Chapter Fourteen #2
“You weren’t wearing it?” Nick asked. He chastised himself when her eyes lit with indignation.
Of course she hadn’t been wearing it. If he’d been paying attention to anything other than her tasseled dress and her red-painted mouth, he’d have known that.
“Sorry. I’m just trying to make sense of this.
You say it went missing from your desk?”
“I thought so,” she said with a nod.
“How does its absence correspond with the security alarms?” he asked.
She thought about it. “I noticed it missing the day after the first alert. Soledad and I combed every inch of this room to find it. We came up empty.”
“Okay,” Nick considered.
“Oh, God,” Sassy groaned. “What if you were right this whole time and someone did break in to the gallery? But that doesn’t make sense, either.
Why would they leave all the priceless art on the walls along with everything of value in the gift shop…
leave my computer here on my desk, even, and take the single piece of jewelry I left here that afternoon? ”
It didn’t make sense. Unless this whole thing was far more personal than either of them had bargained for. “I’ve been talking to some friends of mine,” Nick said. “They work in security. They suggest we install more security measures around the gallery.”
“How much will I have to pay to get it installed?” she asked measuredly. “I’m still car shopping, so my budget won’t stretch far.”
“I told you,” he reiterated, “they’re friends.”
“You can’t expect me to believe they’ll do all this work for free.”
“They will if you’re willing to advertise the name of their security firm on the entry door,” he said.
“Nick,” she breathed. “That’s far too generous.”
“The owner has a sister. She’s a small business owner, too. He knows how difficult it can be to juggle the books and the cost of security. His wife also happens to love Zephyr Gallery.”
“Tell me who she is and I’ll make sure to discount every piece she walks out the door with.” She let out a disbelieving laugh. “This is unbelievable.”
“Don’t worry about any intrusion or conflicts between the security installation and prep for the fundraiser,” he added quickly. “They can come in after hours and work on the new system. It shouldn’t take more than a couple hours to install. I’ll oversee everything, if it makes you feel better.”
“It might.” She smiled fully. “Thank you, Nick. I owe you.”
“That’s not how this works,” he argued. He placed a business card on her desk next to the silver cuff she had yet to touch.
“I talked to Theo at the Dodge lot. This is his cell number. He’ll talk to you about financing a new or used vehicle.
You’ve got the credit to secure a loan. He’ll cut you a good deal. ”
She picked up the card, read the numbers, and shook her head. “You did all this while believing I was mad at you?”
“I haven’t forgotten what I promised,” he told her.
“No,” she said, running the card between her first and middle finger. “You’ve never broken a promise to me. Ever.”
He tried not to watch the movement. “Are we good?”
She bobbed her chin in a nod. “We’re good.”
He wanted to hug her. Would it be wrong to do so? Had what had transpired at the Bootleg certified that casual affection between them would forever be misconstrued? He tapped his knee before standing. “I’ll see myself out.”
He made it to the door before she said his name.
She had risen to her feet as well. He noticed her hands clenched on the edge of the desk. She seemed to hesitate, as if struggling for the right thing to say. At last, she settled for, “Thank you for lunch and…everything else. I do owe you. I don’t care if you disagree.”
He snorted a laugh, though it made him sad to think that that was their relationship now.
Trading favors to keep the scales balanced.
“I’ll call you when I talk to the security firm,” he said in answer.
He eyed the cuff on the edge of her desk.
She still hadn’t touched it. “Let me know if you need anything else in the meantime.” Without waiting for her reply, he turned away and took the stairs down two at a time.
* * *
“I appreciate you both taking the time to discuss this,” Nick said as he eased onto Chayton’s couch.
He’d driven straight from Zephyr Gallery to the reservation for the prearranged meeting.
Ava had gone to the hospital to check in with Fern while her mother babysat Gracie.
Nick knew how close Ava and Sassy were. He didn’t want word of this getting back to her.
Not yet. “I know you’re busy, so I’ll get right to the point.
” He glanced at Jacob. “Did you find any information on Ryder?”
Jacob sat forward over his knees, elbows braced on his thighs. He clasped his hands between them. “I looked into him. He appears to be clean. But there was something weird about his background.” He lifted a hand to Chay. “I brought it to Chay to see if he’d draw the same conclusion.”
Chay picked up the discussion. “Ryder’s background is incomplete.”
Nick frowned. “I thought you could do a complete background check.”
“I can,” Jacob confirmed. “But if someone’s living under an alias, law enforcement sees only what they want us to see on paper.”
Chay nodded agreement. “Fletcher Ryder’s paper trail began three years ago.”
“Before that,” Jacob continued, “nothing.”
“You’re saying the guy Soledad’s dating is operating under a false ID?” Nick asked.
“More than likely,” Chay agreed.
“Which means he’s hiding who he really is?” Nick ventured. “Why would he do that?”
“Could be he’s hiding out from someone,” Jacob noted. “Maybe he witnessed something he wasn’t supposed to. Maybe he owes money to the wrong people. Creditors, loan sharks, gambling debts, etc.”
“Or,” Chay cut in, “he’s got a record he doesn’t want anyone to know about.”
“How do we find out?” Nick asked, his head spinning with possibilities.
“Before we get into that,” Chay said, “why don’t you tell us what your interest in this person is?”
“Does this have anything to do with the attempted break-in at Sassy’s?” Jacob asked. “Or the near hit-and-run involving her on Main Street?”
“I’m not certain exactly,” Nick said. “But here’s what I do know.
