Meeting Danger (Danger #1)

by Allyson Simonian

“What do you need to speak with him about?”

  “I’m a friend of Brian Bailey’s.”

  Surprise crossed the hostess’s face. She led Camden and Autumn to a red leather booth and handed them each a menu. “I’ll go see if Mr. Delacruz is available.”

  A minute passed before a busboy came by with glasses of water and some bread. The hostess returned soon after, just as Camden had finished going over the menu with Autumn. He was surprised to learn how much of the menu she actually picked up on her own.

  “Mr. Delacruz can see you now, sir. If you’ll just follow me.”

  Camden excused himself from Autumn. “If the server comes by, I’ll have a steak. Medium rare.”

  She nodded, then turned her attention back to the menu, her lips moving slightly as she sounded out words to herself.

  Camden followed the hostess to the back of the restaurant. “Did you ever work with Brian?”

  “Yes.” The hostess spoke over her shoulder as she answered. “I was here then too.”

  “Were you friendly with him?”

  “He was a nice guy and a good manager,” she said with a nod. “Treated all of us well.” She stopped at a glass-paneled door and gestured for him to enter. “Mr. Delacruz’s office.”

  Camden was introduced to a bearded man with black hair before the hostess excused herself.

  Delacruz gestured to a chair in front of his desk. “I understand you’re in law enforcement, Mr. Taylor?”

  “Yes.” Camden pulled out his badge and displayed it before taking his seat.

  “And you’re looking into Brian’s case?”

  “Unofficially, but yes.”

  “What can I help you with?”

  “I’m interested in your impression of Brian. What you thought of him.”

  “My impression was that he was a hardworking young man.”

  “Was he honest?”

  “Yes.”

  “A good manager?”

  “A great one. The best I’ve had, in fact. I was blown away when I heard what happened. Just blown away.” Delacruz let out a long sigh. “In a way, I still can’t believe it, but evidence is evidence, I guess.” He leaned back in his chair, his gaze on Camden thoughtful. “You’re looking into things because you believe him about being framed?”

  “I do.”

  Delacruz stroked his beard. “Well, I’m glad he’s got someone in his corner.”

  “I understand Brian’s ex-girlfriend, Andrea, used to work here.”

  The man nodded. “It’s how she and Brian met.”

  “Do you know where she’s working now?”

  “City of Philadelphia, last I heard.”

  “That’s where Brian told me to try. I visited their human resources department today, but she’s no longer employed there.”

  “I’d suggest getting in touch with her father then. Michael Graham.”

  “He’s local?”

  “He is. Comes in here quite a bit, as a matter of fact. He owns a pharmaceutical company in Philadelphia called Encompass, but he lives closer to Allentown.”

  “Thank you. I’ll check in with him.” Camden input the name into his phone before asking, “Did Brian ever have a problem with any of the employees?”

  “Never. Like I said, he was great—with employees and customers alike.”

  “Were there problems with vendors?”

  “None that I know of. And I do most of our buying myself. Always have.”

  Camden stood. “I really appreciate your time, Mr. Delacruz.”

  The men shook hands. “If I can do anything to help Brian, please let me know.”

  “Thank you.”

  Camden returned to the booth and took his seat.

  “I ordered you a rib eye and a beer.” Autumn took a sip of iced tea. “Did everything go okay with the manager?”

  “It did. I’m going to visit the father of Brian’s ex-girlfriend tomorrow.” He studied her as they waited for their food. “Tell me more about what you’re working on.”

  Autumn shook her head. “It’s the work of a five-year-old, really. Learning to write my letters, mainly, and recognizing common words on sight. But I got to do it outside at least. The hotel’s pool is really beautiful.”

  Camden smiled. “The one thing we didn’t get for you is a bathing suit.”

  Autumn shrugged. “It’s still April, too cold to swim yet anyway.”

  Leaning forward, Camden grasped her hand. “If you could do anything, what would it be?”

