Undercover in Glimmer Creek

by Julianna Morris

  Tessa tried to regain her equilibrium, remembering Rob might be the target of more than information thefts—his life might be at risk. Curiously, it was easier to forgive him than Gabe.

  “What’s done is done,” she said, forcing a smile. “It must be strange to have a brother who went into such different work than you. A navy SEAL?”

  “Our childhood was complicated, and our folks were furious when he enlisted instead of going to college. I don’t know why he took his twenty-year retirement. I’m just glad he’s out. He really got banged up in the service.”

  In more ways than one, Tessa thought. Gabe’s faith in human nature must have taken a major beating. Or maybe he’d been born mistrustful. Some people seemed naturally skeptical, and no matter what they experienced, they never changed.

  “Well, right now you’re the one who needs to be careful,” she murmured. “I understand my fall may not have been an accident, after all.”

  Regret filled Rob’s eyes. “It’s a possibility. You’ll probably be glad to see me leave for Los Angeles in a couple of days.”

  Only if you take your cynical brother with you, Tessa wanted to say, but she forced another smile. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “That’s very generous. I, uh... What are the chances of my returning with some of my executives in June? Gabe wants to set up another sting operation and would prefer not waiting until the retreat scheduled for August.”

  Great. Another potential disaster.

  “I’ll do my best,” she said, “but I know we don’t have an open block of rooms then. The best possibility will be to track cancellations and hold rooms as they become available. You might have to come on short notice.”

  “This isn’t a problem. Put any expenses on my business account. Thanks for all your help.”

  Rob left quickly before she could say anything, and she wondered if his brother had told him about the tongue-lashing he’d received earlier. Probably not. A man like Gabe McKinley wouldn’t care about anything she’d said.

  Lord, a navy SEAL?

  That was like having a combination of Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi working for Poppy Gold, though she wasn’t convinced that wisdom and insight were lurking beneath Gabe’s rhinoceros hide. The only redeeming trait she’d seen in him was concern for his brother.

  To think she’d actually felt a flash of heat as the louse had carried her down the steps of the El Dorado, when all the while he was trying to decide if she was a criminal. Her reaction had come largely from adrenaline and the survival instinct, of course, but it was still annoying. She didn’t like Gabe McKinley enough to warrant wayward impulses.

  The ceiling fan cooled Tessa’s face as she began mapping out a plan of action. While she was furious that Gabe had been spying on them, the worst part was knowing someone may have stolen from their clients. Poppy Gold wasn’t just a business, it was home. Most of her aunts and uncles and cousins were connected to it in some way, so if somebody hurt Poppy Gold Inns, they hurt her family, as well.

  Nobody was getting away with that.

  Gabe and Great-Uncle Milt probably still hoped to keep her in a sideline role in the investigation, but that wasn’t going to happen.

  This was war.

  CHAPTER NINE

  GABE EXERCISED FOR an hour at the employee fitness center, running on the treadmill followed by a lengthy session lifting weights to release his frustration.

  Telling Tessa about the information thefts would have been better than having her figure out the connection between him and Rob and learning it that way. But she was smart and like a lioness when it came to Poppy Gold, so her protective instincts had probably tipped her off that something was going on.

  Though Gabe preferred hard evidence, he had a healthy regard for instincts. The survival instinct was one of the most powerful forces in nature. He scratched the scar on his left shoulder. According to the surgeon, the wound should have killed him. Instead he’d rendezvoused with his team in time for their helicopter pickup. Survival at its most basic.

  Dodging bullets was part of the job, but the thing that haunted Gabe was the civilian who’d stumbled into the mess. Innocent bystanders weren’t supposed to die. Unfortunately drug cartels didn’t follow any rules of engagement, and they didn’t like witnesses.

  There was no way he could let Tessa get involved in the investigation. It was dangerous. While they would need to wait for proof about the staircase, his gut told him it had been a trap for his brother.

  If Tessa had gone over the railing headfirst...

  He lowered the weight bar, not wanting to think how Liam would have reacted if his daughter had been hurt worse. Father and daughter appeared quite devoted to each other. Not being close to his own father, Gabe didn’t understand the relationship, but Liam was also a different kind of man from David McKinley.

  Gabe flipped the top of his water bottle and drank down half the contents.

  He knew Rob had gone to talk with Tessa and was now back in his suite at the Tofton House. They’d spoken briefly on the phone, and his brother had flatly refused a bodyguard, saying it would just tip off the thief. He was both right and wrong. Catching the culprit after more violence had occurred wouldn’t help anyone.

  Gabe headed for the men’s locker room. Tessa had sent him a text message to meet at her apartment, and he should shower before going. He would have preferred to set the time and place himself, but in light of everything, it would be best to go along.

  Half an hour later he rang her doorbell.

  Tessa opened the door, and her forehead crinkled when she spotted the flowers in his hand. “Are those supposed to make people think you’re coming here for romance?”

  “Don’t you have a social life?”

  “Not lately.” She stepped aside to let him in. “I should also point out that you aren’t exactly the romantic type. So your bringing me Western coneflowers is going to attract more attention than anything else. Especially if one of the employees saw you picking them from a Poppy Gold garden.”

