High Stakes Crime: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Shelby Nichols Adventure Book 15)

by Colleen Helme

  “Oh yeah?” he asked. “You’re really going to do an interview?”

  This time I grinned. “No way. I finally figured out that I have leverage. If she ever wants my help again, then she’ll have to forget about an exclusive interview.”

  “Whoa… that’s a change.” He thought I’d come a long way from those early days when I’d been so eager to help the police, and just about everyone else, to prove my worth. Now that I was in such high demand, I didn’t need to prove anything.

  Knowing I was taking charge of my life gave me a feeling of power that I was beginning to like. “I think I like this way much better.”

  His dimples disappeared. “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “But don’t worry.” I patted his arm. “I’ll always help you when you need me.”

  He opened his mouth to ask for something, but I cut him off. “But your wife awaits, and we don’t want to disappoint her.”

  He sighed. “You’ve got me there. But, just so you know, I wasn’t going to ask you to help me right now.” At my raised brows, he continued. “Okay… maybe I was, but I can manage.” He was thinking that it would sure be nice if I could sit in on a couple of interviews he’d planned for tomorrow.

  “That might work… especially since I have to come back for another training session with Dante at the firing range.”

  “Great. So, about this time tomorrow?” I barely got in a nod before he rushed on. “Thanks Shelby. I’ll see you then. Oh… be sure and tell Billie hi for me.”

  “I will.” As I left the station, I shook my head. So much for learning how to say no… but it was Dimples, so I didn’t mind. Plus… it was nice to be wanted. A little voice warned me that something bad could happen tomorrow, but I scoffed. What could happen during a simple police interrogation? Thoughts of an earthquake and a freaky ghost came to mind, but I shoved that away pretty quick.

  The newspaper office was only a few blocks away, and I parked across the street. Walking toward the building, I caught sight of my reflection in the two-story wall of glass. It reminded me of the day that I’d stopped a shooter right there in the lobby.

  That had given me more recognition than I’d wanted. Even worse, Jameson Beal had begun stalking me to prove my premonitions weren’t real. Since I’d killed him, he wasn’t a problem anymore, but I couldn’t help the chill that went down my spine to walk into the large, open space.

  I stopped at the front desk, and the receptionist called Billie to let her know I was there. Billie told me to come on up, and I went through security to the elevators, grateful they let me keep my stun flashlight. Stepping out on her floor, I found Billie waiting for me.

  “Shelby, it’s so good to see you!” She gave me a hug, thinking that she’d missed seeing me, and she was a little disappointed that I’d been avoiding her. She hoped to patch things up, because she liked having me for a friend. And… it didn’t hurt that my life fascinated her. I was always getting into trouble, and she hated hearing things second-hand from Drew.

  “I know you’ve been busy,” she continued, “and Drew told me you’d taken some time off, so I’m glad you were able to come.”

  “Yeah, it’s been a while. So how are you doing? Still enjoying married life?”

  “Yes. Drew’s great.” She ducked her head. “To be honest, it’s been kind of nice to have an inside source with the police, you know?”

  I chuckled. Wait. Did she really say that out loud? I wasn’t sure her lips had moved, so I asked a question instead. “So how’s work going? Any interesting stories?”

  “Yeah… but nothing like the chimerism case we worked on together. Did Drew tell you that I got a journalism award for that story?”

  I gasped. “You did? Wow. That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

  She nodded. “Thanks. It wasn’t a Pulitzer Prize or anything, but I still got recognized, so that was pretty cool.” She glanced over my shoulder. “Oh… it looks like they’re ready. Come with me.”

  She turned toward the conference room, and alarm raced down my spine. “Wait, what’s going on?” From her mind, I picked up that this was a surprise just for me. She’d hoped to pull it off, but, from my raised brow and fierce glare, she didn’t think it had worked.

  Her lips drew up in a saucy smile, and she shook her head. “Man… having premonitions is a bitch. You can never be surprised, can you?”

  That brought a chuckle out of me, and a sardonic smile strained my lips. “No, I guess not.”

