Calculated Risk (A Cross Security Investigation Book 2) Page 3

  “Do you want me to see who might be available?” Justin asked.

  I glanced at the empty desk. Gloria had gone home at 4:15, like she usually did. “No, that’s okay. I’ll handle that myself.”

  “All right. I have a list of four more security specialists that look promising on paper, but you never interviewed them. There were a few you wanted who initially had scheduling conflicts. I’ll see if they’re still looking for a permanent position.”

  “Okay.” I nodded a few times. “Do another job posting online. Let’s see who else might be interested.”

  “Roger.”

  I went to the door, turning as I opened it. “I’m calling it quits. That means you get to go home.”

  “In a sec. I just want to finish this up. I sent everything on Knox’s case to your dropbox, so you can check it out later if you want.”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Night, Lucien.”

  “Good night.”

  Four

  The racks of souvenirs stared back at me from the airport kiosk. Magnets, pens, water bottles, t-shirts, and jackets. The last time I’d visited this particular kiosk was when I’d been observing Jade’s abusive ex. The bad memories sent a shiver down my spine, but I shook it off and waited in line to make my purchases.

  With the bag in hand, I made my way to baggage claim to wait for Jade. We agreed to meet here. Well, I agreed. She insisted I could pick her up outside, but that didn’t sit well with me. So I told her I’d meet her at baggage claim. What kind of knight in shining armor didn’t offer to carry a lady’s bag for her?

  The screens told me her flight should be arriving on time. Seven minutes. Then I’d have to suffer through the slow process of deplaning. That probably meant at least a half hour. I found an empty seat at the end of a row, placed the bag securely on my lap, and took out my phone to check my dropbox.

  Justin had sent me details on the new potential hires and most of the information I’d asked him to dig up on Trey Knox. Since I wasn’t in the right headspace to think about what security qualifications the new hires should have, I opened the Knox files. Knox’s browser history and phone records were exactly what I expected to find. No surprises there.

  I scanned the names of his contacts, but no one appeared suspicious. He didn’t receive any threatening messages, and his call durations were standard. Threats usually happened in a matter of seconds with the caller hanging up. Still, I decided to err on the side of caution and sent a text to Knox, asking again if anyone had threatened him or shown an inordinate amount of interest in his collection. He said no.

  No blocked numbers or burner phones called his cell. Everything appeared legitimate. I checked again, but I didn’t see any two a.m. texts for booty calls or any personal or intimate messages. Knox had said as much, but I’d been warned not to take clients at face value.

  He didn’t have a spouse or girlfriend. Still, I shouldn’t rule anything out, so I made a note to find out if he used any dating or private messaging apps. That would explain the lack of text messages and phone activity. It could also be how the crew determined Knox would be a great mark and when to strike.

  It was no secret men liked to brag. For Knox, it wasn’t how big his bat was, it might have been how special his collection was. Perhaps, he hadn’t said those things to a potential love interest on a dating site, but I’m sure he’d said them to plenty of people on the internet—other collectors, sports fans, or anyone willing to listen.

  His browser history didn’t lead me to many message boards or social media pages. He didn’t have photos of his prized possessions anywhere on his social media pages. For once, I’d stumbled upon someone who actually kept things private. But Knox didn’t appear to have much time or interest in sharing his life with friends or strangers. He didn’t have time with all the games and fantasy leagues.

  I shifted my focus to those boards, but everything looked like rankings, stats, and smack talk. Knox never mentioned the MVP ring, at least not that I noticed. Justin didn’t find any postings or intel which indicated Knox had tried to sell his collection, so that was out.

  “Trade shows,” I mumbled. Knox had spent plenty of time on online auction sites and memorabilia sites, along with generic shopping searches, but he often went to trade shows. He might have spoken to vendors there. One of them could have decided to target him and shared that intel with the crew. I’d need to go over each certificate of sale, track the seller, and see where that led.

  I should have passed on the case. It was too tedious a venture, and Knox wasn’t big enough to be worth this much time and effort. But he was the acquisitions manager at a big company. I wouldn’t mind working on their security, so that had been part of the reason. The other part was because I wanted to have a client that I could point to and say I was helping him with a personal problem, something that would make Jade proud.

  My thoughts drifted back to her, and I tried to imagine her life in Colorado. Was she seeing someone? We’d called things off when she left, not that we’d ever classified our relationship, but we had spent a lot of time together, mostly in the hospital and physical therapy. After what she’d been through, she had trust issues, particularly when it came to men. Despite everything, she barely trusted me, so I doubted she was with anyone else. It’d only been a few months, but a lot could happen in a few months.

  “Pussy,” I muttered.

  The grey-haired woman two seats away looked up. “Shithead.”

  I winked at her, which caused her to emit an exasperated huff. That was a sign I should get back to business and keep my internal musings to myself, so I went back to work.

  Knox’s deleted browser history showed plenty of research for work, a dabbling into the realm of naked women, and lots and lots of sports searches. He’d even been on several sportsbook sites. Going back into my dropbox, I checked to see if Justin uploaded Knox’s financial statements. With the frequency Knox visited these sites and other gambling pages, he must have spent some money.

