Chapter 45
Forty-Five
brISTOL SHOWERED, dressed, made a cup of Earl Grey, then stood staring at the door. She had to face him. Might as well get it over with. She glanced at her watch. And she’d best hurry before Dalton showed up.
Taking a deep breath, she headed across the hall, praying this wouldn’t be as humiliating as she imagined.
And what was up with her praying? She didn’t believe in God, right?
She’d given up on Him when He hadn’t protected her and her siblings from their parents’ schemes.
Tears burned her eyes. Her siblings . . .
She kept tabs on them. She wondered if they ever thought of her.
The door opened.
“Are you going to come in?” Aubry asked, decked out in black dress pants and a hunter green button-down shirt that brought out the flecks of green in his eyes.
“You okay?” he asked, studying her.
“Yep. Only had one cup of tea, not enough caffeine consumption.” Which was true.
“Come on in. Coffee’s on.” He stepped back, allowing her passage.
Two steps in and she stilled. Great. Agent Baxter.
“Bristol.” He greeted her with a nod.
“Baxter.” She did the same.
“I hear we have a surprise today.”
She shifted her gaze to Aubry, who was in the midst of pouring her a cup of steaming coffee—its aroma tantalizing.
“We have to be prepared to pivot fast should the surprise be in more than one place or—”
“Or,” Aubry said, “if it goes bad.”
She took a sharp inhale. She understood that was a possibility—probably a far bigger one than she wanted to think about.
“I got your mics in place.” He handed her the still-steaming mug, then moved to the end table by Baxter’s chair. Lifting the necklace, he brought it over to her mid-sip.
“May I?” he asked, holding it between his hands.
She swallowed at the memory of her hand being in his, as short as those seconds were.
“Sure.” She lifted her hair in her free hand. She’d worn her hair down for the day, cresting mid-back.
Once again, his touch sent shivers through her already mortified self. She hoped he didn’t notice. If he did, he didn’t mention it this time.
“Let’s test it out. Go into the restroom.”
“All right.” She stepped into the bathroom, and he shut the door behind her. She waited a few seconds before saying, “Testing, testing.”
“Did it work?” she asked, returning to the main room.
“Loud and clear.” He gave her a thumbs-up.
At least that was reassuring. She had no idea what the surprise was, and a nervous energy tracked through her. How could she be on her game, ready to go, without knowing the plan?
“We expect you’ll end up at Dalton’s house at some point today, so we need you to prioritize finding his ledger,” Baxter said, crossing one leg over the other, his Foster browns shiny at the toe.
“What ledger?”
“Dalton continues to have conversations about his ledger with Miquel. If you’d placed the bug in his office as instructed, we’d probably know exactly where it is by now.”
Oh, she could bet where, but the question was, Had Aubry told Baxter about the second office?
“We’ve also heard him reference the ledger while on the phone, but we have yet to discover who he’s talking to. He mentioned his next business trip and taking the ‘book’ with him. We think that denotes the ledger, and we need to get it before he moves it to who-knows-where.”
“You’re the FBI. I thought you pulled phone records and that kind of stuff.”
“We do,” Baxter half said, half grunted. “Unfortunately, the call goes to a number for a place that doesn’t exist.”
“Location?” she asked.
“There’s a supposed business attached to the number, and we know it’s based in Vegas. We can tell that much.”
Her stomach sank.
Aubry gazed at her with compassion, or was it pity?
She didn’t want anyone’s pity and especially not his.
Her childhood was what it was. No changing it now.
Besides, she’d made it out of her parents’ home and out of Vegas .
. . leaving her siblings behind. She bit her bottom lip hard, trying to stave off the tears pricking at her eyes.
“Well, I’m on my way out for the day,” Baxter said, heading for the door. “Good luck today, Aubry.”
Aubry? Last she’d looked, she was the one going into a viper’s nest. Not Aubry.
The door shut, and she turned, totally missing Baxter exiting through it.
“You okay?” Aubry asked.
“Yeah.” As far as he was concerned, she was always fine. She’d tried being vulnerable with him, and all it had gotten her was humiliation.
He stepped closer, the scent of his cedar aftershave swirling around her. Of course he’d smell great too. “I know what we’re asking of you. It’s dangerous, and Vegas must hold horrible memories for you.”
“I’m fine on Vegas. Let’s leave it there.”
“Understood.” He nodded, but that compassion filled his gaze again.
“As far as the dangerous part, that’s the purpose of this gig, right? Send me in to get what you need, and if I die in the process, so be it.” Okay. That was too far. She was being mean. She’d let the embarrassment take a nasty turn.
