Undercover in Glimmer Creek

by Julianna Morris

  “Shall I put the adoption fee on Poppy Gold’s account?”

  “No, I may keep him for myself.” She shifted Rocky to one arm and pulled a handful of twenties from her purse. “Keep the rest as a donation.”

  The attendant filled out the adoption request and she signed it. He brought out a cardboard carrier, which Rocky regarded dubiously.

  “Come on, buddy. I know it’s small, but you only have to stay in there a little while.”

  Rocky barely fit in the carrier and meowed until she got into the car with him. At the parking area closest to the VC, she decided to take him to her apartment before dealing with the groceries.

  Though it was late afternoon, Pop wasn’t home when she went over to his apartment, so she unpacked the supplies she bought for him and returned with her own bags to the Victorian Cat. Inside Tessa found Rocky had already discovered the broad windowsill in the kitchen. He sat, his plush tail waving gently, as she put everything away, but the instant she’d folded the last sack, he leaped down and demanded affection.

  It seemed selfish to keep him, but none of the VC cats were ready for retirement, and he’d be company when Gabe left. Her stomach went hollow at the thought. Almost as a distraction, she opened the file of ominous notes Rob McKinley had been sent. He’d received only one since her accident on the staircase. It was mostly the same as the others, though much longer.

  Whoever had authored the letter was meticulous. It would have taken hours to cut out enough letters to create several paragraphs of vitriolic hate. Nevertheless, like the others, it stopped short of threatening physical harm.

  Her knowledge was vague on the legalities of anonymous mail, but apparently the FBI had pointed out to Rob that while the tone was menacing, no actual threat had been made.

  “Tessa?”

  It was Gabe’s voice from outside the door.

  “Come in,” she called.

  He was frowning as he stepped inside. “You should always lock. Oh, I see you have another furry visitor.”

  “This is Rocky. I just got him from the animal shelter.”

  “I didn’t realize the VC needed another cat.”

  “It doesn’t. He’s mine.”

  * * *

  NATURALLY, GABE THOUGHT WRYLY.

  There were shadows under Tessa’s eyes, and he frowned. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. What’s up?”

  “I thought we should go over everything again before sending the file to Rob tonight,” he explained.

  “All right.”

  They worked steadily, coming up with a few last-minute ideas to incorporate into their trap. Tessa sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the sofa table, leaving the couch to Rocky, who lay there, stretched out on his back as if he’d lived with her for years. Every now and then, Gabe reached over and petted him, impressed with the animal’s mellow temperament.

  He could almost see himself becoming a cat person, but when he offered Rocky some of the catnip, the feline turned up his nose at it.

  “I don’t understand. Tiny Tim loves this stuff.”

  “Cats require a specific gene to respond to catnip, which apparently Rocky doesn’t have. Try the tuna cat treats.”

  Sure enough, Rocky ecstatically gobbled down a handful. Gabe wiped his hand, feeling slightly ridiculous, but Tessa wasn’t watching. She was looking again at the collection of letters.

  “Still can’t let it go?” he asked.

  “I just...” She frowned suddenly. “I’ll be right back.”

  Tessa went up the stairs and returned a few minutes later with a thick accordion file. She sorted through the contents and pulled out a brochure, then began comparing it with one of the photocopied notes under a magnifying glass.

  “Look at the edges of the darker areas around the P,” she said. “They match up to the California poppy logo on the brochure.”

  Gabe took the magnifying glass and compared the letters. She was right. “How in hell did you spot that?”

  “Because this is the original brochure I designed to promote Poppy Gold Inns as a conference center. The words Poppy Gold were overlaid on the logo, but I redesigned the whole thing a year ago.”

  “That means that at least some of the letters used are from your original brochure.”

  “Yes, and possibly other promotional material for Gold Country attractions. They’d be easy enough to collect and probably wouldn’t be as easily tracked as something from a magazine or newspaper.”

