m not?”

  “Nah.” He grinned. “You can’t scare me away that easily.”

  “Oh.” She placed her palm against his chest and sat up, the heat of her touch burning all the way through to his soul. Even with flushed cheeks and a red nose from crying, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Shelby wiped her eyes. “I’m sure I look like a complete mess. Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so emotional about everything. And I’m overjoyed to hear about the footage on Katherine.”

  “Good to know. Next time I see you bawl I’ll know that’s what you do when you’re happy.” His effort to lighten the somber mood between them earned him a punch to the arm. “What?”

  “I don’t make a habit of crying on men’s shoulders.”

  “Also good to know.”

  “I just…” She shrugged. “I just feel really comfortable around you, I guess.”

  Chase smiled slowly and took her hand. “You do, huh?”

  “Yeah. I do.” She tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “Which is good, after all the stuff that happened with us.”

  “Hmm.” He laced their fingers together. “Hey, um, speaking of that, I wondered if maybe…if, uh…” Chase frowned and turned away. “Dammit, my words are getting all tangled.”

  This time, Shelby laughed. “Really? I’ll alert the press. Talkative Chase Evans is tongue tied.”

  “No, seriously. You get me all flustered.”

  “I do?” The pretty pink color in her cheeks heightened, and he couldn’t resist stroking his finger over the smooth flesh.

  “Yeah, you do.” Chase looked deep into her sparkling blue eyes, putting all his emotions on the line. “What I wanted to ask was after all this is over, do you think that maybe, possibly…”

  “Spit it out.”

  “Would you consider being my girlfriend?” There. He’d said it. Ball in her court now.

  Her brows rose. “Girlfriend? Like dates and dinners and sharing stuff?”

  “Uh, yeah. Even the crazy Sunday get-togethers with the Rockfords, if you’re game.”

  “Wow.” She frowned and for a pulse-stopping second he feared he was in for the big rejection. Then she gave him her sweetest smile, the one that electrified his whole body and made his battered heart rejoice. “I think maybe we could work that out.”

  He inched closer, his heartbeat pounding. “So, that’s a yes?”

  She met him halfway, her lips mere millimeters from his. “A most definite maybe.”

  “I’ll take it.” He captured her mouth with his before she could say another word.

  All his life he’d searched for one safe place. One secure place. One place to call home.

  He’d never dreamed he’d find all three in Shelby’s arms. As he kissed her, he knew deep inside he’d do anything to protect the woman he loved.

  Loved?

  Yeah, he loved Shelby.

  Even if he couldn’t say the words yet.

  18

  Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

  Chase squinted an eye open into the darkness and for a moment wondered where in the hell he was. There was something soft and warm pressed against his side and a hard lump covering his feet. Normally, when he jolted awake in the middle of the night, fears bombarded him and he imagined himself back in prison.

  Except this time was different.

  The sweet smell of flowers coaxed him to burrow deeper beneath the covers once more. Shelby. He was with Shelby, in her apartment.

  From the end of the bed, Snickerdoodle snored louder than any human he’d ever known and Chase couldn’t help but grin. For the first time in memory, he was happy. Truly, deeply, wonderfully happy.

  Buzzzzzz.

  Shit.

  He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the nightstand where he’d stashed his phone. Maybe if he ignored whoever it was, they’d go away. Calls in the middle of the night were never a good omen anyway, right? The phone stopped ringing and silence filled the small studio apartment once more. Chase snuggled down beside Shelby and closed his eyes.

  Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

  Crap.

  Immensely irritated, he pushed up onto his elbows and reached over for the damned device. Whoever was on the other end of the line better have said their prayers, ‘cause they’d be dead soon.

  Shelby stirred and looked over her shoulder at him, groggy. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” The screen flashed Blake’s name. Shit.

  Considering he was either in for another ass-reaming because his boss had discovered he’d lied about his whereabouts or they’d discovered something new about the murder case, he figured upright and alone was the best way to have this conversation. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood. “I have to take a call. Go back to sleep.”

  He tugged on his jeans then kissed her softly before heading out the front door to the small landing beyond. The phone rang for the fourth time and he growled as he hit the Answer button. “This better be good.”

  “Where the hell are you?” Blake’s irritation rippled through the phone line.

