by L B Wyatt
“You won’t find him until it’s time for his speech,” Cameron informed.
“Why’s that?” Veronica wondered and she accepted the flute of champagne he extended to her with a thank you.
“All the big wigs hide out in the rat room so they aren’t pummeled with questions,” he explained as he nodded to a pair of double doors at the edge of the room that were heavily guarded. “They always make us media folks hang out for the whole event and then only give us two minutes before they dodge out the door toward the end.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes. “Then why don’t you just show up late every time?” she inquired politely.
Cameron shrugged and sipped his beverage. “You never know when you might find someone interesting to talk to.” He winked at her.
Veronica smiled in return and pushed her glasses up a little. “You sound like an old pro.”
Cameron shrugged again. “Ah, I’m still fairly new at the paper and they make these events sound glamorous, but they’re awful so I always get stuck with them.”
She nodded as if she understood. Her eyes swept out over the crowds once more, but her attention was naturally drawn to the one place she wasn’t allowed. The rat room, as Cameron called it, was not an option right now. She’d have to wait until Ross came out and it was going to be a long night, she realized.
She chatted with Cameron for a while, but when her eyes caught sight of the mayor at the far side of the room, she spent the rest of her time trying to dodge him. Yes, she was in disguise, but she’d had enough run ins with the mayor that if she got too close he’d surely recognize her. She was a little aggravated that every time she turned around, Cameron seemed to be right there. She appreciated his kindness and considered that perhaps he was trying to hang around so much because he was just as uncomfortable as she was. It didn’t matter what his reasoning was—she needed to catch Ross alone when he immerged from that rat hole and Cameron would just kink her plans.
She was about to become very rude in an unintentional way when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Veronica’s instinct was to drop kick, but there was no way that would be possible in the skin-tight pencil skirt hugging her hips. She could hear the material ripping just thinking about it. Instead, she turned very calmly and looked into the face of her partner. Startled was a good word, but she felt like she kept her face neutral as Cameron curiously eyed them.
“Hello,” she said calmly. She could see the amusement in Merritt’s eyes as he looked her up and down.
“Suzie? Hey!” He grinned and pulled her in for a hug. “My gosh, it’s so good to see you.”
Veronica wanted to punch his lights out for saying the word gosh and for having the balls to touch her, but she refrained and suffered through his fake ass hug instead.
“Do I know you?” she inquired, reining in her irritation, though her words were pushed out through her teeth.
“Oh, wow.” Merritt scratched the back of his neck and glanced down for a moment, looking visibly uncomfortable to the point Veronica was a bit impressed by his acting skills.
“This is embarrassing. You don’t remember me?” he asked.
“I’m afraid not,” she continued with tight lips.
“Well, that hurts a little. I mean, I know we were both pretty drunk, but you said it was a night you would never forget.”
Veronica narrowed her eyes and worked her jaw. “Guess I was wrong, huh?” she ground out.
“I think I’ll leave you two to it then,” Cameron said, clearing his throat as he backed out of the way to depart the awkward situation.
Veronica looked passed Merritt’s shoulder at the double doors with disappointment. They hadn’t opened yet. “What the hell are you doing here, Merritt?” she demanded harshly once Cameron was out of earshot.
“What the hell are you wearing?” he countered.
Veronica put her hand on her hip. “You know what? You’re getting pretty damn mouthy lately,” she pointed out.
“I’m learning.” He grinned again.
For a moment, Veronica was caught off guard by his boyish expression. She let her eyes linger on him for a second longer as she alarmingly realized she was developing some respect for him. Not to mention he was kind of handsome when his face lit up like that.
“Why are you here?” she asked with a little less acid this time.
“The organization extended invitations to the local police and fire departments,” he explained causally, tipping his glass for a quick drink. “The chief’s here,” he informed.
Veronica’s eyes jerked away from the doors she so longingly wanted to open right into Merritt’s face with some unease.
“Where? I haven’t seen him all night,” she exclaimed and then watched with even more anxiety as Merritt nodded his head to the doors she’d been watching so carefully all evening.
Well, that was certainly a curve ball.
“He wasn’t going to come until he saw the list of guest speakers. As soon as he knew Ross was attending, he pulled me in his office and you know what he said?”
Merritt turned his eyes on Veronica with unwavering amusement. She kept her eyes on him with unwavering agitation. That alcohol must be making him a little braver tonight.
“He said he wanted me to go with him because there was a chance you’d show up.”
Veronica was seething. All this for nothing? No, she decided. She had worked her way through tougher situations in the past.
“He knows you pretty well, doesn’t he?” Merritt stated.
Morro had been in and out of her life since she was a child, Veronica concurred silently. She wasn’t about to mention that little personal tidbit to her partner, but Merritt was absolutely right. The chief did know her and it irritated her greatly.
Just about then the doors opened and Morro walked out with Ross and the mayor fell in close behind. There were a few others that filtered out as well, but Veronica zoomed in on the senator for a moment and lost count. She was slightly annoyed when Merritt deliberately stepped in her way with his back to her. Her view was blocked completely of the group and she fought the inner urge to kick her partner in the back of the leg.
