by Unknown
At least it wasn’t the flu, he told himself. Although most of those at the center were immunized every fall, at least one or two residents came down with a case of influenza, which was dangerous to the elderly.
He covered his mouth with a napkin when he coughed. He was finally over the cold, but his cough had worsened. It had been a week since he came down with it, and even though he was still coughing, he was certain he wasn’t contagious any longer. At least he hoped not.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see a number with a Colorado area code. He pushed his chair back from the table and got to his feet. He gave his mother and Selena an apologetic smile, and held up his phone and five fingers to tell them to give him five minutes to take care of the phone call.
While he walked to the center’s lobby, where he wouldn’t be overheard, he answered the phone with a clipped, “Mark Okle speaking.”
“Mark.” A man with a semi-familiar suave voice spoke. “This is Hector Gonzales in Denver.”
“Hector. Hello.” Mark felt a sense of foreboding wash over him. There was no reason for one of his buyers to be calling him, unless something was wrong. “Did you purchase the shipment?”
“Yes,” Hector said. “I will take possession at the end of the show. It is an ingenious way to transport the product.”
“Great.” Mark blew out his breath. Thank God. This had been one of his biggest sales ever, almost double the amount of the previous shows. “What can I help you with?”
“We have a problem.”
The sensation that he was about to get very bad news squeezed Mark’s gut. “What is it?”
Hector had a knife-sharp edge to his words. “Your mule knows.”
Sweat broke out across Mark’s forehead. “How did Natasha find out?”
“She dropped one of the statuettes at the show.” Hector sounded like a man who was pissed to find himself in the middle of the situation. “The base broke and a bag of product fell out.”
“Fuck.” Mark paced the empty lobby, staring at the floor as he moved. He rubbed his scalp with his palm. “What did you do?”
“Followed established protocol, of course.” Hector flung out the words. “I threatened her and told her harm would come to every person she loved if she didn’t stay away from law enforcement. I made it clear that she either cooperates or she loses people she cares about one by one.”
“Good, good.” Mark coughed into the napkin he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying.
“Will this be an issue?” Hector’s voice was hard, as if he might pull a gun any moment. Mark was glad they were in separate states, because the bastard might have done just that. “Do I need to have one of my employees take care of her?”
Mark had no problem being ruthless, even with women. But he liked Natasha enough that he didn’t want to hurt her. That would change if she didn’t do as she was told. Nothing interfered with his business and his own life. He’d worked hard to get where he was, and he wasn’t about to let anyone screw it up for him.
“I’ll deal with her.” Mark rubbed his hand over his head again. Fuck, fuck, fuck. He didn’t need this right now. “Nothing will change. She will continue to move product through her shows. She won’t have a choice.”
“When it is time to take possession of the product at the end of the show, I will have employees pick it up and deliver it to our warehouse.” The warehouse Hector mentioned was an enormous cave hidden in the mountains. “I do not plan to be anywhere close in case she does not behave.”
“She’ll behave.” Mark spat the statement. “Or else.”
He looked in the direction of the arched doorway that led from the living room into the lobby. Selena stood beneath the arch, her arms crossed over her chest, an unreadable expression on her beautiful features.
She was probably annoyed with him for being on the phone while he was supposed to be spending time with his mother. This was important, and he wouldn’t allow Selena or anyone else to make him feel guilty.
He waved her off. He was talking business and didn’t have time for her to scrutinize him. She didn’t leave, just watched him.
“Thank you for calling, Hector.” Mark struggled to keep his frustration out of his voice. Damn Natasha. “Please update me if anything unexpected happens.”
“Of that, you can be certain.” The phone went dead.
Mark nearly flung the phone across the room.
He stopped pacing and closed his eyes, lowered the phone, and stuffed it into his pocket. When he opened his eyes again, Selena was still standing in the entryway, watching him.
“I am sorry, my dear.” Mark went to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. She smelled of honey and blossoms. “Business. It seems that one of my customers had a problem with the shipment I sent to her in Denver. Nothing to worry about.”
“Something you would like me to deal with?” Selena tilted her head to the side as she traced the line of his jaw. The woman was so damn sensual. “You know how much I like to take care of your problems.”
He thought about it a moment. It was tempting to do away with Natasha, but she was a huge asset, and had opened up an entirely new way of moving product. “I’ve got it under control.” He rested his hand on Selena’s waist. “If Natasha doesn’t cooperate, I’ll have you do what you’re so good at.”
Selena gave him a slow, sexy smile. “I’d like that very much.” She ran her index finger from his collarbone down along the opening of his collared shirt. Her touch made him suck in his breath. “Your mother misses you and asked me to come find you.”
“I promise to be a good boy.” He slid his arm around Selena’s shoulders. “Let’s get back to Mother.”
“I like it when you are a good boy.” Selena gave him a sultry smile. “But I love it when you are a bad boy. A very bad boy.”
Mark’s dick went hard, and he brought her into the circle of his arms. “I think we should say goodbye to Mother now, and I will take you home and show you just what a bad boy I can be.”