  She looked surprised by the question. “That’s not something I’ve ever thought about before.”

  “Well, you should. It’s within your reach now. You can get a high school equivalency certificate and then start at a community college.”

  “Thanks to you.”

  “No, Autumn,” Camden said gently. “Not because of me.”

  She studied him. “You shouldn’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Downplay what you’ve done. You should just take the credit. You deserve it.”

  Camden hid his smile behind a sip of beer. “I could say the same for you, you know.”

  • • •

  About an hour after they returned from dinner, Camden set down the transcript and glanced at the clock. He moved to the door separating him from Autumn and knocked.

  When she answered wearing only a towel, his breath came to a halt.

  “Sorry, I was in the shower.”

  Camden couldn’t help his gaze as it made its way down her body. She was a vision of soft curves and creamy skin.

  He cleared his throat. “Sorry for disturbing you.”

  “You didn’t.” She was looking up at him, clearly waiting for him to explain what he was doing there when he’d already said good night.

  And what was he doing? Heat radiated inside him as his gaze involuntarily dipped down again. He didn’t appreciate the inappropriate thoughts going on in his head one bit. Droplets of water were visible on her chest, and he wanted nothing more than to reach out and brush them away.

  He shook away the thought. “Do you have everything you need?”

  She nodded, ignoring that the question was a lame one. “I do. Thank you.”

  In his defense, that towel had more than taken him by surprise. He was going to need a shower too. But his would be ice cold.

  It was a good thing he’d had his own bathroom these past weeks. Bumping into Autumn in the hallway when she looked like this would have been sheer torture. Much like it was right now.

  “I’m going to get a soda,” he finally said. “Want one?”

  “Okay.”

  “Diet Coke, right?”

  She nodded.

  Down the hall, he bought two sodas from the machine before filling a bucket with ice. Autumn had put on a nightgown by the time he returned to the room, a white cotton number that flowed around her petite form. Was it the same demure piece they’d picked up at the department store? She’d be able to wear a sack and still make it look sexy. Those legs . . .

  He mentally shook himself as he handed over her drink. “Here.”

  “I’ll just get us some cups.”

  He remained in the doorway, watching as she headed to the coffee station, her hips swaying slightly. She gathered two cups before she turned around and stopped in her tracks. “Aren’t you coming in?”

  No matter how much he wanted her, he could never have her. The thought brought on an unexpected sadness.

  He needed to say good night. Now. Before what little resolve he had crumbled.

  She was studying him with a frown, and Camden could only guess the way he looked—like a complete fool.

  Quickly, he said, “Good night, Autumn.”

  She was blinking rapidly, cups still grasped in her hand, as he shut the door between them.

  • • •

  After the door closed, Autumn set the cups down and sank onto her bed. Camden was so much taller than her, whenever she stood close to him, she had to tilt her head b
ack to see into his eyes. There were no flecks of green in his eyes but yet they were very light in color. A warm hazel, more golden rather than brown.

  Those warm, kind eyes drew her in and captivated her. But her attraction went far beyond his appearance. At his core, Camden was a good person, an agent who was dedicated to justice. Never in her life had she been around someone like him. Never before had she felt this kind of desire.

  Whenever she was close to Camden, flutters went through her system. She’d never felt flutters with Butch. Okay, maybe she had, but those flutters had been induced by fear, not desire.

  She lay back on the bed with a sigh. She wasn’t going to be able to ogle Camden anymore. The two of them were from different worlds, and she couldn’t fantasize about him. Nothing was going to happen between them.

  CHAPTER 28

  Camden pulled into an open space in the parking lot of North Grove Apartments in Allentown, the complex where the victim, Lee Wells, had lived. Luke Davis had been twelve years old when he’d been a witness for the prosecution during Brian’s trial two years ago. He had also been a resident here at the time of Wells’s murder. Hopefully Luke and his family hadn’t moved..

