Operation Ford Focus
Maddox
On the phone, Cal was saying, "We found it in the Wexford parking garage."
He meant the Wexford Hotel. I knew the place. Not personally. But I'd driven by a time or two.
Or a thousand.
The hotel was in a decent area with semi-adequate security, which meant that Delaney's Ford Focus was reasonably safe.
More to the point, Delaney would be safe if she chose to retrieve it alone. Of course, she'd be safer with someone else, which was why I was planning to go with her – and pay the parking tab to move it closer.
This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. A few hours ago, while Delaney had left to change her clothes, I'd sent Cal a detailed text, asking him to locate her car and make sure it was fine.
So far, so good.
But then Cal added, "But there's a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"They're about to tow it."
I frowned. "After one day? You're shitting me."
"Nope. Apparently, her car alarm's been going off every half-hour, and it's getting complaints."
Screw the complaints. "So where are they towing it to?"
"Some impound lot, maybe ten miles away."
The hell they were. "No. They're not."
Cal paused. "Meaning?"
"Have them tow it here instead."
"Here?"
"To the building where her sister lives. Grease some palms if you have to."
Cal chuckled. "So you want the alarm blaring there?"
Shit. The car was so old, I was surprised it had an alarm. "Right. Scratch that. Take it to a good mechanic."
Sounding amused, he asked, "On a Sunday?"
If this were anyone else, I'd be snapping at them to just handle it.
But Cal wasn't just anyone. If something needed doing, he did it. No micro-managing needed.
Which meant…
Fuck.
I sighed. "You're loving this, aren't you?"
"Me?" He chuckled. "Nah."
I should've been pissed. But more than that, I should've gotten the joke right away. I bit back another sigh. "You've already called the mechanic, haven't you?"
"Yup." He sounded smug as hell.
I didn't like being predictable, especially today when my behavior was anything but.
Then again, Cal had been reading me like a book since I was twelve. There was a reason he'd been the only bodyguard who'd ever managed to keep me out of trouble.
Even so, I'd found plenty on my own.
Ask anyone on the internet.
They'll tell you.
Cal added, "But I had to promise triple his going rate." A smile crept into his voice. "So…should I send the bill to her or…?" He let the sentence hang like a punchline waiting to happen.
"Sure, if you're looking for an ass-kicking."
He laughed. "From her?"
I didn't dignify this with a response. "When it's done, have the car dropped here, not at the Wexford."
As I spoke, I glanced at my watch. Delaney would be returning any minute, unless she'd gotten waylaid by that woman in the elevator.
I'd been trying not to think about it – or imagine the kind of poisonous nonsense the woman might be spewing, even now, while I was here waiting.
No. Not just waiting.
I'd been productive, using the time to get a handle on the car situation instead of dwelling on something I couldn't control.
Still, the time without Delaney had gone slowly – too slowly, considering how often I'd been checking my watch.
I couldn't seem to help it. The penthouse had felt strangely empty ever since she'd left, which made no sense, considering the place wasn't even mine.
As far as the car's sudden relocation, it would require some explaining – not much, just enough to let Delaney know where the Ford was going and why.
What I wouldn't be saying was how much the move and repairs would cost. That wasn't Delaney's problem, and I intended to keep it that way.
Besides, I would be doing enough explaining once I told her the rest of it – what brought me to this building and why.