Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
W ilder’s jaw clenched as he took the stairs two at a time to reach his office. Luna had sent him a private text that she’d seen Sasha slipping something into drinks after people started to make sure only he took their drink order. Wilder and Tiny had watched the security footage and saw him clearly slip drugs into the drinks and accept cash for them.
Wilder and security had converged the second the women appeared and asked for the special drink. Bryce called Detective Max Caldwell and Tiny had ushered Sasha to Wilder’s office.
The woman who he’d thought might be part of the group was now sitting away from them. Their eyes had met and Wilder knew in one glance, she wasn’t with them. She’d used them to get into the club when she otherwise wouldn’t have. Resourceful. If her beauty hadn’t already made Wilder interested, this did. Tiffany Anderson. It was her first time in the club and she’d witnessed a drug deal. Just freaking fantastic. Not the impression Wilder wanted to make.
Wilder entered his office to find Tiny standing behind the chair Sasha was seated in. Tiny’s massive hands rested on Sasha’s lean shoulders, keeping him in the chair. Sasha was a new hire. He’d only been working with them for three months. He had floppy brown hair that reminded Wilder of an alpaca. He was a good six inches shorter than Wilder and a good fifty pounds lighter. He was lean and not in a good way. Yet, he tried to be a tough guy. Kind of how a Chihuahua thought they were tough when they stood there shaking.
“Your access card.” Wilder held out his hand as Sasha looked as if he would snarl and fight him on this. Tiny’s fingers tightened on Sasha’s shoulders and Sasha grimaced before handing over the key card that gave him access to the club. “Obviously, you are fired for conducting illegal activity. Where did you get the drugs, Sasha?”
“Bruh, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything illegal.”
Wilder leaned against his desk and crossed his arms across his chest. “You do know we’ll test the drinks, right? Now, where did you get the drugs?”
“I want a lawyer. I know my rights.” Sasha looked as if he had won the game, when this wasn’t a game at all.
“And you do know that your rights don’t mean shit to me, right? I’m not a cop, Sasha.” Wilder shot forward, his hand gripping Sasha’s poofy hair and yanking it so Sasha was forced to stare up at him. “I can beat the shit out of you right here, right now, and nothing will happen to me. Do you know why? Because I have witnesses who will swear you tried to run after I fired you and fell down the stairs. No one will believe a drug dealer who was causing women to be assaulted and robbed.”
“Whoa!” Sasha said, his eyes going wide. “I didn’t assault no women. I just gave them a little E to make them horny. Do you know how many blow jobs I get from that? Why would I want to hurt them?”
“Where did you get the drugs, Sasha?” Wilder yanked on his hair again. What he said made sense. Ecstasy wouldn’t make a woman blackout.
“Some guy in front of the diner two blocks over. White guy, reddish blond hair, wears a blue jacket with some soccer team logo on it,” Sasha told them.
There was a knock on the door and Wilder glanced at the security camera. The cops were here. Wilder walked over and opened the door for Detective Max Caldwell and two uniforms. “You found the guy?” Max asked.
“I found a guy. This one is my bartender and is selling E in specialty shots,” Wilder told Max.
Max frowned. “E won’t make a woman pass out like the others.”
“I know.” Max didn’t need to say it. Wilder already knew. There was someone else dealing in more dangerous drugs than ecstasy. “I have the drinks he was about to serve locked up by the bar. They’ve been in constant video surveillance to keep a chain of custody. Also, here is his key card. You can use it to access his locker in the employee’s lounge. You also have my permission to search both the bar and the locker.”
“Bruh! That’s my private shit. You can’t search that.”
Max looked as if he were about to agree when Wilder spoke. “Do you know my sister is one of the top attorneys in the country?” Sasha looked confused. Max raised an eyebrow wondering where he was going. “She drew up the employment contract that you signed when you began to work for me. First, I provide the lockers and the locks, which make the locks my property, not yours. Second, the contract also gave you notice that I, as your employer, can search your locker and your private possessions at any time if I have a reason to believe that you’re acting against the terms you agreed to in my contract. Article 10, section 3, provision A clearly states illegal drugs being one such reason to search you, your locker, and all your possessions. You not only signed the contract, but you also initialed each provision. Bryce?”
Bryce stepped away from where he was hovering by the door and handed the signed contract to Max. “Damn, your sister thought of everything. You’re right. We just need your permission to search the bar and the locker, Mr. Townsend.”
“Permission granted. Bryce will escort you.”
Wilder itched to take his anger out on Sasha. A uniformed officer stayed with Sasha and Tiny as Bryce took Max and the other officer to search the bar and then the locker. Wilder found himself looking out the window for his curly-haired beauty. The second Max went to the bar, she took her drink and began to dance. Her hips moved to the music and guys instantly swarmed her. Wilder frowned as he caught her keeping an eye on Max and the officer. Was she pushing women to buy from Sasha? Or was she the one drugging the women with GHB so her partner could rob them?
