Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
“Crane says I made a mistake with his install? I don’t make mistakes.”
Sylvie was in Max’s office again. She had a major case of déjà vu. Here she was, arguing about whether she had to go to Dominic Crane’s house. And Max was sitting behind his desk, squeezing his stress ball, and not having any of it.
“You’re saying the man’s lying? I assume half the things he says aren’t true, but why would he lie about this? I even checked. His housekeeper called our techs on more than one occasion.”
“Yeah, I heard. There was no problem on our side.”
“But he seemed really worried about it. That’s why I’ve asked you to go and check out the system. Make sure there’s nothing going haywire.”
“If there is, it’s Crane’s fault. He did something. This is some tactic of his.”
“To what, get you to come visit him? I wouldn’t put that past him either, but he didn’t even want you to follow up on this. He asked for anyone else but you. I think maybe he’s intimidated.”
“A murdering crime boss is intimidated by me?” She suppressed a laugh. That was so not likely.
Max rolled his eyes. “Don’t you think ‘murdering crime boss’ is overstating things?
Even the DA’s office is willing to dismiss that charge in exchange for his cooperation.
Though you didn’t hear it from me.” Lana had probably told him.
She was the Assistant District Attorney of West Oaks, second in command of that office.
But if Crane truly didn’t want her to come back, Sylvie was surprised. Didn’t the guy want to toy with her more? Wasn’t he just the kind of conceited bully who would pick a target and keep going after it? Wasn’t that his sick idea of fun?
Unless I was wrong.
Max sighed, even though Sylvie hadn’t said anything else. “I’ve got enough on my plate today. I’m supposed to be downstairs at some training thing that was technically my idea. So, I don’t have any more time for back-and-forth with you.”
“Okay. I’ll go to Crane’s and take care of it.”
“So go take—Oh. Well. Great.” Max paused a second, like her sudden acquiescence had been a shock to his system. Then he jumped up. “Get to it.”
They both headed downstairs.
If Crane didn’t want to see her, that put a whole new perspective on this second visit. She was instantly in a place of greater power and control.
This time, she’d be ready to handle him.
And if there really was something haywire with the system she’d installed, Sylvie wanted to know about it. She was a perfectionist and hated the idea that something might’ve gone wrong.
When she returned to her desk, the workroom was deserted. Even Priyanka was nowhere to be found. Oh, Sylvie remembered. The training Max mentioned. Right.
She went down to the lower level. Their entire bodyguard team had congregated in the gym, where a martial arts expert was doing a workshop.
Sylvie spotted Priyanka hovering by the door. She tugged on her assistant’s sleeve, nodding for the girl to follow her out into the hall.
“What is it?” Priyanka hissed.
“I need you and Tanner. We have to go back to Crane’s house. He says there’s something wrong with the system I installed.” Sylvie made a face, trying to convey just how absurd that idea was.
“But we can’t leave now. This teacher is some Israeli Krav Maga master, and Tanner’s going to help him demonstrate. And they said I could pretend to be a victim they’re protecting. Do you know how cool this is going to be? You can’t make me leave. Please.”
Crap. Tanner wouldn’t want to miss this. And if she dragged Priyanka away from this opportunity to ogle the men in their workout clothes, Sylvie would take the title as the world’s most uncaring boss.
But what did she need a bodyguard for, anyway? Crane had mocked her for bringing Tanner along last time.
Do you need to call your bodyguard back inside to protect you from me?
Forget it. She could deal with Crane herself. And she was more than eager to prove that to him.
“Never mind,” she said to her assistant. “Have fun. I’ll be back later.”
Another glance into the gym told Sylvie that a lot of their techs and sales team were watching the training, too. Which meant nobody would be looking for her over the next few hours.
She grabbed an equipment bag, checked her makeup in the mirror, and went to her car in the parking garage.
Crane was going to be sorry he’d ever messed with her. She was going to show him that Sylvie Trousseau wasn’t anyone to be trifled with.
Sylvie pulled up to Crane’s house. She made another quick glance over herself. She’d worn her usual high-waisted jeans and boots, as well as a cropped tank top with a cardigan over it. After a moment’s hesitation, she left the cardigan on the passenger seat and got out.
Maureen opened the door. “Sylvie, so lovely to see you again. I was just making lunch.”
They went inside. Sylvie braced herself to see Dominic again, but he wasn’t in the living room or kitchen. “I hear you’ve had a problem with the security system?”
“Oh, here and there. We appreciate you making a trip to check on it. I’m sure it wasn’t your fault. Probably some button or other I pushed that I shouldn’t have.”
