Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
G RANT
“It’s in a home in Denver. Expensive neighborhood. We’re looking into who owns it, but it’s behind a shell corporation,” Hudson says as soon as he sits down across from me at the chessboard. He’d just gotten into the state this morning and hurried down to meet with me to let me know the latest news in person.
“A shell?” My brows knit together.
“Clearly trying to keep a low profile. The bid was paid for by another shell corporation.”
“Guaranteed then that it’s someone on our side of the law.” I look up at him, and he nods. No one doing business above board would be working through that many different companies.
“Occasionally, there are legitimate collectors who bid in those auctions. I’m one of them, and I try to keep my privacy as well for obvious reasons.”
“But I wouldn’t exactly call you above board either.”
Hudson’s past is as checkered as mine, and he isn’t keeping it a secret from anyone. But he has enough legal business interests in Cincinnati and abroad that it makes sense to at least present the air of legitimacy. I work to maintain similar optics. Plausible deniability keeps my lawyers happy in the event anything ever goes sideways.
“No. I think it’s almost certain our John Doe is a bad actor. We’ll have to have someone go up and surveil the house, see what they can garner from the comings and goings. Have Levi dig a little deeper into the paperwork and see if he can turn anything up. Bonus points if he can hack into the security system. The one they have is robust.”
“Might be able to get someone in on a maintenance call or a routine gas line check. Plant a bug or two.”
“We’ll have to work quickly. They haven’t discovered the tracker yet. It’s still logging. But it’s been in the same place for days. If it gets turned off, there’s no telling where it goes or how they might cover their tracks.”
“I’ll get one of my guys on it. Make sure it’s on the top of Levi’s priority list. Other than this wedding, I’ve cleared my schedule.”
“Not the best timing for a wedding.” Hudson frowns, but it fades into a small smirk. “But I am happy for your brother. Getting to know him and his wife better in Cincinnati has been good. It’s hard to make friends you can trust.” He makes another move on the board. “Not like you don’t know that.”
“Hard to keep friends when you’re constantly burying them at chess.” I can already tell he’s cornering me.
“Yes, well, don’t throw me over before we find out who this is. Or before the wedding. Charlotte’s excited about the dancing and the food. It’s all she can talk about this week. She’s also interested to know if you’re bringing a date.” He looks up at me with a curious expression on his face. “I think we all are.”
“I’m in the wedding party. They’re making us sit at those big banquet tables up front like we’re on display. Their first wedding was pretty small, given they were both still in college. They both want all the pageantry this time.” I shake my head.
“The whole performance is part of the fun, you know.”
“It’ll be more fun when it’s over.”
“Not a party person?”
“Not particularly. But it’s Ramsey. So I want him to enjoy himself, and then I want to get down to the business of finding out who this fucker is and what he wants.”
“Agreed.” Hudson nods.
“Any guesses on who it is?” I raise a brow.
“Could be anyone. Art collector. Art dealer. Could be someone who has a buyer in mind. Something darker or with a more criminal element. Might meet an exchange they’re looking for. Could even be a clergy member or someone religious wanting personal possession of it. The true believers who think it has healing abilities. Whoever it is, they have a lot of money to spend.”
“We still think our problems are one in the same?”
“It still seems the most likely.” Hudson studies the board, hands steepled as he considers his options.
“This feels worse than gambling.”
“This game or that one?” Hudson looks up at me, amused.
“Both. When I gamble, I know where I stand. The house always wins. When I play you, I always think I’ve got some small chance of finally beating you. That game? I always think I’ll win. Because the good guy always does, right? Except we forget for every story where we’re the hero, there are two more where we’re the villain. ”
Hudson tilts his head and moves a bishop. “Truer words…”
There’s a knock at the door, and we both look up.
“Open!” I call out, letting my security know they’re free to let whoever it is in. You can’t make it down the hallway outside this room without vetting from my team.
I’m expecting Levi, but when the door opens, it’s Dakota. She’s come prepared to make me lose my fucking breath, too, because she’s in a knockout sundress. A short one that flares at the bottom and swings around her thighs as she walks toward us. The top is deceptively prim because it covers everything and barely shows any cleavage, but it’s so tight it shows the outline of both her breasts and the way the cool air in this room is highlighting them. She smirks at me as she walks toward me, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking as my eyes rake down over her thighs to her boots.
I hear Hudson chuckle under his breath at the way I’m staring, but I don’t even have the will to tear my eyes off her long enough to shoot him a glare.
“I see you’ve finally found your vice,” he murmurs quietly before she gets close enough to hear.
“You’re early” is the way I manage to greet her.
“I thought you appreciated punctuality.”
“He does.” Hudson’s amusement is growing by the second. “I can make myself scarce.”
Dakota’s eyes finally find him, and I don’t like the way they stutter over his form, shining brighter when her blue-green eyes meet his.
“Hello. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude. He doesn’t always like me meeting his colleagues. Prefers to maintain their privacy.” Dakota’s prim greeting meets with Hudson’s approval as he smiles back at her.
“I do enjoy my privacy, so I’ll let you have yours. At the very least, it looks like he’ll need it to regain his speech.” Hudson stands as I scowl at him, and to add insult to injury, he makes another move on the board. One that has me dangerously close to losing.
“Well, it was lovely to meet you, whoever you are.” She flashes a coy smile, the kind she always uses on customers at the bar.
“You as well.” He grins wider and nods to both of us. “See you later, friend.”
“Later.” I nod in return to him, not missing the subtle shake of his head at my predicament.
Once the door is closed, my attention is back on the woman in the dress. Except her eyes are still on the door. I feel the subtle rise of jealousy up my spine as she sits in his seat and runs her fingers over the arm of the chair, like she’s tracing where he’s been before her gaze returns to me, a soft look of appreciation on her face.