In fact, there was Sterling now. Using a cane as if he were Bruce Wayne and escorting a date who might as well have been Cat Woman. What a fraud.
“I will also be praying for Laney—”
“Laney?” It couldn’t be. Cat Woman had Laney’s same hair color, height, and even the sway of her hips. But she wouldn’t have dared to attend the ball with Sterling after what Alex had told her. And she’d certainly never dress like that. Right?
“Yes. Laney. Don’t you want me to pray for protection over her, as well?”
The Laney look-alike chewed on her lip. Dead give-away.
Alex locked his jaw. Looked like God had answered the question for him. He needed to attend the ball to protect Laney if nothing else. “Yes, pray for Laney. She’s here with Sterling.”
**
Laney frowned at her reflection in the wall of the shiny elevator as she rode to the top floor of the Convention Center with Mitch. Why did her mouth look weird? She peeked to make sure Mitch wasn’t looking before leaning closer to her reflection. Oh no. Lipstick on her teeth. She yanked a glove off to rub at the misplaced color with her fingertip.
Attending a ball where she knew she’d run into Alex would be tough enough, but having to dress up and worry about her appearance was even worse. Ever since her very public investigation/degradation, she’d been trying to stay out of the limelight. She’d only accepted Mitch’s invitation so she could see his reaction to Alex’s questions in person.
Yeah, she’d called him and told him everything. As his former partner she needed to make sure he knew his good name was about to be smeared through mud. He’d sounded sincere on the phone, and she wanted to believe him, but somebody had stolen her computer. And Alex had somehow gotten her to wonder if what she thought she knew was really true.
Alex. She’d been stupid to run off as soon as she found out he was divorced. That didn’t change anything. It wasn’t like he was interested in her anyway. He’d only invited her to the ball to join his cause—to confront Mitch. His passion to prove himself innocent could even be an attempt at winning Elise back. They had seemed like the perfect couple when she’d met them.
“Ready, Laney?” Mitch motioned her first out the opening elevator doors.
She held a hand to her heart. “I’m not used to this, Mitch. You won’t be too embarrassed if I trip on my heels, will you?”
“I walk with a cane, my dear. Are you embarrassed by me?”
Laney smiled. Just like him to put her at ease. “Of course not.”
“It’s a party. Everybody is going to be having too much fun to judge you.”
She nodded and stepped ahead of him out of the elevator. Couples mingled and laughed and a band warmed up on stage. She could handle this. Maybe it would make her even want to get out more often.
Mitch waved toward a gentleman at the bar. “I’ll just go grab us a couple of drinks. That will help you relax.”
“Oh no.” Laney held up a hand to slow Mitch down so she could tell him she didn’t drink alcohol anymore, but he’d already started to thread his way through the masses.
That was fine. She’d just go find a glass of water of her own. But first she’d better put her long, black glove back on. Or she could take them off and stuff them in her tiny purse. She hadn’t been fond of either the glove or the tiny purse idea, but Gwen had insisted. Said she looked stunning. Even got her to wear the thick black eyeliner. Too bad the Pumpkin Ball wasn’t also a costume ball, because this so wasn’t her.
Focusing on her hands, Laney yanked the glove back on. She’d wear them until dinner at least—to make Gwen happy.
The square toes of two black men’s dress shoes stopped next to her feet. Maybe Mitch had heard her call to him after all.
She looked up with a smile. It disappeared when she realized the shoes belonged to none other than Gwen’s dashing rogue. Rogue maybe, but definitely not dashing. Even if his chartreuse tie did add a little whimsy to his formal appearance.
“Laney. You look nice. I wouldn’t have recognized you without the scowl.”
She narrowed her eyes to make sure he knew she was only scowling for him.
“So you decided to join me after all? When you took off out of my office, I figured you wanted to get away from me—not that you were in a hurry to go shopping for the most incredible gown in the room.”