  Camden walked over to the complex’s basketball court where a kid of about twelve stood shooting hoops.

  “Have you lived here long?” he called out.

  The kid stopped dribbling and turned. “Yeah. Why?”

  Camden took off his sunglasses. “I’m looking for Luke Davis. Do you know him?”

  “He’s my next-door neighbor. Want me to see if he’s home?”

  “That would be great.”

  The kid took off running and disappeared up a flight of stairs with Camden following him at a slower pace. When a heavyset teen opened the door at the top of the staircase, the younger boy stuck a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward Camden.

  “He wants to see you.”

  Luke frowned down at Camden before moving toward the staircase. Camden stuck a hand out when the teen reached the bottom stair.

  “My name is Camden Taylor. I’m a federal agent from DC.”

  The teen shook Camden’s hand, his eyes narrowed. “Has something happened?”

  “No. I’m here about the murder of Lee Wells. Would it be all right if I asked you a few questions about what you told the local police?”

  Luke shrugged. “I guess so.”

  “You saw a man here a couple of days before Mr. Wells was murdered, is that correct?”

  The boy nodded. “I thought it was a visitor for Miss Hanes.” He gave Camden a sheepish smile. “She had a lot of boyfriends who used to visit back then.”

  “Does she still live here?”

  “Nah, she moved out last year.”

  “Miss Hanes testified in court that she didn’t have a visitor matching that description.”

  “Yeah. She said it wasn’t anyone she knew.”

  “Where did Mr. Wells live in relation to Miss Hanes?”

  “The next apartment over. Right there.”

  Camden gazed at the apartment the teen pointed to. “Do you remember telling the police that the man you saw had a tattoo on his forearm?”

  The boy rubbed his own arm and nodded. “Yeah, I remember that.”

  “Can you describe the tattoo?”

  “I told the police it was a candle.” The teen frowned. “But now I know that was stupid. I mean, who gets a tattoo of a candle?”

  “If it wasn’t a candle, what do you think it might have been?”

  The boy looked up into the air, clearly struggling to remember. “If I had to guess now, I’d say it was a dagger.”

  A dagger. “Have you remembered anything more about the man’s appearance since you were interviewed?”

  “No. He had a baseball cap on so I didn’t notice very much. Only that he was a white guy. Tall and fit.”

  “Do you remember hair color?”

  The teen shook his head. “It was covered by the cap.”

  “Did you happen to see what kind of car he was driving?”

  “No.”

  Camden gave the apartment another once-over before turning his gaze back to the teen. “You’ve been really helpful. Thank you so much, Luke.”

  “Sure.” The boy gave Camden a nod before jogging back up the stairs.

  • • •

  Camden’s next stop was Encompass Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia. The office park he pulled into had three buildings, and from the sign out front, seemed to house mostly medical-related businesses.

  “I’m here to see Mr. Graham,” he told the receptionist in the entry of the Encompass building.

  Minutes later, he was ushered into Graham’s office. Michael Graham was a thin man with graying hair. He stood up from behind his desk.

  “My assistant said you’re a federal agent, Mr. Taylor.”

  “Yes, and it’s your daughter I’m hoping to get in touch with.”

  “What about?”

  “The murder of Lee Wells.”

  Graham frowned. “That’s a closed case, Mr. Taylor. Why would the Feds be involved?”

  “I have a few questions. I’m a friend of Brian Bailey’s.”

  Graham raised his brow but didn’t comment as he gestured for Camden to take a seat before sitting again behind his desk.

  “I understand Andrea’s no longer working for the City of Philadelphia.”

  “Right. She works for a public relations firm now.”

  “May I ask which one?”

  “You won’t need that information. She’ll be here soon.”

  “She’s on her way here?”

  Graham nodded. “Most days, Andrea and her boyfriend have lunch together, and he works here in this complex. I’m into real estate development as well—you have to diversify, you know,” he added with a shrug, “and I rent office space to her boyfriend and his father. They own a pharmaceutical distribution company.”