“Looks like they’re heading to the bar,” Merritt informed.
“Yeah, I could see that if you’d get out of my way.”
Merritt turned around and faced her, still preventing her from seeing anything. “So you want the chief to spot you? He’ll recognize you in that God-awful outfit as quickly as I did, you know?” He was shaking his head in obvious disappointment.
Veronica hadn’t realized his methods were only helping her. She took in a deep breath and tried to refocus. She realigned her thought processes, acknowledging how it seemed as though no matter the cost, Merritt was always looking out for her. Narrowing her eyes in a nearly painful expression, she tried not to think too much about how Merritt was always on her side and she especially tried to avoid thinking about how that was starting to make her feel. She slowly shook her head and said, “I’m sorry. I’m a little uptight.”
“I’ve noticed,” Merritt agreed and then his face turned solemn. “Did you talk to some chick named Penelope Stafford?” he asked offhandedly.
Veronica knitted her brow and pushed her glasses up again. Poppy, she thought with a surge of alarm. “What if I did?” she asked calmly.
Merritt frowned. “She was found dead in her yoga studio a couple days ago.”
Veronica’s heart sank to her toes. “What happened?” she demanded.
“Suicide.”
“Not a chance.”
“I thought you’d say that. She was the Mason girl’s friend, right?” he guessed.
Veronica nodded. Her head was swimming and her gut was tied in knots. There was no doubt in her mind Poppy was killed because she let something loose. She had inadvertently pointed Veronica in the direction of the Barber and that’s all it took to cost her her life.
“They found her hanging from one of the beams. She hung herself. Left a note and all. No foul play.”<
br />
“No investigation,” Veronica acknowledged.
Merritt nodded. “Not without proof.”
“I might have it,” Veronica said lowly. She stepped closer to him. “I left a recording device in her card holder on the desk. Check and see if it’s still there. If it is, I bet there’s proof of who killed her.”
Merritt raised his eyebrows in surprise. “When did you do that?”
“When I went to talk to her. I thought slipping it somewhere concealed by the phone might prove helpful. I knew there was no way that girl could afford that kind of studio on her own.”
“You think she was paid off to lie?”
“I know she was. Especially now.”
“Ross?” he guessed.
She shook her head. “Someone else, I think. Someone more sinister than the senator.”
The Barber, she said to herself. She wasn’t about to put that name in Merritt’s ear and make him a target as well, though. Not right now anyway. She would have to clue him in at some point, but not tonight.
“I’ll distract the chief and the mayor. I might be able to buy you a few minutes,” he offered.
Veronica was stunned. She wasn’t sure what to say at first, but she caught Merritt’s arm as he started to turn away.
“Why are you helping me?” She was ashamed of herself for allowing that to escape instead of the ‘thank you’ she had lined up. What is wrong with me? she wondered.
Don’t even go there, she answered herself.
Merritt just shrugged. “I’m feeling generous,” he replied and then glanced at his glass of Jack and Coke. “Or maybe I’ve just had about three too many of these.” His lopsided grin told her it was probably the latter. Either way, she was grateful.
“Thanks,” she said and hung back while he walked over to the group of elites and started talking. She waited for a while, but watched eagerly as the chief and the mayor nodded vigorously at something Merritt said and then walked away with him.
And there it was: her golden opportunity. Ross was at the bar alone. She kept her strides steady, although she felt as if she were rushing in her high heels. She slowed it down as she slipped into the stool next to his. Ross glanced sideways at her with interest and she could smell the alcohol on his breath as he said hello. No wonder all the big wigs liked these types of events. It was just a way to get lit on someone else’s dime.
“Senator,” she said in way of greetings. As soon as she spoke, she saw his spine straighten with recognition. He knew exactly who she was. The fact that he remembered the sound of her voice after only one meeting was either flattering or disturbing. She produced a slow smile across her face as she pivoted on the barstool to face him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded.
“Rum and Coke,” Veronica ordered casually as the bartender approached them. He turned to prepare her drink and Veronica turned her attention back to the suspect at hand.
“I just wanted to show you something,” she answered his question with a civil tone. She pulled her phone from the front of her purse and scrolled through the pictures until she found the desired one. She laid it on the bar and slid it closer to him.
His eyes glanced at the device like it was a detonator for a bomb, and in a way, she supposed it was. But for right now, right here in this moment, it wasn’t going to set anything off.
“Go on,” she encouraged and thanked the bartender for her drink as he placed it carefully on a napkin and walked away.
Ross drew in a deep breath, squared his shoulders and took the phone. She watched him read the names and slowly all the color drained from his face.
“Where did you get this?” he demanded weakly.
“I crawled through the pits of hell and stole it from the devil himself,” she responded.
Ross slowly set the phone back down on the bar. He picked up his scotch and sipped it before saying softly. “That doesn’t prove anything.”
“It proves you knew her,” Veronica countered. “It might be enough for a search warrant.”
