Risky bargain, p.7
Risky Bargain, page 7
"Well, I've had bad ideas before. If there's a consequence, I'll pay it."
"That consequence could be your life. Two people are dead," he said with a forceful note in his voice. "You could have been killed last night. I know you're trying not to think about that. You're keeping your mind busy looking for Audrey, but you can't lose sight of how much danger is around you."
He was right. She had wanted a distraction and going to Audrey's apartment and then Sean's place had kept her mind occupied. She didn't want to go home, to be alone, to think about how close she had come to dying. "I would prefer to be busy today," she admitted.
"What would you be doing if last night hadn't happened?"
She thought for a moment. "I would still be looking for Audrey. I was thinking about visiting her mom. I know she's alone and probably scared."
"Then do that. Let me work this case. I promise that I'll do whatever I can to find Audrey."
"Will you? What if a ransom demand comes in? Won't all the focus turn to Spike Cabot? Audrey will go on the back burner. She'll be forgotten."
"She won't be. When I make a promise, I keep it."
She wanted to believe that, but she was also a realist. Still, there was nothing else she could do with him at this moment. "All right." She drew in a breath and let it out. "Do you think Audrey is okay?"
He met her gaze. "Do you want me to be honest?"
"No. I want you to say yes."
A gleam of understanding entered his gaze. "I wish I could say that, but I don't know. She could be hiding and be totally fine."
"Or not," she finished, with a heavy heart. "Sean is dead, so are two people from Spike's security team, and Spike is missing."
"Sean had a heart attack. Look, your friend's apartment was in great shape. It didn't look like anyone had been there. Until we have more information, I'd stay hopeful." He started the car. "You don't need to get a ride. I'll take you home."
"Actually, could you take me somewhere else? I left my car at the caterer's office yesterday, and I want to get it."
"Sure."
As he pulled away from the curb, she thought about what she should do next. She wasn't going to be stupid. She knew there was danger. But she also couldn't just do nothing. She tapped her fingers restlessly on her thighs. While visiting Audrey's mother was an option, she was still interested in finding out if anyone at Brigadoon had seen Spike talking to Sean. Although, it seemed a bit odd that they would meet in a dive bar. Spike was a billionaire.
"Spike wouldn't have met Sean at Brigadoon," she said, shaking her head. "Too public for a celebrity like him."
"I agree. It's possible that Sean and Audrey met there, but I think Spike would have wanted a more private location, like his house."
"He had security cameras at the house. Could you see if Sean was there on Tuesday?"
"I will check on that. Maybe you should have been a detective instead of an artist."
"Not a chance."
"Because you hate law enforcement?"
"Yes."
"I'd like to know why."
"That's too long of a story."
"Now I'm even more interested."
Despite his prodding comment, she remained silent.
"So, you can keep your mouth shut," he said dryly.
She simply shrugged, even though it did go against her nature not to talk. But she didn't want to get into her past. She didn't need to travel that road today.
A few minutes later, Lucas pulled up in front of Marguerite's office. He turned to her with a purposeful gaze. "I will look for Audrey and for Cabot. That's what I do, Kat. I find missing people. I'm very good at it. In exchange, I want you to promise me something. Don't go to Brigadoon."
She debated, but what choice did she have? "All right. I won't go to the bar. But you have to call me later and tell me what's happening."
"I wasn't negotiating."
"Well, I was."
"Fine. I will call you later. Give me your phone."
She handed over her phone and he texted himself. "Now, you have my number, and I have yours."
She took her phone and dropped it into her bag, not really sure how she felt about having his number or him having hers, but it was done. She stepped out of the car, then paused, realizing there was something she needed to say. "Thanks, Lucas."
Surprise flashed through his eyes. "I haven't done anything yet."
"Yes, you have. You listened and you helped. That's more than anyone from law enforcement has ever done for me before."
"I'm sorry about that."
"Me, too." She closed the door and headed to her car. She was happy that he didn't pull away from the curb until she was inside with the locks on. She wasn't a particularly nervous person by nature. She'd learned a long time ago not to worry too far in the future, but after everything that had happened, she felt very on edge.
Driving home, her tension continued to grow. She parked in the garage, seeing terrifying shapes in the shadows that were just her imagination. Still, she jogged up the stairs to her apartment in record time. And when she got inside, she checked the dead bolt twice, wishing it looked a little stronger, but it should hold—she hoped.
She dropped her bag on the table by the door, but took out her phone, just in case. In case of what, she had no idea, but she couldn't relax. Being in her apartment usually felt great. In fact, she'd loved the last year of living alone, but today she couldn't appreciate the quiet. She paced around the living room, then moved into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. As her gaze moved to her sketchbook, she thought about doing some art, but she couldn't get beyond the thought. She was feeling too anxious. She had to do something.
She decided to visit Audrey's mother. She could cheer someone else up and distract herself from her thoughts, which kept wanting to go down a terrifying path. She wouldn't be able to run away from them, but maybe she could push them to the back of her mind for another few hours. Hopefully, Lucas would call later with some better news.
