Chapter Ten
What was wrong with her, Wren wondered? Another thirty minutes later, she walked with Jeff Callahan into Jake Loughlin’s office, high above the lakefront at the Inn. Located inside its own wing, the office was attached to a luxury apartment.
She probably knew Jeff as well as any man she’d met during the last ten years, she supposed, maybe even better than most of the guys she’d dated, as strange as it seemed.
He was a decent upstanding guy – not the usual kind of man she was drawn to. Wren ate up guys like him for breakfast, according to the tabloids.
Sure, at times she felt lonely, but she had no intention of ever getting seriously involved with anyone. Growing up with her parents as an example had steered her away from any thoughts of marriage and having a family.
So, even if he knew the score to start with, it wouldn’t be fair for her to get involved with Jeff Callahan.
Would it?
She gave Jeff a side glance as they settled on their seats in Jake’s office. There was one thing Wren couldn’t help but admit, it was the first time she’d ever felt a jolt of attraction zip straight through her senses each and every time she touched a man.
He turned, his eyes meeting hers. Suddenly, he smiled, giving her a wink.
Damn – that smile of his was disarming.
She rolled her eyes, turning to Jake.
“Okay, to explain the situation briefly, Jeff – here’s what’s going on. Although there never appeared to be much follow up by the L.A.P.D. after she began receiving threatening messages sporadically during the past five years, Wren’s life now appears to be seriously in danger.”
“What?” Jeff sat up straighter in his chair, his expression turning grim.
“Here are the copies of the messages that Marc Tanner, her head of security, emailed to me.”
Jeff reached out, grabbing the copies Jake handed over, glancing through them quickly.
“They’re escalating,” Jeff said grimly, staring at Wren.
“So much so that they believe that the studio fire that began with faulty wiring at Caravan Studios last week in Hollywood was orchestrated to target me,” Wren admitted.
“So why are you specifically here in Crystal Rock?” Jeff asked, looking puzzled.
“Besides having a few familiar colleagues who I can turn to while I’m here in town, I still need to record an album before my fall tour, and Marc thought it would be best to stay off the radar,” she replied. “We think that these threats must be an inside job – from someone who I work with closely – because the notes have always been left in my dressing room. I drove here on my own after I traded another vehicle for the new SUV, and made up the difference in cash, and Marc flew privately into New York under reservations that included my name since I have an apartment there.”
Jake pursed his lips. “So, you fell off the radar in New York?”
“Yes.”
Jake nodded approvingly.
“What did the cops have to say about it all?” Jeff asked.
“Very little, until the studio fire happened. Now that people have died, they’re finally looking more deeply into the connections.” Wren sighed. “I was supposed to start recording that morning – at exactly the same time the fire began. Someone broke into my beach house and trashed it a few days earlier – at least that was what we finally decided had happened after blaming it first on the last guy I was dating, who I’d broken it off with more than a month ago. He’d been living there after the breakup without my consent. But I spent the previous day going through the damage, so I rescheduled my recording time for later that following day. I couldn’t believe what had happened when one of the studio secretaries called me and told me that they didn’t know when – or even if – they’d be up and running again because of the fire.”
“So, I guess we won’t know more until they release some details to us about the studio investigation in Hollywood,” Jake muttered, becoming thoughtful as he eased back in his chair. “I’m trying to get the FBI involved. If you’ve been receiving these threats at multiple venues across the U.S. and even in Europe, it might be enough for them to let me in on the investigation details.”
“So, it’s all about keeping you safe,” Jeff said gruffly, glancing at Wren. “Can you do it somewhere as public as the Inn, Jake? It could put your guests in danger.”
“We should be fine. I don’t think anyone’s going to be able to trace her to Crystal Rock, at least for now. But we were only able to reserve the suite for Wren for a week, so I’m not sure what we’re going to do when her stay is up, but I’m looking for somewhere she can be protected,” Jake replied.
“She’ll be staying at my place, then,” Jeff muttered, staring Wren down when she started, ready to protest. “I’ll need to beef up my security and pick up a little more furniture. Maybe I can stock up on extra groceries too, just in case there’s trouble.”
“That does solve the huge problem I’ve been having, trying to find a safe place where she can stay. It’s June, during one of our biggest ever tourist seasons. Not only is the Dragonfly Pointe Inn booked through mid-September, so is just about everywhere else I’ve checked.”
Wren bit her lip, glancing at Jeff. “Do you have any experience at this kind of thing – providing security?”
Obviously startled, Jeff’s eyes met Jake’s as he snorted.
