Team Love on the Run Box-Set #1

by Lisa Phillips

  Choosing to push all thoughts of Alex away for the rest of the day, she reached for the doorknob. It hung loosely from the hole in the door like someone had unscrewed it.

  Laney dropped to the ground, ducking beneath a window. There went all her resolve. Because only one person in the world would have broken into her house, and it was pretty convenient that he’d just been released from prison.

  Chapter Two

  After grabbing her Glock from the nightstand and checking the house to make sure it was clear, Laney stared at the empty spot on her desk. The computer was the only thing taken, which of course, confirmed her suspicions. Why hadn’t she expected Alex to steal it? He was a thief after all. And he’d made it pretty clear he wanted the information she’d saved on her hard drive.

  Well, he wouldn’t get away with it. Determined, Laney Googled Alex’s office location from her phone and headed out the door toward the Riverside District.

  It figured. Though how did Alex have money to run an office out of the downtown area when she could barely afford to do business out of her home? And he’d claimed to be innocent of taking the nine million a second time. He’d probably stolen the money from her trunk and set up a rival company in her hometown just to rub it in her face.

  Blood raged through her veins by the time Laney got to the shiny new building with its reflective windows and modern, boxy design. And having to crawl down a row of streets looking for parking did not help her disposition. She stormed through the lobby and up the stairs, not bothering to wait for an elevator.

  Alex’s smile froze when he noticed her over a client’s shoulder. And the poor lady wasn’t the only one in the room with him. Goodness, being able to hire staff was more proof he was responsible for stealing the money. Not that it mattered now. More employees just meant more spectators for the tongue-lashing he had coming.

  She stared him down, counting the seconds until she was close enough to let him have it.

  He blinked. Tilted his head. Stepped to the side of his client as if to keep her out of the eye of the storm on his horizon.

  “Laney,” he greeted.

  She’d punch that smile off his face. She cocked her fist back.

  He caught it, his grip biting into her wrist.

  She yanked her arm away. Was her combat training really so rusty she couldn’t even win a fight anymore? That would be his fault, too, now wouldn’t it? Well, one thing at a time.

  “Where is it?” she demanded. If she couldn’t hurt him physically, she’d destroy his company with words.

  He held out open palms, having the gall to look genuinely confused by her claim. “Where is what?”

  She spun in a circle, searching the sleek room with its lime green vases, throw pillows, and picture frames. No luck. Not that she’d expected him to broadcast his burglary in such a brash way, but it was Alex she was dealing with. She faced him once again. “I’m looking for the computer you stole from my house this morning, as if you didn’t know.”

  His eyes roamed her face, not a hint of guilt. Unbelievable. “I’ve been here all morning.”

  She threw back her head and laughed. He was hysterical, but the joke was over. “So who did you hire to break into my place then?” She pointed at the woman standing up behind a reception desk. “You?”

  The woman’s chin wrinkled up like she was going to cry. Okay, maybe not her.

  Laney pointed at a man holding cables for a security system. He would have more field experience. “You?”

  Alex reached for her arm. “We didn’t rob you.”

  Laney elbowed his hand away. She could still defend herself. Hardest point on the body, baby. “Of course you didn’t.” She turned to face the potential client.

  Distinguished looking older woman. She could definitely get swindled by a handsome, sweet-talking con man.

  “Are you aware this man just got out of prison for robbing banks?”

  The woman gasped.

  Laney took her frail, wrinkled hand. “What kind of business do you own?”

  “My husband and I have a chain of jewelry stores.”

  “Well.” Laney spun back toward Alex, challenging him with a raised eyebrow. “That would be a good haul.”

  All pretense of a smile disappeared from Alex’s face. His eyebrows lowered, and his lips pressed into a hard line. “Excuse us,” he said to his victim, before grabbing Laney’s upper arm and shoving her toward a door leading to a private office.

  “Let me go.” She tried to pull away.

  His strength forced her feet to trip along. He must have lifted weights in prison, but that didn’t give him the right to push her around.

  “You can’t do this. You can’t haul me in here like I’m nothing but a jilted girlfriend.”

  He guarded the door with a hand on each hip. “And you can’t barge into my place of business and slander my name.”

  Once again it was all about him. She threw her arms up. “I don’t care about your name, Alex Pierce, though there was no slander involved. You are just out of prison. And you did steal my computer. I want it back.”

  “I don’t have your computer.”

  His voice was way too calm. What if he refused to admit it? What if she never got it back? It had all her client info. She wouldn’t be able to contact her customers or follow up on leads or—

  Oh. So that’s what it was. He didn’t steal her computer to find evidence against Mitch as she’d assumed; he’d stolen her computer to force her to sell her company to him. That was so low.

  “Even if you don’t give it back, I’m not coming to work for you.”

  He blinked, and he motioned toward the door. “Like I’d hire you after that display of insanity.”

  He didn’t play fair. If she was insane, it was because he’d driven her there. “May I please have my computer back?”

  He closed his eyes. “It wasn’t me, Laney. Somebody else stole your computer.”