She smoothed her chignon and looked away. She would not fall for his flattery no matter how warm it made her feel. Her cheeks weren’t turning pink, were they? “Actually it meant that I had to go talk to Mitch myself. I’m here with him.”
“Great idea. Date the guy who ruined your career. And then for an encore, maybe you can marry a serial killer.”
Laney bit her lip. This time to keep from laughing. “You’re absurd.”
“Or just worried about your sanity.”
Her sanity seemed to be a popular topic of discussion with Alex. She had better things to do than rehash the same argument. “You’ve already established that concern. Don’t you want to mingle? There are plenty of wealthy business owners here for you to con.”
Alex remained in a casual stance with hands tucked into pockets, but his jaw shifted side to side. “If that had been my goal, I never would have invited you.”
Laney looked down her nose to make sure she hadn’t just imagined the way his mouth clenched. Yes. Finally. She’d gotten to him. “Oh, that’s right. You wanted to accuse my partner of being a dirty cop.”
His eyes roamed her face. “I think I’ll wait on that one. I don’t want to anger him before he takes you home. I want to make sure you’re safe first.”
Was he for real? Did he really think he could play her hero now? She was a bull’s-eye with a gun, she’d taught self-defense courses at the Y, she’d chased down criminals on foot. She’d caught him, for goodness sake.
Mitch joined their circle, balancing two wine glasses in his free hand. Just in time, too, or she might’ve whipped off a stiletto to demonstrate her abilities to Alex.
Her date handed her the red wine and eyed the other man. “Looks like you might need this.”
It was tempting. Her tongue watered, longing for the dry tang. She could down the glass in one chug and instantly feel better like she used to. Or she could deal with her problems head-on the way she’d been praying for God to help her to do. “Thank you, but I don’t drink anymore.”
“I wondered.” Mitch gave a half-shrug. “You’re so healthy now with your adventure race training. I figured I’d get you the red rather than white like mine. It has the resveratrol.”
She shook her head in confusion. What was he talking about?
“Antioxidants,” Mitch translated.
“Right.” She frowned down at the glass. If she drank the wine at all, it would be to forget how angry Alex made her. Like he was going to sacrifice his mission to keep her safe. “So, you remember Alex Pierce, right?”
Mitch lifted his glass in mock salute. “Out of prison, I see.”
Alex gave a tight smile. His tension could have been cut with one of the chainsaws that would later be used for the pumpkin carving contest.
Laney relaxed for the first time. It was nice not being the one in the hot seat anymore. “Alex, I know you remember Mitch. You were just telling me how you suspected him of taking the money you stole from Washington Trust. Isn’t that right?”
Alex’s eyes burned into hers. She turned her attention to Mitch. It would be fun to see how he reacted to such irrational allegations.
Mitch sipped his wine. “I don’t blame you, Pierce. The community will more likely believe you’re innocent if you can find someone else to fault.”
Laney could feel Alex’s glare. He wasn’t looking at Mitch at all as he’d claimed he’d wanted to do. But even if he had been looking at Mitch, the man so nonchalantly brushed off the charge it was clear he wasn’t the perp who’d broken into Laney’s house to steal her computer.
She kept her eyes on Mitch. More so to avoid awkward e
ye contact with Alex than to actually play judge and jury of her old partner.
Mitch winked at her. “I’d wish you luck with your business, Pierce, except you’ve chosen to compete with Laney, who just happens to be an expert in her field.”
Quite the eloquent insult. Perhaps if Laney had called Mitch from the very beginning, she could’ve avoided quarreling with Alex all together.
She longed to clap and cheer, “Bravo, bravo.” But her hands were full.
There. A blonde busboy with an almost invisible goatee held a tray full of empty stemware. She nodded to get his attention and get rid of her drink before she made the mistake of indulging and ending her three-year sober streak.
Laney rubbed her empty hands together and slipped-up by looking at Alex. His somber expression didn’t seem as offended as she would have hoped. No, it spoke more of a warning—the kind of warning that wracked their state when Mt. St. Helens had erupted during her childhood.