“I have a better idea.” Her smile grew positively wicked. She nodded to the closet just off the lobby. “Let me show you what a naughty girl can do to a very bad boy.”
Mark’s dick ached and he felt like it would jab a hole through his slacks like a spear. He was already unbuttoning his slacks as she led him to the closet.
CHAPTER 9
After Brooks checked his watch, he stuffed his cold hands into the pockets of his leather bomber jacket. He was on schedule for his meet with Jase Wright.
The icy air chilled his nose. He’d grown up with plenty of cold weather in Big Sky, Montana, but he’d gotten used to the pleasant year-round climate in Bisbee. His dad would say Brooks had grown soft. Brooks would say he didn’t give a damn because he preferred not to freeze his ass off a good portion of the year.
He walked up to Jase and his K9 partner at one corner of the tradeshow building, in a prearranged location. Brooks wasn’t worried about Natasha seeing them—he and Jase were in an out of the way location, and she would be busy with customers since she didn’t have an assistant with her.
“Brooks, meet Taz.” Jase rubbed the top of his K9 companion’s head. “This is one smart girl.”
Brooks crouched and put his hand under Taz’s muzzle. “Beautiful Belgium.” Taz sniffed his hand when Jase gave permission with a sign.
“Taz is a hell of a partner.” Jase was smiling at the K9 when Brooks looked up at him. “The other night was a little crazy.” Jase’s smile faded as his gaze met Brooks’s. “I didn’t get the chance to tell you about my encounter with Natasha earlier that day, before the party.”
A tickle traveled down Brooks’s spine as he got to his feet. “What happened?”
“Taz let me know Natasha had come in contact with some form of an illegal substance.” He explained the K9’s reaction. “I had to search her according to the rules, but I came up with nothing.”
“She must have handled a product containing something
that’s being trafficked through her.” Brooks looked at the building as if he could see straight through it, to Natasha’s showroom. “I have to tell you, Jase. My instincts are telling me she’s being used and I don’t think she’s aware of anything to do with the drugs.” Brooks surprised himself with the admission, but every word he spoke came from his gut.
When he turned his gaze back to Jase, he saw the agent watching him intently. “What makes you so sure?”
For a moment, Brooks was quiet. “Spent some time with her and not a single red flag was raised. She comes across as friendly, genuine, open, and not capable of pulling off what she’s accused of doing.”
Jase studied Brooks, as if trying to get a read on him. “You don’t think she’s just a damned good actress?”
Brooks folded his arms across his chest, his hands in his armpits to keep his fingers warm. “I don’t think she has it in her to be someone she’s not. She also has a history of family drug possession and abuse by parents who have been in and out of jail, and it’s clear she disapproves. She won’t have anything to do with them.”
Jase furrowed his brow. “You don’t think it’s a case of the apple not falling far from the tree?”
“I considered that when she told me about her parents.” Brooks shook his head. “But no, I don’t think that’s it. Natasha is damned close to her cousin. What Christie went through at the hands of her ex was enough to keep anyone from being involved with the Jimenez Cartel.”
Jase didn’t seem entirely convinced. “You can’t be certain.”
“Everything I have is telling me she’s innocent.” Brooks blew out a breath of frustration. “My gut and my instincts are usually right.”
“Those instincts can serve a good agent well.” Jase gave a slow nod. “But I’m not willing to believe she’s completely innocent. With everything pointing to her like it is, there’s a good possibility she is involved.”
“We’ll work every aspect of this case.” Brooks had the intense desire to defend Natasha, but held himself back. “If she’s guilty, we will arrest her. But I intend to give her the benefit of the doubt. I think she’s being used.”
“I went by her showroom a little earlier.” Jase frowned. “Her expression told me something was wrong and she looked scared.”
A prickling sensation rolled over Brooks’s scalp. “Did you approach her?”
Jase shook his head. “I didn’t want Taz to find the product before we’re ready to make a case against the whole ring. Arresting her now for possession would put a screw in the works. We want to bring down everyone at the same time and not scare anyone off.”
“Right.” Brooks’s breath fogged in the cold. “Let’s proceed as planned and bring down the bad guys. Just know that I intend to do everything I can to prove Natasha is innocent—if she is. If she’s not—” He shook his head. “Then we’ll take her down with the rest of them.”
“We have to do what we have to do.” Jase paused. “Even if it goes against what we believe. Sometimes our gut isn’t right.”
“And sometimes it is.” Brooks touched the brim of his hat. “It’s getting close to the show closing for the day, and I’m going to wait for Natasha to come out. She was running late this morning, so I gave her a ride here. I’ll get her back to the hotel. That will give me a good opportunity to question her more.”
“I’ll touch base with you if I learn anything else,” Jase said.
“Same here.” Brooks pulled out his phone as he started to turn away. “Now I need to call Sofia.”
As he walked to the front of the building, Brooks pressed speed dial for his RAC and brought the phone to his ear.
“Sofia Aguilar,” she answered.
“Checking in.” Brooks gripped the phone with his cold fingers.
He could picture Sofia’s all-business expression. “What do you have?”