Chapter Six
Lucas had intended to return to the office, but when he finally got a call back from Diana Dolan, he changed directions. As he headed to her home, he reviewed what he knew about her.
Diana had worked for the CIA for almost fifteen years. Six of those years, she'd been Spike's handler. She'd left the agency five years ago. After a short break, she had gone to work with Spike at Spy Maker Games as a senior consultant and board member. She was forty-four years old, had been married for about ten years, but had been divorced for the last five. That seemed to coincide with her leaving the agency.
Diana lived in a penthouse apartment on the thirty-seventh floor of a building in Westwood. When she opened the door, he realized something else: she was much more attractive and sophisticated than her photos. Her blonde hair was short and layered, framing her thin face and wide-set brown eyes. She wore a silky V-neck blouse with dark, skinny jeans. Her three-inch heels added height to her average-sized frame.
"Agent Raines," she said. "Thank you for coming." She waved him inside. "I asked Blake to join us. I hope you don't mind. We wanted to speak to you together."
"I'm eager to talk to you both as well," he said, as he followed her into the living room, which had spectacular city views.
The man standing by the windows quickly turned around. He didn't know much about Blake Richey, except that he was forty-seven years old, and he'd served in the Marine Corps for twenty-two years, some of those years with Spike. After leaving the corps, he'd started Richey Security. Three years ago, he'd joined the Spy Maker Games board and had also been acting as a senior consultant.
While Diana was sleek and polished, Blake had a more rugged, unkept look. He was broad and muscled, with a square face and a short haircut, with several pale jagged scars running across his jaw. This was a man who knew how to fight, but there wasn't fight in his brown eyes now; there was deep concern.
"Blake Richey," he said, extending his hand. "I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to call you back before now."
He shook hands, noting the power of his grip. "Agent Lucas Raines."
"Can I get you anything?" Diana asked.
"No, thanks. Let's sit down."
They took seats on two luxurious white couches that faced each other across a large marble coffee table.
"Is there any word on Spike?" Diana asked.
"No," he replied. "Unless either of you have heard something?"
"We have not," Blake said.
"Which is very disturbing," Diana added. "We are two of Spike's closest friends, and we have the means to help him. That he hasn't reached out to either of us seems very unusual. It makes us think that, well…I don't even want to say it. I'm trying to stay positive."
He could see the strain in her eyes and the same tension in Blake's gaze. Neither one of them looked like they'd gotten much sleep.
"Have you had any luck finding the security guard who disappeared from the party before the shooting?" he asked Blake.
"No. I spent the day looking for him. I've talked to his family and his friends, as well as his former coworkers. No one has heard from him. I also got into his apartment. It looked like he might have left in a hurry. He was given a company phone, and we've reviewed his calls, but there's nothing out of the ordinary."
"Well, I doubt he'd make calls from a company phone if he was involved in the attack."
"Just covering the bases. Don was a good kid, and he was happy to have his job. He also knew that Spike and I were longtime friends, and that Friday night's assignment was important to the company."
"None of that would compete with a big cash payout."
Blake tipped his head in acknowledgment. "True, but I pay my employees well, so that they aren't swayed by other offers." Blake let out a heavy sigh. "I feel very guilty about what happened. I should have had more security at the party."
"Why didn't you?"
"Spike wanted a small footprint. He didn't want his guests to feel like they were in an armed camp—his words, not mine. Hartley was not happy about it, either." Blake shook his head. "But Spike didn't always listen to us, not when his public persona was at risk."
"What do you mean?"
"He likes to be seen as an invincible warrior. Having a lot of bodyguards doesn't lend to that."
"But he's not invincible," Diana put in. "Just sometimes too stubborn and hardheaded for his own good."
"You've known him a long time, haven't you?" he asked.
"It seems like forever. We worked together at the CIA for several years. I was Spike's handler. I was the one who got him through his missions. We were very tight. You have to trust in each other in order to work well together, and we had that trust. He knew I had his back always, and I never let him down." She paused. "After I left the agency, Spike had my back. He offered me a job with his company. He gave me a new career, and it has been very exciting and rewarding."
"Spike looks out for his friends," Blake added. "And he has a lot of friends, because he's loyal."
"Then why hasn't he reached out to any of his friends?"
"He could be trying to protect us," Diana suggested.
"Or he's not sure if what happened last night was an inside job," Blake said. "It was definitely planned in advance, and it wasn't random. But I believe Spike got away. That's why there hasn't been a ransom demand."
"There is another possibility," he said, figuring these two could probably handle the truth, given the line of work they'd both been involved in. "He could have been killed."
Diana immediately shook her head, her lips tightening in a hard line. "I can't let myself believe that."
"Spike wouldn’t go down without a fight. I talked to Jason," Blake said. "He told me there wasn't any sign of a struggle or blood in Spike's room."
He didn't appreciate Jason giving out that information, but he couldn't deny the truth of what he'd said. "That's correct."
"Then he isn't dead," Diana said firmly. "He's just working the problem from another location. That's what he would do. He would hide out. He would figure out what's going on, and he would plan his own attack."
"Why not go to the police or the FBI or even the CIA?" he challenged.