Her heartbeat twitched with doubt for just a moment before she reminded herself she was dealing with a criminal. Hopefully Alex would simply leave her alone now that she’d helped Mitch defend himself.
The band chose that moment to bring their instruments to life with a number that reminded Laney of the big bands from the 20s. She pictured Alex in pinstripes, a fedora, and holding a tommy gun. The image fit.
He extended his hand. “May I have this dance?”
Did the man never give up? She turned her shoulder. “No.”
It wasn’t like he really wanted to dance with her. He just wanted to get her away from Mitch so he could lecture her on her sanity again.
A tinkling of shattering glass interrupted her thoughts. Then a thud and screams. The music died.
Laney twisted to discern where the commotion had come from. A crowd backed away from a man on the floor. A young man with light-colored facial hair. The bus boy who’d taken her wine.
He clutched at his face. “I can’t see. I can’t see.”
Laney rushed to kneel over the young man as everyone else stared in horror. She tried to pull his hands away from his head.
“Let me look.” Maybe he’d gotten some glass in his eyes. But he wasn’t squeezing his eyes shut. He was blinking and trying to look around.
Then he clutched his gut. “It hurts.”
She sat back on her heels to assess.
Alex pointed at a random man in the crowd as he knelt beside her. “Call 9-1-1,” he ordered.
“It’s his stomach. And he says he can’t see,” Laney added in case the operator asked.
Sweat beaded on the young man’s brow.
Alex touched the waiter’s shoulder. “Do you have any allergies?”
“No. No.” The young man writhed in pain.
Laney wracked her brain. “Did you eat or drink anything recently?”
The busboy coughed. He nodded his head but couldn’t talk.
Alex reached for a water glass on a nearby table and tried to sit the young man up to take a drink.
The busboy gulped what little made it into his mouth before curling back into a ball.
“Wine.” He choked out the one word.
He didn’t need wine. He needed water. “No, you can’t—”
Alex quieted her with a hand to her arm. “You drank wine?”
The young man groaned and nodded. “I wasn’t supposed to. And it wasn’t very good anyway. Too sweet.”
Alex eyed her. It was a look she couldn’t argue with. Her heart began to hammer, because if she was reading him right, he thought the busboy drank the wine she hadn’t touched. Wine that had been tampered with.
This could have been her on the floor.
Chapter 4
“God, don’t let him die,” Alex prayed under his breath.
There was nothing else that could be done until the EMTs arrived and took the kid to the hospital to have his stomach pumped. Did Laney realize that Mitch Sterling had tried to poison her?
“Poison,” she said. The glaze over her eyes slowly melted from the fire that kindled within.
He knew that look. Would she go after Mitch the way she’d gone after him? He reached out a hand to keep her from attacking the enemy.
“Oh my stars.” Her gloved fingers clutched him.
He looked down at the gloves. Gloves meant no fingerprints. No way to prove the glass that held the poison had been the one she was intended to drink.
But even if it could be proven she was supposed to drink out of it, what would keep the police from suspecting him? He was the felon here.
A bell chimed and the elevator doors slid open to reveal emergency workers with a gurney. The crowd parted to let them through.
Alex pulled Laney away from the victim, scanning the crowd for Mitch Sterling. The man leaned on his cane, an expression of concern plastered to his face until Alex caught his eye. Remorse faded into arrogance. A challenge perhaps. A dare. As if Sterling had nothing to hide from him anymore. He might as well have said, “Catch me if you can,” knowing full well his disability gave him the advantage, offering the impression he was a wounded hero.
Laney pulled away from Alex. “Poison,” she said to the emergency worker taking the busboy’s pulse. “I think he was poisoned.”
In the chaos, only the one EMT seemed to hear her words, thank goodness. The man flashed her a shrewd look without slowing in the process of strapping his patient to the gurney. “The cops are on their way.”
