Ben relocked the door, and shut down the laptop’s wireless transmitter. “No one can have access to this machine while we’re watching the footage.”
“Why?” Katie asked.
“The unsub didn’t appear on the hotel’s security feeds. But he did show up on Razel’s camera, which didn’t have remote access to change the digital data.” Ben slid the first card into the machine.
“So he doesn’t have any special powers? He’s a hacker?” Aggi asked.
“He can be both.” Ben frowned. “This camera is too far away to see the stage.”
Katie selected another card. “Camera three was at the end of the runway, looking at the stage.”
“Perfect.” He took the card gently, the calloused tips of his fingers brushing against hers.
Her breath caught in her throat. The brief touch jolted like an electrical burn coursing through her body. From the way he avoided her eyes, he must have felt the same spark.
We can’t pretend this isn’t happening. She wondered if he would refuse her. Most guys happily accepted sex when offered, but Ben Morgan was not like most guys. He lived by a core of integrity and determination. The evidence suggested he took his job as seriously as she did.
He fast-forwarded until Raise Your Right Hand (And Rule The World). The soundless footage began to play, and Katie scanned the stage for anything out of place. Ray and Aggi came closer, watching the small screen intently. Orlund stayed back, arms folded, and glaring from his perch beside the door.
“Oh my God. Who is that?” Aggi pointed.
A man stood on the stage, near one of the raised platforms. He was partially hidden by equipment, and his back was to the camera, watching Katie standing a few feet away. His long-sleeved brown shirt and gray pants stood out in stark contrast with the multihued costumes of the performers and the black anonymity of the stage crew. But no one seemed to notice him.
Two crew wheeled a prop piece past him, and never glanced his way, even though he should have been obvious as the only man among a sea of women. One of the dancers came within inches of him as she sashayed onto the runway for Shine The Light’s promenade. No sign of a blink or hesitation.
The man on screen turned, and watched as Katie followed the other performers onto the runway. His face stayed in shadow. Unidentifiable.
“How could I not see him?” she whispered.
Ben’s hand lightly caressed hers. “Special Agent Orlund, this bullshit pissing contest ends now. The unsub is an occulata. If you want justice for Ashley, or any of his other targets, you need Special Investigations.”
Chapter 16
The drive to the hotel stretched endlessly for Katie. Her skin crawled with restless energy. Usually, the post-performance buzz made her feel invincible. Like she could have anything she wanted. Being pulled off stage, and seeing the Director beside her left her shaken and vulnerable. The two combined into a reckless uncertainty, and she desperately wanted to regain a sense of control.
“We’re almost there,” Ben said quietly from the front seat.
He’d insisted on checking her driver, leaving Katie all alone in the big back seat. I’m ready to ping off the walls.
Too many musicians fell prey to the high of performing. Lightning crackled through the veins onstage, leaving a performer flush with wild energy and euphoria. Katie had found healthy outlets, like clubbing and martial arts. Aggi swam to wind herself down. For the backup singers and dancers, they arranged gym time, or a session with a masseur. Anything to keep them out of the black hole of drugs, booze, and sex.
Katie eyed Ben’s long, lean form, riding the rush of attraction sizzling underneath her skin. She didn’t want a treadmill or a heavy bag. For tonight, she wanted physical closeness, and connection with a man who sent her imagination and libido into overdrive. She wanted to drive away the awareness of what the next days might hold, and submerge herself in a moment of passion.
“We’re here, Miss Ballard,” the driver announced.
Ben escorted her directly into the elevator. The warmth of his hand on the small of her back didn’t help her self-control. I should not be wondering if he’d help me re-create the elevator make out scene from the movie Aggi and I watched last week.
She studied the man beside her. Stiff, tall, and proud. How will he take it when I make the first move? Some alpha male jerks were threatened. They tried to regain their supposed superiority with degradation. The guy in Philadelphia started calling me names once I brought him up to the hotel room. The memory still made her smile. She’d broken off the kiss, picked up his discarded clothes, and shoved him out the door.
Ben wouldn’t be one of those guys, she decided. He might refuse out of a sense of professional ethics, but he didn’t indulge in dick-measuring contests. If he doesn’t want to have sex with me, that’s fine. I don’t want to tempt him into something he’ll regret later.
The elevator dinged politely to announce they’d arrived on their floor. Ben stepped out first, checking the corridor before he let her exit.
“It’s all clear,” he said, holding the doors for her.
“Thanks.”
The door across the hall popped open. Bernice charged out, manicured fingers splayed on her hips. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
So much for language when there are no cameras.
Ben automatically moved to stand between Katie and her stepmother. His position made it impossible for the angry woman to get to her. She recognized the maneuver. She’d done the same one to keep fans from swarming Aggi.
It was surprisingly pleasant to be the one protected. But it didn’t give Katie any newfound dregs of patience for her stepmother’s drama. “Not now, Bernice.”
“You ruined the finale! I should have Aggi sue you,” Bernice hissed.
