‘Did they leave anything?’ she asked him.
‘I’ve looked through what’s left in the trash but the place is bare.’
‘Just like it was,’ she said. The furniture was sparse when they’d been here the last time. The room they’d been in hadn’t had a thing in it.
‘Do you want to come in?’ he asked. ‘You don’t have to.’
‘We’re a team,’ she said.
‘Yes, we are,’ he said giving her a kiss then taking her hand to guide her inside.
They spent almost half an hour looking for any hint of where the men had gone, or what they had been up to but beyond the takeaway trays there was nothing of evidential value.
‘What now?’ Sorcha asked when they got back to the street.
‘Now we follow the money,’ Ryder said. ‘I spoke to Toby last night; there are a few leads though there are more than a few walls in the way.’
‘That means someone doesn’t want to be snooped on,’ Shep said.
‘Yes,’ Ryder said. ‘Which means when we break through the encryptions we’ll get answers.’
‘So, we just wait?’ Sorcha asked.
‘We’ll get answers,’ Lacie said. ‘But there’s no point hanging around here.’
‘What an anti-climax,’ Sorcha huffed.
Shep and Ryder shared a look over the car when they held the doors for the women. Lacie caught it but said nothing.
The drive was as silent as it had been before they arrived. Then, there was some chit-chat about the traffic, next Shep put on the radio and they chatted about some items on the news. After that silence fell over them again.
‘We have to find him before next Friday,’ Sorcha said.
‘Your parents anniversary bash,’ Lacie said.
‘Yes,’ Sorcha said. ‘Then it’s Sadie’s birthday the following week. Are you coming to the spa weekend?’
‘I don’t know,’ Lacie said wishing the silence back.
‘You can’t leave me alone with my sister and her friends.’
‘Sadie and I don’t get along at the best of times.’
‘She’ll be thrilled to have you,’ Sorcha said. ‘It’s all about her remember.’
‘Beth is over that week,’ Lacie said.
‘Not until the Monday,’ Sorcha said. ‘And, she’s only coming for a few days.’
‘I’ll wait and see. I have that meeting with Darwin next weekend.’
‘Are you expecting to accept his offer?’ Sorcha said, shocked at the notion.
‘I don’t expect anything.’
‘You don’t even like Darwin,’ Sorcha said. ‘He tried to feel you up at the opening.’
‘Which is why I don’t like those things,’ Lacie said but Sorcha didn’t laugh and neither did Ryder who turned to her in the same moment. ‘What?’ she said to him. ‘You’re coming with me.’
‘Did you tell him about Jimmy?’ Sorcha asked picking invisible lint from her skirt.
‘Leave Jimmy out of this,’ Lacie said. ‘He’s harmless.’
‘Who’s Jimmy?’ Ryder asked.
‘An undergrad working with the gallery in town. He’s like her puppy dog whenever she’s in to see Monty – the curator. He’s adorable... he probably won’t like you though. You’re getting access to the underwear he’s been jerking off thinking about for months,’ Sorcha said.
‘Don’t,’ Lacie said. ‘It makes me uncomfortable when you joke like that. He’s a sweetheart.’
Sorcha leaned forward toward Ryder. ‘She’s so naive.’
‘What about you?’ Lacie asked Ryder.
‘What about me?’
‘You’re learning all about my life...’ Lacie said.
‘Good point,’ Sorcha said gladly following Lacie’s lead just as she knew she could rely on her friend to do. ‘You can’t expect to just move into our Lacie’s life. We have a strict screening process.’
‘We do?’ Lacie asked. ‘Has it ever been effective?’
‘We stepped it up after Matt.’
‘Might have been a good idea to do it before then,’ Lacie said.
‘Who is Matt, and what did he do to you?’ Ryder demanded.
‘Uh-uh,’ Sorcha said. ‘We’re not answering any more questions about Lacie until we learn more about you. Are you sticking around, or are you going to break her heart? Because if it’s the latter you can get lost right now, and we can jet off to Cancun.’
