Chapter 5
Humming to herself, Audra whipped her roadster into a parking space outside of Byrne’s. She’d had more fun at lunch with Hannah than she thought she would. Liam’s sister was an energetic, chatty woman who, most days, was only concerned with herself. She could be funny, though. And she lived for parties, which was why Liam’s mother, Siobhan, put her in charge of her eldest son’s wedding. While Audra had still stifled yawns as they went over details, she’d enjoyed Hannah’s company.
Which was the only reason she could think of why she’d agreed to run to Byrne’s and fetch a box of table linens for a different party Hannah was in charge of this evening. Hannah had seemed frazzled—the caterer had called her shortly before she left to meet Audra for lunch and informed her there would be a change to the menu; one she didn’t like—so Audra volunteered to help so she could go and straighten that out.
She sighed as she stepped out of her car, shaking her head. At least she didn’t have anything to do after this until she had to meet Liam for dinner at seven. She could go home, slip back into her comfy clothes and read a book.
Entering the restaurant, she waved at the hostess and walked toward the back. The din of the lunch crowd receded and was replaced by the sound of the kitchen staff. Her heels clacked on the tile floor as she headed for the stockroom.
“Hey, Alexandra. What are you doing here?”
She paused and smiled at the day manager, Miles. “Hannah asked me to pick up some tablecloths for her.”
“Oh, yes. They’re all boxed up and waiting. Let me show you.”
“Thanks, Miles.” She followed him into the stockroom.
He hefted a box from a stack in the far corner. “I’ll carry it out for you.”
“Are you sure? I can take it.”
“I’m sure. It’s heavy.”
She didn’t argue with him, even though she was more than capable of carrying the box. Alexandra wouldn’t argue.
They wove back through the kitchen and out the front doors. Her roadster beeped as she pressed the button to unlock it. She opened the trunk and stepped back so he could put the box inside.
“There you go.”
“Thank you, Miles.” She slipped him some cash, then got into the driver’s seat and pulled into traffic.
Her drive took her across town to Liam’s neighborhood. The party was at a neighbor’s house. Some fancy businessman Audra was sure was under FBI surveillance. Most people in this particular neighborhood led some shady lives. She didn’t really want to go into the house—or even pull into his driveway—and end up on their radar, but she didn’t have a valid reason for turning Hannah down. Especially not now that she knew Liam had her followed. She didn’t want it to get back to his sister that she lied. She’d just call Theo later and tell him to be on the lookout for an inquiry about her alias.
Turning into the circular driveway, she parked and hopped out, grabbing the box. Picking her way over the cobblestone walkway to the front door, she poked the bell with her pinkie.
A maid answered the door. “Yes?”
“Hi, I’m dropping these off for Hannah. It’s tablecloths for tonight’s party.”
“Oh. I’ll take them.”
“You’re sure? It’s heavy.”
“Yes. Mr. Kimball doesn’t like strangers in the house.”
Audra’s brow puckered, but she stayed silent. She was hardly a stranger in Kimball’s social circle. She’d never been in his house, though. And she didn’t really want to spend more time than necessary on this task. But there could be relevant intel inside. She thought quickly.
The maid reached for the box. Audra deliberately fumbled the handover and the woman’s hands slipped off. “I think you should just guide me where you want this.” Audra readjusted the box. “So we don’t spill them all over the ground.”
Biting the corner of her lip, the maid nodded. “Yeah. We can’t get them dirty. I suppose it would be okay. You’ll only be here a moment.” She stepped back, pushing the door wide. “Come in.”
Audra stepped over the threshold. She kept her gaze straight ahead until the maid turned around and started deeper into the house. Then, Audra put her head on a swivel and took in everything she could. The dark walnut floor underfoot stretched down a long hallway to her left. To her right, she glimpsed a small parlor with a champagne damask settee and a mahogany leather wingback chair grouped around a gleaming cherry wood coffee table and a plush cream rug. Ahead, the foyer opened into a large, airy living room filled with shades of gray and white. It was like walking into a magazine spread. On the far end, to the right, was the kitchen, which was also done in shades of gray and white. High-end appliances gleamed, nary a fingerprint in sight.
How do people live like this?Audra shook her head at the thought. It didn’t matter how much she cleaned or picked up after herself, her condo, and her flat in London, always looked lived in. Perhaps it helped to have a maid who could trail around after her employers and put everything back to rights the moment it was knocked askew.
They passed down a short hallway and into a solarium. Plants lined the perimeter, soaking up the sun streaming in through the glass walls and ceiling.
“You can set the box over there.” The maid pointed to a spot where someone had piled other party supplies.