  “I’m…” He ran a hand through his bed-head hair. Lying to Blake after all he’d done didn’t sit right, but he sure wasn’t about to let the guy know his actual location. Not yet anyway. Things with Shelby were still too new, too fresh, too precious. “I’m fine. What’s going on?”

  “We found the footage from Warren’s office on the day of the murder.”

  “What?” Adrenaline shocked him fully awake. “That’s awesome.”

  “Actually, no. It’s not.” Blake’s serious tone settled in Chase’s chest like a boulder. “You’re not going to like it.”

  “Why not?”

  “This isn’t something you want to hear over the phone. Trust me.” Blake sighed. “Come into the office.”

  The Rockford offices were where he was supposed to be already. The fact Blake knew he’d lied about his whereabouts, yet didn’t berate him for it, troubled him even more. Blake always gave him a hard time about stuff like that. Well, shit. “Uh, yeah, okay.”

  “I know you’re at Shelby’s, Chase.”

  “Look, man. I’m sorry I lied, but—”

  “Save it.” Blake sounded thoroughly exasperated. “Why didn’t you just bring her to the house?”

  “She has pets.”

  “So do I, now, thanks to you. What? Would they eat Henry or something?”

  He thought about Snickerdoodle’s banana-pants reaction to those dumbass liver treats and thought, yeah maybe he would—if the lizard was slathered in liver pate. “I don’t know.”

  “Look, whatever. Just get your ass into the office. I’ve already sent a car to pick you up. Should be pulling up to the curb as we speak.”

  Sure enough, he looked down to see a gray sedan now idling in the complex’s parking lot. “Fine. I’ll be right there.”

  Chase ended the call and slipped back into the apartment, dressing as quickly and quietly as possible to avoid waking Shelby. He pulled on his boots and grabbed his jacket then tiptoed over to kiss her one last time on the forehead. Snickerdoodle whined from the end of the bed, and Chase gave the mutt a quick scratch behind the ears. “I wish I could stay here too buddy. Believe me.”

  Cool desert air brushed his face as he stepped outside and headed down the creaking metal stairs to the company car. Before he reached his ride, however, a figure stepped from the shadows.

  Dark hair, expensive clothes, piss-poor attitude.

  Katherine.

  Could this night get any worse?

  Beneath the orange streetlights, she thrust something in front of his face. Something glittery and gaudy as hell.

  The brooch.

  Apparently, yes. This night could get much, much worse.

  “If you knew about this, then you know I t
ried to stash it at your girlfriend’s. Someone messed with my plan.” Her voice seethed with venom. She stashed the pin away and instead pulled out her cell phone. “I’m sick of you poking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. You’re nothing but a worthless felon, bad DNA through and through, and yet you think you’re good enough to mess with me. Well, you’re not. And this just proves my point.”

  She shoved the phone in his face next, the small screen filled with the now familiar black and white security footage from the Lucky Ace. Chase recognized the interior of Warren Bryant’s office and his throat constricted as he watched a very much alive Warren working at his desk. The man went through files, signed documents, took a drink from a glass near his side.

  Moments later, he slumped over his desk, apparently asleep. Or worse.

  Bile rose and Chase swallowed hard to ease the burning. A man entered from screen left and rounded the desk to stand beside Bryant. The guy looked straight into the security camera.

  Chase’s world teetered before plunging off a sharp, endless precipice.

  No. It couldn’t be. He couldn’t believe it. Wouldn’t believe it.

  You’re not going to like it…

  Blake’s words mocked him, running an endless loop through his head. This must’ve been the video he’d wanted Chase to see.

  Shane.

  His own little brother. A murderer.

  Inside, he screamed. Outside, he couldn’t look away from the video, like a train wreck happening right before his eyes. Onscreen, Shane pulled a syringe from the pocket of his black coat—one of the same embroidered designer jackets he’d seen that day in the apartment—and plunged the needle into the side of Warren Bryant’s neck. Within seconds, Bryant’s body went into convulsions, most likely from an overdose. Chase was surprised the rational part of his brain still functioned enough to supply that detail about the drugs because the rest of him sure as hell wasn’t functioning on all cylinders.

  Onscreen, Shane shoved the now empty syringe back into his pocket then set something onto Bryant’s desk before exiting. Katherine enlarged the picture to focus on the object left behind.