Max returned with evidence bags full of drugs and money. “We found the bags of ecstasy. They’re marked with a logo. I’ll take it to our drug division and see what they tell me. I’ll also chase down the dealer Sasha used. It looks as if Sasha takes the E and drops it in the shot glass so they get a shot and a drug all at once. It’s less obvious than someone putting a pill in their mouth and swallowing it.”
“Ah,” Wilder said nodded. “Love Bomb is a play on J?ger Bomb. Thank you, detective.”
“I’ll be in contact with what I find. Meanwhile,” Max said, turning to Sasha while the officer pulled out his handcuffs. “You’re under arrest.”
Tiny escorted Max and the officers out through the back of the club. Wilder ran his hand through his hair as Bryce took a seat across from Wilder’s desk. Wilder glanced out the window, his eyes immediately searching for his curly brunette. He found her leaning against the far wall listening to a group of men talking. Something was off with her and he wanted to find out what.
“What now, boss?” Bryce asked when Wilder didn’t speak.
“Call the other clubs and see if anyone has heard of the Love Bomb. Let them know Sasha was arrested and turned over to the police. Offer a five-hundred-dollar bonus to anyone turning over evidence of illegal drug use in any of my clubs. Speaking of which,” Wilder turned to Bryce, “have payroll add five hundred dollars to Luna’s next paycheck.”
“Yes, sir.” Bryce left and when Wilder turned back around his brunette was gone.
* * *
Bex had only gotten a couple of hours of sleep between the time she left the club and had to report to DA Seabrook’s office for a debriefing. Her face was scrubbed clean of the makeup. Her hair was down and still slightly damp from her shower. Her curls were tamed as much as the curl cream could control them and she was exhausted. She was also worried. It was clear Seabrook wanted evidence to take down Wilder Townsend, and she didn’t have it.
There was no one in the office to show her to Seabrook’s office once she got through building security. It was rather strange walking into a building so quiet. The police department was never quiet.
Bex knocked on the door and heard Seabrook call for her to enter. She had expected to see Commissioner Murphy, but she only found Seabrook behind his desk with a coffee in his hand. He smiled up at her and it only made her more nervous.
“Right on time. What evidence did you bring me to shut that bastard down?”
Bex wasn’t one to hem and haw. “I found no such evidence. In fact, while there, Mr. Townsend became aware of a drug deal happening and called the police. Further, there’s information in the women’s room offering staff help if women feel as if they’re unsafe. There was zero evidence of a gun or excessive force by club security or Mr. Townsend. I don’t believe Mr. Townsend is the source of the issues you’re having.”
Seabrook’s face tightened. His grip on his coffee mug tightened until his knuckles were white. Bex could tell he was trying to keep his anger in check. “You are incorrect in your assessment of the situation. I have evidence you’re not privy to that shows Wilder Townsend as a violent predator of women. He’s threatened them with guns, guns he shouldn’t have access to after drugging them with illegal date rape drugs. Now, I know you’re new and don’t know how to lead an investigation, but it’s easy—you find a way to get me the evidence I want and you don’t stop until you make it happen.” Seabrook released the grip on his coffee cup. “Now, tomorrow morning bring me something I can use to take down WET and Townsend or I might need for your new promotion to be reviewed. Do you understand?”
Now it was Bex’s turn to grab her hands behind her back so tightly they were probably turning white. “I understand perfectly, sir.”
Seabrook simply looked at his computer and she was dismissed. Nothing about this assignment sat right with her. Not one damned thing. Worse, she’d been ordered not to speak to anyone about it. What was she going to do? Bex took a deep breath as she pushed out of the building. The cold air shocked her system and it felt as if it cleared her brain. She knew what to do. She would find the truth.
* * *
Wilder had managed to get three hours of sleep before Caldwell called him. Sure, it was already after lunch, but that was the problem with working nights. Lunch came and passed quickly.
“Interesting thing happened this morning,” Max said, sounding pissed.
“What’s that?” Wilder asked as he sat up in bed and ran his hand over his face to help him wake up.
“Sasha was offered a deal from the DA’s office.”
“They pled him down? Already?” Wilder asked, figuring they would. They’d do anything to avoid the time and expense of a trial for a drug offense.
“Nope. He was offered immunity if he testified that you’re the one who supplied him with the drugs.”
That woke Wilder up. “What?” he yelled into the phone as he sprang naked from the bed and began to pace.
“That’s right. Which, of course, Sasha agreed to. Luckily, I was able to get to the dealer before the DA’s office did. Turns out he works nights at the Golden Harp, but he didn’t know the drugs were being used at your club. He just thought Sasha was a party boy supplying drugs to rich girls who wanted to screw.”
Wilder stepped into a pair of boxer briefs and grabbed a pair of black slacks from the closet of his penthouse. “How can we make a case if Seabrook is turning the criminals against me?”
“I had to call Wise. We did the interview together and he made two copies of the interview tape. I have one and he has one. I think this is bigger than your nightclub, Townsend. I just don’t know how or why.”
Wilder paused as he pulled down a dress shirt from the hanger. “I have my, um, conversation with Sasha recorded. I always record anything to do with HR issues. Do you want a copy?”
