Out of the Shadows (Hudson Security #1)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“ G avin Frazier, it’s so lovely to see you again.” Constance blasted him with a smile that Gavin knew was supposed to be sexy. Or seductive. Or some other shit. It was none of the above. Holy hell, this woman had to be fucking kidding.

Stepping into the conference room, he nodded to Xander, who stood near the glass door with his arms crossed over his chest. Gavin slid the glass door shut behind him. Constance was seated at the head of the rectangular table like she was queen of the fucking castle. Everything about the woman had him bristling.

“Just so we’re clear, Mrs. Whitcomb?—”

“Constance, please,” she cooed. “There’s no need for formalities.”

A shiver of revulsion raced up his spine. “Constance. Let’s get one thing straight. You do not get to yell at any of my team members. The only reason I allowed you into our office today is because I respect your brother. But that’s it, that’s your one free pass. If you want to come here again, you schedule an appointment like everyone else.” Her shoulders straightened, the seductive look faded, and a snooty do-you-know-who-I-am look took its place. “Now, what did you want to see me about?”

“I need to know where my brother is.”

He sat in the chair on the opposite end of the table from her and shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to provide that information.”

Her nose lifted ever so slightly. “It’s imperative you tell me where he is. I think he’s in danger.”

“That’s precisely why I’m not telling you where he is.”

A satisfied smirk crossed her face. “So you do know where he is.”

Holy shit, this woman. “You already know that or you wouldn’t be here. Now is that all?”

“I’m not leaving here until you tell me where my brother is.” She crossed her arms and lifted her chin with that superior look.

He was done. “Mrs. Whitcomb, if you think that I will not have you physically removed from my property, you are sorely mistaken.”

Her shoulders dropped, and she let out a sigh. As far as acting went, it was an okay performance of acquiescence, but he knew the woman was full of shit.

“Gavin, I’m sorry I’m coming across as difficult.” Understatement. “I’m just so concerned about my brother. I heard about the shootings at their home and went over there as soon as I could. But the only people at the house were Adrian and his security team, and even he has no idea where you’ve taken my brother and his family. I’m just beside myself.”

Gavin was pretty damn sure if there’d been a couch in the conference room, she would have staged a faint of some kind. “Mrs. Whitcomb, I’m not telling you where your brother is.”

“Can you at least tell me if he’s okay? Are Rita and Anson with him? Is little Anson okay?” Tears welled in her eyes, and he had to acknowledge the chin tremble was very convincing. But he’d been told how she’d acted at the hospital after Anson had been admitted. The woman didn’t give a shit about her nephew.

“I’m not telling you anything.” He rose and caught Xander’s gaze. “Now, will you be leaving on your own accord?”

Part of him wished she’d throw another fit just so he could toss her ass out.

Instead, she stood, running her hands over her hips, appearing to smooth out her skirt. He caught the glint in her eye though. The way she cocked her hip out slightly. Holy fuck, give me patience.

“I’ll be staying at the Pacific View Resort for the next few days. I’d love to treat you to dinner while I’m here.” Her gaze trailed lazily up and down his body. “For business, of course. I’d love to talk with you about that security opening you have next year. In light of everything that has happened with my brother, I’d love to pick your brain about what security measures I can take while I wait for your schedule to open up.”

“I’m busy with my girlfriend this week.”

“Ahh, the brown-haired woman from the charity gala?” He didn’t respond. “Well, she seemed lovely. Very fashionable.” She pursed her lips, and her gaze traveled to Xander, giving him the same once-over. “Perhaps your second-in-command here would be available to provide some information about your company’s services.”

“No one is available, Mrs. Whitcomb.” Gavin slid open the glass door and gestured to the lobby. “Mr. Bonetti will escort you to your vehicle.”

She stepped toward him and then paused in the doorway, stopping directly in front of him. Her shoulder brushed against his chest. “If you hear from my brother, please let him know I’m worried about him. Please have him call me. It’s urgent.”

Gavin remained silent, his expression blank. He wasn’t saying a damn thing to the woman. Instead, he caught Xander’s gaze over her head and lifted his chin.

“This way, Mrs. Whitcomb,” Xander said, taking her elbow and steering her through the lobby past Mel, who was on the phone at the reception desk, and out the front door.

The moment the door closed behind them, Gavin let out a breath. Holy fuck, that woman was something else.

“Gavin,” Mel said, urgency in her tone. “Bean needs to see you immediately.”

