Savage Peril: Military Romantic Suspense (Stealth Security Book 6)
Page 13
After the call, Gunner made coffee and poured two cups. He had heard Lori moving about in her bedroom, so she would be out shortly.
When Lori emerged dressed for work in a figure-flattering outfit, Gunner nearly dropped his cup.
“Was it something I said?” Lori asked with big eyes.
“You look good enough to eat,” Gunner said, then kissed her cheek. He didn’t know how he had resisted her this long. Even staying away out of a sense of duty was starting to wear thin.
Lori sat at the table and sipped her coffee.
“You look like you’re feeling better this morning,” Gunner said.
“I won’t kid you,” Lori said. “I’m crushed by what happened to my father. But I’m determined to solve the mystery. It makes me feel better just to take action.”
“You’re going to the clinic today?”
“Yes, but I’m concerned,” Lori said. “After Matt attacked me, I should have fired him.”
“I don’t like the idea of him being near you.”
“I agree,” Lori said. “But there is more at stake than my safety.”
“What could be more important than that?”
Lori shared her suspicions about Matt. “His illegal activities are a concern, because I don’t want to get pulled into the mire with him. But I don’t have enough evidence to nail him.”
“You have a point,” Gunner said. “If Matt is dealing drugs, I’ll find out. He must be making contact with a buyer. I’ll have Travis set up a surveillance crew to watch him. They should be able to get some incriminating video as evidence.”
“Then I should hold off until you do,” Lori said. “I don’t want to tip him off.”
“How does he act around you?”
“Matt has continued with business as usual,” Lori said. “Yet when I’m around he seems nervous. I doubt anyone else detects that, but I know him well.”
“You have to be careful,” Gunner said.
“I have Sarah keeping an eye on him,” Lori said. “And when I’m at work, I can stick close to Adam.”
“I’ll get the team set up right away. I don’t want Matt around you any longer than necessary.” Gunner wanted the guy gone immediately, but if he could catch him in the act, it would be worth waiting a couple of days. The FBI would be very interested in a clinic administrator dealing drugs.
Lori put her cup in the sink, then held Gunner’s hands. “I know I can count on you.” She leaned up and kissed him.
Chapter 15
Later that day, the surveillance on Matthew Carter was in place. As the background investigator, Cooper had done a quick workup, listing pertinent details like home address and locations the clinic director frequented.
Tessa was given the task of setting up the team. She put Hunter Davis in charge, then he selected the crew from a few of the new guys at Stealth. They were recent additions to the security team, but seasoned Navy veterans, capable of handling the assignment.
The crew would follow Matt in his daily activities and video as needed. His contacts would be photographed then a background workup done on each one. The team members would alternate shifts and keep a low profile. All observations would be filed in a report to be reviewed by Hunter then delivered to Gunner.
Gunner was confident that the project was in capable hands, so he focused on possible murder suspects. The police would be doing the same, but Gunner’s methods of investigation weren’t as restricted as law enforcement’s.
First, Gunner dug into the life of Robert Waters. There had to be an enemy that had been overlooked, but the more he looked, the less he was convinced. Any records Gunner could find, including his social media history, were a dead end.
Frustrated, Gunner decided to take a closer look at Matt. He opened the background check on his computer then took it a step further. He hacked into Matt’s emails but didn’t find anything interesting. Whatever the guy was doing, he wasn’t documenting it.
Something had to break loose soon. With the police asking questions, the murderer would feel the pinch. Gunner knew that a criminal backed into a corner would make a mistake. And when he did, Gunner would be there.
An added advantage to having Matt under surveillance was that the crew watched the clinic. With his teammates in place, Gunner didn’t worry about Lori while she was at work. And after work, he took over ensuring her safety.
Gunner continued to stay at Lori’s place, committed to her protection. Each day, he worked relentlessly to come up with a suspect. Rip stayed in touch with his contacts and kept Gunner informed. The police would proceed with interviews, nail down the timeline, and follow up every lead.
After a couple of days of surveillance, Tessa showed Gunner highlights of the videos. Plus, Gunner had received copies of the daily reports. Matt’s life had been uneventful, even boring. He worked, ate lunch, and one night went to a bar for a drink. He hadn’t conversed with anyone but the bartender.
“So far, nothing unusual,” Tessa said. “But give him time. No one’s life is that dull.”
Gunner watched the videos again to be sure he hadn’t overlooked anything—maybe there was a person in the background or a message that had been surreptitiously delivered. He’d watched his share of spy movies and half expected Matt to slip a packet of drugs under a park bench for his buyer to retrieve.
But that didn’t happen. In the video, Sarah and Adam arrived at work. Patients came and went. Each had been checked out by the team. Jess stopped by with a bag of skin care products, as confirmed by Lori later. After lunch on the second day, Sheldon Marino visited the clinic for an hour or so. Lori was used to her uncle dropping by to check in with her.
Another day went by with no results, but Gunner had a hunch that having the team follow Matt would be fruitful. Yet it was difficult to be patient. Then, one morning, Lori had to make a trip to the police station for an interview. Talking to the police was nerve-racking for her, and Lori didn’t want to go alone.
