Straight Flushed (Hot Pursuit #1)(37)

I smirked. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

“You sure?” he asked, leaning against my door jam.

“Yep. Totally. You guys have a nice time though.” I put my hand on his chest and gave him a small push backward.

“Come on, dude,” the redhead said, tugging his friend’s arm. “That chick Taylor is over there. She’s hot and was totally into you.”

“Suit yourself, sweetheart.” He smiled at me, and they went on their way.

I stepped back inside with the picture in hand and slammed my door. I turned my deadbolt and headed to bed. I tossed and turned all night.



. . .



Monday morning, I walked into B&B past a barrage of reporters asking questions about the attack on Miss Red. I said nothing and pushed past them but knew their presence meant there would be hell to pay once I stepped through the doors. I checked in at my desk, and Vance walked up behind me.

“Morning, Di,” he said. “You look like hell.”

“Morning, Vance. No need to sweet talk me. Really.” I glared at him giving him a once over. He was dressed in his typical all black uniform, but his beard was twice as thick as it had been Saturday night. “You get lost on the way to your razor this morning?”

“Chicks dig a little scruff. It makes me look tough.” He twitched his eyebrows.

“You look better the other way, but whatever,” I said.

“Oh,” he said drawing out the sound like a kid stumbling upon a lollipop lying on the sidewalk. “I’m sensing there was more Gabe drama over the weekend?”

I took a long blink and sleeplessness burned under my eyelids. “Ugh, that’s part of it,” I said, but I didn’t feel like elaborating on my personal affairs in the middle of the office. “I don’t want to talk about.”

Vance nodded and didn’t push the topic any further. “Cavanaugh called a meeting to go over what happened this weekend and to go over assignments. We’re waiting for a couple more guys to arrive. That ought to cheer you up.” He slapped me on the back.

“Yeah, I just pushed past the media frenzy.” I grimaced. “Is it bad?”

“About as bad as we thought. Tom got canned.”

“Yeah, we kind of saw that one coming, huh? It still sucks though. Do they know anything about the person who attacked Miss Red?”

“I asked. All Cavanaugh said was he’s working with the detectives assigned to the case and he’s going to show us the surveillance videos in the meeting. He mumbled some shit about security protocols. I backed off and decided to lay low until the meeting.”

“Probably a good move on your part. I hope they got some good shots of whoever it was.”

“We’ll see. I hope so too.”

I glanced at the clock. We had five minutes left before everyone arrived. Vance and I took our seats in the conference room and waited as people trickled in and paired off at their tables. In middle of the room were two large TVs standing in front of the dry erase board.

Cavanaugh walked in and wasted no time before beginning his presentation. “As some of you may have heard, there was an attack on our turf this weekend.” The room filled with low murmurs then Cavanaugh continued. “We’re going to review the surveillance footage from this weekend so we can see how the perp entered our facility and to see if anyone recognizes the build of the individual. It’s possible the person is connected to someone who works here.” The faces of Detectives Smith and Jones flashed in my mind. “Unfortunately,” Cavanaugh added, “we never got a clean shot of his face. After we get through the footage, we’re going to review our protocols and tighten our security to ensure this doesn’t happen again.” Cavanaugh glared briefly at me then Vance. I squirmed, feeling like I’d gotten my hand caught in the cookie jar. “I don’t think I need to mention the embarrassment the company is feeling this morning from the vultures swarming outside of the building right now. We’ve not yet released a statement but we will. No one breathes a word of what is seen in this room. Understood?”

Everyone mumbled affirmations.

Cavanaugh pressed play, and we began watching the video. The first images were of what the camera positioned on the front entrance caught. Cavanaugh spoke, keeping his voice low, “As you can see, the only people who came in to use the gym on Saturday were Reed and Cook, who entered at roughly twelve hundred hours. They entered and about an hour later they left.” He fast forwarded the video. “Then, over an hour later, DeLuca and Cain arrived. We see them have a brief exchange on the street.” Another dirty look was shot our way. “And enter the building. First Cain then DeLuca. And here…” He slowed the video down. “…Is how our perp entered.”

I leaned in. The video showed me walking in then Vance right after me. As the door began to close, the person slipped in behind Vance, unseen and unheard.

Cavanaugh stopped the video. “We can assume from the build that this is a man. Vance, you have any explanation how he could walk in right behind you and you didn’t notice?” Cavanaugh asked.

Vance faltered. “No, sir. I…I have no explanation. I didn’t see anyone other than the two of us out on the street.”

“Hmm, interesting.” The bridled anger in his voice was easy to perceive. “I’d like to see you in my office after the meeting.”