“Caroline Isla’s body washed up on the beach a few days ago,” Elaina informed him. “You know anything about that?”
Brian’s gaze lowered. “I’d heard from mutual friends, the few Red Light employees I keep in touch with.”
“What’d they say?” Gage inquired. “And we’ll need their names and contact information before you leave. As well as your PI.”
Brian nodded. “Sure. Whatever I can do to help.” He looked at his hands for a long moment. “Alex was after Caroline the same way he’d been after Eden. He knew which ones were special, which women men would pay the most for. Rumor was that Caroline was quitting, even though for some reason she desperately needed the money. They argued about it in the studio. Next thing I hear she’s missing. Then she turns up dead.”
Chloe’s eyes darted rapidly to Gage. She knew there was more to Alexander Ulrich than just being a skeezy producer.
He shot her a pointed “Calm down” look.
“You think he killed her?” Elaina cut straight to the point, which Chloe appreciated.
Brian looked thoughtful for a moment but then shook his head. “No, Alex is a rich boy who doesn’t like to get his hands dirty.” Elaina didn’t look surprised to hear this. After a brief pause, he continued. “But I think he’d get someone to intimidate her into doing what he wanted. Like his slimy little nephew Erik. Or dispose of her if she wouldn’t cooperate and threatened to expose him for the dirtbag that he is. He’s very accustomed to getting what he wants, the privileged bastard.”
The disgust he felt for his former employer was evident in his tone.
“Do you think he might have done something to Eden? When she wouldn’t comply with his requests?”
Brian’s conflictions played on his face. “I don’t know. I never saw him be violent toward anyone. But he’s a disrespectful piece of shit with no respect for women. So who knows what he’s capable of.”
The silence settled over the room as they all contemplated what Alexander Ulrich might be capable of. Chloe had a feeling the images in her head were probably the darkest.
It was Elaina who spoke first. “Come to the kitchen with me.” She smiled at Brian. “I’ll get you your wallet and you can give me the names and numbers of your PI and your connections at Red Light.”
Brian stood. “Okay.” He looked at Chloe. “I’m glad you’re taking her disappearance seriously. I’m going to keep doing everything I can as well. If I don’t, I’ll go crazy. If my PI turns up anything new, I’ll let you know. It was nice to meet you, Chloe.”
“You too,” she said, while standing. “Leave your number with Dr. Keats and I’ll call you with updates also. She can give you my number too. I hope you’ll do the same.”
“Of course.”
The minute Brian had given his information and gone, Gage was on his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Callahan.” His eyes left hers as someone answered the line. “Yes, I’m calling for Detective Callahan. This is Special Agent Pierce with the FBI, calling regarding the Sterling case.”
Chloe didn’t know what calling him would solve, but she appreciated that Gage seemed to have a plan of some sort. Even if she didn’t understand what it was yet.
“Good evening, Detective,” he began in a cordial tone. “New information? Do I have any? Oh, you mean like if a man shows up claiming to be Eden Sterling’s boyfriend? With information about the last time she was seen alive?”
His tone was not so much cordial as it was hostile as he continued. Chloe couldn’t hear the detective’s end of it, but she could use her imagination.
“Oh, yeah? And why’s that? Because it’s a high-profile case now? One you didn’t even want to take?”
Gage was quiet for a moment, listening. Then he let out an annoyed sound. “Yeah, well, it must be nice to only have to take the convenient cases after the FBI has done all the legwork.”
He was quiet again, but only for a split second.
“Oh, I bet you do, Detective. I’ll tell you what you just did. You just lost our cooperation. I’m sure my supervisor will be in touch with yours.”
Once he’d disconnected he mumbled what sounded like dumb motherfucker before looking up to see Chloe still standing there.
“Sorry about that.”
She nodded slowly. “Sounded intense.”
“Wells’s story checks out. Callahan should’ve contacted us when Wells came to see him. The first time.”
“I gathered that.” She was pissed about Detective Callahan not updating them too, but she didn’t want to make enemies with anyone who might be of help.
The awkward silence wedged itself between them.
She wanted to say something, about earlier. About how she’d needed him, needed the release. She hoped he hadn’t just been turned on by her pretending to be something she wasn’t.
Because she wasn’t Cossette.
Eden was.
22
“So Wells is proving to be somewhat helpful,” Elaina Keats announced later that night.
“Meaning?” Gage looked up from his coffee cup. It had been a long-ass day and Chloe had barely spoken a dozen words to him since their encounter earlier that evening.
Elaina looked up from her phone. “He said Alexander Ulrich rents several storage units across town. At a privately owned self-storage facility.”
“Can we get a warrant to search them?”
Elaina frowned and he knew the answer. “Not without probable cause. Which other than Wells’s word, we have none.”
Gage felt the bricks sitting on his chest getting heavier. “Great. So how is that helpful, then?”
Elaina bit her lip. It didn’t have quite the same effect as when Chloe did it. But it did serve to remind him of her.
“If we can get someone on the inside, someone who could pretend to want to work there, we could get access to the keys.”