On two separate occasions, the security alarm for the back door of Zephyr Gallery has tripped in the middle of the night.
The first night, the security footage shows nothing.
On the second, there’s movement, but it’s hard to decipher what or who is there.
Sassy noticed that a silver bracelet she left on her desk was missing from the gallery the day after the first alert.
The bracelet reappeared at our table at the Bootleg a few days ago. ”
“Could she have been wearing it that night?” Jacob asked.
Nick shook his head. “She wasn’t wearing jewelry that night.”
“Let me guess,” Chay said. “You saw Fletcher Ryder there that night.”
“He was sitting at the same table,” Nick revealed. “Soledad, too.”
“Is there a chance she may have witnessed him placing the bracelet on the table?” Jacob asked.
“I haven’t asked,” Nick said with trepidation. “From what I can tell, the relationship between them is new, but she’s happy with him.”
“Are they intimate?” Jacob asked.
“Why?”
“Because if he’s got access to her house, more than likely he has access to her key to the gallery,” Chay pointed out. “I assume you’ve checked for signs of a break-in?”
“The night of the second alert, yes,” Nick answered. “There weren’t any.”
“Which means if he’s gaining entry into the gallery without breaking and entering, he’s got opportunity and means,” Chay concluded.
“There’s another issue that complicates this further,” Nick pointed out. “Sassy added one of his art pieces to the charity auction catalog. If it does well during the Colton fundraiser, she’s offered him a chance to display his work at Zephyr.”
“So she doesn’t suspect him,” Jacob guessed.
“I don’t think so,” Nick said.
Chay narrowed his eyes. “I’m surprised you haven’t told her. You two are tight.”
The wave of uncertainty and guilt warred with his determination to see this through.
He knew in his bones that Sassy wasn’t safe.
He’d realized belatedly after moving out that he’d left her alone.
He had spent several sleepless nights wondering if he should stop by and check to make sure her doors were locked and that no one was lurking about.
He had a duty to keep her safe. His gut told him that the near hit-and-run and the break-ins at both Zephyr and her house had to be related. He couldn’t even conceive of the events being part of some wild coincidence.
Maybe he should have informed her of his theory that Fletcher Ryder was involved. Though she did have a lot on her mind with the renovation, the Bronco and the fund-raiser. Not to mention what he had allowed to happen at the Bootleg.
He buried the recollection, digging his fingers into his knees. “I’ll tell her in due time. But I need evidence if I’m going to accuse a man of theft.”
“How do you plan on getting it?” Jacob asked.
“I made a call to a friend at a security firm,” Nick replied. “He’s going to install a new security system at Zephyr to curtail any more break-ins. They’re also going to place hidden cameras on the gallery floor, the gift shop, the storeroom and outside Sassy’s office.”
“Does she know this?” Jacob asked.
“She knows about the security system,” Nick noted. “Not the hidden cameras.”
“Don’t you think she should?” Jacob pressed. “It’s her building.”
“We’ll be lucky if whoever’s doing this doesn’t catch on to the new security measures and decide to cut his losses where the gallery is concerned,” Nick explained.
“If she starts acting differently or changes her pattern of behavior because she knows what’s going on, it’ll double the chances of letting this asswipe off the hook. ”
Chay’s frown deepened. “You’ll need to at least contact police to make sure the surveillance is all aboveboard.”
“That’s the next step,” Nick said. “I was hoping one or both of you could use your contacts in the Dark Canyon Police Department to help.”
Jacob nodded slowly. “I can talk to Dad, too. See if he can’t use his political influence to get the ball rolling before the fundraiser. If Ryder is responsible and his piece does well at the auction, he’ll have his foot further through the door of Zephyr Gallery.”
“And more time alone with Sassy,” Chay said. “If he’s the one trying to get into her house, this is personal.”
Nick’s gut twisted. “I know,” he said with a swallow.
“He’s potentially violent as well, if he’s the one behind what happened on Main Street,” Jacob expounded.
The situation felt volatile. The instability of the house of cards Nick was building to keep Sassy safe made him want to hold his breath. “Do you think the detectives at DCPD will set up a sting?”
“Ryder will be there the night of the fundraiser, correct?” Chay asked.
Nick nodded. “All of Sassy’s artists will be.”
“He’ll likely make a move then,” Chay concluded, looking to Jacob in question.
“It’s probable,” Jacob said. “I’ll talk to Dad this afternoon and call you when we have a meeting set up with the chief of police.”
“Please ask your father not to mention anything to Sassy’s parents,” Nick requested. “I know the family’s close, but if this is going to work, we need as few people to know about this as possible.”
“What if we request that police send a patrol car to sit outside her house?” Jacob asked. “That’ll give us some peace of mind about her home safety.”
“That’s something you can tell her,” Chay said.
Nick nodded in agreement. “I’ll sleep better knowing she’s okay there alone.”
“We all will,” Jacob said. “You’ve done some good investigative work here, Nick. The chief’s going to ask you to join his investigative unit once your wrist’s healed.”
Nick circled his wrapped wrist with his good hand.
Even the dregs of pain had started to ebb.
He would start physical therapy exercises soon to get his strength back up.
His return to work couldn’t come soon enough with bills piling up.
“I like where I’m at,” he claimed. He missed making a difference in people’s lives every day.
Would he have been able to deduce what was going on with the gallery and Ryder’s possible involvement if he hadn’t been on sick leave? Maybe spraining his wrist had been a good thing in disguise.