He stepped closer still. “You know that isn’t true.”
She shifted her stance, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Do I?”
“I care if you die. I care—” He cut his own words off.
“You going to finish that sentence?” Had she really just asked that? She was losing it, man. She ran a shaky hand through her hair. Get it together, Bri.
“I care about you. . . . There’s so much wrong with that sentence.”
He couldn’t possibly . . . “Why? Because I’m your detail, your protection?” She tapped her necklace. “And aren’t people listening?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I only send the recordings to Baxter per his request.”
“I’m guessing you won’t be sending this one.”
“No, I will not.”
She stood there, silence filling the small space between them.
“I—” he started.
“And the dangerous part?” she said, cutting him off.
“Baxter’s orders.”
“So you’re saying you wouldn’t send me in there if it were up to you?”
He hesitated, clearly mulling that one over.
“No, I wouldn’t. It’s too risky.”
She placed a hand on her hip. “Wasn’t that the reason you got me out?”
“Yes, but . . .”
“But?”
“But I’m not comfortable with the level of risk. Unfortunately, Baxter makes the calls.”
“And I’m to find a ledger? Dalton probably keeps it in a safe or lockbox.”
“I think you’re right. I hear something shut after he mentions the ledger.
Maybe a safe, like you said, or a drawer.
A secret compartment in his desk, that sort of thing.
He’s also mentioned having a large sum of cash on hand to someone on the phone, who we think is his boss.
The money seems to be a payment to the higher up. ”
“Why do you think that?”
“I heard him talking about a couple hundred grand he got for one of his girls—”
“Disgusting,” she cut in.
“Very. And he mentioned something about bringing it on his next trip.”
She swallowed. “His next trip to Vegas?”
“He didn’t say. Only that he’d bring it on his next trip, but no location. Regardless, take your time. Wait until Dalton is distracted. Say you have to use the restroom and see if the ledger is in that upstairs office.”
“You told Baxter about the secret office?”
“It hasn’t come up, but I’m afraid we need that ledger to bring down Dalton’s operation. We can’t risk tipping our hand with a raid until we know the ledger is in the house. Just say ‘got it’ when you find it, and we’ll come in.”
“And the cash?”
“Cash?” He tipped his chin down.
“What will you guys do with the cash you mentioned? With all his money?”
“Hold it as evidence.”
“And after the case is over?”
“It stays in evidence.”
“What a waste. Can’t you give it to . . . a good cause or something?” Give it to the women Dalton was treating like cattle so they’d have a fresh start and a chance at a real life?
He smiled, his eyes softening.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Don’t ask about things you don’t want to know. Rookie mistake.
“Because I knew you were good inside.”
“I . . .” Really, Bri? Stunned silent? “I need to go. Dalton will be here soon.”
He swallowed. “Be safe, and remember, I’ll be nearby.”
She jetted across the hall with an uber fast good-bye. She couldn’t take more of that look—kindness and compassion and something else. . . . Caring?
He cared for her. She’d studied him, and he wasn’t lying. How could a good man like Aubry Marshall care for a woman like her?
“Bristol,” a familiar voice said before she made it inside her apartment.
Footsteps drew near, coming from the direction of the elevator.
She turned to Miquel. Had he seen her bolt out of Aubry’s apartment?
She fixed a smile on her face. “How are you? I wasn’t expecting to see you today, but what a lovely surprise.”
He looked at Aubry’s door, then back at her.
So he had seen her.
“I was just dropping off a package for my neighbor. He wasn’t home so I grabbed it for him.”
Miquel lifted his chin. “I didn’t realize you had friends in the building.”
“I wouldn’t say friends. Just neighbors,” she said, hoping to stop that discussion in its tracks. “Would you like to come in? I can make us some coffee.”
“Thank you, but I’m just here to deliver this.” He pulled out a box he’d been holding behind his back—white with a wide and shiny red ribbon.
“What’s this?”
“A gift from Dalton. He had some unexpected business meetings today and asked me to run it over.”
“Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Miquel nodded. “See you tonight.”
“Tonight?” Why would Miquel be with them tonight?
“The note will explain. I’ll be here to pick you up at seven.”
That had never happened before. “That’s kind of you, but I can drive.”
“Dalton insisted.” Miquel headed back toward the elevator.
She swallowed. What if Dalton was onto her? She’d be a dead woman—just another notch on his belt.
Once the elevator dinged down a floor, she turned back to her door, but a hand clamped on her shoulder. She started to scream, but another hand over her mouth silenced it.
