Chapter 6
The next morning, Genevieve stared out the passenger window as the streets of New Orleans blurred past. But her mind wasn't on the scenery. Every few seconds, she found herself stealing glances at Abe.
Kissing him was memorable. The feeling of his lips on hers had lingered long into the night. She'd savored the feeling before falling asleep, grateful that he hadn't pressed for more.
He seemed to understand how she felt, and maybe felt the same. Attraction had blossomed into more than expected. When she thought of Abe's touch, desire surged within her. She knew if she didn't watch it, she'd fall hard.
She was kidding herself that she hadn't fallen for him already. Yet it was too soon. Genevieve didn't usually care about that. She'd embraced relationships without considering how long she'd dated a man.
Maybe that meant she was growing emotionally. Or that she really cared about Abe. She cared about the relationship and didn't want to blow it—quite an earth-shattering thought.
Abe's happiness mattered to her. That had to be love. She wanted him, without a doubt, but also cared about creating a relationship to last. It was possible that past the age of forty, she'd finally matured.
Genevieve turned toward the window, afraid that if Abe saw her face, he'd see too much. She couldn't hide her feelings.
"You're quiet this morning," he said.
She risked a glance at him. He focused on the road, but she could see the concern in his expression. "I really missed Brooke, and it will be great to see her."
"I'm glad you can spend time with her this morning and catch up," Abe said. "From Gabriel's text, it sounds like they had a good time in the Bahamas."
"I hate that I've disrupted things," she said. "You should be working your regular cases, not babysitting me. And Gabriel should be enjoying his first weeks of marriage, instead of worrying about his new sister-in-law's stalker."
Abe pulled up to a red light and looked over. "We want to help. This isn't an obligation or a favor. You matter."
"I appreciate that," she said. "I'll just be relieved when Jason is out of my life."
The light changed, and Abe reached over to squeeze her hand before returning his attention to driving. Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of Jasper's Bistro. A small sign in the window indicated they wouldn't open for lunch service until noon.
"I'll pick you up whenever you're ready," Abe said as she gathered her purse. "Just text me."
Genevieve hesitated with her hand on the door handle. "About last night…"
"No pressure," he said immediately. "We have time to figure things out when all this is over."
She smiled, then leaned over and kissed his cheek before getting out of the car. The look on his face was heartwarming.
*****
Abe watched Genevieve disappear through the bistro's entrance before pulling away from the curb. The drive to Guardian Investigations would give him time to shift his focus from personal to business.
Kissing Genevieve had been the most natural thing in the world.
Holding her afterward, feeling her relax in his arms, had awakened protective instincts that went far beyond his job as a detective.
But he also knew that pursuing a relationship in the middle of a stalking case was complicated.
He wanted Genevieve to feel safe without the added pressure of romantic expectations.
The Guardian Investigations office occupied the fourth floor of a corner high-rise on St. Charles Street. Abe took the elevator up, noting the security cameras and key card access that protected the upper floors. Gabriel and his partner Weston Lang had chosen their location well.
The office door bore a simple brass nameplate: Guardian Investigations - Private Security and Investigation Services . Abe knocked once and entered.
The main office space was larger than he'd expected, with three desks arranged so each had privacy. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, while the interior was efficiently organized for serious work.
But it was Weston's setup that impressed him most. The far corner of the office resembled a high-tech command center, with multiple large monitors displaying various data streams.
Computer towers hummed quietly beneath the desk, their LED indicators blinking in complex patterns. Cables were neatly organized, and Abe could see specialized equipment he didn't recognize but that clearly represented significant investigative capabilities.
Gabriel Durand looked up from his desk as Abe entered. He appeared relaxed and happy, the stress lines around his eyes softened by a week in paradise with his new wife.
"I got your messages and the report you sent." Gabriel's focus was on the task at hand. "It sounds like Genevieve's in serious trouble."
"Jason Thornton isn't going away, and he's more troublesome by the day," Abe said without preamble. "Last night he sabotaged a meeting between Genevieve and a key executive. He's not just stalking her anymore. He's actively trying to destroy her career."
