Chapter 5 West
WEST
I leaned back on the couch, taking a sip of my soda. Takeout remnants were sprawled around the suite, along with folders and notepads. I tossed the laptop onto the cushion next to me. “I’ve got nothing. I need to trail Lex for a few days to get a better feel for the players.”
Holt frowned, looking up from his screen. “Samson’s got nothing on the poster. They’re using a Virtual Private Network when they post, so we can’t get a lock on their location.”
“We know they’re here. They’re leaving damned notes on Lex’s doorstep.”
Holt studied me for a moment. “Do you have enough objectivity to work this case? I can swap you with Morel if you need me to.”
Annoyance swept through me as my gut tightened. “I’m fine.” But the words came through gritted teeth.
Holt sighed. “It’s obvious your connection to Lex goes a little deeper than just your sister’s best friend.”
I swallowed, my throat feeling more like sandpaper. “She was there for me when my mom died.”
Holt kept studying me in a silent demand for more information.
I ground my back teeth together. It wasn’t something I liked sharing because it felt like every time I did, the moment became a little less…
mine. “I was a mess. Angry. Grieving. Everyone else kept giving me these dumbass platitudes like ‘everything happens for a reason,’ but not Lex. She just sat with me. Let me spew all my anger. Let me break down. That depth of emotion freaks most people out. But not her.”
Holt kept his eyes trained on me. “This ever go beyond friendship?”
I jerked upright. “No. She’s four years younger than me.”
“I get that the age difference would’ve been a big thing years ago, but it’s not anymore. You gonna go there now?”
“No,” I growled. “I know the rules.” And at the top of that list was never getting personally involved with a client.
“Okay, then,” Holt said, closing his laptop. “But if that changes, let me know.” His gaze lifted to mine again. “Regret is toxic. It’d be a shame if you missed out on sharing a life with someone who truly sees you.”
Something in his expression told me that Holt knew that regret all too well.
I opened my mouth to say something, to lie to my boss, but my phone rang. I plucked it off the coffee table and saw Cara’s name flash on the screen.
“Everything okay?”
“Not exactly. Lex got another note.”
I rapped on the door in three quick knocks. “It’s us,” I barked.
It took everything I had not to pull the damn thing off its hinges.
It opened a second later, and Cara filled the space. She waved us in. Worry lined her face, and it set me on edge. But I was already moving into the living room. Lex’s hands were wrapped around a mug, but she wasn’t drinking. Her typically tanned complexion was far too pale.
I strode to the couch, sitting next to her. I couldn’t help it. The pull was too strong. If I couldn’t touch her, I needed to be at least close enough to feel her heat, the vitality still coursing through her.
“Are you okay?” What a seriously idiotic question. Of course, Lex wasn’t okay. Yet it was the only thing I could think to ask.
She nodded robotically. “I’m fine.”
It was a total lie, and everyone here knew it.
Holt crossed to the coffee table, snapping on a pair of gloves. “This the note?”
“Yes,” Lex said, her voice devoid of all emotion.
I hated the emptiness there.
Holt picked it up. He had a good poker face, but I saw the hints of anger trying to break through. He flipped it around so I could read the words.
Each one had my blood heating and rage pulsing through me. This was more than a sick prank. This was someone unhinged.
A knock sounded on the door. I was on my feet in a flash, my hand instantly going to the holster at my back. Holt’s hand did the same with his.
Cara held up a hand. “Don’t shoot up my apartment, please. It’s probably the cops.”
“Lex, Cara? It’s Chief Craig.”
“See?”
Holt strode to the door, opening it in one smooth move.
The chief’s brows rose as he took Holt in. “And you would be?”
He extended his hand. “Holt Hartley, owner of Anchor Security. We’re here to help out Lex.”
The chief’s eyes narrowed. “I hardly think a series of pranks requires private security.”
“Beg to differ there,” I growled. “This is a stalking case.”
Chief Craig stepped inside, followed by another younger officer, who looked vaguely familiar. The chief huffed. “Stalking. Not likely in these parts. You’re used to your city problems.”
The younger officer, who I now recognized as Max Dale, shrugged. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” He gave me a chin lift. “Good to see you, West.”
I nodded. “You, too.” At least not everyone in the police department had their head in the sand.
Max sent Lex a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry this happened again.”
“Me, too. Thanks for coming.”
Holt handed Chief Craig the letter. “I bagged it and have only touched it with gloves.”
Lex winced. “I touched it without gloves.”
I bit back the urge to chastise her and sat back down on the couch. “It’s okay.”
Max nodded. “We’ve got your fingerprints on file for elimination, and the other notes haven’t had any fingerprints on them anyway.”
“Have you looked into the paper manufacturer?” Holt asked.
Chief Craig snorted. “Do we look like some CSI show?”
My back molars ground together. “You certainly look like a department that doesn’t give a shit.”
The chief glared at me. “You think you can come in here with all your city ways and—?”
Holt held up a hand. “Let’s all take a breath. We need to work together if we’re going to figure out who’s doing this.” He turned to Craig. “Chief, if you can part with one of the notes, my team can have it analyzed.”
“I’ll think about it,” he grumbled.
“No,” Cara snapped. “You’ll do it, or we won’t call you the next time one of these comes in.”
Chief Craig glared at her but didn’t say anything.
Holt sighed. “I can see temper runs in the Castille family.”
Max turned to Lex. “Why don’t you come stay with Beth and me for a bit? We’ve got a guest room you can have until this is all settled.”
Lex shook her head. “I don’t want to put you out, and I don’t want this creep driving me out of my home.”
I reached over and squeezed her thigh. It was a mistake. Lex’s skin was like warm silk beneath my palm. My gaze locked with hers. “You don’t have to leave. I’ll stay.”