Entering his security code, he waited impatiently for the door to the inner office to open. The second he stepped through, Alvarez was there. His friend’s expression was stony and it sent a bolt of worry through him. “What is it?”

“Whitcomb had a listening device on her.”

Ice shot through his veins. “What?”

They hurried down the hall and into Bean’s office.

“The Fishbowl cameras were on during your meeting,” Bean said. “I’m not sure if you recall, but a few months ago for shits and giggles, I added bug sweepers to that room.” His brows rose, and she shrugged. “It’s a damn good thing I did, too, because Whitcomb had some kind of listening device on her. Unfortunately for us, it was battery operated, so I wasn’t able to hack into it.”

“Could it have just been her phone the sweeper was picking up?”

Bean’s eyes rolled. “Please, boss, do you think I buy the shitty detectors? I have three different kinds in that room. But to answer your question, no. I picked up her cell phone signal and this was completely different. She had a bug of some kind on her. ”

“Fucking hell,” he muttered, stalking to Bean’s desk. Grabbing the landline, he hit the button for Hudson Tactical.

“Wilson,” a deep voice answered.

“It’s Frazier. I need you to follow someone ASAP. Constance Whitcomb. Xander just escorted her from the building.” He gave Wilson a brief recap of their conversation in the Fishbowl and informed him that she was wearing a listening device of some kind. He scanned Bean’s monitors, seeing the information they had on Constance. Bean pointed at her screen and then at the phone, and he nodded. “Bean’s sending you the intel we have on Whitcomb to your cell. She’s staying at the Pacific View, and I want to know what the fuck she’s up to.”

“On it,” Wilson replied. “I’ll check in in thirty. Out.”

Gavin set the phone into its cradle and scrubbed his hands over his face. “What the fuck is going on?”

He startled when small hands settled on his stomach. His eyes popped open and Bean was there, looking up at him with concern on her face.

“Breathe, Gavin.”

He did as he was told and glanced at Alvarez, who was still in the room. “You heard our bullshit conversation in the Fishbowl. What the hell is this woman up to?”

Alvarez shrugged. “I’ll ask around. My brother and his wife run in that same Seattle philanthropic circle as the Whitcombs and McClintocks. I’ll see if they’ve heard anything about her. Because you know what those high-society types love more than their fancy parties? Gossip.”

Bean slid her hands from his abs to his sides and squeezed. The small gesture was both reassuring and intimate at once. “I’ve asked Tiny to dig deeper into Constance—her schedule, financials, who the hell she’s sleeping with. If there’s dirt to be found, he’ll find it. As much as I hate to admit it, the guy’s damn good at what he does. ”

The corners of Gavin’s lips lifted at her irritation. “Good. But he’s not nearly as good as you, of course.”

She glanced up at him with a growing smirk, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. “Damn straight, boss.”

“Jesus, kids, I’m still in the room,” Alvarez said, clearing his throat. “But I’m leaving.”

Bean chuckled. “Sorry, not sorry?”

Alvarez gave them a chin lift as he left and shut the door behind them.

Gavin let out a sigh and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Thanks for being so kick-ass at what you do. If you hadn’t added those bug sweepers?—”

“Stop. Turn your brain off for a second, okay? There’s nothing else we can do right now. I have cyber tracking her car, and I’ve sent the info to Wilson. Alvarez and Tiny are doing their things and looking into her. What do you say we take a brain break and go for a little hike?”

The vise he hadn’t realized had been squeezing his chest released. “That sounds like a great idea. We can hit Jackson Cove and?—”

“Sorry,” she interrupted, shaking her head and stepping away from him. “You’re still on lockdown, buddy. We can do one of the easy trails by Tactical.”

His brow furrowed, though he was fighting a grin, and he hauled her back against him. “Buddy?”

Mischief danced in her eyes as she shrugged. “Figured that sounded better than dumbass.”

Laughing, he dropped a kiss on her lips. Before it could get heated, he pulled away. “Does this mean you’ve given some thought to taking one of Wilson’s outdoor survival classes?”

She snorted. “Hard pass, boss man. Hard pass. ”

“But you’ll admit that hiking is fun, right? A good way to clear your head?”

Her eyes rolled hard. “I admit nothing. Now, are we going or are you gonna keep yapping?”

He yanked her close for another kiss, this one deeper. He’d make an outdoorsperson out of her yet.