Chapter 4 Bree #2
Callie took my place at the desk, trying to appear busy as she shuffled papers. “I’ll text you if anyone comes in.”
“Thanks.” I jiggled Elliot’s doorknob, not surprised to find it locked.
Reaching for my ring of keys, I found the one I’d duplicated last week.
He never noticed I’d taken it to make a copy during one of his luncheons, returning it before he arrived back in his office.
The key slid in, and I turned it, popping the lock.
Just in case, I turned the lock again once I was inside, hoping that would deter anyone who tried to walk in.
His office was dark, and I left the lights off, crossing the room to his desk and pulling out his seat.
I sat down, turning on the computer, almost flinching when the monitor lit up.
He never changed his password unless prompted, so I logged in easily.
Since I knew most of the folders Elliot kept his files in, I noticed the ones that seemed named oddly.
I began clicking on the contents and gasped at the shit he kept on a computer that anyone could access.
I inserted the flash drive and began uploading, not worrying about separating what I put on it.
I could do that later. For now, I just needed to get this information and get the hell out of his office. Being in here gave me the creeps.
I heard Callie’s voice greet someone outside.
Shit!
Files were still being copied. I couldn’t pull the flash drive out yet. It would corrupt the data, and I didn’t know when I’d get another chance to do this.
I clicked off the monitor, plunging the room into darkness. Ducking down, I slid beneath his desk, pulling the chair in as I hid.
My heart began pumping faster as I tried to breathe quietly, listening as the door unlocked and swung open.
“Thank you, Callie. I won’t be long.”
How the hell was the mayor back here so soon?
The light flipped on, and I froze, hoping he didn’t need anything from his desk. The door shut, and I heard footsteps as Elliot crossed the room, stopping in front of the picture that hung over his bookcase. I could tell from the placement of his shoes from the gap at the bottom of the desk.
He stood in place. I heard something creak and then what sounded like a dial spinning, similar to a combination lock. There was a light popping sound and then crinkling paper.
How odd.
Something made a sucking sound and then another click, followed by the picture smacking into the wall.
Holy shit. Elliot had a private safe behind the framed photo of the U.S. Constitution—a copy, of course, not the original.
What did he hide in there?
The mayor walked briskly to the door and flipped the switch. In the dark again, I felt less exposed. He left, closing the door and locking it behind him.
I blew out a breath, waiting for a couple of minutes to be sure he was gone. Holy shit that had been close.
I stood, turning his monitor back on, relieved to see that everything I had copied was finished. I covered my tracks, returning all the folders and files to how I had found them, logging off his computer.
I had the flash drive in the pocket of my dress pants when I stopped, staring at the picture on the mayor’s wall.
Would he have locked his safe? Surely.
I decided to check anyway, carefully moving the picture away from the wall and reaching for the dial. The door popped open, swinging on a hinge. He’d left in such a hurry he didn’t push it shut all the way.
Wads of cash, stacks of documents, and several file folders were stuffed inside. This was probably stupid, but I pulled out the file folders and documents, scanning through the sheets that included identification records for some of his employees, receipts for several different Casinos, and photos.
Blackmail photos.
I instantly recognized the emblem on the leather vests in the pictures—Devil’s Murder MC. Flipping through the stack, I stopped when I found the face of the V.P.
Raven. Still as handsome as ever with those brutally raw blue eyes and a jaw chiseled from stone. He looked savage in this photograph like something had really pissed him off.
Why was the mayor keeping tabs on their club?
More photos showed the mayor with his arm around each of the missing girls, including Sadie, Callie’s sister. Shit. This could be evidence.
I pulled out my phone and started taking snapshots, cataloging all that information for later use. Maybe I could figure out how the missing girls, the bikers, and the Casinos all fit together. There had to be something.
When I finally opened the door, Callie crashed into me, practically sobbing.
“Oh, my God! I thought something had happened to you. You were in there for so long,” she wailed, swiping at the tears on her cheeks. “I’m not sure Mayor Goodman believed I was covering for you while you used the ladies’ room.”
“It was a good cover. I’m fine.” I sat down on one of the couches, pulling out my phone. I showed Callie what I’d found, handing over my cell so she could look at Sadie’s picture.
“She’s in trouble, Bree. I know it. They took her, and I’m never going to see her again!”
“Hey, calm down. We don’t know anything yet, but it’s enough to share with Agent Phillips and maybe get a search warrant.”
“You think?”
“Yes. We need to log off our computers for the night and get out of this office. It’s getting late.”
“Shit,” she cursed. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
My fingers reached into my pocket, clutching the USB drive in my hand. Whatever data was on here was dangerous. I didn’t like the fact that I didn’t have time to go through it. The sooner I handed it over to the FBI, the better I’d feel.
On a whim, I pulled it from my pocket and tucked it into my bra. The cup had a slight gap, a tiny pocket where this would fit and remain secure until I needed it.
Gathering up my things, I left the office, feeling optimistic that Agent Phillips would have what he needed to expose the mayor.