  “We have to get this evidence to Milt,” Gabe said. “It’s the first reasonable proof that the author is linked to Glimmer Creek. He can contact the FBI and do whatever else is needed.”

  Tessa immediately picked up her phone and dialed her great-uncle. She quickly explained her discovery, and Milt whistled.

  “Great eyes, Tessa. Email me the file and I’ll contact the FBI. Is there anything else?”

  Tessa glanced at Gabe, but he shook his head.

  “No, that’s all for now.”

  While Tessa went upstairs to email the information to Milt, Gabe ran out to pick up food from the Hong Kong Palace. When he got back, he discovered she’d changed into a pair of her skimpy shorts and a T-shirt, sending his blood pressure soaring.

  “Uh, is your grandfather on board for next week?” he asked hoarsely.

  “He’ll stay in his office and wait for any calls. I noticed KJ arrived yesterday.”

  “He has another guy coming on Sunday, too. It’s fortunate you had enough cancellations.”

  Tessa forked a serving of lo mein onto her plate and took two more cartons from the bag. “He called me when they couldn’t get reservations, so I released a couple of the rooms we keep available for emergencies. Oh, good, you got orange chicken.”

  Gabe let out a frustrated breath.

  He didn’t know if she was being deliberately provocative, but his body didn’t care. It was as if he was addicted to her, and not just physically. Her bright smiles and energy were as much a part of the attraction as her figure.

  He was in serious trouble. His head knew the right thing to do, but his gut wanted something different entirely. Except it wasn’t just his gut. He wanted everything with Tessa. Even a family.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Food was a poor substitute, but he sat down. “Have you found the wontons?”

  She handed him a container. “Obviously Uncle Milt will be on alert next week. But Pop is going to be extra distracted, so I doubt he’ll notice anything we’re doing.”

  “Because of his wedding anniversary? I know it’s a week from Sunday.”

  “Yeah.” Her mouth wobbled. “I suggested going to San Francisco or up to Tahoe for the weekend, but he wants to stay here.”

  “He’d be better off getting away.”

  “Maybe, but you can’t escape memories.” Tessa drew a deep breath and cocked her head. “I wouldn’t even want to. My mother was an amazing woman.”

  Gabe wished he knew what to say, but he was the last person to offer comfort, so he dipped a wonton in sweet-and-sour sauce and tossed it in his mouth.

  “Are you going to eat all of those?” Tessa asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  “Nope.” He handed back the container.

  They ate the rest of the meal in companionable silence and returned to looking at their documents. Tessa made a few adjustments and saved them on the computer.

  “I don’t know what else we can do,” she said, standing up to stretch and yawn.

  Gabe’s mouth went dry. His tastes had always run to tall, generously built women, but Tessa had changed that. After all, a man didn’t need more than a handful, and she certainly provided a very nice handful.

  He was crazy about Tessa and wanted her t
o be crazy about him, but it would be like entrusting a bulldog with a priceless piece of art. How could he take the chance of damaging the very thing that had made him feel truly alive for the first time?

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  TESSA WAS STRESSED as the TIP executives began arriving Monday afternoon. It was hard to keep from second-guessing all the things she normally did, but she still greeted Rob and made sure to put a courtesy basket in the Joaquin Murrieta suite for him.

  Though the housekeeping staff assigned to the El Dorado Mansion was of particular interest, she simply kept an eye on the schedule. It was difficult not to inquire whether anyone had specifically requested the assignment, yet even a request wouldn’t necessarily be suspicious. While some of the housekeepers had a favorite work location, others liked to rotate between the houses.

  Around seven that evening, she was still working in her office when Gabe showed up.

  “Time for dinner,” he announced, holding up bags from the Gilbraith Delicatessen. “Let’s eat at your place.”

  She nodded and shut down her computer. They rarely took a chance of anyone overhearing them at her office, whatever the hour.