Audra crossed the room and set her load atop a short stack of boxes, then flexed her fingers. They’d started to cramp.
Movement outside caught her attention. Two men exited the house and strolled toward the small bar set up poolside. One was Jackson Kimball. She didn’t recognize the other. The way he was dressed, though, struck her as odd. Even in casual clothes, she could tell that Kimball’s outfit was expensive. But the stranger’s didn’t have the same look to it. He looked ordinary.
“Thank you for bringing the tablecloths.”
Audra glanced away to look at the maid. She stood in the doorway, a polite smile on her face. Her eyes darted to the window.
“You’re welcome.” Taking her cue to leave, Audra walked toward her. The maid stepped into the hall and started back the way they came. Again, Audra paid close attention to her surroundings. Nothing stood out to her, but she took mental snapshots of the house’s interior. Smiling at the maid, she exited the house and went back to her car.
As she pulled away, she mentally went over what she’d seen inside as well as the man with Kimball. When she got home, she definitely needed to call Theo. Something about that guy bugged her.
She shook her head. Not your problem, Aud. She needed to leave that one to the FBI. Maybe she’d tell the agent working with her on Brogan’s case about it. Moran could pass along the intel to whoever had Kimball under surveillance.
With the daytime traffic, it took her a little over twenty minutes to reach her condo. Parking in her garage, she went inside and headed upstairs to fetch her secure phone. She sat down on her bed and dialed Theo’s number.
“What’s up?” he asked when he answered.
“I just made a delivery to Jackson Kimball’s house. You’ll probably get a hit on my alias from the FBI or whatever alphabet soup agency is watching him.”
Theo sighed. “What did you deliver?”
“Tablecloths.”
“You’re sure?”
“I didn’t look in the box other than to peek through the flaps to see the top layer was just that. Miles carried it to my car and watched me drive away. If it had anything important, I’m sure he called ahead, so a delay wouldn’t have been wise.”
“Did you talk to Kimball?”
“No. He was there, though. With another man. I didn’t recognize him, but something about him set off my radar.”
“How so?”
“I’m not sure. He just didn’t look like he was in the same class as Kimball. He was dressed nice, but his clothes were more—working class, I guess. Not expensive, like we’d expect of his associates.”
“Maybe it was someone who works for him. An accountant or something.”
“Maybe. But I don’t think so. Even the accountants and other office type people that surround men like Kimball and Liam dress in more expensive clothing. This guy’s looked like he bought them off the rack at Target or something.”
“All right. Well, keep an eye out for him. We can’t do much, because Kimball’s not the focus of our investigation. But if you see this guy with Brogan, I’ll do my best to get an ID.”
Audra sighed. That really was the best she could hope for. Sometimes, it irked her to not have the U.S. agencies looped in on their investigation. Someone, somewhere was aware, she knew that. But the local guys in the field weren’t likely to know, and she couldn’t risk her cover and tell them what she saw. “Fine. Can you let Moran know? He can pass it along within the FBI.”
“Sure.”
“Did you get anything on those files I brought you?”
“We’re still working on it. I’ll let you know if we find anything you need to know.”
Audra rolled her eyes. That was code for she wouldn’t be getting anything unless the circumstances were dire. She was happier more than ever now that she’d made a copy of the pictures. She wasn’t completely useless when it came to information and image analysis. “All right. Thanks, Theo.”
“You’re welcome. What’s your plan for the rest of the day?”
“Nothing until dinner this evening. Liam’s taking me to some new place that opened up at the Bellagio. Thankfully, it’s not just us. We’re meeting some of his associates.”
“Good. I hope you get some good intel.”
“That’s the plan.” That was always the plan. It’s why she was here.
“Report in when you get home.”
“I will.”
They said goodbye and hung up. Audra stowed the phone, then changed. For the next several hours, she refused to think about work. She desperately needed a break. This assignment was really beginning to wear on her. She was ready to end it and get back to her normal life.
The afternoon flew past as she whiled away the hours, reading a romance novel. It was her little secret passion. There was nothing wrong with reading romance, but she preferred not to let Liam or Theo know she liked the books. Liam would belittle her, making her angry, and then she’d just have to suppress the urge to tell him where to shove it. Theo would roll his eyes and tell her it was a waste of her brain power. It wasn’t. The books were an escape from reality. They reduced her stress, which to her, made them more valuable than all the couture clothing in her closet.