‘Carlos,’ Lacie said seeing through her friend’s motive. ‘Is that where you went?’
‘I love his casa,’ Sorcha said.
‘How many men have you got on the go sugar-hips? Shep asked.
‘No one’s talking to you,’ Sorcha sniped.
‘Carlos is her cousin,’ Lacie explained.
‘No more information,’ Sorcha said taking Lacie’s hand on the centre seat. ‘He hasn’t answered the question yet.’
‘He’s not going to tell you that he’s playing her. He’ll just stop calling like every other man on the planet would,’ Shep said.
‘Actions speak louder than words,’ Lacie said.
‘Ask him about Tammy,’ Shep said.
‘Who is Tammy?’ Sorcha asked Ryder.
‘His ex-girlfriend,’ Shep answered for him. ‘Super-hot, supermodel type, smokin’, I’m telling you.’
‘So?’ Sorcha demanded but at Shep’s salacious suggestion.
Lacie wriggled deeper into her seat. A woman like that would know how to do things to a man she had never heard of.
‘I’m telling you,’ Shep said. ‘She was every man’s wet dream. He probably had to blackmail her into bed. How did you get her into bed? You were on the job right? Did you drug her?’
‘How many times did you meet Tammy?’ Ryder asked Shep. ‘Two or three times max.’
‘I didn’t have to meet her. No guy cares what comes out a woman like that’s mouth, unless it’s his cock then pumping its way back in.’
‘Lovely,’ Sorcha said.
‘True story,’ Shep said. ‘Ask him about his gang of eight. Ask him about their work off the books.’
‘Full of yourself now,’ Ryder warned. ‘But you’ll have to stop this car eventually.’
‘What have you got yourself involved in?’ Sorcha asked her. ‘You thought my taste in men was risqué, you’ve got yourself a thug. Every woman loves a bad boy, how lucky are you? Maybe he could beat the crap out of Matt for you.’
‘This conversation is entirely inappropriate,’ Lacie said.
‘That’s Lacie’s way of saying she’s creeped out,’ Sorcha said. ‘How long will it take for you to find Bruce?’
‘Who are you talking to?’ Lacie asked. The men looked at each other and Lacie would swear the scent of testosterone ratcheted up.
‘I don’t care who finds him so long as someone does.’
‘I’ll find him for you Sweetheart,’ Shep said.
‘You’re doing such a slap up job so far,’ Ryder said.
‘I’m working off your sketchy information,’ Shep said.
‘You didn’t consider getting any of your own?’
‘You boys better play nice,’ Sorcha said. ‘There will be a very big check at the end of this for whoever gets the information about where he is, and what he’s up to.’
‘You want accurate information,’ Lacie said.
‘Sure,’ Sorcha said. ‘But there’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition.’
They’d just turned into Lacie’s street and when Shep stopped, he jumped out in an effort to get them all out of his car so he could get back onto the investigation. When everyone had piled out and retrieved their bags Sorcha lifted a hand.
‘I want a meeting tomorrow,’ Sorcha said. ‘And I’ll expect an answer – Shep’s office at noon.’
Shep jumped back into his car and sped away down her street. Sorcha took Lacie’s hand. ‘Girl’s night, only you can make me feel better.’
Lacie knew what that meant. The rest of the day would be pedicures and cockta
ils... virgin.
‘Ok,’ Lacie said. ‘Give me a minute.’
Sorcha glanced to Ryder then went into Lacie’s place using her own key. Ryder chucked his bag into his truck.
‘Seems I’m not the one who is going to have the trouble sharing,’ he said. ‘I thought we could do dinner.’
‘She’s going through a tough time. I know she isn’t always easy but she’s scared. I don’t envy her position. I would be terrified.’
‘You’ll never be in that position,’ he said gathering her into his arms.
‘I envy your confidence.’
‘I’ll never be mixed up in anything that could endanger you, and you’ll certainly never be in her condition without me at your side.’
‘We haven’t really had a chance to... talk about this.’
