Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
“ W ell, that was a crazy morning,” Cade said, closing the door to Doc’s clinic behind him. Poppy had shown up fifteen minutes earlier and was going to wait for Scarlet and Daisy so she could accompany them home.
“I’ll say,” Matt replied as they began the short, four-block trek from Doc’s back to their cars, which were still parked at Ray’s Diner. “Don’t think either of us had any of that on our bingo cards for today.”
Ever since coming to Hudson Island, most of Matt’s days had been pretty mellow. Routine even. Hell, some would say his days were flat-out boring. But he would say they were therapeutic. A word that up until last year, he’d never given much headspace to.
Matt’s time on Hudson had been focused on getting back into shape—both physically and mentally. He was easily stronger, faster, and more skilled than he’d been while on the force. After all, he spent most of his time working out. From his sunrise runs, then sparring or helping out with training at Cade’s fight gym, to brushing up on his tactical skills with Gavin’s crew, he was in impeccable form. He’d never been stronger.
His mental recovery was another story. After the shooting, he’d started going to therapy twice a week—as mandated by the SPD. Eventually, those bi-weekly sessions had morphed into monthly, then into calls every six weeks. He could admit to himself that he’d come a long way. The anger, frustration, and bitterness he’d wrestled with when he’d attended his first appointment had eased considerably.
Hours on his therapist’s couch and numerous sessions pounding the shit out of a heavy bag had helped him realize that while some of his issues stemmed from getting shot, the largest culprit was what had followed the attack. Namely, the implosion of his marriage.
The fact that he could even pinpoint where his issues came from was a win. Forget that his therapist kept reminding him that avoidance coping wasn’t the healthiest. He’d fucking live.
“So, my friend, I know why I had to split,” Cade said in a nonchalant way that Matt knew was anything but. “I have a meeting to get to. But why did you leave so fast?”
Matt suppressed a sigh. Because more than anything, he’d wanted to stick around. Wanted to know that Daisy was okay. That Scarlet was okay. But fuck, ever since they’d met, he’d barely strung together more than a handful of sentences in her presence. So it hadn’t been his place to stay. At all. Even if he was always hyperaware of her, always trying to make sure she and her daughter were okay.
But there was no way in hell Matt was telling Cade any of that. Avoidance coping? Absolutely.
His phone dinged. Grateful for the interruption, he pulled it from his pocket and read the text from Gavin. He sent up a prayer of thanks to the universe, fired off a quick response, and turned to his friend. “I also have a meeting.”
Cade’s brow furrowed. “With who?”
“Gavin.” As of thirty fucking seconds ago, his four o’clock meeting had moved to half an hour from now.
“Are you assisting on one of their cases again?”
Matt was tempted to give a vague answer, but Cade was his best friend. He paused mid-step and let out a breath. “Actually, no.”
Cade stopped, and the concern on his face grew. “Everything okay, man?”
The corners of Matt’s lips twitched. “Yeah,” he said as he resumed walking with Cade in step beside him. “So... I put in my resignation this morning. Officially. And I’m going to work for Gavin.” He looked at his friend in wonder. “I’m apparently signing paperwork and all that shit today.”
Cade stared at him for a moment, slack-jawed. Then he let out a deafening whoop and pulled Matt into a bruising hug. “It’s about fucking time, brother!”
Matt laughed and slapped his friend on the back. A weight lifted from his shoulders. Holy shit, saying it out loud—with this kind of reception—was such a damn relief.
“Thanks, man.” He shook his head, still not quite believing it was all real. “Even with the medical leave I took, and then the additional extensions, I still had another five weeks of vacation and sick time racked up. But I figured enough was enough.”
“Fuck yeah, man!” Cade said, clapping his hands together.
Matt laughed at his friend’s exuberance.
“So you’re here permanently, then?”
Matt nodded and the corners of his lips pulled up. “That’s the plan.”
“Good,” Cade said. “You keeping your place in Seattle or selling?”
His house in Seattle had been sitting vacant for the last year. As much as he liked the old Craftsman, too much shit had gone down within those walls, within that city. Sure, he’d still return once in a while to visit his brother, sister-in-law, and folks since they all lived there, but otherwise, he was done with that chapter of his life.