All too soon, the alarm on her phone went off, letting her know it was time to slip back into Alexandra Burton’s shoes. Quite literally. In her real life, Audra rarely wore heels. She was tall enough without them. Plus, she disliked blisters. Since taking on this role, though, she’d developed callouses on her heels and the sides of her toes. But the first month had been painful. She wanted to tell herself that she’d wear high heels more often when she went back to London, now that she had her feet conditioned to the shoes, but she knew herself too well. She much preferred sneakers and boots to dressy heels. No matter how good they made her legs look.
With a huff, she got up, leaving her book on the end table beside the sofa. Upstairs, she painstakingly applied her makeup and donned a royal purple, sleeveless dress that she topped with a three-quarter sleeve gold bolero jacket. There would be no exposed skin on her upper body that Liam could touch. She learned early on it made her skin crawl, so now she usually covered everything above the elbow.
At six-fifty, she heard the horn from the limo outside. Liam never came to the door. Sometimes, he wasn’t even in the car. Since they were meeting people, she doubted he was tonight. He was likely at the restaurant, making sure everything was to his liking. When it came to social events where others could judge him, Liam left very little to chance.
The chauffeur offered her a smile as she neared.
“Good evening, Ms. Burton.” He opened her door.
“Good evening, Rowan.” She slid inside. As she’d expected, the car was empty. Her shoulders relaxed.
But the reprieve was slight. Within fifteen minutes, they were pulling up to the restaurant. Rowan opened her door, and she slid out. Giving her name to the maitre’d, she was shown to a circular booth tucked into a corner. She took stock of the people at the table before they saw her. Two men, both dressed in nearly identical gray suits, sat on one end, a blonde woman with a blank stare on her face sandwiched between them. She held a long-stemmed wineglass in her fingers and toyed with the rim as she stared into space while the men talked. On the other side of the second man sat another woman. This one had dark hair, and unlike the blonde, her gaze traveled the room. Liam sat at the other end of the booth, talking to the men.
Liam glanced up as she approached and smiled. “Ah. There you are, my dear.” He stood, motioning her to sit.
Audra sat down, hiding a grimace. She didn’t like being closed in, but there was no way Liam would let anyone box him in. He always sat on the end.
Audra smiled at the strangers. “Hello. I hope I didn’t keep anyone waiting. My driver ran into traffic.” She wasn’t about to tell Liam that Rowan was a few minutes late. She liked her chauffeur. He was a kind, older man.
“You’re fine, my dear.” Liam laid a hand on her thigh. “We chatted a little while we waited. No harm done.”
“Good.” She lifted her water glass and took a drink so she didn’t pluck Liam’s fingers off her leg.
The dark-haired woman nodded in agreement, smiling at her; the blonde perked up slightly at the conversation. From the glazed look in her eyes, Audra guessed she was high. She could also see the faint outline of a bruise on the woman’s jaw. There were likely more hiding beneath the sleeves of her jacket. The woman flinched when the man to her right reached up to rest his arm across the back of the booth.
Anger burned in Audra’s chest. She catalogued his face and noted his name as Liam introduced her to the table. When she got home tonight, she’d do a deep dive on him and see what she could find. It would be her pleasure to stick this man in federal prison. She’d hand him to the FBI on a silver platter. She didn’t care if taking him down wasn’t part of her assignment. The men who beat women got her blood pumping harder than just about any other kind of criminal. Only child molesters angered her more.
Audra was the last to arrive. Shortly after she sat down, a server appeared to take their orders. She hastily glanced at the menu and picked something that sounded decent—an exotic stew. Then she sat back and did what Alexandra Burton was supposed to do. Look pretty. It was the perfect cover. While Alexandra appeared uninterested, Audra’s mind took in everything. From names mentioned, to business transactions. Tonight, however, there wasn’t too much of that. It seemed to be more of a get to know you type of dinner. The two men, Simon and Geoffrey Powell, were brothers who owned a distribution company in Las Vegas. Why Liam would be looking for a new distribution company intrigued her, but the three of them spoke little about business. It was mostly about themselves and their interests.
She was actually thankful they didn’t talk business. The dark-haired woman with Geoffrey, Celine, was chatty. Audra hadn’t been able to pay as close attention to the men’s discussion as she would have liked because Celine kept engaging her in conversation. By the time the meal ended, Audra had learned little else about the men besides some background info.
“Did you enjoy your dinner?” Liam asked as they left the restaurant.
“It was fine.”
“Only fine?”
Audra shrugged. “Yes. It wasn’t anything special. It was like a lot of the higher end restaurants we go to. All the food is the same.”
His mouth flattened. “Good to know.”
Something in his expression made her frown. “Why?”
“I invested in this place.” He tipped his head toward the building behind them. “I hope it doesn’t fail.”