  “Just come with me. It won’t be that bad.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Right.”

  I followed her into the large conference room, a little overcome by all the people who had crowded inside. Michael Lewis-Pierce, the editor-in-chief, stood at the head of the room and smiled warmly at me. “Hey Shelby. We’re glad you could make it. Come on up here.”

  With a sigh of resignation, I made my way toward him. A few people thought I looked unhappy but, since I had premonitions, it was probably hard to act surprised. Hearing that, I tried to imagine serene thoughts and pasted a smile on my face.

  Michael beamed at me before he began. “We don’t usually do this, but our editorial board and the newspaper owner felt it appropriate. We’re just sorry it took so long to get you back in the building.”

  A few people chuckled, and his lips twisted into a knowing smile. “On behalf of everyone here, we’d like to present you with a small token of our gratitude. Most of us in this room will never forget that fateful day when you kept us from harm by stopping a shooter with your quick thinking and extraordinary powers.”

  He reached behind him and picked up a beautiful, crystal paperweight, with the newspaper logo etched in gold and my name engraved underneath. With a smile, he handed it to me. “Thank you, Shelby.”

  “Oh wow. It’s beautiful. Thanks so much.” After examining it, I glanced around the room, picking up the heartfelt warmth and admiration of everyone there. It filled a part of me that I hadn’t realized was empty and made everything I’d been through, lately, worth it.

  “Thank you all so much. This is… well, it really means a lot to me.” My throat got tight, and I couldn’t say another word. Holy hell. Was I about to cry?

  “Yay for Shelby,” Billie said, and started clapping. The rest of the group joined in, adding a few whoops and whistles. The tightness left my throat, and I even managed a chuckle.

  “Okay,” Michael called over the din. “That’s enough. Now get back to work.”

  They filed out with good-natured grumbles, and I surreptitiously wiped my nose, grateful that my eyes were dry. Michael turned to me. “That was fun. You even seemed surprised.”

  “I was. I mean… I knew something was going on, but I didn’t know what it was for sure.” I held up the paperweight. “Thanks for this. I really appreciate it.”

  He shook his head, thinking it was nothing after I’d saved several of their lives… well… mostly his life, since he was the intended target. “What do you think about doing an exclusive interview with Billie?”

  I chuckled. “Is that what this is about?” I knew it wasn’t, but I couldn’t help rubbing it in.

  Affronted, he raised his chin. “No, of course not.” Seeing the twinkle in my eyes, he shook his head. “But you can’t blame me for trying.”

  “Yeah… I get it… but the answer is no. I don’t need more attention… and you should know what I mean.”

  He nodded, expecting as much. He couldn’t really blame me, since my fame had brought a killer out of the shadows to torment me. Even worse, that man had gotten close enough that he’d nearly killed me. In fact… Michael’s gaze jerked to mine. Hadn’t I killed him? He glanced away, feeling a little bad that he’d even asked. “Well… thanks for coming in.”

  “Sure. And thanks for this.” I held up the paperweight.

  “Just a minute,” Billie said, glancing his way. “Maybe we should ask Shelby what she thinks about the big story tomorrow.”

  Michael’s brows rose. “Oh ye
ah… she could be helpful.” He glanced my way. “What do you say, Shelby? Want to hear about it?”

  With both of them ganging up on me, their eyes brimming with hope, how could I refuse? “Sure, I’ll listen.”

  Michael smiled, thinking that deep down I enjoyed what I did, even if it sometimes got a little weird. “Great. I’ll let Billie explain while I go back to my office. But just so you know… this story’s not something I’m going to invest a lot of time in unless it’s true. Right now, that’s up in the air, and this newspaper is based on facts, not conspiracy theories.”

  I picked up that the story was somewhat unconventional, and it piqued my interest. “Makes sense to me.”

  “Good.”

  He turned with a wave, and I sat down at the conference table with Billie. Her eyes glazed over with excitement, and my curiosity rose. “The story is all about a journal that was recently discovered. If it’s real, it could have huge consequences. Have you heard anything about “The Lost Taft Mine” in the news, or anything about the legends surrounding it?”

