“Initial information shows that what she’s told you could be right. The car belongs to the man in the room, registered to Clarence Tolsen, same name as the driver’s license you provided. Digging into him, he’s a small town heavy for a bookie in Chicago. Looks like he likes to take jobs on the side, and I can see where five thousand dollars was recently deposited into his bank account from a business buried in paperwork but eventually owned by Mark Martins. Now, what that doesn’t tell us is why. Maybe she actually stole the money and Martins sent someone after it. But then, if that were the case, an honest businessman would have contacted the authorities.”
Claire’s body was still reposed against the car seat, but her breathing had changed, and he knew she was awake, listening to his side of the conversation.
“Copy that.”
“We checked the cameras at the hotel and can see him going into the hotel lobby to make a phone call.” Chuckling, Tate added, “He didn’t look happy.”
A grin slipped over Levi’s lips as well in spite of their situation.
Tate continued, “As soon as you stop, scan whatever she’s got if it’s a hard copy or email it to the secure address I’ll send to you. The sooner Josh can start going through that, the sooner we can see what we’re up against.”
“Copy that. We passed Cleveland, and I’d like to make it to Erie before we stop. We’re both pretty tired and hungry, and we’ll take a break there. It looks like it’s a little over eight hours to get from Erie to Boston.”
“You still planning on taking her to Boston?”
He sighed, uncertain of his answer. “I don’t know. We’ll figure that out as we get closer, and a big part of that decision will be based on what you find out. I’ll let you know as soon as I get everything sent to you.” Disconnecting, he laid his phone down but remained quiet. Watching the exit signs, he flipped on his blinker and maneuvered down the exit ramp. Finding a small diner with easy parking for the U-Haul, he pulled to a stop.
Twisting around to face her, she did the same, giving her attention to him. “We’re going to go in, use their facilities, and get something to eat. But before we go, I need you to get all the information that you have. I’m going to forward it to my contacts so that they can look at it.”
Her eyes widened, and she gave a little shake of her head. “Levi, I’m uncomfortable with that. I shouldn’t even have this client’s records outside the office, and now I’m supposed to share them with people I don’t know? What I did was unethical, but I couldn’t think of anything else to do. Now it feels even more unethical.”
“Claire, I don’t think you get this. Mark Martins is not a man who’s going to take losing this money easily. By putting that money into your account, he thought he had you under his thumb. Instead, you took off. If he can’t get it back from you, then he’s going to have to take it from his own account to repay the client. On top of that, I can assure you, he does not want to go to jail. We got away from whoever he sent after you for now, but we need to figure out what Martins is doing. If he hasn’t already, he’s going to figure out a way to pin this on you and then call the authorities.”
He heard her sharp intake of breath, and, despite his vow to keep this professional, he reached across the console and took her hand in his, hoping to infuse some of his warmth into her frozen fingers. “Trust me.”
She held his gaze and nodded slowly. Gently pulling her hand away from his, she unbuckled and leaned toward the back seat. Lifting a nondescript bag from her belongings, she pulled out her laptop and said, “Everything’s on here.”
“Show me.”
She opened her laptop and typed in a password, and soon, he saw the files where she had all the records stored. “Attach everything you’ve got into an email.” Once she had done this, he slid the laptop onto the console and typed in the secure address given to him by LSI. Hitting send, he picked up his phone and waited a few seconds. Soon the text came in.
Secured. Looks good. Working on it now.
Turning back to Claire, he said, “Okay, this is all we can do right now. But while we're here, we need to keep our eyes open, watch our backs, and stick together. We’ll hit the restrooms first.” Gaining her nod, he climbed out of the SUV and met her at the front. They walked in and headed to the restrooms. It didn’t take him long and he was outside the ladies’ room door when she walked through. With his hand now resting on her lower back, he escorted her to the front where the hostess then showed them to a booth. He looked around but could perceive no threat. It was almost midday, but the scent of coffee and the all-day breakfast menu called to him.
“I’m desperate for coffee, eggs, and bacon,” Claire mumbled.
He chuckled, realizing that the breakfast menu was calling to her as well. With everything they’d gone through, it felt good to smile, even if for just a moment.
It did not take long for their food to be served and their coffee to be refilled. He looked across the table and watched as Claire picked at her food, eating small bites. “You need to eat.”
“I know,” she agreed. “But it’s as though the food gets stuck in my throat.”