A glance around Hudson’s charming downtown had his insides settling, relaxing. There was no baggage here. No soul-crushing memories. Though it had taken a while, he finally accepted that this little slice of the Pacific Northwest was his new home.
“Selling.” Matt shrugged. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Cade said with another backslap.
Matt smiled as they reached their vehicles. He was glad, too.
“Well, after you meet with Gavin, swing by the house around five. We’ll throw some steaks on the grill, crack open a couple beers to celebrate your new job, and run over all the cat stuff.”
With a chuckle, Matt opened the door to his truck. “Will do. But isn’t the cat stuff just food and water?”
“Oh fuck no, man. Poppy has a whole routine with those damn cats.” Cade heaved out an exasperated sigh, but his grin told a different story. The guy would do anything for his woman, crazy cat routines and all. He was that besotted. Not that anyone could blame him. Poppy was pretty cool.
Matt’s mind flashed to Scarlet, and he wanted to kick himself. There were a million reasons why he needed to stay away from the young woman. And he would. He wasn’t the kind of man she needed in her life. She deserved a partner who didn’t have as much baggage as him, and someone who was a whole hell of a lot closer to her age.
Waving goodbye to Cade, Matt told himself that his concern for Scarlet was based solely on the events that had transpired this morning. It was neighborly concern. That was it. That was all it could be.
Twenty minutes later, Matt pulled into the Hudson Security parking lot. He crumpled the wrapper of the protein bar he’d just wolfed down and stuffed it into the small trash bin next to his seat. Taking a deep breath to quell the sudden nerves in his stomach, he made his way to the building’s front door.
“Hi, Mel,” he said once he was buzzed inside, greeting the receptionist he’d met on a handful of occasions.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Alvarez,” she said, motioning to the small seating area. “Gavin’s expecting you and will be right out.”
“Thanks, and you can just call me Matt or Alvarez.”
“Of course, sir.”
Matt suppressed a cringe. He understood formalities. He did. But damn if sir didn’t make him feel ancient. Taking a seat, he blew out another breath.
Holy shit, this is really happening.
Matt didn’t have to wait long before Gavin opened the door separating the reception area from the secured offices.
“Mel,” Gavin began, “I know you two have already met, but Alvarez is officially joining our team. Can you get him set up with access cards and all that good stuff? We’ll be meeting in the main conference room for a couple hours.”
“You got it, Gavin,” she said, then turned and flashed Matt a smile. “Welcome to the team. I’ll have everything you need ready by the time you leave today.”
“Appreciate it,” he replied, once again impressed by the efficiency of the operation. With the SPD, it had taken two full days to get a new key card when his had suddenly stopped working.
Following Gavin, he took in the open floor plan of the office space. In the center was an array of workspaces and tables that reminded him of his former bullpen. However, unlike his former bullpen, the area didn’t induce claustrophobia. The entire far wall was floor-to-ceiling windows—bulletproof, of course—that made the space feel enormous.
To the left were closed doors, which he knew led to management’s private offices. To the right, where they were heading, waited numerous conference rooms.
Entering one behind Gavin, Matt waved at Bean, who was seated at the end of the large conference table, laptop open in front of her. She returned his wave with a smile, then refocused her attention on her screen.
“Alvarez, have you met Esmerelda Abara?” Gavin asked, drawing Matt’s attention to the woman who walked into the conference room behind them.
Esmerelda looked to be in her early to mid-thirties, five-five, and athletically trim. Dressed in sky-high heels and a light-gray pantsuit, her white blouse popped against her bronze skin. Her long, wavy black hair was slicked back into a high ponytail. Simply put, the woman was stunning. But more than that, there was a sharp, no-nonsense air about her.
“Esmerelda keeps this place running and everyone in line,” Gavin said. “She handles all the logistics for the teams and—thankfully—all the HR paperwork, too. She works remotely from Seattle and comes into the office for a day or two every few weeks, but she’ll be relocating to Hudson soon.”
“In your dreams, Frazier.” She chuckled and held out her hand. “Welcome, Mr. Alvarez. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Accepting her firm handshake, he said, “Matt, please. Or just Alvarez is fine.”