“Did you really push a button? Or are you trying to make me feel better?”
The woman’s hand paused on the refrigerator door handle. “I guess it’s the second one.”
Sylvie laughed. “I appreciate the honesty.”
Maureen described how the system had been glitching. Sylvie wondered what could explain it. Odd that they hadn’t detected this issue at Bennett Security headquarters when accessing Crane’s system remotely.
“I should get started.” She was eager to plug in her laptop.
“But won’t you have a seat and visit for a moment? We don’t get many guests here.” Maureen lowered her voice. “And Dominic has been especially antisocial lately. I’m desperate for some conversation.”
“All right. A few minutes.” Her afternoon schedule was wide-open, anyway. Sylvie lowered her bag to the ground and took one of the bar stools.
Maureen pulled containers from the fridge. “You hungry?”
“No thanks. I already ate. But I can help if you want.”
“Would you? Aren’t you a dear. Dominic likes cold food at lunch. Lots of chopping.” She set up Sylvie with a wooden cutting board to slice cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes.
Sylvie cut a grape tomato in half. She didn’t like that she was prepping Crane’s lunch.
But on the other hand, she didn’t mind helping Maureen.
The woman had good energy, like she didn’t get too worked up over anything.
Sylvie hoped some of those relaxed vibes might rub off, because she’d been wound too tight lately.
“You’re from Louisiana, aren’t you?”
Maureen beamed. “That’s right. Baton Rouge. You’re familiar?”
“I grew up in Texas, but my father’s got Cajun roots.”
“Well, well. Whereabouts in Texas?”
“It’s a tiny place in the Hill Country. Mostly cattle ranches and Baptist churches.”
Maureen seemed to be waiting to hear more, but Sylvie didn’t feel like discussing her family. She didn’t want to get into their estrangement, nor did she want to act like they were close. It would be a white lie, yet it would take something out of her, too.
“How did you end up in West Oaks?” Sylvie asked.
“My daughter moved out to Ventura, so I followed. Her father’s never been in the picture. But she’s grown, so now I have Dominic to take care of.”
“Isn’t he a little old for that?” Then she shook her head. She didn’t mean to disrespect the woman’s job. “Sorry, that sounded rude. But I hope he pays you well.”
“Dominic isn’t nearly as ferocious as he’d like people to believe. He’s more of a pussy cat than a tiger.”
Sylvie snickered, and Maureen grinned. “I mean it. Get to know him, and you might be surprised.”
“I’m just here for a house call on the security system. I doubt I’ll have time for that.”
“A shame. I was planning on making crawfish étouffée for dinner, if you happen to stay.” Maureen took the pile of vegetables from Sylvie’s cutting board.
“Crawfish étouffée?”
The woman nodded, eyes knowing. “That’s right. I order my mudbugs from a supplier in New Orleans. They ship ’em on dry ice for me.”
“And you just so happen to be making them tonight?”
“Just so happens.”
Sylvie couldn’t help laughing. “I’ll think about it.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had real étouffée.
Maureen held out a plate of vegetables, cheese, bread, and hummus. “Could you make sure Dominic eats some of this? He’s so bad about skipping meals.”
“I am not going to do that.” But she did accept the plate that Maureen practically shoved into her hands. The woman took her by the shoulders and steered her into a hallway.
“He’s just right down there. Go on, hun. Don’t be shy.”
Sylvie looked behind her, but Maureen had already disappeared.
Classical music came from the closed door at the end of the hall.
She did need to talk to Crane. He was the client, after all. She’d check in with him briefly, then take her laptop to connect to the panel.
I can do this. I’m cool. I’m fine.
He didn’t hear her knock. She pushed open the door, plate of food held out in front of her.
“I’m not hungry, Maureen.” Dominic was sprawled over a huge sectional sofa, reading a dog-eared book.
The room was just as fancy as the rest of the house. Decorative moldings on the walls and ceiling, expensive light fixtures. There was a grand piano on a raised platform at one end of the room, and large windows overlooking the back patio and the ocean.
“I’m not Maureen.”
Crane looked over at her, eyes widening. He dropped the book, scrambling upright. He wore soft-looking stone-washed jeans and a plain white tee. His face was clean-shaven compared to the first time they’d met, but his hair was equally messy.
“Sylvie. I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I know. Max told me you asked for anybody else. But I’m afraid there’s only me.”
“I was just trying to do you a favor. I figured you’d rather avoid me after last time.”