‘We could do that tonight,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a big bed and a great view... I can light a few candles...’
‘I don’t know how long Sorcha will want to stay. She might sleep over.’
‘I’d be a lot more fun,’ he said.
But, Lacie knew he was teasing her because he wasn’t offended. She could tell that he meant what he was saying yet he didn’t begrudge her Sorcha, and that made her like him all the more.
‘You’re very patient,’ she said lifting her elbows to his shoulders when he leaned back against his truck still holding her waist. ‘Can I take a rain-check? Or is it a limited time offer?’
‘Take whatever time you need,’ he said gathering her hair in his hands and using it to pull her head back.
‘We probably shouldn’t make out on the street,’ she said.
‘Probably not,’ he said edging his mouth closer. ‘The truck’s right here. Got time for a quickie?’
When she laughed, he closed the last of the space between their lips, tasting her so thoroughly that the thought of sneaking him into her bedroom through the window seemed an appealing option.
‘I’ll call you tonight,’ he said.
She shook her head. ‘Let me call you.’
‘Uh-oh,’ he said then kissed her again.
‘I’m not going to blow you off,’ she said.
‘Sure, not out here on the street.’
‘Would you stop teasing me for a second,’ she smiled. ‘I’ll phone you when I get a break from Sorcha. I know it seems silly but...’
‘But?’
‘I’m not keen on flaunting any happiness I might have just now while her life is so... all over the place.’
‘Ok,’ he said. ‘I better get back to the office and get working on locating this guy then.’
‘You weren’t tempted by the check,’ she said watching him open the driver’s door.
‘No,’ he said. ‘But if we get her life sorted out we can flaunt whenever the hell we want.’
He got in the truck and started it up while buzzing the window down. ‘You be careful,’ she said curling her fingers around the door over the slit the window had just disappeared into.
‘I’m going to be sitting at a desk Baby,’ he said but accepted her kiss.
‘I’ve heard RSI can be a be a real pain.’
‘True,’ he said. ‘But I’ve got you now; all of those worries are in the past.’ He winked and she took the leg of his aviators from her cleavage and slid them onto his face.
‘I’ll phone you later.’
She kissed him again and backed off, and with a wave he disappeared out of her street. Lacie had an evening with Sorcha ahead... yet, she truthfully wished she’d been in that truck right at his side. Telling herself that she would have time with him when this was over was a consolation but not much of one. Still, she wasn’t the type to turn her back on her truest friend and she certainly wouldn’t now.
As it happened, Sorcha did go home, but it was after midnight and when Lacie got her into a taxi and on the road, she decided it wouldn’t be fair to keep Ryder awake all night, then the following night wake him up in the small hours with a phone call. While getting ready for bed she made up her mind to phone him in the morning, first thing, as soon as she woke up.
Sorcha had left in a better mood, which at least meant Lacie’s sacrifice of time with Ryder was worth it. Lacie recognised her own exhaustion and the aches in her body for what they were: overexertion last night. But, the reminder of their antics warmed her so she treasured every twinge. For once, she got to sleep relatively quickly, or she assumed she must have because when she opened her eyes the numbers on her alarm said three eighteen. Sometimes her insomnia struck like this. She could close her eyes and go to sleep but she’d wake up after a couple of hours and be awake for the rest of the night. Except tonight she still felt sleepy, she hadn’t woken up with her usual energy that told her sleep was history. A creak came from somewhere within her apartment and she sat up in bed. Her insomnia hadn’t woken her at all. Another sound drew her focus around, but this noise wasn’t the same as the first, this was like a creak and the slide of something metallic – her front door.
Instantly Lacie was off the bed and on her feet but she didn’t know where to go now. Her bedroom window was on the same wall as the living room one, and the communal entrance door. Her parent’s house had been broken into when she was a teenager, and she hadn’t slept for months after it. Therapists she spoke to now attributed her insomnia to that very night. Afterward her family had moved, but it didn’t matter. They’d been violated and that didn’t go away in a hurry.