  Disconcerted, Gabe dropped the blooms on a side table. “I thought they were strange-looking daisies.”

  “They aren’t.”

  “Are they poisonous like foxglove?”

  She gave him a quizzical look. “Foxglove isn’t exactly poisonous. It contains digoxin, which affects the heart, so it’s important to handle the plants carefully.”

  “Which means it could be poisonous.”

  “Presumably if administered the right way, but historically, Native Americans have used both foxglove and Western coneflower to treat their various illnesses.” Tessa retrieved the blossoms and stuck them in a small vase. “Next time skip the bouquet.”

  “Are you embarrassed that someone might think we’re involved, or do you think your father wouldn’t approve?”

  “Neither. I’m sure Pop would prefer not thinking about me being sexually active, but he isn’t a prude. On the other hand, he might be concerned because you’re so not my type.”

  “Okay, I’ll bite. What are five things you look for in a man?”

  Tessa shrugged. “These aren’t necessarily the top five, but intelligence, a sense of humor, someone who wants children, who shares my values and likes small towns.” She reeled off the list as if she’d given it serious thought.

  Nothing on the list was surprising, particularly the part about wanting children. He’d discovered a lot of women felt strongly on the subject.

  “Not that I’m promoting myself as a boyfriend, but I’m intelligent,” Gabe pointed out.

  “One in five doesn’t cut it, and I doubt you’d do better on the next five, either.”

  Gabe doubted it, as well.

  “What’s so great about small towns?” he asked, hoping to change the subject he’d foolishly introduced. “I can’t wait
to get out of Glimmer Creek.”

  “A lot of things, but if you don’t already understand, it isn’t likely you ever will.” Tessa sat carefully on a chair and grabbed a pad and pencil sitting next to it. “Now, what’s your great idea for a sting operation on TIP’s next visit to Poppy Gold? I’ll give Uncle Milt the details the next time we talk.”

  “There isn’t a plan. I simply asked my brother to set up another executive retreat while I’m devising a strategy.”

  She tapped the tip of her pencil on the paper. “Anything we come up with has to be safe for my employees and guests.”

  Gabe was annoyed as he dropped onto the couch...though he was mostly annoyed that he couldn’t stop the surge of heat through his groin. She’d changed from her work clothes into a pair of light pants and a thin T-shirt, two garments that emphasized her petite figure in exactly the right places.

  “I’m concerned about safety, too,” he muttered, “but there isn’t any ‘we.’ You can’t get involved—it could be dangerous. Milt Fullerton obviously agrees.”

  “You aren’t doing it without me. Poppy Gold is my family business. And since spying on us was practically an accusation, I want to be fully involved in the investigation.”

  His jaw clenched. “I didn’t accuse you. I simply thought it was best to get the lay of the land without anyone being the wiser.”

  “Call it what you want, but you’re still stuck with my help. I’ve had a few self-defense classes, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  Swell. That was like a kitten sticking out its claws and declaring, I can protect myself.

  Investigating Poppy Gold was already a nightmare. It was the town’s biggest employer, which meant most people in Glimmer Creek had a vested interest in the business, whether they worked there or not. Guests and day tourists wandered in and out of the historic district, shopping, eating and taking pictures. And that didn’t include the large number of employees and subcontractors with access.

  Trying to work with Tessa on this investigation would just make it worse. And now they’d be coordinating everything with her great-uncle.

  “Tessa, listen to me. I have experience handling a range of risky situations. You don’t.”

  She waved her hand dismissively. “You’re overdramatizing. Everything should be fine with proper precautions. Maybe I can temporarily increase the security staff. We already hire off-duty police officers whenever needed.”

  “No,” Gabe refused sharply. “Look, I have contacts who can help—men I trust. We can bring some of them in as undercover guests, with full disclosure to your great-uncle, of course. I know you hold rooms back for contingencies.”

  Tessa began laughing.

  He glowered. “What’s so funny?”

  “Your contacts won’t fool anybody if they’re like you.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “People visit Poppy Gold to have fun and enjoy the atmosphere. Unlike you, they’re usually people who enjoy small towns, or at least are open-minded about them. As a rule, they aren’t six-foot-three commandos with military haircuts, rigid postures and sudden death in their hands.”

  “You’ve watched too many movies,” he scoffed.

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not an expert, but I know SEALs are an elite unit with some of the best training possible. I presume most of your contacts are ex-SEALS, as well. Actually, learning about your former career explains a lot.”

  Gabe wanted to be annoyed, but Tessa was right that he didn’t fit in around here. Small towns remained a mystery to him.

  “Fine, maybe I don’t blend in that well,” he conceded, “but these guys have been out of the service longer than me. One of my men started a personal security and investigative business several years ago. The company has protected everyone from rock stars to ambassadors. They know how to blend. Surely you don’t think I’d knowingly put my brother at risk?”

  Tessa regarded him for a long minute. “All right, we can work out the details later. Poppy Gold is pretty well booked from Memorial Day on, so I’m still trying to figure out a way for TIP to come back.” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth. “And no, I can’t cancel another group. It wouldn’t be fair, and besides, it would look suspicious.”