"Because keeping the circle tight is the best way to survive," she replied.
"What about Mr. Cabot's girlfriend?" he asked, changing the subject. "What do you think of their relationship?"
"Paige is a lovely girl," Diana said. "She's pretty and easy to get along with."
"I don't think it's serious," Blake put in. "Spike likes to date beautiful models. They rarely last much longer than a year."
"Paige might be different," Diana said. "I think Spike really cares about her, and I'd love to see him settle into something. It would be good for him."
Blake shrugged. Either he didn't agree or didn't care.
"I thought Jason and Paige looked very close that night," he said. "They went outside minutes before the shooting, and he took her to his house afterward."
"Jason would never betray Spike," Diana said. "I'm sure he was just taking care of her."
He turned to Blake. "Any thoughts?"
"I don't know," Blake replied. "But I don't think Paige or Jason had anything to do with what happened, so does it matter?"
"I'm just trying to get a handle on all the relationships. Do either of you know if Spike has received any hate mail or threats? Clearly, he wanted some security at the party."
"Because he's a rich, powerful man," Diana said.
"Spike has had some obsessive gamers posting negative comments online about the delay in the release of the next game," Richey said. "It was supposed to come out a month ago. There weren't specific threats. There was certainly no indication that there was planned violence. Spike just wanted security to make sure no one crashed the party, but it was quiet all night. I was there until ten, and I saw no evidence of anyone trying to shake things up."
"I didn't, either," Diana said. "It was a love fest between the influencers and Spike. They got to come to his luxury mansion. They were flattered and felt very welcome."
"What about disgruntled employees?" he asked.
"You could talk to Jason about that or HR," Diana said. "We don't hear about that at our level, but Spike never mentioned anyone to me."
"Or to me," Blake put in. He checked his watch. "I don't want to cut this short, but I want to continue looking for my guy."
"All right. Thanks for meeting with me. I trust you'll both notify me if Spike gets in touch."
They both nodded, but he didn't believe them for a second. They both had a history with Spike and a loyalty to the man who had been their coworker, their friend, and now their boss. They'd only contact him if Spike wanted them to do that.
"Look," he said, as he got to his feet. "I know you both feel like you can protect him better than I can. Maybe that's true. Or maybe he's dealing with something that needs more resources. I can provide those resources. I can work under whatever requirements are necessary. My only interest is making sure Mr. Cabot is safe and that he stays that way."
"I appreciate you being so direct," Diana said.
"If we hear from him, we will pass that message on," Blake added.
"Thanks." He left the penthouse with mixed feelings about their conversation. Diana and Blake were Spike's closest friends and business associates. Their love and loyalty for him seemed genuine. But it bothered him that they'd taken all day to call him back.
Why the delay? Had they been lying about talking to Spike? Had they called him in because they wanted to get information from him?
Maybe Spike had told them to find out what was going on. He didn't doubt for a second that they would help Spike stay hidden away and keep his secrets, because they'd been doing that for years, and Spike had taken care of them. He'd given them jobs, seats on his board, and probably made them millionaires.
If they had been told to contact him and find out what was going on, hopefully they'd relay his message to Spike. If Spike wasn't dead yet, he soon could be, if he didn't make the right moves. The person who had set up the attack at his house had not had a problem taking out two men and wounding three other people. They would try again. He needed to get ahead of them, but he had the frustrating feeling he was being stonewalled. And he was more than a little concerned that Spike's life probably wasn't the only one on the line.
Which brought him back to Audrey. Maybe he should concentrate on finding her, because unlike Spike, she didn't have a multitude of resources. And her loyal friend actually wanted his help.
"Audrey has always taken such good care of me," Evelyn Richardson told Kat, her weathered elderly face a picture of worry. "She's the best daughter a woman could ask for. I don't think she'd leave me all alone in here."
Kat didn't think so, either. Ever since she'd arrived at Audrey's mother's bedside, her conviction that something was terribly wrong had only grown stronger. "Did Audrey tell you where she was going?"
"No. She just sent a text to my phone that she was leaving town for a few days. I asked the nurse to read it to me twice in case I didn't remember it right, but she didn't say where she was going or when she'd be back." Evelyn gave her a speculative look. "I'm surprised she didn't tell you, Kat. She loves you so much."
Evelyn's words tore at her heart. "I love her, too, and I'm going to find out what's going on. Do you have any idea where Audrey would go if she just needed to get away from everyone? Did she have a favorite place? I know she liked Hawaii, but I'm wondering if there was any other place around here."
"She rented a small cottage at Crystal Cove right after she got divorced. She said the beach healed her. Maybe she went there."
Excitement ran through her. Crystal Cove was only about thirty minutes south of Santa Monica. "I remember her talking about that. Do you know which cottage she rented?"
"I remember it was blue." Evelyn gave her an apologetic look. "I'm forgetting more and more each day. Usually, when Audrey visits me, she reminds me of things and that helps."
She wished she could help, but she'd only met Evelyn a couple of times and she didn't know much of anything about Evelyn's life. "I'm sure Audrey will be back soon."