Looking from one side of the room to the other, she recognised her options were slim, until her gaze snagged on the rug. Without thinking again, she shifted the edge of the rug and got the trapdoor open just enough to squeeze through, and then using a loose thread, she pulled the rug back into position as best she could. Getting herself into the dark corner of the unlit, windowless room, her fears were confirmed. Heavy footsteps echoed from above, and while she couldn’t tell exactly how many there were she knew there was more than one, more than two, and likely more than three. The footfalls stopped, and there was some mumbling she couldn’t make out.
Pulling her knees to her chest, she cursed herself for never getting a phone line installed down here. With no exit, she could have just chosen her own tomb. If they found her down here she could fight, and she had a few tools that could inflict some damage, but if they had guns... or numbers.
‘Lacie Louise!’
That was when her blood froze and her mouth sealed itself over her arms, which still held her knees up.
‘We’re here for you! Where are you Sweet-Cheeks?’
Her body locked itself in a spasm because she knew that voice. Her nightmare had invaded her home.
‘Bruce told us we’d find you here! Where are you Sweet-Cheeks? Boss doesn’t want you out and about! You’ve seen us all now little one! Why don’t you come back to us Sweet-Cheeks! We’ll look after you! You’re part of our gang now!’
More mumbling followed a laugh and then there was a crash like something being pushed over, glass shattered, and there was more mumbling. When they spoke to each other the bass of their voice carried but she wasn’t sure of specifics. In a break-in, she would assume that burglars would try not to make noise, so it was something of a contradiction that these guys were conscious of their voices but one of them had shouted, and from the sound of things the place we being trashed. She hadn’t moved in long ago but she’d never be able to sleep here again. All she could hope was that the gang left some of her things intact. But, when the mumbling stopped the crashing carried on. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back. Tactless, or inexperienced, whichever one it was they must have assumed that she wasn’t there because they didn’t spend much time looking for her and her place wasn’t exactly a palace to get lost in. If you took this place at face-value hiding places were scarce, and her love of her sanctuary had just saved her life. She was sure of it.
Chapter Seven
Time passed, and after the crashing stopped, and the mumbling stopped, the footsteps retreated, and there was a bang.
She assumed it was her front door closing. But she waited. She waited until she was convinced no one could still be up there. She knew it was a possibility that they had left someone here to wait for her but they’d made a lot of noise, so it was likely someone had called the police. Rightfully enough she heard sirens a while later, and then there were footsteps again. She didn’t want to take a risk and leave her sanctuary but she couldn’t stay down here forever. More voices and footsteps that were less aggressive gave her the confidence to attempt an escape. She didn’t have much choice.
Crawling up the ladder, she pushed the trapdoor only to have it open an inch and snap back on her. She yelped grateful that her fingers hadn’t been stuck in it. Weight on top of the trapdoor held it down but her action had drawn attention, and with a shot, there were half a dozen men in place dragging her furniture out of the way. They opened the door and she blinked up into the blinding light being shone on her.
‘You got a panic room down there?’ someone asked.
‘Studio,’ she said. ‘Did they take anything?’
‘You’re going to have to tell us that miss, the place is pretty trashed I’m sorry to say.’
‘I know,’ she said ignoring a hand that reached down to help. ‘I heard it.’
‘Do you want to tell us what happened?’
‘That could take a while,’ she said scanning the room and its disarray.
Her clothes were scattered. Her underwear drawer was empty. Her wardrobe was on its side. The bed was stripped and the bedclothes and mattress were slashed.
‘You must have a helluva an enemy,’ the voice said and she let herself turn to look at the tall, brown haired plainclothes cop.
‘You could put it that way,’ she said aware that the men in the room were looking at her legs, only to remember she was wearing another of her painter’s shirts. ‘Let me put on some jeans, and I’ll tell you the story.’
‘Sure thing,’ he said. ‘But try not to touch anything else in case of evidence.’
Mistake Me Not Page 14