  Once again, Tessa was right. If she did something out of character in favor of Thomas International Products, it would raise questions.

  “Okay.”

  “So where do we go from here?” Tessa asked. “There must be something we can check before TIP returns.”

  “For one, see if anybody regularly works in Housekeeping when Rob and his executives stay at Poppy Gold. Are those records available?”

  “The work schedules are kept on the computer system. I’ll do some checking.”

  “Excellent. I’ve asked Rob how they found out about Poppy Gold. He said they got brochures in the mail. Do you have any records of which companies have received promotional materials?”

  “Why is that important?”

  “Mostly for my curiosity, though it’s rather coincidental that your grandfather is in the same line of business as Thomas International Products. It could be that someone hoped to muddy the waters by diverting suspicion onto your family. The TIP personnel department received dozens of Poppy Gold brochures and then got a call from your marketing department.”

  Tessa frowned. “When TIP booked their first executive retreat at Poppy Gold I was still in San Francisco, but I was coordinating all the business marketing for my parents. Becoming a conference center had been my idea, and I was determined to make it succeed. Initially I concentrated on companies in Northern California, so I was delighted when a Los Angeles firm made reservations. I thought they’d heard about us through word of mouth since I hadn’t expanded the mailing list yet.”

  “Is there any chance that your mother or father called TIP?”

  “Unlikely. And they certainly wouldn’t have claimed to be from the marketing department since we didn’t have one. I also can’t see sending that many brochures to a single company.”

  It certainly seemed that someone had tried to lure TIP into coming to Poppy Gold. Then something else occurred to Gabe, and he cocked his head.

  “Tell me something—why didn’t you put Rob and his executives into the Mill Race Cottage when you moved them? It’s closest to the pool and around the same size as the Tofton House. You could have shifted the guests out of there just as easily.”

  “I would have, but the ghost-hunting group had specifically booked the Mill Race.”

  Gabe stared. “What difference did it make where they stay? That paranormal stuff is nonsense.”

  * * *

  TESSA WAS ANNOYED. “They came to Poppy Gold because the Mill Race has a reputation for spooky happenings.”

  “You can’t honestly believe that stuff.”

  “Maybe I do a little. But it doesn’t matter, anyway. Their money is just as good as anyone else’s, and they specifically asked for the Mill Race before Rob made his request.”

  Marley, one of the Victorian Cat’s feline residents, jumped onto the couch next to Tessa and mewled, apparently picking up on the tension. She scratched his neck until he curled next to her, though the tip of his tail continued to twitch.

  “It’s okay, Marley,” she soothed.

  Marley was a pleasant cat but not as much comfort as Mr. Fezziwig, who seemed to understand when someone wasn’t feeling well or was sad and tried to comfort them.

  “Look, Gabe, I understand you don’t have faith in anything you can’t see for yourself. I can’t imagine what you saw as a SEAL, but it isn’t so clear-cut for me. Part of me wants ghosts to be real, because maybe...” She stopped and swallowed. “Maybe my mother might be able to visit sometimes. I really miss her being here.”

  A spasm crossed Gabe’s face and va
nished. “I’m sorry about your mom. She sounds like a great person.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tessa petted Marley again, trying to push down the flood of unexpected emotion. For some reason it meant a lot that a man like Gabe, hardened by life, wasn’t telling her to stop feeling bad or to cheer up. People meant well, but the grief never went away; she just hoped that in time, happier memories would come before the memory of loss.

  * * *

  GABE WATCHED TESSA, silently acknowledging that he could have handled things better...from the moment he’d arrived at Poppy Gold. He rarely wasted energy on regret, but he knew when he’d made mistakes. Knowing how to correct his mistakes with her was another matter.

  “What did you call this cat?” he asked.

  “Marley. From the Dickens novel A Christmas Carol.”

  Gabe was struck by the irony. “Wasn’t old Marley a ghost?”

  “Yup.”

  She put her head back, looking exhausted, and he was reminded that she’d had a nasty fall less than forty-eight hours ago. And now she was faced with something that could have a terrible impact on Poppy Gold.

  “Tessa, I know you’re tired and I’ll get out of here in a minute, but I’m curious about the people who’d booked the El Dorado the night before TIP was supposed to arrive. When were the reservations made, and did they specifically request that building? Having the place empty would have given someone the entire night to sabotage the staircase.”

  “I’ll check. I’m sure Uncle Milt will ask the same question, too.”

  She absently ran a finger beneath the elasticized brace on her right elbow, drawing Gabe’s attention. Purple bruises extended below the brace, and various other bruises were also visible. He’d also noticed she kept sitting down with caution, which suggested her tailbone remained tender.

  Tailbone?

  The thought was a reminder that Tessa had a very attractive rear end. Gabe shifted on the couch, fighting his response; she might not be his usual type, but she was still a desirable woman. Yet even if she’d been interested in pursuing something, she wasn’t up for any kind of vigorous activity, horizontal or otherwise.