Gage was surprised. Elaina seemed fairly straitlaced. Yet this was a pretty far leap from standard operating procedure. “Kind of a long shot. Does Wells know where exactly he keeps the keys?”
Elaina glanced down at her phone. “Says he does. And he knows how to access Red Light’s private server because he had to several times. He’s been locked out, but he said all employees get a certain amount of access to upload their webcasts, so if he could get a username and password he could get us into Ulrich’s private files.”
Gage rubbed his temples. This wasn’t the direction he’d hoped this investigation would go in—sending someone in undercover and risking their lives. He hadn’t done that since Kate, and he had no desire to do it now.
“Pierce,” Elaina began gently. “What happened to Kate could’ve happened to any agent. We all know the risks when we sign up for this. It’s not like they don’t remind us a million times at Quantico.”
“This isn’t about Kate.” Except in a lot of ways it was. Some days it seemed like Kate’s death still cast a shadow over everything he did.
“Eden Sterling has been missing for over two weeks,” she reminded him. “The odds of her being alive are slim. If you make the decision not to send anyone in and risk it, I would understand. But make sure that decision is being made for the right reasons.”
“Send anyone in where?” Alyson entered the kitchen to refill her empty coffee mug.
Gage shot Elaina a pointed look, but she ignored it. He was pretty sure she ignored him on purpose.
“Into Red Light to pose as a potential employee.” When Gage didn’t interrupt, she continued. “Brian Wells said the producer who runs everything has several storage units. And that he knows where the keys are. Not to mention, if our undercover agent gets hired, they’d get a username and password to upload webcasts to the private server. With that, Wells thinks he could access the producer’s private files.”
Aly’s eyebrows lifted. “I’m in! Send me!”
Gage shook his head. “You’re not an agent.”
Not to mention she was too you
ng, too inexperienced. Gage didn’t want Ulrich anywhere near her.
“It doesn’t have to be an agent, you know that. We could send Chloe,” Elaina offered. “Have her pretend she thinks her sister flaked out and offer to take her place.”
“No.” Gage felt his teeth clamp together. “Hell no.”
“Well I’m thirty-three so I’m probably too old, and I doubt McCain is what Ulrich’s audience is looking for.”
“Seriously, I can do this,” Alyson announced. “Swear. My roommate is only in LA to become an actress. She makes me rehearse with her all the time. Not to mention, if I get direct access to Ulrich’s server, we probably won’t even need Brian Wells.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time a civilian has gone undercover,” Elaina reminded him.
“Doesn’t make it a good idea.”
“Make what a good idea?” Chloe asked tentatively while stepping into the kitchen.
She seemed unsure of whether she was welcome in their little meeting. Gage knew things between them had changed—he just wished they’d changed for the better.
“Sending me into Red Light undercover to scope out our sleazy producer friend,” Alyson piped up before anyone else could answer. “Elaina is for it; Gage is against it. You can be the tiebreaker.”
Chloe shook her head and put her hands up. “Pass on that.” She smiled warmly at Alyson. “But whatever the decision, thank you for offering. For me and for my sister.”
Something passed between the women. Gage couldn’t define it or put a name to it, but he saw it. Some sort of unspoken compassion, like an invisible hug using only facial expressions. Judging from how Elaina’s eyes softened, she saw it too.
No wonder men couldn’t figure women out. Their emotional capabilities were more complex than the Dark Net itself. Layers upon layers.
“I don’t think this is something we should vote on,” Elaina admitted. “I think we need to discuss it and come to a decision.”
“We could make a pros and cons list,” Alyson suggested.
Chloe smiled. “Eden and I made a lot of those over the years.”
Gage tried to give her one of the invisible-eye-hug things but she wouldn’t look at him directly.
“I’m not saying no to Alyson going in.” He tapped the pen he’d been making notes with on the table. “But I am going to try to get a warrant first.”
“I’ll call a judge friend of mine and see if he can help,” Elaina offered.
“Thank you,” Chloe said softly. Her voice was thick with emotion. “I appreciate all of you working so hard to help me find my sister. I do.”
“It’s our job,” Gage said. The words were out of his mouth before he realized how dickish they sounded.
Chloe blanched. “Right. Well I appreciate it all the same.” She backed out of the kitchen and turned away before Gage could retract his statement.
Both Elaina and Alyson looked at him like he was the world’s biggest jackass.
“I only meant that she didn’t owe us anything because we’re just—”
“Save it, Romeo.” Elaina rolled her eyes. “I have a judge to call. If you’ll excuse me.”
When she left, Gage leaned his elbows on the table and let his head fall into his hands.
He was exhausted down to his bones. Every word out of his mouth felt like a fuckup.
Alyson placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t feel bad. You both have so much to handle right now. There will be time to sort shit out later.”
Later? Like when she’s grieving for her sister? He chastised himself for that line of thinking, but Alyson had made a valid point.
Alyson gave him a gentle squeeze. “Everyone’s emotions are running high and it’s been a long day. Get some rest, Gage. I took a nap earlier. I’ll stay up and dig around online to see what I can uncover about Ulrich.”