Gunner drove her to the station, intending to sit with her whether the officer liked it or not. She wasn’t a suspect, so there was no reason he couldn’t be present for emotional support. The LAPD was located downtown in a multistoried concrete and glass building.
“Government buildings are intimidating,” Lori said.
“Are you nervous?”
“Yes,” Lori said. “It makes me feel like I’m in trouble for something.”
“It’s supposed to have that effect,” Gunner said. “But in your case, the officer will be sympathetic.”
“I’ll answer any questions, as long as this leads to finding my father’s murderer.”
The interview turned out to be fairly short. The investigating officer asked routine questions, then ended by asking Lori if she had any idea who killed her father. That pretty much wrapped it up, so Gunner escorted Lori out of the suffocating building.
“I’m not sure that was helpful,” Lori said.
Before driving back to the clinic, Gunner took Lori to lunch. It was a sandwich shop a couple of blocks from the police station. She talked about the interview and her reaction to the whole thing. Gunner was glad that part was over. He hoped the police would come up with a lead before long.
While eating, Lori talked about other things, including how nice it was of Jess to deliver her skin care purchase. She seemed relaxed, all things considered. “I have to tell you that it isn’t easy acting normal with Matt around. But I don’t think he suspects.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Gunner said. “He isn’t looking over his shoulder, from what I can see in the videos.”
“It was smart not to tell Adam or any of the others,” Lori said. “That way they can’t slip up. It’s hard enough for me.”
Lori drank her iced tea and Gunner finished his sandwich. It was a pleasure to be with her, even if it was a deli. She brightened his day no matter where they were or what they were doing. It made him wonder how he would deal with moving back to his apartment once this was over.
“I thought you’d want to know that I’ve been in touch with my son.”
“That is good to hear.” Lori smiled brightly. “You should have told me that right away. That’s big.”
“I hope so,” Gunner said. “After he thanked me for the birthday gift, I decided to make more of an effort. I emailed about my job at Stealth and a few other things, just to open the communication. Then I let him know that I’d like to see him.”
“How did he respond?”
“He shared news about school,” Gunner said. “He was a bit reserved, but he agreed to see me.”
“When?”
“That’s the thing,” Gunner said. “With what’s going on, I’ll have to arrange a visit for later. I feel bad about that. When I was in the service, I was away so much of the time. It seems like I’m putting him off again, and I don’t want to.”
“Daniel is an adult,” Lori said. “He will understand.”
Gunner hoped so. The hope of a relationship had made him realize how much he cared, and what it would mean to be part of his son’s life.
Chapter 16
By Friday, Lori’s stress level was intolerable, and she needed a break. She announced to Gunner that she was going to a long lunch with Jess. She refused his offer to drive and was adamant that no one would attack her at an upscale French bistro in the mid-Wilshire area—especially when Jess was with her.
Gunner didn’t like it, but he relented. Late morning, Jess drove to the clinic to pick Lori up. As soon as she hopped into the passenger seat, she felt better. “This is just what I need. I had to get away.”
“I can’t blame you,” Jess said. “I don’t know how you’re holding up as well as you are.”
On the way over, Lori chatted about skin care, movies, and a pair of new shoes that she was dying to get—anything but the stressful circumstances of her life. She looked forward to eating gourmet cuisine and sipping French wine.
The restaurant was in an old warehouse building that had been transformed into a trendy bistro. The high ceiling formed a peak and had wood-framed windowpanes that allowed natural light in. The walls were white brick and the floors were light blue tiles in a diamond pattern. The décor was French country in pastel hues.
A greeter seated them at a wooden table with blue legs and quaint chairs. A straw basket of flowers was in the center, and cloth napkins were in ceramic rings. Lori sat across from her friend then took a moment to catch her breath.
Since they were in no hurry, Jess suggested that they split a bottle of white Bordeaux. The wine arrived with a basket of crusty bread. While they sipped, Jess shared stories about the girls. They were growing fast and completely adorable—yet had their devilish side.
Lori couldn’t remember when she’d laughed so much. For a brief interlude, she focused on the great food and conversation. They ordered corn soup with roasted poblano peppers, followed by arugula salad with peaches and goat cheese.
“I could get used to eating like this,” Jess said.
The waitress refilled their glasses, and into her second glass, Lori poured out her worries. Once she started talking, it was impossible to hold back. She unburdened, and her friend listened, asking questions or interjecting comments. It was good to have a chance to process everything.
“I know I sound like a broken record, but who would want to kill your father?”
Lori didn’t know what to say.
“Have you considered that the mob might be responsible?”
“Yes, I haven’t ruled that out,” Lori said. “But I can’t make the connection.”
Jess shuffled the rest of her salad around the plate. “How is the family taking it?”
“I think Nick finally understands,” Lori said. “But he has his own problems. And Sheldon tries to be supportive, but he’s saddened by the news.”
“I’m sure,” Jess said. “Robert was his brother. But I was glad to hear that Sheldon helped with expenses.”
“Sheldon offered; I didn’t have to ask,” Lori said.