“That’s tension and nerves.” Sighing, he nodded toward her plate. “The scrambled eggs are soft. Try getting those down. Then see if you can eat the bacon. At least the protein will help you feel better. We can take the toast with us.”
She nodded and began to focus on the eggs, eating most of them. Their conversation was nonexistent, neither seeming to know what to say. Finally, she leaned back and pushed her plate away. He felt her eyes on him and, as he sipped his coffee, held her steady gaze. “We might as well address the elephant in the room.”
She obviously knew what he was talking about when she nodded. “Okay. When you showed up in my room this morning and took care of…. him… you were immediately pissed at me and wanted me to start talking. That’s the attitude of someone who came with an agenda.”
She cut to the chase, and he inwardly admired that trait. Considering how much to tell her, he said, “I told you that my new job is with a security company. I called one of my coworkers last night and asked about you.”
Her chin jerked inward and she lifted an eyebrow, showing surprise. “Why?”
“Because you were traveling with me. Because I knew nothing about you—”
“You knew nothing about me?” She huffed. “What about our conversation yesterday? What about our conversation last night over dinner?”
“Claire, that was two people getting to know each other, but, unlike meeting through friends, I knew nothing about you. I had just offered to take you all the way to Boston, spending almost two days in the car together. Yes, I enjoyed your company but felt like I needed to know more about you.”
She was quiet for a moment, and he could have sworn hurt passed through her eyes before she lowered them and focused on the napkin she was shredding in her hand.
Nodding slowly, she said, “Okay, I can accept that. So, what did you find out?”
He hesitated, no longer certain how much he wanted to tell her. She’s been through so much, and now it feels like I’m piling more on her. Her gaze was still steady, waiting for his answer. He scrubbed his hand over his chin, hating to go into the details. “All I found out was that you had left your job under a cloud. That came from an internal email from Mark Martins about suspicions of embezzlement. That information made me nervous and gave me concerns about taking you all the way to Boston.”
“So, you laid awake last night thinking about how you were going to dump me on the side of the road.”
He leaned forward, irritation filling him. “I wasn’t going to dump you on the side of the road, Claire. But yes, I was going to make sure that you were okay and then allow you to go back to your original decision to get a rental car to take you where you wanted to go.”
“What made you come to my room this morning?”
“You weren’t in the lobby and, well… I just wanted to get it over with.”
She looked back down a
t her hands and the now-shredded napkin and didn’t say anything.
“Claire.” As he called her name, she lifted her chin and stared at him, so he continued, “As soon as you told me your story, I believed you.”
A snort erupted and she shook her head. “I think it’s a little bit more than that, Levi. You still had your people check on me and find out what I told you was true. That’s hardly trust.” He started to speak but her hand snapped up to stop him. “You know what, I get it. I really do. You stopped by the side of the road to help me and didn’t expect any of this to happen. Honestly, I don’t blame you for being suspicious. In this day and age, no one can be too careful. I, more than anyone, should know that.”
They fell into silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. “Let’s hit the bathroom again before we get on the road. There’s a gas station next door and we can fill up and then be on our way.” She hesitated, but he pressed on, “Please. I know you’re upset and angry, but please, don’t make a poor decision and say you’re going to stay here. You’re safer with me.”
She opened her mouth and then snapped it closed, grimacing as she seemed to struggle with what to say. Her shoulders slumped and she sighed. “I know this sounds ridiculous because we just met yesterday, but it almost felt like fate. Especially by the time we’d gotten to know each other over dinner, it seemed… well, it seemed really nice.” Giving her head a little shake, she added in a stronger voice, “Right. I don’t have a lot of choices, so I’ll stick with you for now.” With that, she slid out of the booth and headed to the ladies’ room, leaving him sitting alone, staring at her back.
7
Claire was exhausted but could only imagine that Levi was more so. After eating, they got back onto the road, taking a northern route on the highway past Lake Erie to Buffalo, and then east to Syracuse, only stopping for gas and snacks. She had no idea how long they were going to drive. For that matter, she had no idea what to tell him when they reached Boston.
As though reading her mind, he suddenly asked, “Why Boston?”
Hating to sound impetuous or stupid, she sighed. “I had a roommate who was from Boston. She came to Chicago for college and then went back.”
“Is she expecting you?”
She shook her head. “No, not really. We’re friends, but not exactly close friends. We chat a couple of times a year… mostly birthdays and Christmas. I sent her a text the morning I left out, but she didn’t reply right away. Truthfully? I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. She finally replied last night and told me that she was traveling for her job and was out of the country. She did say that I was more than welcome to stay in her condo and that if I wanted to accept, just let her know and she’d make sure the doorman gave me a key.”