He wanted to decline. The testosterone-fueled maleness in him made his knee-jerk reaction a “Thanks, but I’m good.” But he couldn’t look at the computer any longer, no more than he could go into the office and stare at the board filled with pictures of suspects and the map with the triangulated locations of Eden’s last-known whereabouts. He could practically feel his retinas detaching from being overworked.
“You sure?”
Alyson nodded. “I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t. Go. Sleep. Reset and recharge. So you won’t keep saying the wrong thing to her every time you open your mouth.”
There was no need to clarify who her was.
And he had no argument for that line of reasoning.
Gage made his way to the empty guest room. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
23
“No go on the warrant,” Elaina’s voice said into the cab of his truck the next morning. “Caroline Isla’s employment there helped, but too much of our case is based on speculation. Both women worked at Provocative, and we’re not asking to search their property. It looks like a conservative, morally biased judgment too close to election. I tried my best but I couldn’t sway him. I’ll keep trying, but I think we’re going to need something concrete to get anyone to sign off.”
Gage felt his shoulders slump in his seat. “Thanks, Elaina. Check in with me later, preferably with better news.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Gage sat parked in the lot of the storage-unit facility. He’d followed Ulrich to it twice. Once in the morning and once that afternoon.
According to Brian Wells, Ulrich kept all kinds of files, paperwork, equipment, and props in the units he rented. But Gage wasn’t interested in any of that. He was interested in what else those units could hold. A body. DNA evidence that would lead to Eden Sterling. Something.
Two other men had accessed the units throughout the day, both identified by Wells as Ulrich’s assistant and nephew, Erik Ulrich, and the videographer who had replaced Wells. Chad Mathis.
Gage had Alyson run quick background checks on both of them. Going through the bureau wouldn’t be quick enough. He needed answers now.
So far Alyson’s search had only turned up a few misdemeanors on the nephew and a repossessed car and overdue student loans on Mathis.
When he arrived back at the house, he was surprised to see Chloe and Alyson waiting for him.
Alyson looked upset and Chloe seemed to be comforting her, which was a switch.
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”
Generally he knew better than to tread into such a delicate, estrogen-laden female-moment territory, but he feared it was case-related.
Alyson wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and avoided his gaze. “Nothing. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
Gage frowned. Fine was his least favorite F word.
“She’s okay.” Chloe stood and moved to serve as a buffer between them.
Gage was confused.
Alyson had relieved him last night so he could rest. He’d gotten up early and told her to get some sleep before he headed out to focus on Ulrich and stakeout the storage unit. What could have possibly upset her so badly between then and now? He had no idea.
Chloe gestured toward the kitchen.
Gage followed. “What’s going on?”
Chloe sighed. “She’s worked really hard on this case, even pulling an all-nighter last night and gaining access to some of Ulrich’s financials. She’s a little wounded that you haven’t taken note of her efforts.”
Gage was taken aback to say the least. “So she wants, like, a pat on the back and an ‘atta girl’?” He frowned. That didn’t seem like the Alyson he’d known before. Life was so much easier when she was just Da Vinci the expert hacker.
Chloe regarded him as if he were a complete moron. “She wants you to at least consider allowing her to go into Red Light undercover. She’s worked hard to prove herself.” Chloe pinned him with a pointed look. “You brushed the idea off fairly quickly, she said. I guess her parents never believed in her and don’t approve of her life choices. Feels like you don’t either, or some
thing.”
Or something. Gage really didn’t need this right now. But Alyson was an integral part of the team and he didn’t want to make her feel otherwise.
He stepped out of the breakfast nook and back into the living room.
“Alyson,” he began, approaching her warily. If she cried, he would truly be at a loss. “So I might’ve been a little callous and quick to dismiss the idea of letting you go undercover at Red Light.” He paused to rub the back of his neck. Chloe nodded him on encouragingly. “I’m sorry for that. I had a partner who . . . who went under and never came back. I ended up on ISL for weeks afterward and I don’t know . . . I guess I still feel pretty apprehensive about sending someone into a situation like that with so many unknowns at play.”
ISL was involuntary stress leave. He didn’t mean to use bureau lingo, but he knew Alyson was probably familiar with it. There wasn’t much Alyson wasn’t familiar with. She was intelligent, extremely well-read, and quick on her feet.
The truth was, she’d make a fantastic agent. He told her so, hoping admitting that would help her to feel less of a sting from his previous brush-off.
“You really mean that?”
Gage nodded. “I do. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”
She side-eyed him apprehensively. “So you’ll think about letting me go in? I think I know enough about Ulrich now that I could get hired. Brian Wells could help me get an idea of what he’s looking for. Even getting in once for an interview might be long enough to get what we need.”
Gage felt the tension in his chest tighten. “I’ll think about it. I just wanted you to know that it wasn’t your capability that had me dismissing the idea so quickly.”
“Promise?” Her eyes filled with the threat of tears.
“Swear,” he supplied quickly. “It’s my own hang-ups. Forgive me?”
Alyson gave him a small smile. “Of course. We all have them.”
Gage felt a tiny bit of his tension ease. “Good. I am sorry. Really. We can discuss it tonight once Holt and Elaina get here. I promise to have more of an open mind.”
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