“Drop the formalities. Got it. And please, call me Esme.” She opened the manila folder she was carrying and held out a small stack of papers. “Fill these out and bring them back to me before you leave today. I’ll get you set up in our system.” She glanced at Gavin. “Discuss compensation, please. Preferably before you get into the cases. Then text me immediately with the final number.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Gavin said with a salute.
Esme turned on her heel, closing the door behind her.
Gavin gestured to the conference table and sat at the opposite end from Bean, who was now speaking into her headset. “As Esme mentioned,” he began, “we never talked compensation.”
Matt would take the job regardless—he was pretty sure they both knew that—but he was still curious to hear Gavin’s offer. Hudson Security was a world-renowned firm with deep pockets. Plus, all the employees Matt had encountered seemed to be doing fine money-wise. But what did he know? At worst, he assumed he’d be paid about what he’d made as a detective with the SPD, which had been a six-figure salary. Nothing to sneeze at.
Luckily, he was in a position to be flexible. After all, he lived rent-free at his brother’s place, had a sizable savings account, and was pretty damn frugal. It also helped that he’d had a top-tier divorce attorney, courtesy of one of his brother’s friends, so he’d come out of that clusterfuck relatively unscathed. Financially, that is. Once he sold his house in Seattle, he’d be more than comfortable.
“We’re not much for titles around here,” Gavin said, “but the deal’s full-time and salaried. Most likely some travel with expenses covered by the company. We pulled how much you were making at SPD?—”
Matt’s eyebrows shot up.
“What?” Gavin grinned, nodding toward Bean. “Blame her. She came up with the info.”
“There’s nothing to blame me for,” Bean said, ending her call. “You were a government employee; it’s all public information. You just need to know where to look.” She threw him an innocent smile and shrugged. “And I do.”
Matt chuckled. “Even if it wasn’t public information, I’m sure you’d find it.”
“And you’d be correct.” She gulped down some sort of fluorescent-green drink, and Matt tried not to cringe. “Truthfully, I didn’t realize detectives made that much. But seeing as you’ve been with the SPD for over eighteen years and steadily worked your way up, it makes sense. Not a bad gig. I’m surprised they didn’t try harder to keep you.”
“They did.” But there had been too many extenuating circumstances.
“Well, lucky us, then.” Bean toasted him with her glass. “Besides, this gig is better. Trust me.”
“Speaking of,” Gavin said, giving Bean a pointed look. Which had her eyes rolling and Matt biting back a laugh. “How does double your old salary work?”
His jaw dropped. There was no way he’d heard that right. “Are you serious?”
“Very.”
No way. “That’s nearly three hundred grand.”
“I can do math, Alvarez.”
Bean smirked. “Told you the gig’s better here. And there’s no bureaucratic bullshit. Just Gavin’s bullshit.”
Gavin tilted his head toward Bean. “What she said. There’s also full medical, dental, 401(k), and all that shit. You in?”
For a moment, Matt could only blink.
“Is that a yes?” Gavin waved his phone in the air. “I need to let Esme know before she comes back in here and stabs me or something.”
Bean snorted. “Like she’d ever be so obvious.” She caught Matt’s gaze. “Don’t let Esme’s pantsuits, spreadsheets, and impeccable organizational skills fool you. That chick’s a badass. Pretty sure she could kill you with her baby toe.”
A grin spread over Matt’s face, and he nodded. “Hell yeah. Let’s do this.”
He wasn’t quite sure what he’d just gotten himself into, but he studied the two people in the room with him and felt no trepidation. Gavin Frazier was solid. Easily one of the smartest and best men he knew, not to mention the deadliest. And Bean. He had no clue what her last name was, or her first name, for that matter, but he was beginning to think that was intentional. Rumor had it the petite brunette dynamo was one of the top hackers—oh, sorry, IT specialists —in the world.
Then there was the woman handling his HR paperwork, who was apparently Black Widow in disguise. Everyone he’d met at Hudson Security was top-notch. Yeah... this was a team he wanted to be part of.
“Welcome aboard, Alvarez,” Gavin said, sliding a pen across the table. “Now fill out that paperwork because Bean wasn’t lying about Esme.”
Once Matt’s HR paperwork was completed, Esme came to collect it. She was heading out to catch the ferry back to Seattle, but she promised he’d have a copy of all his employment paperwork in his new, secure inbox within the next two hours. Of that, he had no doubt. The woman screamed competence.
