Vegas Series: Six-book Boxed Set (Hot Romance & Powerful Suspense)

by Mimi Barbour

  “Just two people. Myself and Jeff.”

  “And Jim Waters.”

  “If he knows it, I didn’t tell him. When I opened it, he was on his phone and wasn’t watching.”

  Kai glanced at Cory and his nod confirmed they were on the same page.

  He typed on his Ipad and then said. “Okay, what then?”

  “Nothing. We closed up the office and went our separate ways. He said he wanted to be in his room in case another note came and so I just assumed he’d gone there. Myself, I had to get back to work. Running a casino hotel of this scope is a huge responsibility.”

  Cory leaned toward their witness. “Yes, I’m sure it is, Mr. Wimbly. And you do an admirable job. If you come up with anything else that you think might help us, please call this room immediately. Until then, no one’s to know what’s happening. No one! Understood?”

  “Of course! I just want this nightmare to be over and Jeff returned safely.” Wimbly stopped by the door before opening it. He faced the others. “If there’s anything the hotel can provide to make your stay….” Seeming to hear his own fatuous words, Wimbly stopped. “Anything!” he said before retreating.

  Kai wandered the room, his hands on his hips. “So what do you think happened to Jim Waters and the money?”

  Cory leaned back as if relaxed. “Obviously, he had another message telling him where and when to deliver it and maybe a warning that if he wanted to see Jeff alive, he needed to come alone.”

  “But how did he get into the safe?”

  “Either Jim watched Wimbly open it or he videoed him doing so with his phone, giving him the combination. Wimbly isn’t himself right now and he trusted Mr. Waters. Chances are he didn’t protect the numbers.”

  Kai stopped in front of his old army friend and boss. “Okay, that works, except for one thing. According to Lisa, Jeff’s father was involved with the investigation right from the beginning. Don’t you find it strange that he’d just drop those ties without leaving any kind of a tip-off? I mean, he knows we have Jeff under surveillance, that he’s fine. The idea had been to play along with the requests until Ben Stokes himself arrived so we could capture him as part of the gang. Put a stop to this foolishness for once and for all.”

  Cory listened and then added, “Sounds feasible, except I don’t make Ben for the leader. Not now that we know the man has been unable to walk or talk and has been confined to a wheelchair for something like twenty years. I think we’re barking up the wrong tree here.”

  “Okay, let’s say you’re right about Ben and that the boss is the ‘old lady’ as Sam called her. That leaves us with some crazy Aunt who physically kidnapped Jeff or the new female who turned up acting like she’s the one in charge.”

  “Maybe she is the one he referred to as the ‘old lady’ and in my part of town that’s slang for what we called our mothers.”

  “Yeah, I thought that also. It would make sense if I hadn’t been told that Carol Stokes took off years ago and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. After she disappeared, Jane Ward, her sister from South America, supposedly stepped in to look after the boys.”

  “Any proof of this happening?” asked Cory.

  “Sure. There’s documentation showing Jane entering the country and taking up residence with the family.”

  “Fuck! This investigation is one crazy mixed-up mess.”

  “No kidding! And now we have a distraught father who’s missing—along with six million dollars. A man who’s also aware of our ongoing investigation and that we have their room surrounded. What if he spills the beans? They could panic and try to get rid of the evidence. I gotta tell you, this shit is making me very nervous.”

  Cory pointed to the monitor. “Don’t look now but you’re about to get even more nervous. The broad is leaving the suite.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Kai stopped near the exit door, pretending to check the contents of his computer bag. The woman who’d emerged from the suite next to theirs had kept her head lowered but had beelined for the elevator. Other folks soon spilled into the hallway making it possible for Kai to mingle and not stand out. He entered the crowd last and became the elevator man by the panel of lighted buttons, punching in each floor as it was called out. The woman never spoke. Taking this to mean she intended to go to the lobby, he stayed where he was and made small talk with the tourists who were full of energy.