  “Have you been on edge all day?” Gabe asked when the door of her apartment had closed behind them.

  “That’s an understatement. It’s like waiting for a volcano to erupt. I swear I could hear a pin drop on the other side of Poppy Gold.”

  “Operational readiness,” he murmured. “Awareness heightens, adrenaline revs in the bloodstream, and focus narrows to the essentials. Not that it’s a big leap for you—Poppy Gold is always your focus.”

  Tessa sank onto the couch and petted Rocky, who was taking up most of the space. “Are you trying to start a fight?”

  “No.” Gabe handed her one of the bags from the deli. “I just want the whole thing resolved. Rob is my kid brother. I’ll keep security on him for as long as it takes, but there’s always a chance of someone getting lucky.”

  Tessa unwrapped the end of her sandwich and took a bite. She wasn’t surprised to discover it was her favorite, turkey and avocado; Gabe never seemed to forget anything. Rocky watched with an interested gleam in his eyes, but she didn’t want to start giving him table scraps.

  Gabe swallowed a mouthful. “KJ has sent me a couple of texts. Believe it or not, he’s sleeping with one of Rob’s executives tonight.”

  She choked. “At the El Dorado?”

  “What can I say? KJ enjoys women and it’s the best way to keep an eye on the situation.”

  Tessa hoped the woman knew it was just casual sex. Most likely, she decided. While KJ was charming, he was obviously a player. It was difficult to imagine him being friends with Gabe, but the comrade-in-arms thing was probably the explanation. On the other hand, maybe Gabe didn’t have friends; he just had contacts.

  “Is KJ a sex addict or something?”

  “He just enjoys the game and doesn’t see any reason not to enjoy himself.”

  Tessa ate her sandwich, trying to fight off renewed depression. Gabe was leaving Glimmer Creek as soon as the thefts were resolved. It seemed ridiculous to think about what she’d do if he asked her to go with him, yet the thought kept going through her head. No children, a cynical life partner, away from family...but with the man she loved.

  What about Dad? said a nagging voice in Tessa’s head.

  Or Poppy Gold?

  The bed-and-breakfast complex provided employment for half of Glimmer Creek in one way or another. Of course, somebody else could run it, and her father had improved a great deal over the past few months. He was just having more trouble right now because of his upcoming anniversary...

  Tessa’s head began to ache.

  She didn’t know why she was tearing herself up about it. Gabe wasn’t asking her to leave with him, and he wasn’t going to stay, so she didn’t have any decisions to make.

  Except that wasn’t entirely true... She had to decide whether to have one or two more nights together with Gabe.

  “Tell me, does operational readiness require celibacy?” she asked lightly.

  He stroked the curve of her jaw with his finger. “I used to think it did. Don’t get me wrong, I like sex as much as most men—”

  “No argument here,” she threw in with a grin.

  “Brat. No wonder you used to be called Tessajinks. Anyhow, I thought it might make my guys less sharp, so I encouraged abstaining for a few days ahead of time. Now I wonder...” A faint expression of regret crossed his face.

  “Wonder?” she prompted.

  “Nothing. For the record, while it may be self-serving, I no longer advocate celibacy.”

  She leaned closer and kissed him. “In that case, how about retiring upstairs? Rocky has claimed the couch, anyway.”

  Gabe eyed the feline. In their brief acquaintance, Rocky had proved quite likable except for his habit of hogging the cushions. Rather than curling into a ball, the cat was stretched out on his back with legs extended an impossible distance. The pose suggested ultimate trust; he’d landed in a cushy life with Tessa, and he knew it.

  “Doesn’t he sleep with you?”

  “Definitely. He’s a lovebug. Jealous?”

  Gabe put a hand out and pulled her to her feet. “I’ll survive. But let’s go upstairs before he wakes up and decides to join us immediately. That mattress is small enough without him.”

  Smothering chuckles, they raced up the narrow stairs to the second floor. The bed wasn’t nearly long enough for a man his height, but it had one thing no other bed had ever offered.