Adrenaline raced through Alex’s limbs. He pulled Laney back with him and scanned the room for the quickest exit.
She melted to his side, looking up at him for support for the first time ever. He’d savor the moment if he weren’t more concerned with getting sent back to jail.
“We have to tell the cops that Mitch tried to poison me.”
If only it were that easy. “Laney, they aren’t going to listen. If they believe you were really the target of the poisoning, then they are going to suspect me.”
“What?” She leaned away from his chest to better look at his face as he still had one arm firmly wrapped around her waist. “Why would they suspect you?”
“Same reason you suspected me.” Alex ran his free hand through his hair. What should he do now?
Laney shook her head. “But now I know you’re innocent. You didn’t bring me the drink—Mitch did. I’ll tell the police that.”
How did she still trust the law? They’d pretty much turned on her five years ago. “Sweetheart, I hate to remind you of this, but you’re suspected of being a dirty cop. They are more likely to think you and I poisoned the busboy to frame the amazing Mitch.”
“No.” She shoved away from him. “I am not a dirty cop. Don’t you ever say that again.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not the one questioning you. I’m on your side.”
Mitch stepped forward, a frown now pasted in place. “You okay, Laney? Want me to get you out of here?”
She turned on Mitch then, finger accusing. “I’m lucky I’m not leaving on a stretcher, aren’t I, you lousy—”
Alex pulled her back again. The woman had caused enough scenes for one day. At least she knew what she was up against now. No use in poking the beast.
“I’ll take her home, Mitch,” Alex said smoothly.
Mitch blinked in mock surprise. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Laney, after all you’ve told me about this guy, I don’t think you’re safe with him. If he takes you home before the police arrive, I’m going to make sure they know you’re together. You know, in case anything bad happens.”
Laney strained against Alex’s arms, fists flying. He pulled her away and ran a hand down her arm to still her and soothe her anger. It would do no good to have her knock out a crippled man just as the police arrive.
“Let him think he’s won,” he whispered in her ear.
She twisted to face him, and he loosened his grip. He’d only wanted to keep her safe, not get intimate. Not that there was anything between them, bu
t still, it had been years since he’d held a woman in his arms.
“No way. We have the truth on our side. If we run, then we’ll look even more guilty.”
“We aren’t running.” Alex eyed Mitch over Laney’s shoulder. The sooner he got her away, the better. If only he could get her to agree with him for once. “We just know that the police aren’t likely to listen right now. When we go to them with the truth, we need more than words. We need evidence. The less time we spend here, the more time we have to prove ourselves innocent.”
She covered her mouth with a gloved hand. “Oh my stars, Alex. If I had believed you in the first place, this never would have happened. I never would have come here with Mitch. That busboy is going to the hospital because of me.”
Oh boy. She was all over the place. But at least she understood that if she hadn’t listened to him, then the police weren’t likely to, either.
The elevator door chimed again. They didn’t have much time if they were going to get out of there before interrogation—before they were held for questioning then accused of crimes they didn’t commit. They’d already gone that route. It didn’t work out so well.
He turned her toward the stairwell. “This isn’t your fault, Laney. You had no idea Mitch would go from robbery to attempted murder in a week. He must really be scared.”
The staircase door opened as more police entered the ballroom through his planned escape route. The EMT had probably already reported the suspected poisoning, and the cops were keeping witnesses contained. He needed another plan.
Laney chewed on her lip, but not because of the police. She blindly moved as Alex directed her. This time toward the roof deck patio. “I still can’t believe it was Mitch.”
Alex looked over his shoulder to find the man in question headed directly toward an officer. Being the respectable citizen Sterling claimed to be, he’d surely share his suspicions of Alex and Laney with authorities.
“I took him a teddy bear in the hospital while I was being investigated for the crime he’d committed. I’m so stupid.”
Alex shoved open the balcony door before police looked their direction. “You’re not stupid. You were a caring partner.”
Team Love on the Run Box-Set #1 Page 3