  The anger that had boiled inside her simmered and cooled, leaving her with nothing but a little condensation threatening to leak out in the form of tears. Either Alex had stolen the PC and was lying about it or someone else had taken it. Both scenarios left her with nothing. She ran a hand over her face, hoping to wipe away any evidence of her least favorite emotion.

  **

  Alex watched Laney try to calm herself down without sinking all the way into despair. Now that she wasn’t coming after him like a crazed kickboxing instructor, he almost felt sorry for her. Maybe he could empathize and advise.

  “You should really put in some better security at your grandmother’s house.”

  Her hand dropped away from her face to reveal a rekindling of fire in her eyes. “How do you know?”

  Oops. “I checked out my competition before I started this company. Honestly I could have stolen your computer blindfolded if I’d wanted to.”

  Her stare hardened. “Grandma’s afraid of accidentally setting off a security system.”

  He was not going to smile at that. Oh no, he was not. He turned his head away just in case he needed to hide a half-smile and cleared his throat. Good cover. “How about you get her a dog at least?”

  Laney crossed her arms. “I will now.”

  He sighed. Because buying a dog would not help recover what had already been stolen. “You’ve never had a break-in before?”

  She looked away and chewed on her lip. “No. It really is a good neighborhood. Mostly older people who spend all their time gardening.”

  That was true. “Is your grandmother okay?”

  Her eyes darted to his for a moment, as if deciding whether she should answer any more of his questions. “Grandma pretty much lives on cruise ships with her best friend since I’m buying the house from her.”

  He nodded. That was good at least. Grandma was safe—living it up the way he’d always wanted to. He should have done it Grandma’s way rather than try to take a shortcut by stealing what wasn’t his. And now, because of his crimes, the only person who could
help him thought the worst of him. It was ironic her computer had been stolen right after he was released from prison. Unless…

  He ran a hand over his stiff, spiky hair.

  What if her computer was stolen because he was released from prison? Because he’d asked her for help in catching the criminal who’d gotten away? Because someone thought she might really have some evidence that would lead to their arrest? Someone like Mitch Sterling?

  “What?”

  He lowered his face to find her studying him. She wanted to know what he was thinking, but she wasn’t going to like it.

  She took a step forward, her gaze bouncing back and forth between his eyes. If she would just choose to trust him on this, she might be able to get her life back. She could be reinstated to the police force. She could make enough money to live on her own again. She could get her hair styled every once in a while so she didn’t always look like she’d let herself go. Okay, in that spandex biking gear it was plain she hadn’t completely let herself go, but besides the toned body she usually hid underneath khakis and a polo shirt, she lacked feminine appeal.

  Anyway, on the subject of getting her life back… “I had a thought.”

  “I can see that.”

  Funny she could read him so well but not accept his innocence. Maybe she would believe him this time. “Whoever stole the money from the back of your car…”

  Her stare hardened.

  He continued. Someday somebody might listen to him. “If that person knows I’m out of jail now and talking to you, he could be afraid of us teaming up and comparing notes.”

  “Is this where you try to pin it on Mitch again?”

  He ignored her accusing tone. “You catch on quick.”

  “Mitch didn’t break into my house.”

  How could Laney be so sure? Alex wasn’t. But he didn’t need her help to investigate her old partner. Especially since she’d just lost all her notes on the investigation. “Okay.”

  She didn’t leave.

  He looked at his watch to give her a hint.

  Her jaw squared. “You don’t need me, because you already have my computer, don’t you?”

  Round two.

  “Mitch has it.”

  She guffawed like only she could—with condescension. “Mitch is a volunteer with the children’s hospital now. After being injured on the job, he connected with the kids at the hospital where he was treated, resigned from police work, and now spends all his time helping to raise money to fund research and care facilities. He’s a philanthropist.”

  Alex already knew all that. And yes, it did sound impressive. “No wonder you sing his praises.”

  She smirked. “Everybody does.”

  “He must be pretty awesome to volunteer all his time to others.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Except how does Mitch pay his bills?”

  She didn’t blink. “Inheritance.”

  He held out both hands as if the evidence was right there between them. “Why have you never questioned this?”

  “I was there when he learned to walk again after you—after someone—shattered his femur with a bullet.”

  He dropped his hands. She had a heart; he’d give her that. But Mitch had been walking for a while by the time Alex got out of prison. A small price to pay for a large sum of money. “When was the last time you saw him?”

  She looked down. “It’s been a while.”

  It would hurt when her bubble burst, and he hated to be the one to do it, but it could change both their lives. “Will you do me a favor?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “What?”

  Yes, it was a lot to ask after she’d been attacking him only a few minutes ago, but it was for her own good. “Will you question the amazing Mitch about what he thinks happened to the money next time you see him?”

  She huffed and shook her head. “Why not? Anything else you want?”

  Might as well take her up on her offer, no matter how sarcastic it was. “I want to be there when you ask him. Friday night is the Pumpkin Ball to raise money for his favorite charity. I was already planning to question him there. I’ll buy you a ticket if you’ll join me.”