Gavin placed a bottle of water next to Bean, then held one up to Matt, brows raised in question. At Matt’s nod, Gavin tossed the bottle over and retook his seat. “As you know, we have a number of high-profile clients and usually ten to twenty cases going at any given time. Right now, one such client has a twenty-four-year-old son who’s gone missing. The family believes he was abducted while on vacation down in Mexico. The son had round-the-clock security with him, but they were subdued. We’ve gathered some intel and would like you to take a look. We know what we think, but I’d like to get your opinion.”
“You don’t think he was abducted?” Matt asked, breaking the seal of his water and taking a drink.
Gavin shrugged. “I’d like you to take a look before sharing my thoughts.”
“That’s fair. I’ll happily take a look at what you’ve got.”
A ding from Bean’s computer, and her subsequent curse, had their attention moving to the woman.
“What’s up, B?” Gavin asked.
“Got a hit,” she said, her nose scrunching as she typed. Then, turning her attention to Matt, she clarified, “I have a facial recognition program running constantly that monitors Hudson’s comings and goings.”
“Like the Hudson Security property?” Matt asked.
“Well, that too, but I meant Hudson Island.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “How the hell do you monitor an entire island?”
A grin played at the edges of her lips. “Basically, the only way on our lovely island is the ferry”—she held up a hand, forestalling the comment on the tip of his tongue—“I know there are technically other ways, but ninety-nine point nine percent of people come through the ferry terminal. So, I have my program monitoring the cameras there. I get a notification when anyone on the local, state, or federal watch lists visits. Then depending on who they are and what they’ve done, I inform whoever needs to know.”
Matt’s brow furrowed. “Is that le?—”
“Excuse me?” The glare she sent him made his balls shrivel and his mouth slam shut. Right. No asking her about the legalities of shit.
“You’re a fast learner.” Gavin chuckled. “So, the personal security side of our operation is pretty straightforward. People need bodyguards; we assign them accordingly. The investigative side, like the Mexico case, is more complicated. That’s where we could use your help. Oliver handles everything originating outside the US and has a couple cases he’d like extra eyes on.”
Oliver MacKay was the second-in-command of Hudson Security. Though Matt had never met him personally—the man wasn’t based out of Hudson Island—they’d been on a handful of video calls together.
Matt’s phone dinged an incoming text.
“Sorry about that,” he said, pulling his phone from his pocket with the intention of silencing it. When he glanced at the text from an unknown number, however, he frowned. “Do you mind if I check this real quick?”
“Everything okay?” Bean asked at the same time Gavin said, “Go right ahead.”
Opening the text, a photo filled his screen. He smiled.
It was a picture of Daisy with a giant grin. Her lips and part of her cheek were stained bright blue from the Otter Pop she held in her good hand. She was wearing the same unicorn outfit as earlier, but now a tiny hot-pink cast covered her right forearm. Her beloved Mr. Slothy was clutched in the crook of her left arm. The text underneath read, Thank you SO MUCH for everything!
Letting out a breath, Matt put his phone on silent and placed it face-down on the table. “Sorry about that.”
“Holy shit,” Bean murmured, eyes wide as she stared at him.
Taking a drink of water, he looked at her in question.
“Damn, Alvarez.” She fanned herself with a manila folder. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that. Warn a woman next time, will ya?”
Matt choked, and water sprayed from his mouth. Gavin laughed, so Matt flipped him off. Clearing his throat, face hot, he wiped up the spilled water with the napkin Gavin had tossed at him. “Uh, thanks, Bean. I think.”
“No, thank you . And thank whoever it is that texted you.”
“You know Scarlet from Ray’s Diner?” When they both nodded, Matt continued, “Her daughter, Daisy, broke her arm at day care this morning. Cade and I were there when Scarlet got the news, so we drove her.” He waved at his phone. “She just sent me a picture of Daisy in her cast.”
Bean grimaced. “Yikes, poor kid. Is she okay?”
“Seems like it.”
“Good. Kids are resilient.” Gavin glanced at Bean. “Can we get back to work?”
“Ease up, boss,” she said as an image popped up on the conference room’s wall-sized Smartboard. “Unlike you jokers, I’m capable of multitasking. Now, back to my facial recognition program...”