  “Sure. I’ve heard of the legend, but I haven’t seen anything about it recently.”

  “Then I’ll explain. A few weeks ago, a history professor announced that he had found a journal written by Jeremiah Taft, the man who had discovered the gold mine in the late eighteen-hundreds.

  “Before Taft’s unfortunate disappearance, he had amassed a substantial amount of gold, which validated his claim, but he never told anyone where the mine was located. When he didn’t return from his last expedition, it was rumored that he’d written a journal, with a map revealing the location of the mine, and left it with a woman.

  “Dr. Charles Stewart, the professor who tracked it down, is holding a press conference tomorrow about his discovery. But that’s only part of the story. Apparently, he’s already staked out several claims to different locations in the area where there’s a chance the treasure is hidden, but he needs investors willing to help him retrieve the gold.

  “That’s why this press conference is so newsworthy. There are rumors that Stewart is not the upright person he claims to be, and this could all be a hoax to bankroll a bogus expedition. On the other hand, if the journal is authentic, which he claims it is, he could be sitting on a lost gold mine worth millions.”

  I frowned. “But letting everyone know about the journal seems like a risk. Isn’t he afraid someone will try and steal it from him?”

  “Yes. I think that’s part of the reason he needs backers who are willing to help him with security and funding for the expedition.”

  “But if he’s already staked a claim, isn’t he giving the location away?”

  She shook her head. “Not necessarily. He took out at least seven different claims to throw off anyone who might be after him. The legend of the mine basically tells us it’s located in the Soapstone Wilderness area of the Rocky Mountain Range, but, without a map, it’s a large area to cover.”

  “Yeah… that makes sense.”

  “So? You want to come with me? You might know if he’s telling the truth or if this is just a bogus claim. I’m sure there will be time for questions, and you can ask as many as you like.”

  I grinned. She was making me an offer I couldn’t refuse. “Okay. I’m in. But it seems like he’s going to a lot of trouble with staking claims and the whole press conference thing if it’s all a lie, you know?”

  “Sure, but it’s still worth having you there with your premonitions. It might be the only way to know if he’s telling the truth.” She was thinking that I was like a secret weapon against all those evil men and their mad plots… kind of like I was a real super-hero.

  I held back a chuckle and gave her a nod. “I’ll do my best.”

  “Great. The press conference is at ten in the morning at the State Capitol rotunda, but I want to get there early enough to get a good spot. Let’s meet here at nine. I’ll have a press badge ready for you, and we’ll have plenty of time to get a place right up in front.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  We said our goodbyes, and I made my way to the elevator. As much as I hated to admit it, this case intrigued me. The excitement of finding a lost gold mine was the stuff of legends, and I wanted to be part of it. Did Uncle Joey know about it? If it was real, he’d probably want to invest.

  My sudden enthusiasm for finding a lost treasure brought me up short, and I knew gold fever was real. Of course, it didn’t hurt that my grandpa had taken me up into those same mountains when I was a kid to look for that mine. No wonder it excited me so much.

  My phone began to ring with the familiar tune of “Devil Rider,” which I’d set for Ramos’s ringtone, and a little thrill rushed over me. Wow… just thinking about Uncle Joey… and here was Ramos calling me. Was this a sign?

  I decided to take the stairs so I’d have some privacy, letting the song play a little longer before I started down. “Hey Ramos. What’s up?”

  “Babe. You sound like you’re out of breath. Is this a bad time?”

  “No. I’m just leaving the newspaper offices.”

  “Then you’re not too far away?”

  “Nope.”

  “Good. I need you to come to Thrasher. A guy showed up a few minutes ago wanting to see Manetto. Jackie sent him to Manetto’s office, but, before I could ask her who he was, she left the office in a rush. I knocked on Manetto’s door and asked if he needed me, but he waved me off. Something’s not right, and I’d feel better if you were here.”

  “Is it about a gold mine?”

  “A gold mine? Uh… no.”