Max chuckled. Wilder could practically hear his smile over the phone. “I’d love a copy and so would Wise.”
“I’ll text it to you both. Thanks for believing me and looking into this.”
“Sure thing. But, Townsend, watch your back. You’re in the middle of some corrupt shit with a lot of powerful and dangerous people. Leave the rest of the police work to me. Okay?”
Wilder shot off the text as Max spoke. “Hmm, I think they better watch their back. I didn’t get to where I am by being a doormat for criminals, no matter how powerful they are.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Townsend. Give me some time to investigate, okay?”
“I’ll try. Thanks for the update.”
“I got your footage. I’ll call when I have more news. In the meantime, keep your head down and your eyes open.”
Wilder ended the call and stared at his phone. He sent the video to his sister, Olivia, and told her to keep it safe in case there were legal consequences for his club. Then he deleted his text chats with Olivia, Wise, and Caldwell, including all the phone calls he’d made or received from them.
Wilder was the fun brother, but that didn’t mean he was the dumb one. He knew a phone could bring a person down and he wouldn’t put it past Seabrook to try to get to his phone and the evidence on it. And right now, his phone had evidence Seabrook would want hidden. He wouldn’t give away the contacts who were helping him find who was responsible, so he took five minutes to delete all evidence from his phone before getting dressed for the day.
Wilder slipped on his loafers, ate a quick meal, and headed out to meet with Sebastian Abel. Sebastian started off in tech, became a billionaire, and also moved into the luxury hotel industry, among other things. WET Las Vegas was situated inside Sebastian’s Vegas casino resort. Olivia was Sebastian’s lawyer and helped broker that deal. When Sebastian was looking to open a nightclub in his Vegas hotel and casino, Olivia mentioned Wilder. The club opened six months ago and was already a huge success.
Wilder looked out his penthouse window and saw the gridlocked traffic. Looked like he was going to walk. He grabbed his wool coat, a scarf, and leather gloves before leaving his building to walk the mile or so to Sebastian’s New York building.
The sidewalk was teeming with people rushing from place to place. Most didn’t even bother looking up from their phones and almost everyone had earbuds in place as they hurried to their destinations. Wilder never used his phone while he was walking in the city. He liked to be aware of his surroundings, which was why he was able to pick up on the fact that as he approached SA Tech, he heard boots behind him quicken in pace.
Wilder turned toward the noise and barely had time to duck the first punch. Wilder might wear an expensive watch, custom Italian leather shoes, and a designer wool coat, but he grew up fighting with his brothers and they didn’t fight like the respectable businessman Wilder had become. No, he fought like the bouncer he’d been or the little brother whose older brother dealt with biker gangs and another who was Special Forces and yet another who could take down any opponent on the ice.
Wilder ducked the punch and came up with an uppercut to the man’s chin. The second man got in a punch to Wilder’s kidney, but that was before Wilder lifted his leg and slammed his foot into the man’s chest, sending him flying backward into the glass window of SA Tech. A place like SA Tech would be swarming with security. Sure enough, the door opened and four armed guards rushed out.
Wilder landed another punch on the first man before grabbing him by the jacket and yanking him to his feet. “Nice try, asshole. Tell Fergus Kelly I’m coming for him. If he wanted to discuss something, he should have called like an adult. Instead, he sold drugs in my club. There’s no chance of a civil conversation now.”
The man who had been sent into the window ran by and snagged his partner by the arm. Wilder let them go as security rushed to surround Wilder.
“It’s going to be that kind of meeting, is it? If I knew punches were going to be thrown, I would have worn an older suit.” Sebastian Abel and several security guards stopped on the sidewalk.
“Getting bored in the office, Abel?”
“It has been a while since someone tried to kill me.” The tall man about ten years older with hair as black as Wilder’s shrugged.
Wilder chuckled. It had taken a while for Wilder to understand Sebastian. Sebastian was quiet and kind of an asshole, yet once you got to know him you realized it was because he had no tolerance for ego and stupidity. If you were lucky enough to be brought into his inner circle, he was funny, loved his wife, and surprisingly down to earth . . . well, as much as a billionaire who also counted the president of the United States as his best friend could be. Wilder wasn’t all the way into his inner circle yet, but he’d caught glimpses of it.
“Good thing you went into business with me. You need a little spice to your life.”
Sebastian smirked as security rushed to open the front door for them. “I had wrongly assumed Olivia was the Townsend to be most afraid of. You surprised me. I didn’t expect you to have such a good uppercut. Now, how were the numbers this month at the club?”
Wilder dropped the teasing as they got down to business. Wilder might joke around a lot but never about business. And never about someone threatening his business. The meeting flew by. Wilder shook hands with Sebastian and promised to let him know if he needed any help with the New York club problem. A problem that he’d deal with tonight. Golden Harp and the Irish mob had at least some part in the drugs at his club, but did they also have a part in the assaults and thefts? Wilder was determined to get to the bottom of this, even if he had to knock down the door of the Golden Harp to get answers.