“They all have a reason to be against expansion, but no one in particular stands out.”
Her cell rang. “It’s Megan. I need to take this.” She punched the talk button on her phone. “Thanks for calling me back.”
“I saw the e-mails, and even though it said they came from Sanford, I didn’t think he’d so this. My volunteers got them first, and they were upset.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate your trust. I haven’t seen any of them. Could you forward one to me? I might know someone who could track it.”
“I certainly will.”
One or more of her volunteers probably told someone who then told someone else. Rumors spread like wildfire in Pleasure. “When this is over, we definitely need to do lunch.”
“You’re on.”
As Vicki disconnected, a new idea came to her. She looked up at Clint. “Do you know who Scott Newlander’s girlfriend is?”
“No. Why?”
She shrugged. “It was something Earl said. I know someone who teaches at the high school and I’ll see what she has to say.”
“Let me know.” He shoved back his chair. “Keep up the good work. I know Sanford appreciates all you do even if he doesn’t tell you often enough.”
She smiled. “It’s good.” He had been distant all week, but he acted as if he was trying to give her space to figure things out. Sanford was a good man.
As soon as Clint left, she stepped into the main room for more coffee. Of late, she’d been living on it. She also grabbed the cookie she’d failed to nab when Ms. Bailey received the phone call.
Since it was around the time school would be letting out, she hoped she could get a hold of Sarah Jacobson, who was one of the high school’s math teachers. Sarah was Brooke’s sister’s best friend, and she’d met her a few times.
Vicki remembered Sarah saying they had phones in their room, so she called the high school switchboard and asked to be connected with her.
When Sarah answered, there was laughter and chatter in the background. Vicki pictured the room full of kids at the board working out problems. Or maybe that’s how she remembered her math experience in high school. She was forever seeking help.
“Sarah, it’s Vicki Hollister. I’m Brooke’s friend.”
“Oh, sure. Hi.”
“This might not be a good time, but did you know Scott Newlander?”
Sarah must have placed her hand over the receiver, but Vicki could hear the instructions for the kids to continue working. “Yes. He’s in my precal class.”
“Did you hear he might have been responsible for the break-in to Sanford’s campaign office where I work?”
“Yes, but I don’t see him for it. At least he wouldn’t have been the instigator. He’s not that kind of boy.”
Interesting. “Does Scott have a girlfriend?”
“Yes.”
She expected a name. “Do you know her name?”
“It’s Missy Tager.” Sarah’s voice came out so soft Vicki had to strain to hear her. “She’s highly intelligent and a schemer. Scott will do anything for her.”
Her hunch was just confirmed. “Thanks, Sarah.” She hung up, smiled, and immediately called Clint.
He answered on the first ring. “Miss me already, darlin’?”
She did appreciate his humor. “Totally.” She told him about her hunch. “Earl said the person who took the computer had a not so high voice, his words not mine.”
“High school boys often don’t develop a deep voice until later.”
“I’m thinking the other thief was Missy Tager.”
“Hamrick’s VP’s daughter?”
Maybe it was a little farfetched. “Yes. I’m heading over to Brooke’s now to see if she can trace where the e-mail came from.”
“Other than your computer?”
“I know it’s a long shot. I’ll let you know.”
“I’ll do a little checking on her.”
“Awesome. Maybe Riley Landon or Gavin Kirkwood can help.”
“I’m on it.”
Vicki stuffed her laptop in her big purse, and after telling Earl where she was going, she slipped out the back. The wind whipped her hair around, forcing her to hold it with one hand. After the balmy fall they’d enjoyed, she wasn’t looking forward to winter.
Vicki had no idea if Brooke could help, or if what she was asking was even possible, but she had to give it a try. When she stepped into the warm store, her friend was checking out a customer. As soon as Brooke finished, she came from around the counter.
“Trouble with the new laptop already?”
“No.” She explained about her stolen computer and the e-mails the thief was sending. “First, I need to know if this e-mail originated from the stolen computer. And secondly, can you tell where the person was located when he sent it? In other words, do computers have some kind of GPS on them so we can track them?” Or had she been watching too much CSI?
Brooke smiled. “The answer to your second question is no.”
Darn. “I just thought—”
Brooke held up a hand. “I might be able to help with the first part if the MAC address of your old computer is on the router in the campaign office. If it is, and if I get real lucky to find your culprit logged in on a local place where there’s Internet, then I’ll be able to tell this person is on your computer.”
“I should have put stickers on the front, and then I’d be able to tell if the computer was mine.”
Brooke laughed. “I’m guessing that the person would have removed them. But if we do identify the computer as yours, it will be easy to tell if the e-mails were sent from that computer.”
“I see. Can you get away for a few minutes to stop by the office to find the address thingy?”
Her friend smiled. “Let’s go.” Brooke told her helper she’d be back shortly.
Vicki carried her laptop and Brooke brought one of her own. Vicki drove. Brooke said she had no problem walking the two blocks back to her place.
When they entered the campaign office, Sanford was talking with Crandall Thompson, the local pharmacist who’d suggest Sanford run for office in the first place.