  A gentle hand touched my shoulder, and I turned, knowing what I would find. “Hey, stranger.” Jade trailed her fingers down my bicep as she circled around the chair.

  Before she even had the chance to get in front of me, I was on my feet with my phone shoved into my pocket. In my haste, I knocked the bag to the floor, and we both bent down to pick it up, nearly colliding in the process.

  Scooping it up, I straightened. “How was your flight? You look good. Beautiful.” Her hair was the same fiery red. It cascaded around her face in smooth waves, contrasting nicely with her alabaster skin. The few freckles on her nose were more pronounced, as if she’d been spending time outdoors, and her green eyes were a clear aquamarine. My gaze drifted to her lips. Should I kiss her? Hug her? I’d always let her take the lead on these things, so I held the bag tightly in front of me to keep from doing something we’d both regret.

  “The flight was fine.” She studied the bag, searching for something else to focus on besides me. “Were you waiting long?”

  “Not really.”

  “So you shop here often?”

  “On occasion.”

  Her lips quirked up in the corners. She was teasing me. “I just traveled three thousand miles and this is how you greet me?”

  I grinned. “Fuck it.” I took her in my arms and squeezed her tight. “I missed you,” I breathed against her ear.

  “Ditto.”

  Her hands ran along my shoulder blades, stopping near the base on the left side to avoid the bullet wound while the other continued all the way up to the top of my shoulder. She pulled me against her, and I felt her lips brush my neck. I pulled back just far enough so we could kiss, and it was like she never left.

  After we were both breathless, she pulled away, turning her head down and to the side. Her cheeks were almost as red as her hair. “My god, we’re the ending to every rom-com known to man. Kissing in an airport. Could we be any more cliché?”

  “I don’t mind. I missed you.”


  “You already said that.”

  “Yeah, well, it needed to be said twice.”

  She shrugged out of my grip, so I ran one hand through my hair and held the bag out to her. She took it from me and peered inside. “Really? You got me an I Love New York t-shirt, a big cookie, and a chocolate bar.”

  “It’s Swiss.”

  “My favorite.”

  “Is it?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You can’t fool me, Lucien. I have your number.”

  “In that case, you should use it more often.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I was only joking.” I nodded toward the luggage carousel. “Are you ready to get your stuff and get out of here?”

  “Yes, please.” Before she could lead the way to the carousel, the grey-haired woman mumbled something to her that I didn’t catch. Jade laughed. “That’s not possible.” The woman looked utterly offended and gave me the stink eye as I made my way past her. Once we were at the carousel, Jade asked, “What did you do to that poor, old woman?”

  “Nothing. I was talking to myself, and she took offense and called me something very unladylike.” I narrowed my eyes at her, but she kept hers glued to the conveyor belt. “What did she say to you?”

  “She said I could do better.”

  I watched the luggage spin around in front of us as men and women grabbed rolling bags and duffels. “She isn’t wrong.”

  “Yes, she is.” Jade reached for her bag and hefted it off the carousel before it could spin past. She dropped it to the floor and extended the handle. “I’d know, don’t you think?” A bitterness crept into her voice, along with that fierce defiance that had been the strength she needed to survive.

  I reached for her bag. “May I?”

  “If you insist.”

  “Where would you like to go for dinner?”

  She hooked her arm through mine and rested her cheek against my shoulder. The scent of her shampoo, vanilla and citrus, overpowered the plane and airport smell. “Can we order in? I just want to go home and take a shower.”

  Home. My ears perked up at the word. Was she back for good? I didn’t dare ask. “Sure, whatever you want. You know that.”

  We were quiet for most of the drive back to my place. She stared out the window, taking in the city as if she’d never seen it before. She’d been here for years, since college, but it must look different now after being away. I considering asking her about Colorado and her mom but decided against it. Hope was a four letter word. I didn’t dare risk bursting that bubble, not after the kiss in the airport, except I wasn’t a patient man. No matter how hard I tried.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” I used the fob to gain access to the parking garage beneath my building.

  “I miss it. The city. Being here. Being with you.” She turned in the seat to face me. “I probably shouldn’t say things like that.”

  “Afraid you’re going to inflate my ego?” I turned to look at her. “Because that ship’s already sailed. But if it makes you feel any better, I miss being with you too.”

  “Stop that.” Her features hardened, but her eyes looked sad. “We are not reenacting any more rom-com moments. Life isn’t always a happy ending, Lucien.”

  Pulling into my assigned spot, I killed the engine. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

  “Nothing.” She sighed and stared out the windshield. “I just don’t think women like me get to have the fairytale ending. My prince doesn’t get to slay the dragon and take me off to his palace to live happily ever after.”

  “It’s not a palace. It’s just an apartment with a good view. I understand why you might be confused.” What I didn’t understand was why she was talking like this or why she felt it necessary to stomp all over my heart. But I reminded myself we weren’t together. Seeing me must be hard for her too, like not seeing me. As usual, I figured it was best to give her space. “You still get to have a happily ever after. You make that on your own. That has nothing to do with me unless you want it to.”