  Tessa.

  * * *

  GABE LAY AWAKE for a long time while Tessa slept. Rocky had waited until the commotion ended before jumping up and parking himself by her feet. The cat was purring so loudly it would have been difficult to sleep even without the thoughts circling in Gabe’s brain...pointless thoughts, like memories of the men he’d lost, and whether his rigid approach to mission prep had stolen important moments from them.

  Would those men agree that staying away from their wives and girlfriends had been worth the questionable benefits? Wouldn’t they have been better off enjoying reminders of why they were about to risk their lives?

  He hoped they’d ignored him.

  He hoped they’d taken advantage of every minute, in whatever way that meant something to them, whenever possible, whether it was making love or riding a bike or reading stories to a child.

  Children...

  He swallowed a groan, thinking of the whimsical creatures outlined on the walls of Tessa’s old nursery. The air must have rung with her happy childhood giggles back then. Sometimes he could almost hear the echoes of those giggles, however ridiculous that sounded.

  Was it possible for emotion to be imprinted on a place? Sadness had seemed to shroud some of the beautiful, ancient lands Gabe had visited, lands torn by centuries of warfare or tragedy. Equally, happiness seemed to brighten the room where Tessa had spent her early years.

  “What’s up?” Tessa asked sleepily.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You got tense.”

  Without realizing it, his body had become rigid. And however fanciful it might be, Tessa’s voice was like a lifeline in the darkness. In a few short weeks, she had turned him inside out, making him question the certainties he’d stood upon for so long.

  “Sorry I disturbed you,” he murmured. “Maybe I should go work out.”

  “Mmm, I can think of another way to relax.” She kissed his neck and slid her knee across his groin.

  He smiled.

  She did have the best ideas.

  * * *

  GABE WAS GONE when Tessa woke in the morning. She was disappointed, though she knew he’d wanted to get to work early. He’d asked her father to assign him to the various gardens near the
El Dorado Mansion for the next few days, so that was where he’d be spending most of his time. She just hoped the thief hadn’t identified him as Rob’s brother.

  Whatever Gabe claimed about being able to take care of himself, it still worried her.

  “Mrrrow,” Rocky trilled, putting his paws on her arm.

  “Hey there,” she murmured, glad for his comforting presence. He couldn’t replace the man she loved, but he’d be company when Gabe left Glimmer Creek for good.

  With a sigh, Tessa finally got up and dressed. She’d carefully charged her cell phone the night before and put it in her pocket before heading out to the office. It was important to follow her usual morning pattern, which was to work a few hours at her desk and then do a walk-through of the facility.

  But instead of making calls to her contacts on the East Coast, she mostly sat at her desk, thinking about Gabe.

  He’d said little about his future plans. With his connection to TIP, he couldn’t lack for money, but he wasn’t the kind of person to enjoy a life of leisure.

  Tessa got up and gazed out the window. She still had her dreams for Poppy Gold; they’d have to be enough once Gabe left.

  Of course, there were no guarantees the industrial thief would reveal him or herself right away, but since the fake plans mentioned a contract to be signed Wednesday morning, they hoped for immediate action. Rob had even brought a fax machine as a prop, though Poppy Gold provided a business center.

  Restless, Tessa waited until her usual walk-through time and headed out.

  * * *

  TESSA HAD RETURNED to her office when a text message from her grandfather came in on her cell phone.

  Am tlkng 2 thf cllr id shws p gold bllrm.

  Gabe’s warning to act normally flitted through her head as she jumped to her feet, but hang it all, this could be the only chance they got. Poppy Gold’s phone lines each had a unique caller ID. She might be able to spot the thief red-handed, still on the phone.

  Besides, she was probably the closest of anyone who knew what was going on. Gabe was staying near the El Dorado Mansion, and she could only presume KJ and his security guy expected to be near there, as well.