“So how do we approach her?” Monroe asked. “Security is tight backstage.”
“And they’re seriously protective of her,” Bogart added. “The moment Romano’s hired henchgirl mentioned her father, the bartender nearly had her thrown out.”
“I may have a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” Beck informed them then removed a delicate, antique diamond tennis bracelet from his pocket.
“Where’d you get that?” Monroe asked with surprise while staring at the bracelet.
“He lifted it,” Bogart announced while grinning. “He wanted it as an icebreaker, literally.”
“Wipe that smile off your face, before I wipe if off for you,” Beck snarled at Bogart then looked at Monroe. “The clasp is broken. It must have fallen off during one of her performances a few weeks ago. I hadn’t gotten around to returning it.”
Bogart raised his brows and attempted to contain his knowing smile. Beck pointed a warning finger at Bogart, threatening him without even looking in his direction. Bogart shifted uncomfortably. Beck kept his attention focused on Monroe.
“I’ll inform the waitress that I found Pinto’s bracelet, and she’ll invite me for a drink,” Beck informed him.
“No offense,” Monroe announced boldly, “but with a woman like that, this is going to require someone with a little more experience. You know; someone who’s a little more worldly with women.”
“Fine,” Bogart announced with a reluctant sigh. “I’ll do it. Give me the bracelet.”
Beck glared at Bogart while placing the bracelet into his jacket pocket.
“You’re going to stay away from that girl, got it?” Beck snapped at Bogart with annoyance. “We’re trying to get intel on her father, not get her into bed. I think I can handle this.” He looked toward the passing cocktail waitress, easily caught her attention, and motioned her toward their table. He placed a ten-dollar bill onto her serving tray. “Would you tell Pinto I think I found a bracelet that belongs to her?”
“You could give it to me--” the waitress began.
Beck smiled politely but remained persistent. “I’d like to return it myself, thank you.”
The waitress attempted a smile as if understanding his meaning, nodded, and left their table. Once Pinto’s song ended, the waitress approached her as she headed backstage. She looked toward their table across the lounge. Beck immediately fidgeted and looked anywhere but at her. Bogart and Monroe eyed him then exchanged looks and strange grins.
“It’s working,” Monroe announced enthusiastically. “She’s coming over.”
Beck straightened while running his fingers through his hair, collected himself, and looked up as Pinto approached their table. He immediately fidgeted and appeared to lose his nerve.
“I’m told you found my bracelet,” Pinto announced while staring at Beck.
“I, uh, think so,” he stammered then fumbled in his pocket and revealed the bracelet.
Pinto groaned softly then smiled excitedly. “I didn’t think I’d ever see that again.”
He handed her the bracelet, seemingly grazing her hand on purpose. She accepted it, appeared curious, and then eyed him suspiciously.
“I lost this three weeks ago,” she announced. “When did you find it?”
“Uh, two weeks ago,” he easily lied. “I, uh, found it in the parking lot. I thought it might be yours, but I hadn’t been back to town to return it.”
“You could have left it with the manager,” she announced while studying him.
“Like I said,” he began, “I wasn’t sure it was yours, so I thought I’d better return it in person.”
Pinto studied him a moment then smiled almost knowingly. “Guys do find interesting ways to ask a woman to have a drink with them,” she remarked.
Monroe and Bogart leaped up from their seats and pulled their chairs out for her. Pinto smiled at both and took Monroe’s chair. He smiled mockingly at Bogart then took the vacant seat on the other side of her. Bogart sneered at Monroe and returned to his seat.
“I’m Beck and these are my, uh, friends,” he remarked and indicated the men. “Monroe and Bogart.”
She smiled politely at each man. The waitress brought another round of drinks for the guys and mint iced tea for Pinto.
“You don’t drink?” Bogart asked while indicating the tall glass of iced tea.
“Not while I’m working,” she replied. “The mint helps sooth my throat. The smoke gets bad toward the end of the night.” She eyed the three men and grinned. “You’re not my typical stalkers. There’s no dirt under your fingernails.” She then glanced at Beck and appeared curious. “I’ve seen you around a few times, but you can’t be local.”
“Local enough,” he replied. “I have a place a couple of hours from here. I only come to town for supplies.”
“Ah, a recluse,” she announced cheerfully. “We get plenty of those.”
“We know you’re busy,” Beck gently announced while shifting in his chair. “So it’s probably best if we get to the reason for this visit.”
Monroe and Bogart displayed their displeasure with Beck’s ‘getting to the point’ approach.
“I have this friend with the FBI,” Beck announced while fidgeting without taking his eyes off her. “We’d like to ask you some questions about your father--”
Pinto’s expression suddenly dropped into something resembling a sneer, and she abruptly stood.
“We’re finished here,” she announced gruffly.
Monroe and Bogart stood just as quickly, alerting the large bouncer at the door. He began his slow and intimidating approach toward their table.
“We know you and your father had a falling-out,” Monroe announced in a verbal attempt to stop her.
“Yes, we had a falling-out,” she proclaimed. “And I don’t want to discuss him with you or anyone else.”
She spun on her heels to leave. Beck bolted up from his chair. The bouncer picked up his pace toward their table.