“Oh. Well, I’m sure it will be fine. The food was good, it just didn’t wow me. Not many places do anymore. Like I said, it’s all the same.” Rowan opened the limo door. “There’s no originality,” she said as she got in.
“I suppose I see your point.” He got in beside her.
Audra pressed her knees together and tucked her ankles to the side, resting her hands and her small clutch purse in her lap. She did not want him to get any ideas while they were alone back here. She’d rebuked him before in the back of a limousine.
He rested an elbow on the window and stared out. “If I were to invest in another restaurant, what would you want to see?”
“You’re asking for my opinion?”
“Of course.” He looked at her. “You’ll be my wife soon. People will look up to you. You’ll have your own social responsibilities in that role, and others will respect your opinion. If you don’t like a restaurant or call it dull or unoriginal, others in our circle won’t go there. So, what would you like to see?”
“More flare. Exotic ingredients used in exciting ways. That place had the ingredients, but they put them in a stew and used the same herbs and spices you’d get in any traditional stew, so it didn’t taste any different.”
He nodded. “Perhaps I’ll suggest a change to their menu.”
Audra stayed silent, not wanting to get in the middle of it. That chef likely worked hard to not only create the dish, but to secure Liam’s backing and that of other investors. She would not be the one to derail his or her business.
Liam peppered her with other questions as Rowan drove toward her condo. She answered as diplomatically as she could. When he broached the subject of a menu for a new restaurant rather than a current one, she answered more freely, feeling more comfortable when it wasn’t someone’s livelihood on the line. It made the drive pass quickly, for which she was grateful. When they pulled up outside her home, he looked surprised.
He tipped his head, eyeing her thoughtfully. “I had a nice time this evening.”
Her brow wrinkled. “You don’t normally enjoy my company? This bodes well for our marriage, Liam,” she said with a chuckle.
A quick smile flashed over his face. “I guess I haven’t really taken the time to get to know you as well as I should. Ma arranged this marriage, and I went along with it because she’s right. I need an heir. You’re beautiful and come from a good family, so I never looked much further than that at you. But you’ve got a brain hiding behind that pretty face.” His expression turned quizzical. “Why did you agree to this marriage?”
Crap. Why now, of all times, when they were so close to bringing this operation to a close, did he want to get personal? She dredged up the backstory they’d come up with for her, then lied through her teeth. “My father’s business put our entire family in danger. Your mother offered us a way out. I have younger siblings. They don’t deserve to suffer. Plus, I’ve grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle. And let’s be honest. You’re not exactly hard to look at.” She lifted a shoulder, playing the part of a spoiled heiress. “No one was going to want some bankrupt mogul’s daughter. No one of any standing, anyway. It was a win-win for both of us. My father saves his business and our family’s status, I get to keep my lifestyle, and you get access to my father’s business contacts and a spot on the board of his company. It was a no-brainer.”
A slow smile spread over his face. “Why, Alexandra. I never knew you were so calculating. I like it.”
Audra’s stomach turned. That should not be an attractive quality to anyone. She swallowed the bile and pasted a naughty smile on her face. “Yes, well, when you grow up in our world, it’s a good quality to have.”
“Indeed.” He slid a hand over her knee. “Can I persuade you to let me come in tonight?”
Her stomach churned so hard she feared she’d be unable to choke down the vomit this time. She clenched her teeth, swallowing as inconspicuously as possible, and covered his hand with hers. “No. I might be calculating, but I also love to torture myself by denying myself things I know I would enjoy until the time is right. And I’m sure I’ll enjoy our first night together, which is why I want to wait.”
A hardness entered his eyes, turning them cold. “What if I decide I no longer wish to wait?”
You’ll find yourself without your bollocks.Audra barely bit back the words. She forced a sickly-sweet smile onto her face. “Now, why would you want to do that? A willing woman will always make the experience more fun.” She leaned in and ran a finger under his jacket lapel before injecting a low, sultry note into her voice. “There are things I can do that you’ll only get from me if I’m a willing participant. Wicked, naughty things.”
The cold glint in his eyes heated, and Audra knew she’d averted disaster.
“Such as?”
She sat back and ticked a finger back and forth. “A woman never gives away her secrets. You’ll just have to wonder.”
He growled. “You’re not as innocent as your father would like me to believe.”
“No.”
“I like that.”
Audra only had a moment to steel herself before he grabbed her and fused their mouths together. Her dinner threatened to make an appearance, but she tamped it down and forced herself to participate in the kiss. When he slid a hand up the outside of her thigh and under the hem of her dress, she pushed him away, her hand planted in the middle of his chest and her arm extended. “Nice try. Haven’t you learned I can be stubborn when I want to be?”