  Her eyes widened. She took a step back.

  What was so shocking? Yeah, the tickets were expensive, and he’d have to use more of the money his business investor had loaned him, but it would be worth it to see how Mitch reacted to seeing Alex and Laney together. That would tell Alex for sure if the other man had been the one to break into Laney’s house.

  Her gaze dropped to his left hand. “Aren’t you taking Elise?”

  Oh. That’s why she was so shocked. He’d been shocked at first, too—especially since he’d stolen the money initially to impress his wife and keep her daddy happy, but that was years ago. “She left me. I thought you would have known.”

  Laney held a hand to her heart. Pity? Fantastic. But maybe he could use it for his cause.

  “You weren’t the only one who lost something five years ago, Laney.”

  “I…I…” She looked around as if she might find what she’d lost here in his office. Then she sidestepped past him toward the door. “I have to go.”

  He watched her rush out, the door swinging closed behind her. He wasn’t sure if their conversation had ended well or not, but it was apparent he’d still be attending the ball by himself, which was pretty much what he’d expected.

  Chapter Three

  Alex let the valet take his Corvette, but he stood staring at the convention center’s curved exterior and wondering if he was in the right place. An ice sculpture of Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage confirmed the Pumpkin Ball was being held inside. What it didn’t confirm was that Alex’s plan to confront Mitch Sterling at the ball was where God wanted him to be.

  Learning to follow God in prison had been easy. It just meant he followed the rules and treated guards and other inmates with respect. The outside world held many more variables.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket.

  Jonathan Riley’s name flashed on the screen, though really the call came from the prison. Perfect timing. He’d check in with the man who’d led him to Christ.

  Pushing answer on his cell phone, Alex ducked behind a tree for some privacy.

  “Alex.” The man’s voice boomed.

  Alex smiled sadly. It didn’t seem fair that the person who’d led him to the Lord was still in jail while Alex was free to dress in tuxedos, drive a fancy car, and attend expensive shindigs. “Hi, Jonathan. Guess where I am.”

  “Top of the Space Needle in Seattle?”

  “Nope.” He hadn’t been there since he’d proposed to Elise. Probably would never go back.

  “Octoberfest in Leavenworth?”

  There was an idea. It might be fun to escape to the Bavarian village in the mountains to clear his thoughts, though he hadn’t dressed in lederhosen since pledging for a fraternity at Gonzaga. “Not today.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for, son? Make every minute count. Life is precious.”

  “I know.” Alex watched men escort women in long gowns past the ornate ice sculpture and toward the sparkling lights of the party inside. This used to be his life, but now it seemed empty. He was only here for one reason, and it scared him to know if he wasn’t careful that one reason could become his new idol.

  “Well, where are you, son?”

  Alex took a deep breath. “I’m at the Pumpkin Ball. With him.”

  “Oh.” Silence. “Have you talked to him yet?”

  “No.”

  “Have you talked to her yet?”

  Oh boy. “Yeah.”

  “And?”

  Alex ran a hand over his stiff hair, probably ruining its messy look, but it wasn’t like he’d be getting his picture taken with anybody this time around. “She accused me of stealing her computer. Apparently someone broke into her house and—”

  “Say what?”

  Alex held the phone away from his ear, until he could be sure Jonathan was done yelling. “I tried to warn her it w
as her partner—that Mitch Sterling framed me for shooting him and her for stealing the money from impound. But she is extremely loyal to the guy.”

  “Hm. Probably easier for her to trust a cop than a con.”

  That one sentence summed up all his problems. “Story of my life.”

  “Maybe she’s safer if you keep her out of it. You don’t want anybody else breaking into her house.”

  “Yeah.” Alex sighed. “Though if Sterling stole her computer, then she probably had some pretty good evidence against him without even realizing it.”

  “Probably.” Jonathan clicked his tongue. “You do understand that if you find any evidence, Sterling will come after you, right?”

  Alex shrugged. “I’m kind of hoping he will. Then I can trip him up. He’s been wearing this injured cop/philanthropist mask for so long people believe it’s who he is. I want to be there when it comes off and everybody sees how evil he is.”

  “Which is why you’re going to confront him in public?”

  “Yes. Though I’m afraid it will backfire, and he’ll announce to all the business owners here that I just got out of prison and warn them not to hire me for security like Laney did.”

  Laughter practically vibrated Alex’s phone. “Laney did that?”

  Alex wasn’t yet to the place where he could join in on the amusement. “Yeah. She was still pitching a client when I showed up for my meeting with him. She was not happy.”

  Jonathan calmed himself. “It is hard to get work after being released from prison. You can thank God he provided an investor for your company.”

  Alex looked up toward the stars. He was pretty blessed to serve a God who believed in fresh starts.

  “You’ll do fine, son. I’m more concerned with your physical and spiritual protection than your finances, but I will pray for it all.”

  “Thank you.” Alex tried to push away the lump forming in his throat. This was not the time to get choked up. The ball had already started, and Mitch Sterling wouldn’t stick around forever.