“Shh,” Aubry whispered, tickling her ear. “It’s just me.”
He removed his hands and led her back into his apartment, shutting the door.
“What if Miquel comes back and I don’t answer my door? He doubted my story. I could read it on his face.”
“You can say you didn’t hear him knock because you were in the shower or you’d left and must have just missed each other in the elevators.”
She took a calming breath and relaxed her tense shoulders. “What do you want?” He hadn’t tugged her back in over nothing.
“I wanted to see what’s in the box and the note you got. Maybe it’ll affect our watch locations and schedules tonight.”
“Right.” She set the box on the table and untied the bow. Curiosity raked through her. She lifted the lid. “Oh, wow!”
He leaned over her shoulder. “What is it?”
She pulled out the blush-colored dress with fine diamonds dotting the embroidery. She held it up. It was exquisite.
“That’s . . . that’s a dress,” he stuttered momentarily. His gaze shifted over her and warmth filled his eyes.
Was Aubry Marshall attracted to her after all?
“You’ll look beautiful in it.” He coughed. “I mean . . . never mind.” He shifted his gaze away and stepped back.
Interesting.
“What does the note say?”
“Oh, right.” She peeked inside the box and ruffled the tissue around. “There you are.” She pulled out the cream, linen-finish envelope. Dalton certainly wasn’t sparing any expense.
She carefully laid the dress back in the box, then opened the envelope to reveal gold lining. She smiled.
“He impress you?”
She arched her brows. “He most certainly does not. I was just admiring the dress and stationery.”
“I see.” He nodded.
He was jealous, but she wouldn’t push. That would go nowhere. He’d already made that clear. Instead, she pulled out the letter, unfolded it, and scanned the text.
“Mind reading it out loud?”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” She started at the beginning.
“My dearest,
I’ve missed you so much.
This is part of the surprise. I wanted to deliver it in person to see your beautiful eyes when you opened it, but unfortunately, I still have some business to deal with today.
I hope you like the dress. I can’t wait to see it on you tonight.
You will look ravishing. Miquel is going to pick you up for the rest of your surprise at seven. I’ll see you soon, my love.
Dalton.”
“What do you think?” she asked Aubry as he leaned against the kitchen counter, his hands braced behind him.
“I don’t like it.”
She stepped closer to stand only a few feet away. “What part?”
He pushed off the counter, moving to stand within inches of her. “I don’t like that it’s a surprise. Did he do those often before, you know . . .”
“Before you arrested me?”
“Yeah.” He rubbed what should be a five o’clock shadow but had to classify as a nine a.m. one.
He looked good with a little scruff.
“He occasionally would. Like for our dates, sometimes he’d surprise me with a picnic or a mini road trip.”
“Okay. Good.” He exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. “So it’s not something out of his character.”
“I don’t think he has any character, but I know what you mean.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see where Miquel takes you and set up surveillance after we get there.”
“Okay, are we finished?” They would be as soon as this case was done. She doubted their paths would ever cross again. Sadness washed over her like a drizzly fall rain—cold and in your face.
He inched closer until no space existed between them, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I don’t like that word.”
“No?” Where was this going, and why was he moving closer still? And, even more importantly, why couldn’t she seem to move?
“Uh-uh.”
She studied him. There was something in his eyes—confliction? Over her?
He stopped directly in front of her, the toes of his loafers touching the toes of her pink heels.
She swallowed, suddenly parched. Had he changed his mind about pursuing a relationship? It was a laughable notion not long ago, but for some inexplicable reason, it seemed to make sense now.
He reached up, cupping her face with his right hand.
She tried not to lean into his hold, but she did all the same.
“I’ll keep you safe tonight.” He caressed her cheek. “I promise.”
He was the one person in the world who she actually believed kept his promises.
She blinked, trying to focus on the wonderful man standing in front of her, his touch warm and firm.
“I shouldn’t be saying this,” he went on. “In fact, I’m sure I’d get reprimanded if my boss knew, but . . .”
She met his gaze and hope ran through her. Hope for a different life. Hope, period.
“I just wanted you to know that I’ll miss you when this is done.”
“I’ll miss you too.” Had she just said that out loud? What was this man doing to her?
“And I want you to promise me something.”
She didn’t do promises.
“Promise me you’ll follow the good. I want the best for you.”
She didn’t know what to do with that. How could she promise something she couldn’t fathom?
His cell rang.
He sighed, and both his hand and shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry. It’s work. I need to get it.”
“It’s okay. I’ve gotta go.” She walked slowly until he was embroiled in conversation, then she darted out of there as fast as her legs would carry her.