Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Knox stepped into the bar and allowed his gaze to rove over the room, acting like he was allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim light. He knew from Mason’s message that his mark was seated at one o'clock, at the corner of the wraparound bar.
He bypassed Mason sitting at a corner table to his left and slipped onto a stool two spots down from the man he’d come to see. He focused on the bartender, who met his gaze and leaned her elbows on the polished wooden top in front of him, pushing her breasts together to show off her cleavage.
He threw her a lazy smile. “Beer, please. Whatever is on tap is fine.”
She grinned back and gave a little nod, then headed over to the tap and poured him a dark lager. He wrapped his hands around the glass as she slid it toward him and met her gaze. “Thanks, gorgeous.”
She grabbed up a paper coaster then scribbled her number on it and slid it his way with a wink.
He made a show of picking it up, then tapped it on the counter twice before putting it in his back pocket.
Part of him felt bad for leading her on, but he did what he had to do.
She left to serve the next person, and he glanced at the man to his right, who watched on with a wry smile.
“Nice.”
He lifted his beer toward him in mock salute, then took a swig.
There had been no recognition in the man's eyes when he looked at him.
The man turned his attention back to the TV screen broadcasting the game, and he sipped quietly at his beer for several minutes, pretending to do the same.
The bartender eventually made her way down the line again and he ordered two shots of whiskey.
He tossed down a bill to cover the tab when she returned, then, carefully concealing the tiny bottle in his hand, dribbled several drops into one glass. He tucked it away again then turned to the man beside him. “You a Canes guy?”
He nodded. “Always.”
He slid the shot glass his way. “Drink up.”
He tossed back his shot, and the man followed suit seconds later. In the reflection of the large mirror spanning the back of the bar, he watched Mason stand and head toward the bathroom. Two minutes passed, and the man next to him shook his head. “Can't handle liquor like I used to.”
He made a sympathetic face as the man stood and headed for the restroom. He waited thirty seconds, then followed. By the time he pushed the door open, the sounds of vomiting met his ears. He locked the door and glanced at Mason, reclined against the sink with his arms crossed.
The man in the stall gagged several more times, then the sound of the toilet flushing filled the air. He wiped at his mouth as he opened the door, and he froze when his gaze landed on him.
“Give it a few minutes and it'll pass,” he said.
The man darted toward the door, but he was no match for the two of them. Knox locked his forearm around the man's throat and flicked open the knife at his side. He watched the man's eyes widen in the reflection of the mirror over the sinks, and his hands lifted in supplication.
“Please don’t. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“I hope so.” Knox chuckled darkly. “You David Tate?”
“Who are you?” he choked out.
“That's not important,” he said as he maneuvered him away from the door. “What's important is the woman you've been following.”
The man's entire body stiffened but he didn't say a word.
“Everleigh Beaumont,” he prompted. “Ring a bell?”
He felt the man's throat bob as he swallowed. “I don’t know names.”
“Sounds like you don’t know an awful lot.” He gestured with the knife toward Mason. “He look familiar?”
The man shook his head, and he let out a low chuckle. “Well, that's too bad because he recognizes you. You've been following Everleigh Beaumont and I want to know why.”
“The blonde woman? She’s just a job,” he replied. “I only did what I was asked to do.”
He shared a glance with Mason before moving in front of Tate. He wanted to see his reactions, know if he was telling the truth. He studied his eyes, fear flashing in the depths. “Who hired you?”
“I don't know.” He shook his head. “I never met him.”
He lifted a brow. “You took a job for someone you don't know?”
“It's easy work,” he said defensively. “All I have to do is take pictures and leave them on the broad’s car.”
“And you have no idea who or why they're asking you to do this? Isn't that a little strange?”
Tate shrugged one shoulder. “Not for me to know. He pays me well and that's all I care about.”
“Well, now, that's where you and I disagree.” His eyes dropped to the knife as he tapped the flat of the blade against his palm. “That woman hired me to make sure she's safe. And she was hurt yesterday in that accident you caused.”