“Go back to your room,” Ben warned.
“You spoiled little brat!”
Katie ignored the insult, and went to her door.
“Wait until I tell the press about all the ungrateful stunts you’ve pulled over the years. And after all the work I did raising you.” Bernice’s voice held an oddly triumphant note.
Is she high? Katie turned to examine Bernice. The woman’s cheeks were flushed. Dark red lines fanned out from the edges, broken capillaries from years of drinking. Her eyes weren’t dilated, and she wasn’t struggling to stand or gesture. These words came from spite.
“Go.” Ben stared down at her stepmother. Anyone with a brain would have been intimidated.
Which explained why Bernice ignored him.
“It’s all over the news. Nothing about my baby’s talent. Just you stealing the show for yourself.” Spittle flew from Bernice’s pink lips. “I’ll make sure you never work anywhere again.”
“How?” Katie lost her tenuous control on her temper. “You don’t have any contacts anymore, except the sleazy jerks wanting to use you to get to Aggi. Except she already kicked you to the curb like the trash you are.”
Bernice’s mouth went round and wide in shock.
I need to leave, or I’ll say something else I’ll regret. Katie fumbled with her keycard, willing the light to turn green.
“You’ve done nothing, but sponge off of Aggi’s success.”
Green light. Katie pushed the door open. For a second, she thought Bernice would charge in after her. Ben came to her rescue, moving to block her stepmother.
“If I hear you again tonight, hotel security will remove you,” he growled. “And you will spend the night in a holding cell.”
“You can’t do that to me,” Bernice whispered, staring up at him.
Ben’s voice rumbled like a bass drum. “Try me.”
He closed the door, leaving a shocked Bernice on the other side.
Katie waited while Ben searched the suite, wonde
ring if her stepmother would give up or demand entrance. The silence stretched as Ben returned to the main room.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She broke into a wide grin. “You were fantastic. It’s so good to see someone else stand up to her.”
He chuckled, evidently relieved. “You did pretty good, too.”
“I resorted to name-calling. Not my finest hour.” Katie waved a dismissive hand. “But you had a whole avenging action hero don’t-mess-with-me-or-I’ll-break-you-in-half thing going.”
“Occupational benefit.”
The unexpected joke made her clap in delight until the curse of responsibility stole her enjoyment. She sank onto the loveseat. “She’ll be furious over this.”
“Aggi cares about you. She’ll back you.” Ben sat down at the other end, with only a few inches separating them.
“It’ll cost her, but she will.” Katie shifted until their knees touched. “It’s one of the reasons I’m still with her.”
Ben cleared his throat. “I have to admit, you’re talented enough to have struck out on your own. So why haven’t you?”
His words weren’t intended to flatter or censure. He seemed genuinely curious.
She decided to tell him a story that she rarely talked about. “After my dad died, I wanted to be a solo act. I was nineteen, and tired of Bernice controlling my talent. I just wanted to get away.”
He didn’t prompt her to continue, letting her proceed, or not, at her own pace.
“This older guy, in his fifties, was producing Aggi’s second album. He raved about my songs. He asked me where I got my inspiration, and what I wanted to do. For the first time in years, I felt listened to.” She took a deep breath. “Bernice used to loudly tell people she only used my songs because she didn’t want to waste money on a real songwriter. Looking back, she probably wanted to stop me from demanding money for my work.”
Ben cast an angry glare toward the door. “Now I wish I’d called the cops on her.”
Katie rested her elbow on the back of the couch, leaning closer to him. “Him liking my songs meant so much to me. He could be a wizard in the studio, coaxing incredible music out of the layered recordings, and he thought I was talented. I’d never felt prouder.”
“What happened?”
“The studio sessions went later into the night. Bernice made Aggi stay, too, out of jealousy. He saw through Bernice, and told me I was right about her. My own father used to make excuses. He’d say I was ascribing bad motives to innocent actions.” The old hurt twanged, threatening to thrum into a chorus of new pain. “The producer invited me to his apartment to talk. He listened to me for hours. He said he’d protect me.”
Ben shifted nearer, but Katie stayed lost in the memory. Even now, she struggled to make sense of it. Her mind insisted she must have missed warning signs, been too flirtatious. Having someone’s preferred attention had felt so good that she must have blinded herself. Years of therapists had insisted she wasn’t responsible. She still struggled to believe it.
“He said we were two old souls. He complimented my sensuality. At first, I thought it was a compliment. My mom had been very down to earth about sex and love. I proudly followed her footsteps. But I figured out pretty quickly that he had an agenda. We were sitting on the couch, and suddenly he was on top of me, kissing me and shoving his hand under my shirt. I froze. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to make him upset, but I didn’t want to kiss him, or do anything else with him.”
“What was his name?” Ben’s clipped voice sounded as if he was trying very hard suppress his anger.