  Soon there were only three of them and when they hit the bottom floor, Kai stepped out and wandered a short distance while keeping an eye on his suspect. She hesitated at the door and then let herself be swallowed back into the elevator by the group that had waited to ride the car back up. The doors closed before Kai could get back in.

  “Son of a bitch! Cory, have you got her?”

  “Yeah, she’s heading back up again. No wait. She’s getting off on seven. There’s no one in sight. What the fuck? She pulled a gun with a silencer and just shot out the camera lens. Now we’ll have no idea what room she’ll go in. Got a pretty good look at her face though. One thing I can tell you. She’s not their old lady. This gal’s a looker, about mid-forties I’d say.”

  “Send me a face shot and call Wimbly. Get him to pull out all the registrations for that floor. I’m on my way to his office. Cory, watch that wily bitch. She’s just as likely to turn up on another floor.”

  Kai headed to the manager’s office in the lobby, opened his Ipad and paced the carpet, waiting for Cory to Email him the image he expected. Just as it appeared, Wimbly came puffing up to the door. “My secretary said it was urgent.”

  “It is. Let’s go inside.” Once out of earshot from any snoopers, Kai opened up. “The woman who had stayed with the suspects last night just took off to floor seven and shot out the camera in the elevator. Lieutenant Ashton sent me her picture. Do you recognize her?”

  Jonathon Wimbly stepped in closer and shook his head. “No, but then I have very little to do with registration. I can have my staff come and take a look if you like.”

  “You trust these employees?”

  “Well of course! I personally picked them to be our representatives with the public. Besides, they were all cleared earlier by Lisa and your people.”

  “Fine, do it now. Tell them she’s my sister on an illicit weekend with her lover and under an assumed name that we don’t know. Explain that her child has been in an accident and is calling for his mommy. Make sure they understand that they must not mention this to anyone. That she has an important position and her reputation is not to be smeared in any way.”

  Affronted, Wimbly stiffened and gained another inch. “My people do not gossip. They are professionals.”

  He lifted his phone and within a few seconds, the first person entered. Questioning each one only took a few minutes and in no time at all they were running out of employees. Frustrated, Kai felt his patience beginning to wear thin. Until finally, they got the answer they’d hoped for. One of the staff remembered.

  The younger fellow, wearing his uniform as if it should provide instant respect, turned the Ipad one way and then leaned it forward to catch a different angle of light. “I do believe that woman came in yesterday and rented a single room for herself and her husband. I know I gave her one of the rooms on the seventh floor.”

  Bingo!

  Kai could have danced a jig if he’d been alone. As it was, he felt a stupid grin fill his face and he wet his lips to get rid of it.

  Cory’s voice rang in his ear. “Kai, she must have stayed on that floor because she hasn’t appeared anywhere else.”

  “I know. I think we might have a lead. I’ll get back to you.”

  In a short time, Wimbly returned with the signed registration card bearing all the information. “She’s in room 754 and registered under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Ann Brown. Her credit card is Visa with a Los Angeles address.”

  “Which is either fake or stolen.” Kai took a moment to check the police files, and sure enough, found that it had been reported stolen just th
at morning. Before sending the information to Cory, he pinned the manager with a keen-eyed look and said. “I need to know any other details about the room you can tell us. When was it serviced? Did she have any visitors? Who do you have registered as occupants in the connecting room?”

  “I can tell you that now. The room next to her is empty and has been for some time since there was extensive water damage a while back. As per our policy, we’ll be renovating once the weekend has passed and the hotel isn’t so full.”

  “Which is something an employee would know.”

  “Sure! If she wanted to find out, it would be easy. We keep lists of the upcoming renovations.”

  “Did Ann Brown request this room?”

  “Actually, the woman did. Said she and her husband always stayed in that room number. They’d had a lucky streak at the tables years ago when they’d used that same number and always made it a mission to find a hotel that could accommodate them.”

  Kai repeated what he’d learned to Cory. “Wimbly gave me a master key and I’m moving in before she bolts and we lose her again.”

  Cory answered, using his boss voice. “Ham and Aurora just got back. I’ll send her as backup so wait until she meets up with you.”