  “Oh… okay.” I tried not to sound disappointed. “I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

  Exactly ten minutes later, I walked into Thrasher Development. With Jackie gone, and no sign of Ramos, I peeked inside the conference room. Finding it empty, I wandered down the hall toward Ramos’s apartment, but couldn’t see him anywhere.

  At the other end of the hall, Uncle Joey’s door was closed, but I could hear faint sounds of conversation. Maybe Ramos was in there?

  On the way, I stopped in front of my office door and stepped inside, hoping to find a nice spot for my new paperweight. I admired it for a moment before setting it down next to the framed photograph of my family. I opened my door to leave and gasped with surprise.

  Ramos stood just outside my door, and his lips turned up into a cocky grin. “Babe. I just came to find you.”

  “Geez, you startled me.”

  “Sorry.” He leaned against the door jamb, not looking a bit sorry.

  “So, did Jackie just go home without telling Uncle Joey?”

  He straightened. “Apparently. When I got here, a man was talking to Jackie like he knew her from somewhere. Her face was a little pale, and she seemed upset. She sent him down to see Manetto and then took off. She didn’t say a word to me, but I think she had tears in her eyes.”

  “That’s not good. Does Uncle Joey know that she’s gone?”

  Ramos shook his head. “No. He’s been in there with the guy ever since.”

  “How long is that?”

  “Since I called you.”

  “Is Uncle Joey safe?”

  He nodded. “Yes, of course. I opened the door and asked if he needed me, but he said no. That’s when I called you.”

  “So he didn’t let you in, but you think he’ll let me in?”

  “Maybe not if you ask.”

  My eyes widened. “So you want me to barge in there?”

  “Yeah. Tell him you have some good news… or make something up… then see if he’ll introduce you and let you stay. Something about this guy is off, and I want to know what it is.”

  I straightened my spine. If Uncle Joey was in trouble, I’d do just about anything to help him. “Okay.” I glanced at my new paperweight. “And I’ve got just the thing.” I picked it up. “The editor-in-chief at the newspaper just gave me this. It’s kind of a memento for saving their lives… you know… from the shooter?”

  “Right.”
He glanced at it, thinking it was a nice gesture, and one I probably deserved. “That should get his attention. Let’s head on down there.”

  “You’re coming in with me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Sweet.” I stepped down the hallway and stopped at Uncle Joey’s door. Taking a breath for courage, I readied myself for a show and knocked. Plastering a smile on my face, I pushed the door open and rushed inside.

  “Hey, Uncle Joey, I couldn’t wait to show you what I got. Isn’t it beautiful?” I held it out to him and froze, glancing between him and the man sitting in front of him. “Oh… sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” I turned toward the stranger. “Hi, I’m Shelby Nichols, Uncle Joey’s niece.”

  Surprised by the interruption, the man gaped at me. He stood a little stiffly and shook my outstretched hand. “Uh… Sonny Dixon. Nice to meet you.”

  Uncle Joey narrowed his eyes, taking note that Ramos had followed me inside. What was going on? He caught my gaze, thinking I had some explaining to do. Then another thought occurred to him, and he sent me a nod, realizing Ramos must have called me in case Sonny was up to something.

  Although he’d spoken with Sonny several times over the phone, this in-person visit had been a surprise, and it was nice to know that Ramos and I were on his side.

  He smiled. “Shelby… it’s good you’re here. Please come in and sit down. I’m sure I mentioned the poker tournament to you before you took all that time off, remember?”

  “Oh yeah, I vaguely remember that. When is it anyway?” When he’d mentioned the tournament to me, it sounded so far away that I’d totally forgotten all about it.

  “This weekend.”

  My eyes widened. “That soon?”

  “Yes. Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Uh… no. Not at all. I just didn’t realize it was so soon.”

  Uncle Joey shook his head. He’d been happy to give me some space, but now it was time to get back to work. “Sonny owns a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, and he’s hosting the poker tournament. Since he was in town, he stopped by to discuss the details.” He sent Sonny an appraising glance. “I haven’t told him I’d be participating for sure, so he’s here to sell me on the idea.”