“I don’t think it was a burden for him,” Jess said. “As a financial advisor, Allen has relationships with quite a few bankers. He works with investments and he mentioned that Sheldon does very well.”
“He enjoys a lifestyle to match, and he is generous,” Lori said. “He likes to take me to expensive restaurants. He doesn’t have to, but I appreciate the effort.”
“What about you?” Jess said.
“It’s rough,” Lori said. “I’ll be glad when this is over. It’s hard on my staff, too.”
“And Matt?”
Lori’s mood darkened at thoughts of Matt waiting at the clinic. She told Jess her reason for delaying the inevitable, without telling her about the surveillance that was in place.
“Is Gunner still staying at your place?”
Lori nodded. “He assures me that he won’t abandon me.”
Jess emptied the rest of the wine into their glasses. “And…how is that going?”
Lori had no reason to hide her feelings. “I care about him. He’s loyal and strong.”
“And a gorgeous man.”
“You’re not helping,” Lori said. “I wish we could be together, but there’s so much to deal with right now.”
They finished the wine and talked about lighter topics. Lori felt better than she had in days. She was almost ready to face what was ahead of her, but she still panicked at what the future might hold. Her bravado about going to lunch without a bodyguard was partly a bluff. She hoped if she went on with her life that she wouldn’t be so afraid.
They didn’t leave until after coffee and dessert. “Call me if you find out anything,” Jess said.
“I pray that won’t be long.” Lori settled into the leather seat of the SUV and buckled in. It had been good to get away, but she had to get back. As Jess backed out, Lori noticed a black Mustang one row over. It had darkened windows, so she couldn’t tell if anyone was inside. When Jess exited the lot, the Mustang followed. Lori kept an eye on the car, at first to see its racy style, but then to be sure that she wasn’t followed.
Over the past few weeks, Gunner had enlightened Lori about what to watch out for. He wanted her safe and said that it was important to be aware of her environment. She shouldn’t ignore anything unusual, as that might be trouble.
Lori was overwrought, so was probably making more out of this than she should. Yet she watched, and the Mustang stayed close. “Jess, do you see that car behind us?”
Jess glanced in the rearview. “Yeah, the black car?”
“He’s sticking with us,” Lori said. “Turn off Wilshire.”
Jess hit the signal just as it turned yellow and made a sharp right onto Western, then sped up the block. “He’s still there.”
Lori’s heart rate picked up. “I don’t like this. Can you lose him?”
Jess weaved in and out of traffic to put distance between them.
Lori turned to look. “He’s only one car back.” Then the Mustang sped up and darted in front of a van to get right behind Jess’s SUV.
“Dammit,” Jess said. “He isn’t shaking loose.” She hit the gas and gripped the wheel.
Lori leaned against the headrest and planted her feet. The vehicle gained speed and swerved around traffic. She dared not look back.
Traffic in the lane began to stop for a red light. A red trolley rattled along the tracks in front of them. At the last second, Jess floored it and shot in front of the trolley car, barely making it across. Without stopping, she raced down the street, and made a right then a left.
Lori turned to look behind them. “I think you lost him.” Her palms were sweaty, and she was lightheaded.
Jess headed for the clinic but took a circuitous route. “I’m not taking any chances.”
At the clinic, Jess parked in back then they went inside. Lori was out of breath. “That was some risky maneuver you made back there.”
Jess looked pale. “I wasn’t about to hang around and see what that guy wanted.”
Gunner tapped on the door then entered. A tall, muscular guy was with him. “This is Wyatt Mercer. He works with me at Stealth.”
Lori and Jess sat mute.
“You ladies were pretty impressive,” Wyatt said.
“What do you mean?” Lori said.
“I asked Wyatt to tag along and keep an eye on things,” Gunner said.
“I had you covered,” Wyatt said. “That dude in the Mustang wasn’t going to get any closer than he did. But it looked like you could handle yourself.”
“Just reflexes,” Jess said, staring at Wyatt.
“You sent protection with me?” Lori said.
Gunner shrugged. “I’m not taking chances with your life.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Lori said.
“I figured you’d argue, and it wasn’t up for discussion.” Gunner turned to Wyatt. “Can you give Jess an escort home?”
“My pleasure.” Wyatt turned to Jess.
Lori hugged her friend. “You were a lifesaver.”
“I think I need another drink,” Jess said, then followed Wyatt out of the room.
“So, it wasn’t my imagination that we were being followed?” Lori said.
“Wyatt was on to the Mustang before it left the lot,” Gunner said. “The blacked-out windows were a tip-off, plus the driver didn’t get out of the car. If he was there for lunch, he sure didn’t act like it.”
Lori let out a long breath. “I didn’t get the license plate. It was all I could do to keep it together.”
“Wyatt got it,” Gunner said. “We’ll find out who was so interested in you.”
“I dread to think what might have happened.”
“I have a hunch the guy didn’t want to take things further with Jess in the car.” Lori was shaking, so Gunner put his arms around her. “I’ve got you. No idiot will get his hands on you.”
When Lori calmed down, she said, “If Wyatt was following us, why didn’t I see his vehicle?”
“He knows how to avoid being spotted.”