  “Check!”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Kai waited until he saw his wife moving toward him from the elevator. The florescent glow highlighted the shine of her French-braided hair, a style that suited her so well. Short she was, but Aurora had the uncanny ability to walk like a person six feet tall. Her working outfit of figure-hugging white shirt and black slacks that fit like a second skin only emphasized her slightness. It was the high-heeled boots she preferred that made him shiver with hunger. He loved those fucking boots and the painted toes and delicate ankle bracelet she hid inside. Pride for his dainty, feminine wife who played the snarky cop so well filled him brimful. The smile she wore tackled him right in the soft spot she occupied inside his heart. Not one for romantic gestures or soft words in public, her sapphire eyes sparkled her delight in seeing her man and shared that message with him… hello my love.

  He nodded and reached for her hand, which he squeezed in a way that let her know he got it. Without realizing he would, he reached to wind a strand of her loose hair behind her ear and then let his fingers caress her cheek. “Cory tell you what’s up?”

  “Briefly. He said the woman from next door was on the move, carrying and believed to be on this floor.”

  “We figure she’s in seven-fifty-four. Are you ready to go in?” Kai pointed to the right-hand side of the door and took up a stance on the left, gun drawn and held by his side.

  Aurora withdrew her weapon. “I’m good.”

  Kai knocked twice and called out. “Mr. or Mrs. Brown open the door, please. I’m detective Lawson with the Las Vegas police department. I have some questions for you.”

  They waited.

  Kai knocked once more and then slid in the key card to open the lock. As soon as the green light clicked, he pushed the door wide and glided into the room, Aurora on his tail. They saw no one but they heard groans from the bathroom. After making sure the closet and balcony were clear, Kai threw the door to the toilet open and swung his gun inside first and Aurora followed right after. The maid, tied with duct tape around her ankles, hands and mouth, lay sprawled on the floor. Kai remarked on the obvious. “It’s the maid.”

  “Yeah.” Aurora looked into the outer room and then said. “And her cart’s missing.”

  “Uh huh and so is Mrs. Brown.”

  Kai removed the binding from around the woman’s wrists and began to work on her bloated ankles while the chubby thirty-year-old yanked the tape from her own mouth. “That bitch had a gun. She made me lie on the floor so she could tie me up.”

  “What did she look like? Can you give us a description?”

  “I can do better than that. I can tell you her name. She didn’t fool me with all her makeup and fancy clothes. She’s miraculously lost the limp, walks upright and she must have padded her clothes before because her body shape is different, smaller, if you know what I mean. I’d bet a year’s salary it was Jane Ward, one of the other maids that works here in the hotel. She’s a snooty thing, always stuck up. Thought she was such a big-shot because she cleaned the boss’s suite. She couldn’t fool me. I recognized the dead look in her eyes.”

  Kai helped her stand and played along. “Dead look?”

  “Exactly. Jane’s scary. Since she started here, I’ve never once seen her eyes change. It’s like there’s no heart attached.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Lisa felt as if her bladder would burst if she didn’t get a reprieve. Not wanting to whine to Jeff who had it worse since he’d been tied up longer, she kept it to herself. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer, he let out a shrill whistle, she almost lost her control.

  “God you scared me. I thought you were asleep.”

  “It’s the only way that fucker will hear us.”

  After the second whistle, the door opened and Sam’s sleepy face peered in. “Hold your horses. I’m coming.” He wore a pair of rumpled boxers that were twisted around his flabby belly and a beard that hid his some of the scars on his cheeks but not nearly enough.

  Jeff spoke, his voice raspy. “We both need to use the washroom, Sam. Take Lisa first.”

  “Shut the fuck up! Who’re you giving orders to, man?”

  Visibly hung over, the loser didn’t do sick well. Lisa knew that if vinegar didn’t cut it sometimes honey would. Using her chorus-girl voice, she tried. “Please, Sam. Please let us go to the bathroom. We’re in agony here.” Pleading that started out as a con, ended up ringing with sincerity that got to the jerk. He reached down to help her to her feet, and he did so with care. She recognized this and thanked him softly.