Gabriel frowned. "That must be part of his methodical approach. It appears that his actions are planned out and he intends to get what he wants."
"Unfortunately," Abe said, "my appearance on the scene was a trigger. I know that personality type, and my role as protector is a direct threat to him. Plus, I've had a couple of direct confrontations with him. I have no doubt that's hard on his ego."
"The gradual progression had probably already been abandoned when Genevieve rebuffed Jason and dated her last husband instead." Gabriel paused. "I'm sure it was a crushing blow when she married him."
"Jason pulled out all the stops," Abe said. "Yet he hasn't managed to restore his damaged self-image."
Weston Lang looked up from his bank of monitors. The computer expert was in his late thirties, with dark hair styled in a trendy cut. "Tell me about this guy's digital footprint."
"That's what I was hoping you could help us figure out," Abe said. "He's got his own music company and must have strong resources to get to that point so fast."
Gabriel gestured toward the conference table in the center of the office. "Let's sit and compare notes."
Abe methodically shared the finer details of Jason's actions. Gabriel asked pertinent questions, his investigative mind already working through the implications.
"He's staying just within legal boundaries while maximizing emotional damage," he said.
"Exactly," Abe said. "Following us and taking piles of photos is no less than psychological intimidation. Yet he hired a professional to document Genevieve's activities, instead of risking getting caught."
"Sure, then it's more difficult to nail Jason with it," Gabriel said. "Let's find out who his business associates are, and whether there are others in the industry he's targeted besides Genevieve."
Abe nodded. "The more evidence the better."
Weston was listening. "I can pull together a comprehensive digital profile to include business filings, social media presence, and financial records."
"Thornton Music Group is of great interest," Abe said. "But I suspect there might be other business names or partnerships we don't know about yet."
The office door opened, and Amalie Durand entered with a cup of coffee and a laptop bag slung over her shoulder.
Gabriel's younger daughter had her father's penchant for investigation.
At nineteen, she was already a licensed private investigator and brought a generational perspective to their work that often proved invaluable.
"Sorry I'm late," she said, tossing her backpack on her desk. "I got caught up working on a background check for another case." She looked between the three men. "What's going on?"
Gabriel quickly brought his daughter up to speed.
When Amalie learned about the threats against Genevieve, she reacted.
"So, this Jason guy thinks he can intimidate a beloved blues singer and mess with my dad's new family?
" Her tone reminded Abe why Gabriel was so proud of her.
"Let me see what I can find," she said, then sat at her desk.
While Weston began his systematic digital investigation, Amalie opened her laptop and started what appeared to be a more intuitive search process. Her fingers flew over the keyboard. Abe watched as social media platforms, industry websites, and news sources flew by.
"Jason Thornton," she murmured, scanning search results. "Thornton Music Group launched two years ago. That's pretty recent for the kind of success he's apparently achieved."
Gabriel looked over her shoulder. "Genevieve dealt two crushing blows to his ego when she rejected him for another and then quit his band. Yet he waited to pursue her."
"It makes sense that Jason would rise to a power position," Abe said, "then develop his planned attack to get Genevieve back and make her pay for her rejection."
Amalie didn't appear to be searching randomly. She followed connections and cross-referenced information with investigative skill.
"Interesting," she said. "I'm finding some articles about his rapid rise in the industry.
" She clicked through several links. "This is definitely worth looking at.
" She turned her laptop screen toward the others.
"Check this out. There are at least three different music industry publications that have mentioned Thornton Music Group in the past year. The tone is…curious."
Gabriel leaned forward. "Curious how?"
"Like they're wondering how someone with relatively limited industry experience managed to secure some of the deals he's gotten," Amalie said. "They're not making accusations, but there's definitely an undercurrent of speculation."
She scrolled through another article. "This piece from New Orleans Music Scene mentions that several established labels were surprised when Thornton Music secured exclusive contracts with two major venues. Apparently, other labels had been negotiating for those same deals."