He chuckled. “I’m learning many things about you. Forgive me if I’m eager to learn more.” His fingers dug into her thigh.
“We have plenty of time for that.” She swung her legs away and slid toward the door. “I’m going in now before things get any more heated.”
Liam sat back in his seat and rubbed himself through his pants. “Give me a taste, at least. Bend over and flip up your skirt. Let me see that pert little ass of yours.”
Gross. She hid her disgust with a chuckle. “You can watch it walk away.” She pushed the door open and got out. As she walked up the sidewalk to her front door, she put some extra sway in her hips. Once she crossed her threshold and locked herself in, she let out a hard shiver. “Bleh! Disgusting pig.” She dropped her clutch purse and keys on the entryway table and shucked her shoes. Like the night before, she went upstairs, but this time, instead of hopping in the shower, she grabbed her toothbrush and cleaned her mouth. She could still taste him.
After brushing twice and rinsing—and gargling—with mouthwash, she stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the shower. Tonight’s wash was a quick one. She didn’t want to linger. She wanted to dig into the two men from dinner.
Dressed in her standard sleeping attire of a t-shirt and panties, she made herself some tea and sat down on the sofa with her laptop. Gathering some intel would tell her if the men were worth putting surveillance on. Though she was bringing Simon down, no matter what. The man deserved whatever charges she could make stick.
Absorbed in her search, it took a moment for the loud squeak of the back fence gate to register. When it did, her head popped up, and she froze, listening. Everything stayed quiet, but that gate wouldn’t have made noise unless someone opened it.
Audra closed her laptop and set it on the coffee table. She stood up and rounded the sofa, reaching into the small chest on the low bookcase against the wall to her left. The thirty-eight caliber handgun nestled snuggly in her palm as she crept toward the sliding door.
The trill of Theo’s ringtone echoed through the condo. Audra jumped, then muttered a soft curse. She gave the back garden another glance, then dashed upstairs to answer. The ringing stopped as she reached the landing, then immediately started again. She ran into her room, crossing to the closet, and dug it out of its hiding spot just before it rolled to voicemail again. “Hello?”
“I chased someone out of your garden, but now I think I’m being followed. Get out here. I’m headed toward the park,” Theo said.
“What?” The line clicked in her ear. “Theo?” She looked at the phone to see he’d hung up. Groaning in frustration, Audra set the phone down and grabbed a pair of leggings and hastily put them on. As she shrugged into a zip-up hoodie, a sense of déjà vu hit her. She hoped tonight turned out as innocuous as last night.
Slipping on some shoes, she picked up the burner phone and her gun and ran downstairs and outside. For a moment, she debated taking her car, but she wouldn’t be able to drive it through the park. She’d have to park, then jog down the trail to their meeting spot. It would be faster if she ran from the start.
Audra took off at a steady jog. It was still early enough the neighbors wouldn’t think it weird to see someone out running. It was late, but not late late.
Her feet pounded the pavement in a steady rhythm. Her calves protested the exercise after being strained by her four-inch heels earlier, but it didn’t take long for the muscles to stretch and warm. She neared the last intersection before she reached the park and slowed, looking for Theo or anyone suspicious. Cars lined the street, parked near a multi-story apartment complex. Nothing moved. She turned, jogging up the road. The concrete walkway ended, and she veered into the street.
A car started behind her, and she heard a quick squeal of tires.
Audra drifted to the side to get out of the way. Near the edge of the pavement, she glanced back.
Headlights flipped on only yards away, blinding her. Alarm rang in her head. She tensed, her muscles flexing to propel her out of the way, but it was too late.
The car clipped her hip as it sailed past and sent her flying to the berm; her head smacked the pavement.
Audra’s lungs refused to work, the muscles frozen from the impact. Her vision went fuzzy, and all the sound around her receded behind the swish-swish of her heartbeat in her ears. She laid on the ground, not moving, and closed her eyes.
A soft thud penetrated the fog in her mind. She cracked one eye open and saw a blurry pair of feet coming toward her. As they neared, they came into focus. Black running shoes. Jeans rested on the tops.
The person stopped a few feet away. Audra screamed at her muscles to move. To reach for the gun tucked into her pocket. Her fingers twitched, brushing the edge of her jacket. She didn’t have the strength to do more.
Suddenly, the feet turned. A moment later, they ran away. Audra fought the darkness edging her vision, but it was too strong for her. A second squeal of tires was the last thing she heard.