Trusting Danger (Danger, #2)(34)
“Are you Regina?”
“Yes.” As the woman neared, her face filled most of the screen. She appeared to be in her early forties. “Here’s the picture. Address is on the back.” Her voice came through muffled on the audio as she handed Rob a photo.
“Why do you want them killed?”
Regina pointed at the picture. “That scum sent my boyfriend to prison, and he wants him dead.”
“He wants the woman killed too?”
“Yeah. She betrayed a friend.”
“Brought the money?” Rob asked.
Regina pulled an envelope from her purse and handed it over.
“You know this is only the deposit,” he said as he thumbed through it. “I’ll need another ten after it’s done.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Rob tucked the envelope inside his pocket. “I can make it look like a robbery gone bad.”
“Fine.” Regina brushed her long bleached-blond hair over her shoulder. “So? Are we good here?”
“One last question. When do you want it done?”
She let out an unladylike snort. “How about yesterday?”
“I’d better get on it then.”
The camera Rob was wearing turned from Regina, providing bouncing images of the store’s merchandise as he headed toward the exit. The video ended there.
Grayson pressed a hand to his stomach, which was churning like crazy at the sight of the woman calmly ordering the death of his best friend and his new bride. He took a deep breath, hoping the dinner he’d eaten earlier would stay down.
When he went back to the phone, Eli said, “It went down perfectly. She incriminated both of them.”
“Think we still need pictures?”
Eli seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “We’re banking on Wallace incriminating himself when he sees the photos of the finished job. Having video of that will only strengthen our case against him. Otherwise it’s a he said/she said scenario, and we’ll only have solid evidence against Regina.”
Hopes of sparing Camden and Autumn the stress of a photo shoot of their own faked deaths evaporated. Eli was right.
“Has Cam seen this?” Grayson asked.
“I met with him today. He said you’d offered up your place—which was a good idea, by the way—and he and Autumn had just arrived. They came into the office to meet with me. He was pretty upset, especially after seeing the video.”
No shit. I feel like I’m going to puke, and it wasn’t even me they were talking about.
“I’m glad they came down so quickly. Is Autumn okay with doing the photos? I haven’t talked to Cam since yesterday.”
Eli sighed. “It’s unavoidable, and they both get that. But they’re not happy about it.”
“Understandable.” Thinking for a moment, Grayson added, “The shoot’s tomorrow afternoon, right? I want to be there for it.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you supposed to be visiting your mother?”
“I’ll head up to Pennsylvania afterward.”
“No, Gray. Go be with your mother. We’ve got this.”
Eli was right. Once again, Grayson had to admit he was probably subconsciously looking for excuses to delay seeing his mother’s decline. It was time to step up and be a man about it, rather than avoid the situation like a scared little boy.
Changing the subject, he asked, “How’s the case against Claire’s boyfriend going?”
“Progressing. The SEC is going to make its move soon. They’ll be arresting Gabe Rogers in the next few days.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Want some coffee?” Jeremy held up the carafe as Claire walked into the kitchen Wednesday morning.
“Please.”
He poured a mug and handed it over. “Our boss, Eli, will be here sometime today to talk with you.”
Finally. Now maybe I can get some answers.
“Thanks for arranging that,” she said as she took a seat at the kitchen table.
“He’ll stay until dinnertime to give me a chance to sleep, and then our teammate Alex will be here tomorrow morning to cover Gray’s shift. He’ll be staying for a day or two.” When Claire gave Jeremy a quizzical look, he explained. “Grayson’s going to be taking a day or two off.”
“Because of me?” Claire voiced the question before she could even think about it.
Jeremy shook his head. “No, not because of you. He’s just visiting his mother.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he wanted off protection duty. It’s not like we’re getting along.”
“He doesn’t want off this case. Trust me.” Jeremy leaned against the counter, studying her for a moment. “Grayson’s mother is sick. That’s why he needs the time off.”
Based on Jeremy’s tone, the illness was serious. When her brows lifted in question, he explained, “It’s leukemia.”
“Oh no.” Claire pressed a hand to her mouth as a wave of sympathy filled her. “Where does she live?”
“Pennsylvania. He’s at the store now, restocking the fridge for us, and then he’ll get on the road.”
Claire nodded. She’d heard the garage door open a little while ago and had seen Grayson drive away. It was the reason she’d come down here. But if he was coming back, she’d have a chance to speak with him before he left.