Vicki led Brooke over to the table next to the copy machine. “The router is underneath there.” Sanford had installed it out here so if it needed to be rebooted, everyone would have access.
Brooke set her laptop on the table. “Go do your thing. I’ll be in my own little world for a while.”
“Thanks, again.”
Crandall left and Sanford neared. “What’s up?”
“Brooke is trying to locate my computer.” That wasn’t quite the right terminology, but she didn’t understand tracking packets and router table lingo enough to give him the real explanation.
Sanford nodded toward the office. “There’s something you need to see.”
Was it more bad e-mails? She followed him. He stepped over to his desk and turned the laptop around. It was a Facebook page—only it wasn’t anything that had originated from this office.
“See here,” he said. “It’s a total fake. I supposedly have about three hundred friends, all of whom must have accepted my friend request or liked my page.” He scrolled through the list. “Look familiar?”
Her breath hitched. “It’s the same names as our list of supporters—the list that had been on my computer.” Anger at the injustice flared.
“So our little thief has been busy.”
She read through what they’d written. “It’s all lies. I’m so pissed off right now.” All of these attacks were very wrong. “I have a suspicion who’s behind this, though I have no proof.” She nodded to the outer office where her friend was doing her magic. “I’m hoping Brooke can provide us with some information.”
“Who do you think is guilty?”
“I did some digging, as did Clint. Her name is Missy Tager. She’s Jeff Tager’s daughter and Scott Newlander’s girlfriend.”
He sat in his chair. “His daughter? Tager is a huge Megan Edgars supp
orter.”
“I know. He’s also on the list of possible suspects.” Her cell rang. “What do you know? It’s Clint.” She answered. “I hope you have something good to share. I’m putting you on speaker. Sanford is here.”
“Good. Turns out Missy Tager is quite the computer expert, according to her teachers. Justin spoke with a few of her friends and they’ve been worried about her. According to one Anna Gallant, her BFF, Missy has been complaining that her dad won’t buy her the Mercedes he promised because he’s unsure what will happen to his salary if the new hydroelectric plant is built.”
She looked at Sanford, whose eyes were wide. “Anything else?” she asked.
“She has Scott wrapped around her little finger, but he, too, has a beef with Pleasure getting bigger because the company where his aunt works is downsizing. Apparently they can’t compete with the new chain store that’s going in the mall, and his family blames them for her problems.”
Sanford leaned forward. “All circumstantial.”
“Agreed, but Missy is slim and only a few inches shorter than Scott, so that doesn’t rule her out. If we could find her with Vicki’s computer, we’d be set.”
“Thanks, Clint.”
She leaned a hip on the desk. “I guess it’s up to Brooke.”
Her friend wrapped a knuckle on the door. “I’ve got the MAC address. I’m now on the hunt to find the little thief! Stay tuned.”
“Good luck.”
She disappeared with a flourish.
Sanford stood and walked around the desk. “How about a hug?”
She wasn’t sure if he needed one or not, but she sure could use one. “Absolutely.”
As soon as he wrapped his arms around her, she melted against him. The blinds were open, so she didn’t dare kiss him, but she sure wanted to. What she wouldn’t give for a repeat of their lovemaking in here, but good little subs weren’t supposed to make that kind of suggestion. Or could she?
He leaned back. “How about if the three of us go out to dinner tonight and take a night off from all the campaign hassle?”
“You don’t have to meet with your voters?”
“Do you plan on voting for me?”
She giggled at his ridiculous question. “Yes, silly.”
“Then I’m going out with a voter.”
He was clever. When they went out tonight, it might be time to bare her soul and see if they could be a real team who’d share in the most intimate way.
Chapter Twenty-One
Vicki was home picking out what to wear for her big date with Sanford and Clint when her cell rang. It was Brooke.
Excitement zoomed through her. “Hey, you got something for me, girlfriend?”
“Let’s say this. If you hurry and happen to walk into Knight’s Delights, you just might find someone on your computer.”
Her pulse soared. “I’m not even going to ask how you know, but you rock.”
“Clint actually found her, but I was able to prove she has your computer.”
“Awesome.”
“Promise me one thing?”
Vicki was so excited she’d say yes to anything. “What?”
“Give yourself and your men a chance. They’re good people who mean well.”
Vicki understood what her friend was asking. She wants me to love myself first. “I promise. And thank you.”
“You bet. See you soon.”
Vicki scooped up her dress and heels and raced out the door. She’d already showered and put on her makeup, so changing at the apartment would be no big deal. She called Sanford and asked him to meet her at Knight’s Delight. How convenient was it that the coffee shop doubled as an Internet café? According to Bella, though, the Internet café doubled as a coffee shop.
Whether Sanford was in the apartment or at campaign headquarters, he was only a block away. It would take her at least ten minutes to get there from her house.
The traffic was quite minimal, but the downtown was crowded. Vicki had to park a block down the street. When she entered the shop, Sanford was at the counter, Clint was seated in one of the few free tables, and Brooke was near the office behind the counter.
She stepped over to Clint. “Is she here?”
“Three tables up. She’s sitting with Scott and two girls.”