  “How’d you get the tapes off your mouth?” As he asked, he cut the ties from her wrists and her ankles.

  The uppercut to his throat took him completely by surprise. So did the one Lisa landed on the back of his neck that put him down. Unfortunately, the bastard didn’t completely lose consciousness since her numb hand didn’t work as well as usual. He rolled and staggered to his feet. With a roar, he attacked. The furious man came at her full tilt. Lisa, though not too steady on her feet, could have evaded his enraged bullish tackle with her eyes closed. Oh, this is going to be fun! She waited until he came into range. Bending low, her aim perfect, she kicked out his knee and followed through with another well-placed strike to the jaw. Down he went and down he stayed.

  Quickly, she hobbled to the door and pushed the lock in place and then went to Jeff who struggled to sit upright. She cut the ties on his wrists and gave him the knife. “I’ve really gotta use the little ladies room, are you okay to undo your ankles?”

  “You better believe it.” He gratefully clutched the knife in one hand as he exercised the muscles in the other. Then he went to work. Lisa stepped over Sam’s body and was back in a few moments to help Jeff to his feet and across the room. “Will you be okay? You’re pretty weak.”

  “I’m fine. It’ll just take a bit to get the feeling back in my extremities.”

  Knowing they didn’t have a lot of time, Lisa rolled the inert body of Sam toward the closet and gladly used the duct tape on him for a change. She retrieved her gun and sent a message to Kai.

  “We’re clear in here, Kai. Sam’s tied up in the closet and Jeff and I are free.”

  Cory, being the one to respond, threw her at first. “You okay?”

  “Hey boss, glad to hear your voice.”

  “Don’t try sweet-talking me, Lisa Jordan. Just answer. Are you okay?”

  Lisa swelled with the emotion only a caring boss could instill. “Yes, granny! I’m fine and Jeff is also. We’ll go and get Troy and the woman under control and let you in.”

  “You will not! You stand down. You hear me? We have a master key and will be there soon. Do nothing until you hear back from me.”

  “Yes
, Sir.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Kai and Aurora reported back to Cory with the information they’d gained.

  Disgusted, Cory said. “I’m sick and tired of Jane Ward eluding us at every turn. The surveillance cameras from the elevators and hallways have to show her re-appearing somewhere as the maid. We have a faint idea of what she looks like in her role as an employee and I’d bet she brought her get-up with her to change into so she wouldn’t bring attention when pushing the cart. Undoubtedly, she stored it in the empty room next door so it would be handy when she pulled this stunt. Rewind those damn tapes and let’s find her. Ham, you hear anything new from headquarters about Ben Stokes’ family? “

  “Nothing so far, boss. They seem to have kept their noses clean. An undercover agent I know made a quick trip to their residence in L.A., and reported back a little while ago that it’s a dumpy apartment that looks deserted. She’s hanging around to see if any of the neighbors can give us more info.”

  “This undercover person works for us?” Cory’s eyebrow arched.

  Hesitation rang in Ham’s voice “Not exactly. She’s more of a family friend.” Ham’s expressive hands never stopped waving and the pride on his face was unmistakable.

  Aurora, knowing her beloved co-worker better than anyone, remarked. “O’Hampton, my love, you and I need to have a long talk about this… ah, family friend.”

  Ham winked at her. “Okay, truth to tell she’s me darling long-lost daughter and yer not fooling me playing the innocent, Rory. Lisa told you, right?”

  The loud snort from the desk across the room had them all facing Cory. “Well Lisa didn’t damn-well tell me. What daughter?” His voice had risen, warning everyone that they’d better start talking.

  Scratching at the beard slightly showing, Ham replied. “It’s a long story, Boss. And I think I’ll be keeping it to myself until I meet up with her mother and learn all the facts. The shorter version is that I’ve recently met an older daughter I knew nothing about. Her name is Francesca Donovan. She found me a few days ago. My girl’s a chip off the old block, make no mistake. Since she hasn’t started her new job as an undercover federal agent just yet, she decided to pitch in and help this investigation.”