“Two women from his office were nearly killed by one of his goons,” Beck firmly announced.
Pinto stopped with her back to the men. The bouncer approached her and glared at the three men. All three stared back at the intimidating man. He was even bigger close up.
“Is there a problem, Pinto?” the bouncer asked in a gruff tone.
She eyed the bouncer with an oddly solemn look then glanced back at Beck.
“No, everything’s fine,” she replied and returned to her seat facing the men.
All three took their seats.
Beck stared at her with a soulful look. “Thank you,” he announced softly.
“Which two women?” she asked gently.
“Tonya, the receptionist, and Lee from payroll,” Beck replied.
“Tonya,” Pinto gasped softly then allowed her head to fall into her hand. She looked back at Beck. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “She’s in protective custody, but there have been a few attempts on her life.”
“I’m glad she’s okay, but I don’t know what you think I can do,” Pinto announced and lifted her head. “I haven’t talked to my father in almost two years. Most of what he has to say, he says through Tonya.”
“The feds are searching for a flash drive left by the accountant before he was killed,” Beck informed her.
Her eyes suddenly widened. “Wiley?” she gasped with alarm. “Wiley’s dead?”
“Yeah,” Beck replied. “He was murdered a few days ago. It would seem he found something while going through the files. He even went as far as to alert the FBI, but someone killed him before he could talk to the agent on the case. He crashed the server and left a flash drive that no one can seem to find. It’s possible your father thinks Lee has evidence against him.”
“I still don’t know how this involves me,” she replied while appearing uncomfortable. “I always suspected my father was into something less than ethical, but I never would have guessed he’d go so far as to kill someone.”
�
��Fifty million dollars is a big motivator,” Monroe bluntly informed her.
“Fifty million?” she suddenly questioned then relaxed. “I can’t imagine him killing someone for fifty million dollars. You realize he’s worth more than that, right?” She inhaled deeply and studied Beck. “What do you expect me to do?”
“We’d like you to have a look at some files on his computer,” Beck gently informed her.
“You don’t seriously expect me to show up at my father’s house and hack into his computer, do you?” she suddenly erupted and appeared ready to bolt from her seat.
“No, of course not,” Beck announced in a calm tone meant to relax her.
“We already have someone available for that task,” Monroe informed her.
“I have working knowledge of his system and files,” she replied. “But you can’t access that information remotely.” She hesitated. “I would have to be at his computer, but I’m not willing to integrate myself back into my father’s life. Not even for Tonya. It wasn’t easy escaping his tight grip the first time around. If I go back, he’ll never let me go.”
“We have access to some information,” Beck insisted. “You wouldn’t have to go anywhere near his house, I promise. We’d bring the information to you.”
She eyed them suspiciously then groaned softly. “If you want to waste your time, fine,” she scoffed. “You’ll be looking for a file named ‘Rhonda’. It was my mother’s name. That’s where he has all his important files. If he’s doing anything illegal, it’ll be hidden in there, but I don’t think you’ll get past his firewall and password protection. That computer is like a vault. I’ve done it once or twice, but it wasn’t easy.” Pinto glanced at the stage and the singer entertaining the crowd. She looked back at Beck. “I’m up in two more songs,” she announced. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”
“We’ll be in touch in a day or two,” Beck announced and extended a business card. “In the meantime, if you think of anything, no matter how unimportant it seems, please give me a call.”
Pinto accepted the card, glanced at it briefly, and then stuck it down the front of her dress, catching each man’s attention. She stared at Beck a moment longer with a strange look that conveyed moderate concern.
“If you’re poking around in my father’s business,” she announced, “I suggest you tread very lightly. He’s extremely private, and at times, he has one hell of a temper.”
Pinto stood and left the table. All three men watched her walk away. Bogart groaned softly and grinned. Monroe looked back at Beck.
“You heard her,” Monroe announced. “She’s not going to return to her father’s mansion, and the computer can’t be accessed remotely. We don’t even know what Gil sent us. It could be nothing. We’re wasting our time on the daughter angle.”
“And you never even asked her what she found on his computer that time she supposedly hacked it,” Bogart remarked.
“Are you kidding?” Beck announced while straightening in his chair. “She would have bolted at the mere mention of that, and we’d be bounced out on our asses. A woman like that can’t be conned or intimidated. We have to gain her trust before she’ll open up to us.” He then relaxed in his seat. “I’ll take a look at what Gil sent us then bring it here for her to examine. I can get more information out of her then.”
“We should probably get back to Ross and head home,” Monroe announced with a defeated sigh.
Beck leaned back in his chair. “We have time to listen to her next set,” he announced firmly and returned his attention to the stage.
Chapter Twenty-two
Beck’s SUV remained near the back of the lounge parking lot, conveniently parked further away from the new collection of trucks. Lee squirmed impatiently in the passenger seat of the SUV while Ross sat casually reclined in the driver’s seat across from her. Lee wore a baseball cap and sunglasses to conceal her identity, despite that it was nearing sunset. Zack had spread out on the third row of seats with his fingers laced behind his neck and his eyes closed. It was quite possible he was asleep. It was half past seven. Ross fidgeted for the first time. Even he was growing impatient with the amount of time that had passed. Ross looked at his watch, groaned with annoyance, and then glanced at Zack in the far backseat through the rearview mirror.