  She bit her lip. “Are you sure it’s okay I’m staying here? Mary Beth said I could crash with her and her new roommate.”

  “I’d like you to stay with me, but whatever you want. I can make a few calls and get you a hotel room if that’s easier.” I opened the car door, grabbed the grocery bags from the back seat, and went to the trunk to take out her luggage. “It’s up to you. Whatever makes you comfortable.”

  “You make me comfortable.” She grabbed the grocery bags from my hand. “Just stop treating me like a princess or someone who’s too fragile to do anything. That’s not me. Not anymore.”

  “You’re not fragile, Jade. You never were. You’re the strongest, fiercest person I know.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “Absolutely.” I pressed the button for the elevator, and we stepped inside. Again, my hand went through my hair, and she laughed. “What?”

  “You still have that nervous habit. I guess that’s my fault. This is really awkward, right? We talk on the phone every few weeks, so I don’t get why this feels so weird.”

  “I have no idea.” But I knew why. When we spoke on the phone, it was basic small talk. We discussed work and the weather. We kept things light. When she said she was coming back to the city, she didn’t go into any details. We never discussed us or what her visit would mean.

  “Maybe it’s true what they say,” she mused. “Maybe you can’t go home again.”

  “To Colorado?”

  She shook her head. “I want to talk to you about some stuff. I might need your help, but let’s have dinner first. I’m starving.”

  “Sure.” But her words worried me. “What are you in the mood for?”

  “Everything.”

  Five

  “Lucien, how long do you think I’m staying?” She stared at the liquor and treats I’d stockpiled for her return.

  Forever. I cringed at the voice inside my head. No, forever was not a good answer or a good thought. That was a one-way ticket to crazytown, and Jade had already had more than her fair share of psychos.

  I picked up the box of tea bags. “They were out of the twenty count. A hundred was the smallest box they had. I’ll take whatever you don’t use to the office. It’s not a big deal. Gloria would probably prefer if you don’t touch any of the cookies or chocolates. She has quite the sweet tooth.”

  “Gloria?” Jade cocked an eyebrow at me.

  “My receptionist.”

  “Oh,” her green eyes held an uncertain look, “I thought she might be your girlfriend.”

  “I wouldn’t have kissed you like that if I had a girlfriend.”

  “Right.” She appeared deep in thought. “What about casually? Are you seeing anyone?”

  “Does it matter?”

  She shook her head, her expression exaggerated in the same way my mother used to look at me when she wanted me to volunteer information without having to ask. “Nope.”

  “Good.” I reached for the bottle of wine. “For the record, the answer is no. I’m not seeing anyone.”

  “Not since I left?”

  “No.”

  Her lip twitched, as if trying to squelch a smile. My answer pleased her, even if she’d never admit it. “You should date. Go out. Meet people. Have fun.”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “C’mon, Jade, don’t be a buster. Answer the question. It’s only fair.”

  “Since when do you play fair?” Her eyes twinkled. She found this amusing but turned away before I could ask anything else and walked across the kitchen and into the living room. “Your apartment looks the same.”

  “Did you think I was going to redecorate?”

  She shrugged, and I realized this was to buy time to avoid talking about whatever topic was actually on her mind.

  “What’s going on?” I asked. “Why did you make this trip?”

  She picked up the glass orb from my coffee table and studied the colored patterns inside. “How’s wor
k? Have you been helping the helpless and fighting the good fight?”

  “It’s been mostly corporate security gigs.”

  “I thought you had grander plans.”

  “I do. It just takes time. I can’t exactly privatize policing and save the downtrodden without clients, capital, and a positive reputation. Cross Security and Investigations needs to be on the map to have a reputation for professionalism and excellence. Right now, the only people who know me were around for my previous career.”

  “And the shooting.”

  “That was barely a blip on anyone’s radar. That was the point of the settlement. The police wanted it kept quiet. They didn’t parade me around or accuse me of murdering a cop, so I was just a random victim of a violent crime. No one knows about it. My name didn’t even make the papers.”

  Anger made her cheeks flush. “It wasn’t random. Scott abducted me. He was going to kill me. If you hadn’t…”

  “I know, but I can’t talk about it publicly. You know that.” Was that the reason she came back to town? Did she plan to go to the press to tell them what happened? A part of me hoped she would, but I knew Mr. Almeada, my attorney, would see things differently. If she went public, my involvement would get out, which could hurt my reputation and my company. But I didn’t care. It was Jade’s story. I’d back her decision no matter what, even if I couldn’t afford to be sued for violating a gag order. “Are you planning on making this public knowledge?”

  “No. It’s done. I told you that before I left. Maybe one day I’ll come forward, but not today. Victims get crucified in the press. I don’t want that. I don’t want to become fodder for the talking heads or a joke on late night TV. What I want to do is help others like me, and I can’t do that with reporters and crazies hounding me at every step.”

  “Did something happen in Colorado?”

  “No, it’s great. It’s not the city, but it’s okay. My mom and I are getting reacquainted, which is good. I missed her.”

  “But you needed a break?”