“Wren,” Jake said gently. “I know you’ve only just met Jeff, but I’m not even going to dignify that question with an answer.”
Wren became sheepish. Of course, he’d be qualified. But he’d lost a leg and then he’d been shot at.
Much to her surprise, Jeff grinned. “I guess from your end, it doesn’t look like I’ve done anything but get injured. I’ve always been great with tech. When I joined the Air Force, that’s what I went to school for while I was training for officer’s school. I must have set up communications at dozens of camps in Afghanistan before I was needed in search and rescue along with special ops, where I regularly smuggled our Afghan assets out of harm’s way when the Taliban returned.”
Wren couldn’t help but be impressed, although she tried not to show it.
“As far as what I’m doing now, working at the studio? It’s filling a void for me until my superiors let me in on their plans for my future. Ever since I was a kid, when I listened to music, I had this strange ability to be able to recognize each and every instrument in the background. And I was really into music. I can carry a tune, but truthfully, I’m not that good. I’m much better on piano or guitar, although I’ll never be good enough to be a real musician. According to Eve, what I do have is this knack for coming up with instrumentals that are both unique and original.”
“I can’t ask for more than that.” Wren nodded her understanding. “So if someone tried to sabotage the equipment at Eve’s studio, you’d know what to look for?”
He held her gaze. “I would. And I’m going to give her a call this evening and let her know I’ll be checking everything out on a daily basis beginning tomorrow morning.”
Jeff turned back to Jake. “Wait a minute. Did you say her security man is named Tanner? It’s probably just a coincidence, but the name Marc Tanner sounds awfully familiar. By any chance, is he former Air Force?”
Jake pursed his lips. “Let me check the file. I didn’t do anything more than check his qualifications and references, which are excellent by the way.” Jake glanced quickly at the file. “Well, that’s a coincidence. It says he was a patient here at the wounded warrior home about four years ago.”
Jeff grinned, glancing at Wren. “When you decided to record at Eve’s studio, I’m wondering if Marc might have had something to do with pushing you to make that decision?”
Wren blinked. “Come to think of it, he did seem to know an awful lot about Crystal Rock. When he gave me the list, I was prepared to go with another studio, but then Dragonfly Studios suddenly stood out, so I asked him to give me more details.”
Jake and Jeff seemed to be looking at each other rather knowingly.
“What’s with the mysterious looks you two are giving each other?” she asked, suddenly suspicious.
Jake smiled widely. “There are things you’re going to find out about Crystal Rock that you’ll be scratching your head about, Wren. Let’s just say that there’s a good chance that fate brought you here so that we could protect you.”
Jeff snorted. “And then we can just leave it at that.”
“Now you sound grumpy,” Wren muttered.
“I just remembered something that I said to Marc back when we were in rehab together.”
When he didn’t volunteer more, she huffed out a breath.
“Well, I’m feeling a little clueless here, so what do we do next?” she asked.
“Once Jeff and I take care of the security at his place, you can move in,” Jake said. “For now, enjoy your stay. You’ve got a new look, and truthfully, I don’t think you’re easily identifiable anymore.”
“I agree,” Jeff observed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen any images with you in short hair, and the bangs definitely give you a different look.”
“Okay. So maybe I can do a little shopping and take a walk on the beach – things like that? Maybe have some meals in the restaurant instead of ordering room service?”
“I don’t see why not, although I would feel better if you had someone with you when you weren’t at the Inn,” Jake admitted. “I’m sure Eve or Danny would love to shop with you.”
Jeff shrugged. “I can hang out with you too. In fact, how about we walk to the beach right now and pick up a couple of hot dogs for lunch?”
Her jaw dropped open.
Finally, she answered, “I thought you had work to do?”
He shrugged again. “I have a home studio, which is where I’m going to be working on your demos this afternoon. Jake and I won’t get started on security at my place until tomorrow, since I’ll have to determine what will be needed for your stay so I can order everything. But we both gotta eat.”
“Okay. I’d like that,” she said, standing as Jeff did. “Truthfully, I’d feel better having someone along to see the sights anyway.”
“As long as there isn’t any trouble, I don’t see why we can’t do some sightseeing or more while you’re staying at my place. There are a lot of great places to eat around here too.”
Jake was smiling strangely as he stood to escort them to the apartment door, suddenly winking at Jeff. “I’ll talk with both of you later today.”
“Sounds good,” Jeff said, appearing sheepish when he looked around the hallway before exiting the apartment and heading toward the staircase, motioning for her to follow.
“Thanks, Jake,” Wren said, heading through the doorway behind Jeff.