  Camden gazed out to the courtyard. Interestingly, Lee Wells had also had a pharmaceutical distribution business. What are the odds?

  “What’s the difference between a pharmaceutical distributor and what Encompass does?” he asked.

  “In the simplest terms,” Graham explained, “we focus on research and development, as well as production, and companies like theirs handle distribution. Sales, if you will. Some pharmaceutical companies, particularly the larger ones, do both.”

  “Which building are they in?”

  Graham moved to the window and pointed. “That one. It’s Cobalt Systems. The receptionist will be able to point Andrea out when she gets here.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d do it myself, but I’m expected in a meeting.”

  “Thank you.”

  Camden headed across the courtyard. After speaking with the receptionist at Cobalt Systems, he took a seat on one of the lobby’s wooden benches.

  When a tall, slim woman with long auburn hair appeared a few minutes later, Camden looked toward the receptionist. She gave him a subtle nod.

  Camden rose. “Andrea Graham?”

  “Yes?” Andrea stopped short. “Do I know you?”

  “My name is Camden Taylor. I’m a friend of Brian Bailey’s.”

  She blinked hard. “I thought I knew all of Brian’s friends.”

  “I met him inside Edgewater.”

  Her gaze darted toward the receptionist. She quickly moved toward a panel of windows and motioned for Camden to follow.

  “As an inmate?” she whispered.

  “No.” Camden brought out his badge for her inspection. “I was on assignment there.”

  She nodded but still looked uneasy. “What can I help you with?”

  “I’m looking into Brian’s case.”

  Her face pinched into a frown. “Why? Has new evidence come in?”

  “Not yet.”

  She looked dazed after he explained his belief in Brian’s innocence. “How is Brian?” she asked, her voice trembling.

  “Discouraged, I’d say. Angry. Frustrated.”
>
  She stiffened at the words.

  Camden pointed toward her hand. “You’re engaged?”

  “Uh, yes.” She looked down and then clenched her hand into a fist as if the ring embarrassed her. She sighed before she continued. “It’s not like I was trying to date anyone after Brian. Josh and I . . . we already knew each other. We used to date.”

  The guilty rush of words trailed off and her eyes welled up. “You said Brian’s miserable?”

  “Things have been rough on him, but he’s hanging in there.”

  Andrea bit down on her lip.

  “Your fiancé works here with his father?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I’d like to speak with him.”

  “With Josh?” Another frown. “Why?”

  There was no sense implying that Josh Solomon had the only known motive to frame Brian. Wanting to keep things cordial, Camden simply said, “I’m trying to follow the investigation the detectives did.”

  Andrea walked over to the receptionist and asked for Josh.

  As they waited, Camden asked, “Did your fiancé know Lee Wells? I understand they’re about the same age, and that Wells had a pharmaceutical distribution business too.”

  Andrea nodded. “Lee Wells used to rent this space before Josh and his father took it over.”

  Camden tamped down his surprise. “Lee Wells used to rent this same space?”

  “Yes. Josh and his father took over many of Lee Wells’s clients after he was murdered.” Andrea spotted her fiancé. “Here’s Josh now.”

  A fair-haired man of about thirty approached, and Andrea made introductions.

  “Mr. Taylor is looking into Brian’s case.”

  Solomon met Camden’s gaze and frowned. “What is there to look into, exactly?”

  Camden was still reeling from what he’d just learned—competition with Wells’s business was another potential motive for Josh Solomon to have committed murder. He forced his thoughts aside.

  “I’d like to ask a few questions.”

  Solomon’s jaw set. “Go ahead.”

  “You and your father bought Lee Wells’s business?”

  “We didn’t buy it. It wasn’t for sale. When we took over the rental space, we were able to pick up a lot of his old clients. What does this have to do with Brian?” Josh’s gaze narrowed a moment later. “Are you trying to suggest something?”