“See what’s taking them so long,” Ross announced.
Without a word, Zack sprang to his feet and jumped out of the vehicle. Judging by his cat-like reflexes, he hadn’t been asleep after all. Lee glanced through the side mirror to watch him, but Zack was already gone.
“He’s like part Ninja or something,” Lee commented aloud, although she hadn’t intended to.
“Zack’s a special breed,” Ross replied. “He’s already used most of his nine lives.”
“So I’ve heard,” Lee remarked.
She felt compelled to study the older man. He had a quiet sophistication she’d never really seen before. Lee found herself oddly intrigued by him.
“Do you get roped into helping old friends a lot?”
“More than you’d think,” he replied with a deep sigh. “Holden, Agent Falcone, has bailed us out on numerous occasions since he got together with Jackie. She’s the daughter of our late commander.” Ross drifted out a moment then looked at her and smiled. “For the situations we’ve gotten ourselves into, it’s helpful having a federal agent on our side. We return the favor when he needs us. It’s a workable relationship.”
“Would I be safe in assuming none of you are married?” Lee asked while hiding her smile. “I can’t imagine too many women dealing well with what you do.”
“You’d assume correctly,” Ross replied then laughed softly. “A few of us have tried to live a semi-normal life, but it never really works out in the end.”
“You were married?” Lee asked then immediately regretted asking such a personal question, at least aloud. “Sorry. I don’t mean to pry.”
“No, it’s okay,” Ross remarked and shrugged with little concern. “I foolishly thought I’d be married once I left the military.” He snorted a soft laugh. “I became a SEAL, because I wanted to save the world. Your team is your family, and that’s all you need. At least, for a while. I was involved with a spirited Naval Officer. She was around enough that she was practically one of us. Probably the longest relationship I’d ever had.” He sank into thought and held his breath. “Our last mission out nearly got the entire team killed. It was time to re-evaluate our priorities. After our CO died, none of us wanted to break in a new commander, so we took our leave.” Ross stared out the windshield, inhaled deeply, and sighed softly. “I was ready to settle down and play house with my spirited Naval Officer.” He then glanced at Lee and smirked. “It never occurred to me that she wanted to be a career officer. I suppose I mistook our time together as something more. I don’t hold it against her, but I often wonder what our life together would have been like.”
Lee studied him then smiled gently. “You’re just a hopeless romantic at heart.”
“In our own special way, I suppose all of us are,” Ross informed her. “Even Kirk, who’d like everyone to believe he’s such a bad ass, has his moments. After Zack blew one of the buildings we’d raided, we found a momma cat and her three kittens in his backpack. It was tough getting him to give up those kittens.” A humored smile crossed his face. “Gil’s been married twice to the same woman, and Beck falls hopelessly in love with women he never intends to approach.”
“What about Zack and Monroe?” Lee asked while maintaining her humor with stories about the other men.
“Monroe can be a womanizer at times,” Ross replied with reluctant honesty. “I’m guessing he’s still hung up on Jackie. I can’t be sure, but I think they got together once, because he seemed convinced they were going to get married despite her disinterest. The commander, her father, got into it with him, and that ended that. After that, he stepped up his game with one attractive woman after another.” He hesitated then considered his next comment. “Z
ack is a lover by nature, if you can believe that.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true, although he tends to make bad choices in women,” Ross informed her. “When he does in fact die, and stays dead, it’ll be at the hands of a lover. He has a weak spot for Russian spies. Despite one particular woman trying to kill him on several occasions, he keeps meeting up with her for romantic interludes. Last time they got together, he came back with ten stitches where she tried to stab him.”
Lee gasped with surprise and stared with disbelief. “And he keeps going back for more?”
“Hell, yeah,” Ross replied and chuckled softly. “He turns all dreamy if you even mention her name. He’s like a mongoose playing with a cobra.”
“I never would have imagined the six of you being so interesting in that respect,” Lee replied.
“Well, we’re not all shooting bad guys and blowing up shit,” Ross replied with a humored smile.
Lee laughed softly at the look on his face. She glanced out the windshield and saw Mac getting out of her rental car parked not far from them. Lee’s expression dropped.
“Ah, shit! She’s back!”
Ross looked across the parking lot and saw Mac. He pulled Lee down in the seat and across his lap, holding her down by her head. Lee struggled slightly against his grip that nearly smothered her face into his crotch.
“What’s she doing?” Lee muttered into Ross’s crotch, well aware where her lips were pressed.
“Ah, hell,” he groaned softly. “She’s going back to the lounge. If she sees Monroe, we’re screwed.”
Lee continued to stare at Ross’s crotch from her close-up position. The thought of speaking with her mouth pressed where it was slightly disturbed her, although she wasn’t completely turned off either.
“Is she gone yet?”
Ross released her head. “Yeah, she went around the corner. Probably into the lounge. Damn it.”
Witness Protection 2: The Return of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Page 13