“Which one is she?” Any one of the three teenagers could have been Missy Tager.
“Pink hoodie and jeans.”
“Got it.” The place was packed, mostly with high school kids. Apparently this was a local hangout on Friday night. “I’ll walk by on my way to get something to drink. My desktop has that boring blue wallpaper, and I only had about four icons on it. I should know just by looking if it’s mine.” Brooke would be able to prove it in a court of law, but Vicki wanted to check it out anyway. The hard part would be not confronting her.
“Go for it, but don’t make eye contact. She probably knows you, but she won’t believe you know her.”
“That’s a teenager for you. They always think they’re smarter than you.”
Missy’s back was to her so it was easy to glance over her shoulder as Vicki walked by. The girl was surfing the web, but she wasn’t using the mail function or Facebook. It took a lot of self-control to walk up to the counter where Sanford was waiting for his drink instead of demanding the young girl return the computer. A teenager, who she didn’t know, stood behind the counter.
Vicki ordered a latte and then casually bumped into Sanford. “Hi, stranger.”
He winked. “You ready for the shakedown?”
“Can’t wait.”
Sanford gave a slight nod to Clint. He stood and walked up to the girl. “Missy Tager?”
She looked up. “Yes?”
Here it comes.
“Please stand.”
She did. After all, Clint was wearing a uniform. “What’s this about?”
There was no fear, just haughtiness as only a young girl could pull off.
“Please turn around.” He whipped out his cuffs. They were so different from the padded ones he’d used on her. “You are under arrest for breaking and entering and theft.” Clint nodded toward her computer.
The crowd gasped, but Vicki grinned. “Gotcha.”
Clint motioned for Vicki to pick up her laptop as he escorted the young girl to the station. Since she was a minor, she’d be released soon, but it was fun to see justice served.
They picked up their drinks after Sanford paid and they both followed Clint out.
“I’m hoping Clint will let Justin or Tom book her.” She didn’t want their lovemaking session delayed because of this.
“What about if we wait in the apartment for him?”
“Perfect.” She needed to change anyway.
Since Sanford had walked over, he drove her back in her car to the alley behind the apartment. Noise poured out of the Mountain View, indicating line dance night had begun. She’d gone many times, and the place always ended up too hot and sweaty for her.
They took the steps up to the second floor and entered. He set her dress and shoes on the sofa then helped her off with her coat.
“How about a glass of wine to celebrate?”
“I’d love one.” So as not to waste her coffee, she drank some of it to get her sugar high.
He poured two glasses of white wine and handed her a glass. “I’ll text Clint to see how long he’ll be.”
She dropped down on the sofa and all the tension from the past few days seeped out of her. “Would you object to just ordering some pizza or something? This sofa is really comfortable.”
He grinned. “I have a better idea. How about I ask Chelsea to fix us three to-go boxes.”
The beautiful part about that plan was that he could take the inside staircase right down to the kitchen. “I love it. I’ll like any one of her pasta specials.”
“You got it. I’ll pick something for Clint and be right back. Close your eyes and let go of all your stress.”
“Right.” It would take more th
an closing her eyes to do that, but she set her glass on the coffee table, along with her coffee cup, and leaned back.
Within five minutes the front door opened and Clint breezed in. “Hey, darlin’? Did my no-good brother abandon you already?” He rushed over.
“No. He’s ordering dinner from downstairs. I’m beat.”
Clint sat next to her and gathered her in his arms. A kiss that started out sweet turned hard, passionate, and desperate a few seconds later.
He leaned back. “Do you think we have time for a quickie before my brother returns?”
She could tell from the way his eyes were so wide that he was kidding. “Somehow I don’t think Sanford would appreciate us starting without him.”
As if on cue, his brother entered from the door leading downstairs. “Food will be up shortly.”
Sanford picked up his glass of wine and sat across from them. “I’ve been waiting to say something, as I thought we all needed some time to reflect, but now’s the time to talk.”
Was he going to say their relationship wouldn’t work because she struggled with their lifestyle? Her heart pounded.
“Tell her, bro.”
“I fucked up.” He stabbed a hand over his short hair. “I wanted you so bad that I didn’t take the time to listen to what you were telling me.”
She looked at Clint then back at Sanford. “I don’t understand.”
“Vicki, Clint and I love you. The problem is that we wanted you to be with us so much that we overlooked what you wanted. We are Doms. Always have been. Always will be, but as Doms it’s our responsibility to make you feel good without pushing you past your limit. What we did the other night was wrong.”
Now he’d gone too far. “I asked to be tied and bound.”
Clint picked up her hand. “That’s what you said, but there were times when you wanted us to stop and we didn’t.”
“I told you I was fine. I was the one who didn’t want to disappoint you.”
He squeezed her fingers. “We know that now.” He kissed the back of her hand. “We want you in our life, but we should have brought you into the lifestyle slow and easy. Rushing ruins things.”
This was too good to be true. They still wanted her. Slow worked, too. “Does that mean I don’t need your permission to climax?”
Two Doms for Vicki [Pleasure, Montana 9] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 18