Brooks explained all that had happened over the past two days, including the party and the arrests. He didn’t include anything about his “gut feeling” because he knew Sofia wouldn’t accept that as a reason to believe Natasha was innocent. He kept to the facts and simply told Sofia that so far he hadn’t come across anything that proved her guilt.
“Are you certain she didn’t intentionally take the Ecstasy?” Sofia asked.
Brooks hesitated. No, he couldn’t be certain—it would be a matter of Natasha’s word against Gary’s, or whoever else it could be. “I’ll keep working on the case.” Brooks’s fingers were growing numb from the cold and he switched the phone to his other hand. “I’ll report in tomorrow, or if anything develops that you need to know about immediately.”
“Get me some proof, one way or another, Brooks.” She disconnected the call.
She never was one for conversation, greetings, or partings. He sucked in cold air as he shoved the phone into its holster on his belt. Air fogged as he released his breath through his nostrils.
He strode toward the building and then hitched his shoulder against the side of the building, close to the entrance. He should be able to see Natasha with no problem as she left.
Not much later, people began pouring through the doors as the show reached the official closing time. He watched and didn’t see Natasha come out. He imagined she was wrapping up things with her display, making sure everything was ready for the next day.
When she finally walked outside the building, he started to go to her but hesitated. Her complexion was pale, her eyes haunted, her entire bearing tense. She looked nothing like the free spirit she’d been before.
He pushed away from the building. It didn’t take long to reach her with his long strides, and he fell into step beside her. “How did your day go?”
She came to a stop, a terrified expression on her face as she cut her gaze to his. “What are you doing here?”
He frowned. Something was wrong, seriously wrong. “What’s going on, Natasha?”
“Nothing.” She snapped the word like a tiny firecracker. “I need to grab a cab and get back to the hotel.”
She turned away from him, walking fast as she headed toward a line of waiting taxis.
He kept up with her. “I’m here to give you a ride. You don’t need to take a cab.”
“I don’t need a ride from you.” She didn’t look at him. “I don’t want a ride from you.”
He grabbed her by her upper arm and pulled her to a stop, bringing her around to face him. “What the hell happened?”
“Don’t touch me.” She jerked her arm from his grasp. “And stay out of my business.”
He stared at her, trying to figure out the sudden change. Not only did she not look like the same Natasha he’d spent time with yesterday, she wasn’t acting like it. At this point, it was clear she wouldn’t be changing her mind about going with him.
With a shake of his head, he held his hands up. “I won’t touch you, and I won’t try to convince you to come with me. But can you at least tell me—”
She darted into the crowd, leaving him behind. He was tall enough that he could see her head as she pushed her way to the line of taxis.
He wanted to get back to the hotel before she did. He jogged to his truck. Once he was on the crowded road, he used his flashers for the second time that day. As far as he was concerned, this was business and the use of the lights was necessary.
The hotel was close enough that it took him less than ten minutes to get there by using his lights and going over the speed limit. He parked in a rush and strode toward the entrance. He gave the doorman a nod before letting his gaze drift over the lobby.
When he arrived at the hotel the first day, he made a point of examining the area and had pinpointed two fairly secluded spots. Now he chose one of the two lobby chairs that would give him both a view of the entrance and the elevators.
He wasn’t positive yet on what he was going to do. He would watch her when she came into the hotel, but he hadn’t decided on his next step. That would depend on her and once again, his gut.
Not long a
fter he made it to his watch post, she walked through the entrance. She looked much the same as she had when she’d left the show building, her face drawn and pale. She clutched her purse to her like a shield, as if protecting herself. With a single-minded expression on her features, she looked straight ahead, clearly not aware of her surroundings. Maybe she didn’t even care, but he wasn’t sure that was the case. It was possible she was afraid of what she might see.
He furrowed his brow at the thought. What would she be afraid of? His mind worked over the behavior that seemed bizarre for this woman. Something had happened, and it wasn’t good. Had she been threatened?
His skin chilled at the thought. It was possible the cartel or Mark Okle had threatened her for some reason. Maybe she wanted out. More probable in Brooks’s mind, she had discovered the truth. If she had, that would be more than enough to make her act the way she was.
It wasn’t like him to be indecisive, but he wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. Should he go after her and demand she tell him now? Or should he wait and let her have time alone before heading to her room to confront her? The second choice was likely the smarter of the two in this case.
He started to rise from his chair to go to his own room, when he saw a man walk through the entrance. Something about him caught Brooks’s attention. The man wore a blue ball cap and his hair stuck out from beneath it like dirty brown straw. Ball Cap had sharp, angular features, was of medium height and slender build, and had a casual stride that was too casual.
Everything about Ball Cap told Brooks the man didn’t belong in the hotel. It was in the way he walked, the ragged cuffs of his jeans, and the scuffed blue nylon jacket. It was especially present in his hard expression that wasn’t characteristic of someone who would be a guest in a classy hotel like this.
Any guest could walk into the hotel, looking furious after an experience that had pissed him off, or he could be some jerk with an attitude. Ball Cap was different. The man took quick glances around, his eyes shiftier than someone who was simply angry, or an asshole in general. His entire presence was wrong.