“Planning to beat him up to defend my honor?” she asked lightly. “Sweet, but not necessary. I crushed two sleeping pills into his drink. I delayed until he passed out. He never got further than groping, and I got out as fast as I could. But I knew I would have to face him the next day, and I was sick about it.”
“What happened?” he asked with surprising gentleness.
“Aggi heard me throwing up that night, and came to check on me. I shaking, and I told her everything. She listened, and the next morning, she refused to work with him again. The whole album got scrapped. There were lawsuits about breach of contract, but Aggi stuck by me, even when her mother screamed at her that it was the mistake of a lifetime.”
“What about the pervert?” From Ben’s tone, he still hoped to get permission for physical revenge.
“People whispered about him for years, but no one did anything. He had a heart attack five years ago, and retired. He’s still respected, but Aggi will not work with him, or anyone associated with him. They’ve offered her eight figure contracts, and she’s turned them down.” Katie smiled. “I’m lucky. Most people don’t have someone who supports them so completely, especially with money on the line.”
“I’m glad you got out okay.” He stroked his finger down her cheek.
The contact stole her breath. “That’s another bit of luck for me. I didn’t have to make an impossible decision, and I didn’t end up with a scar over my sexuality.”
She reached up, and cupped his hand against her face.
He went very still, as if he hadn’t realized he’d been touching her.
“I didn’t tell you to make you feel sorry for me, or because I want a little payback more than twelve years later. I told you because I want you to understand that I’ve never traded sexual favors for anything. For me, sex has always been about the pleasure, nothing more and nothing less.” She released his hand, and stood up. “That way when I tell you I want to spend the night with you, you’ll know it’s not because of the investigation. It’s because I want to make love to you, and I think you want to make love to me, too.”
Chapter 17
Ben’s mouth went dry at Katie’s words, and his erection swelled to painful proportions behind his jeans.
“There’s no pressure.” Her green eyes were dark and smoky in the dim light. “If you’re not interested, then say so. I won’t bring it up again.”
He cleared his throat, the dryness chafing.
She tilted her head, her dark curls spilling over her shoulder. “Could you get in trouble at work? Would it be a conflict of interest?”
Good questions. If she were a person of interest, sleeping with her would be an automatic suspension. Since he was protecting her, the rules weren’t as black and white. Any hint of extorting sexual favors would be taken very seriously, but she had approached him. He shook his head. His desire could be clouding his professional judgment, telling him what he badly wanted to hear.
“I don’t want to derail your career.” The tip of her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips, and she turned away from him.
Seeing her disappointment, Ben acted without thinking. He jumped to his feet, and grabbed her arm, causing her to face him again. “You won’t.”
Breathing heavily, he released her. She studied him, her eyes searching his face, his posture, every detail. Ben’s heart raced, and his muscles were locked to stop himself from acting out the fantasies playing in his head. He hadn’t been this close to losing control since he’d been a horny, desperate teenager.
She leaned forward, and cupped her hand against his jaw. Her fingers were cool against his skin, and her light touch danced across his chin. Then her lips touched his, and the rest of the world vanished.
Her mouth was as sweet and soft as he’d fantasized. The kiss seared through him like a raging fire, burning away all of the complications and second-guessing. No killers, no protocols, no ethics committees. Just a man, a woman, and the explosive chemistry between them.
She broke off the kiss long before he was ready to relinquish it.
Her finger slid along his cheek, the nail scratching the edge of his stubble as she whispered. “In case there’s any doubt, this is me seducing you. Is it working?”
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“Seems to be.” He dragged the back of his knuckle over the soft line of her neck, resting his hand at the collar of her shirt.
A femme fatale smile quirked her lips. “Then let me have my wicked way with you.”
He didn’t want to wait for a second invitation, but also didn’t want to forget security. He’d done a sweep of the suite when they’d entered, but it might not be enough. “Hold on for one moment.”
She raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but didn’t object.
What the hell can I use . . . There! He found a decorative triangular metal vase, filled with smooth white beach stones. Balancing it against the door, he braced the bottom against the door’s handle. The unsub could hack into computers to get access to Katie’s room, but the door still had to open. If it did, the vase would fall. Between the metal and the stones, they would hear the intruder.
“Isn’t a beer bottle more traditional?” Katie commented.
Relieved she’d recognized his efforts, Ben shook his head. “Glass is a last resort. If you have to investigate or escape, you don’t want to step on sharp shards.”
“Did they teach you that in Special Investigations?” she purred, coming closer.
“My brother inadvertently taught me. He kept sneaking into my room to take my stuff.” The words came out before Ben could redirect his thoughts. He waited for a mood-killing blast of remembered pain, but he only felt a momentary twinge.
“Are we safe and secure?” she asked, her voice husky. Her arms were snug around her waist.
“Absolutely.”
His entire body relaxed, and her body language opened. He wrapped his hands around her hips to pull her closer. Their second kiss thrilled him more than their first. He backed her against the wall, pinning her body. She moaned as he pressed his hips into hers, and plundered her mouth.
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