“What?” He shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“What about running her off the road? I suppose that wasn’t you, either.”
“N-no!” His eyes widened dramatically. “I didn't do anything!”
He stepped forward so his face was only inches from the man's. “You loosened her lug nuts and her wheel came off. She could have died,” he said, his voice low and deadly.
Tate’s eyes widened. “I didn't do anything. All I do is take the pictures, I swear.”
“Then who tampered with her car?” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared him down, watching the fear ripple across his face.
“I don't know. Maybe... maybe the guy who hired me.”
“So it's a guy?”
“I don't know.” He shook his head. “It's just a guess. I'm not sure. I've never seen him or talked to him.”
“How does he contact you?”
“Cell phone. He sends money every week, and messages telling me when to take the pictures and where to leave them.”
“Sure it's not you?” Mason asked. “Sounds like BS to me. You're the only one I see hanging around her. Wherever Everleigh is, you seem to magically appear.”
The man shook his head again. “You can check my cell phone. I kept all the messages.”
He gestured with his chin and Mason stepped forward to retrieve the phone from Tate’s pocket. He opened the messaging app then passed it to him. He skimmed the messages requesting the pictures be taken and left under her wiper blades, then additional photos left at another drop-off location.
He turned his attention back to the man in front of him. “Why a second drop-off for the photos?”
The man shrugged. “I guess for him to have extras.”
He didn't like the sound of that. The location was different each time, which made it hard to narrow down the recipient.
He handed the phone back and met his gaze.
“From here on, you're done. If I hear you've been bothering her again, I won't be nearly as lenient.
Trust me when I say we'll find you before you find us—and you won't like what happens. Understood?”
Tate nodded solemnly. “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” He tipped his chin at Mason. “Let's roll.”
They headed out of the bar and split up, heading to their respective vehicles. Knox called Mason as soon as he got on the road. “I believe him when he says he didn't sabotage her car.”
“I know.” Knox could hear the regret in Mason’s voice. “We need to run that number, see where it leads. Has to be someone local. What do we know about her ex?”
“I don't know, but we're going to find out,” he said darkly.
From what he understood, the man still lived in New York and Everleigh said they still got along.
But that didn't mean anything. He always looked at the people closest to the victims. He could probably rule him out since their marriage had been over long before the photos started to arrive.
Likely it was his own jealousy of the man who'd been married to Everleigh that flared his suspicion. He hated him on principle.
He hung up as he pulled into Vivi's driveway, and Mason followed just seconds later. He waited for Mason to precede him inside and his gaze immediately found Everleigh, her face streaked with tears. He whipped toward Vivi, rage simmering beneath his skin.
He was just about to snap at her when Everleigh came forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her close, not tearing his gaze from his sister. Now that he really looked at her, she appeared to have been crying too. What had happened here?
Mason enveloped Vivi in his arms and pulled her close, dropping a kiss on her head. Focusing on the woman in front of him, Knox dipped his head to look Everleigh in the eyes. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded, a tiny smile on her face. “We talked. It was ... it was long overdue.”
Vivi hugged Everleigh once more before he ushered her out of the house. Outside, he yanked her to him again and tipped her head to his. He studied her face intently, looking for any sign of distress. “Are you sure you're okay?”
“I'm fine.”
“Okay.” He kissed her forehead, then held the door open, not really sure if he believed her or not.
He started the engine and she scooted over, tucking herself in close to him as he steered the SUV out of the driveway.
Everleigh remained quiet, and he placed a hand on her thigh. “You're worrying me.”
“I'm sorry.” She hesitated for a minute. “I told her. You know, about… everything.”
No wonder they were both a mess. “How'd that go?”
“About as well as expected.”
He nodded a little. “Let's just go home and relax.”
Her head tipped against his shoulder as he drove, and he smiled to himself as he felt the full weight of her head as she gave over to sleep. He wanted to question her but not yet. All he needed right now was her.