“Your chief didn’t say a word to me about this, detective,” Ross noted. “Why haven’t you turned this in?”
Veronica shrugged her shoulders. “Leverage.” She smiled. “That and I’ll be re-instated soon, senator. I’ll present it all to the judge then.”
Ross cut her a look and turned, fully facing her on the barstool. “I didn’t kill her.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Ross’s face started to burn. He worked his jaw and the grip he had on his glass was a strong one. She could see the whites of his knuckles. She figured he was imaging how it would feel to smash the glass against the side of her head. She kind of wished he would. It would make getting him in cuffs a lot simpler.
“What do you want from me?” he growled.
“A confession,” she answered quickly, pulling her phone closer to blatantly press the record button.
Ross’s eyes narrowed and he slowly shook his head. “You’re playing a dangerous game, detective. Do you realize how big of a target that ledger puts on your head?”
“I knew the risks when I stole it,” she assured. “I also know that one click and the files go live. Even if you pulled a gun on me right now, I could press send before you could pull the trigger.”
“Is she really worth dying over?” Ross asked quite seriously. He was staring at Veronica as if he couldn’t wrap his mind around the concept.
“I swore to serve and protect. When I’ve failed at that, I’m most certainly willing to die for the truth.”
He stared a little longer before his shoulders dropped a fraction as his reserve faltered. “She wasn’t supposed to be at that fundraiser,” he said quietly. “Ian never schedules his girls to make appearances at high-profile events.”
Veronica continued to look on at the senator like she knew exactly who Ian was. She didn’t really, but she assumed he was speaking of the Barber.
“Then why was she there?” Veronica pressed.
“I don’t know,” he rasped and then took a deep breath along with a long sip of alcohol. “I didn’t even talk to her that evening.”
Lies, Veronica thought viciously. “She needed an invite, Ross. She couldn’t have just walked in.”
“She wasn’t my plus one, Miss Covey, I assure you. She must have been someone else’s,” Ross insisted.
Veronica stared long and hard at him. She watched as his hands shook with fear and rage. She was so caught up in the conversation she didn’t see company approaching until a large hand was on her shoulder. She turned her head just slightly enough to see the outline of the chief staring down at her. She didn’t have the nerve to look up into his face just yet. She was sure his expression was saturated with disappointment and despair. She let her eyes fall upon a flash of pale blue as Everly Ross joined her husband’s side in her expensive evening gown. She had approached Ross much like the chief had approached Veronica. She watched as Everly’s hand slid around her husband’s shoulders in a protective, concerned manner. Her big doe eyes were dolled up and looking lovely this evening even with the evident fear behind her gaze. If Veronica wasn’t pissed at the moment, she might have complimented the woman on how incredibly gorgeous she looked tonight.
“Let’s step outside, shall we?” the chief suggested calmly.
Veronica took in a deep breath and locked eyes with Ross. Some of his trepidation seemed to have left him with the presence of the police chief and Everly at his side. This made Veronica’s blood boil with anger, but she gracefully slid out of the booth and stood next to her boss. She draped her purse over her shoulder and slipped her phone into the front pocket.
Veronica wanted to say she walked to the front doors, but she was most certainly escorted out. She knew by the way Morro was holding tightly to her upper arm she was about to get reamed and maybe fired shortly thereafter.
She still didn’t face him as they exited the building. He pulled her along until they were clear of the main entr
ance and then he forced her to turn around and look at him. She was mad and it was evident in her features, but so was he and they stood there glaring at one another for a while.
“I was this close,” she finally hissed, holding her fingers up to emphasize her point.
“To what? Throwing your career away?” he countered.
“To a confession, boss!” she corrected.
Morro shook his head and took a step back. He put one hand on his hip and the other on the side of the concrete building. “What do you have on him? Do you have evidence now?” he questioned.
“I have more than what I started with.”
“Damn it, Covey, I told you to be careful.”
“I have been. How was I supposed to know you and the mayor were going to show up?”
“This event is a big deal. There are a lot of important people in there. You should be smart enough to realize some type of security would be in place.”
She was winded by his criticism of her intelligence and she tried to pretend it wasn’t a hard blow to the gut, but it was difficult to remain calm. She chewed on her lip for a while, debating on whether or not she should speak. Finally, her poor judgment ruled out and she found herself speaking with venom in her tone.
“This hasn’t been easy, you know? I’ve had to wing it from the get-go. First, you won’t allow me to follow the case and when I decide to pick it up on the down low, you rip the rug right out from under me and I have to do it all with only the bare essentials. If I had continued this case with all my resources at the station, I’d have that bastard behind bars already.”
Morro pushed himself off the wall and stood to his full height, towering over her with a blaze behind his eyes. “Do you really want to go there, Veronica?”
His voice was so low, so deathly, that she nearly faltered. But she had never backed down from anyone or anything and she wasn’t going to start now. Morro had known her long enough to realize this and after a very heated moment, he took a step away and turned his back on her.
“You should leave now before the mayor catches wind of you. I won’t have a choice but to fire you if he calls me with a complaint again.”