Levi was quiet and she snuck a look toward him, seeing his jaw tight. Tired and frustrated, she bit out, “Look, I know it wasn’t a great plan, but I didn’t know what else to do. I was terrified of staying in Chicago. The idea that the police would come banging on my door and arrest me for embezzlement had me running away. Yes, I have a couple of good friends, but I don’t want to put them in danger either.”
“Claire, it’s okay. I’m just glad you got away.”
She felt deflated and blinked away the sting of tears. “I can go to her place in Boston and hide out for a while. But beyond that, I have no plan.”
“Look, hopefully tonight, we’ll know more from my coworkers about what’s going on. Once everything is taken care of and you're safe, you can decide where you want to go.”
She grabbed a tissue from her purse and wiped her nose, sniffling softly. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s just weird. If the head of the company is involved in something illegal, then I technically have no job to go back to. I have no family in Chicago anymore, and even though I have some friends, maybe now is the time to make the great leap to change.” She looked over at him and offered a little smile. “Kind of like you.”
He chuckled and nodded, and she loved hearing that sound. The day had been so tense that seeing him smile made everything seem a little brighter. Tired of talking, she asked, “What kind of music do you like to listen to?”
“My taste in music is eclectic. I have to admit since my last couple of years have been in Wyoming, I listen to a lot of country. But honestly, my favorite would be jazz.”
She flipped on the sound system and quickly found a light jazz station. “How’s that?”
He looked toward her, his gaze searing straight into her, and said, “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.” For a few seconds, she wondered if he was only talking about the music. Blushing, she looked away. Closing her eyes, she pushed all thoughts of the handsome man being anything more than her rescuer out of her mind and allowed the soft music to lull her to sleep.
Levi was glad that Claire was finally able to take a nap. Dealing with the multiple emotions during the day, he could only imagine how much worse it was for her. With all that they had discussed, they hadn’t talked about the near abduction that morning. Fairly certain she’d never had a gun held on her before, he assumed she was burying that fear down deep.
Glancing at the GPS and the clock, he maneuvered down the exit ramp near Albany. A plan had begun to form, but he needed some time to think about it before discussing it with her. If her heart was still set on going to Boston, he would take her there. If she was no longer certain that was where she wanted to go, they had a decision to make.
Finding a hotel with an uncrowded parking lot, he pulled into a space with room for the trailer, and she roused awake.
“Oh, my gosh! How long did I sleep?”
“Don’t worry, Claire. You were only out for about thirty minutes.”
“Where are we?”
“Albany.”
She looked out the window toward the hotel and inhaled sharply. He glanced her way and watched her pale, much like how she had that morning. Shit, I didn’t even think about what it would be like for her to be in another hotel.
She jerked her head around, her eyes wide. “I don’t think I can do this—”
“We’ll share a room.” The words had burst forth unexpectedly, but he knew it was the only way either of them would get any rest. He would be assured she was protected, and she would be able to relax. She sucked in her lips and stared, not speaking.
“Look, we can get a room with two beds, and that way, we can both sleep. I’ll be there for protection, and we’ll be able to rest easy by not having to worry about you. I promise it’ll be fine. Just sleep.”
As though realizing what he was assuring, she shook her head back and forth quickly, her hair swinging about her face. “Don’t worry about that, Levi! I’m not concerned about sharing a room with you. In fact, you’re right, it’s the only way I’ll be able to relax.”
With that settled, they climbed from the SUV, both stretching the kinks out, and walked into the lobby together. He again requested a room on the first floor, close to where he could keep an eye on his SUV and U-Haul. Taking care of the accommodations, he grabbed the room key and they moved the SUV closer.
Inserting the key card, he threw open the door but noticed her feet did not move forward. Reaching back, he linked fingers with her and gently guided her forward. She clung to his hand as they entered the basic hotel room. He locked the door behind them and, without her needing to ask, they searched the room together. Bathroom, consisting of a toilet, sink with a long counter, and tub/shower combination. Closet filled with nothing but an iron and coat hangers. They even looked under the two queen beds covered with tacky, flowered bedspreads. Once she was assured that there was no one there but them, she audibly sighed.
A local pizzeria flyer was on the desk, and, after checking her preferences, he called in an order. “I hope that’s okay. I just figured it would be easier if we stayed here.”
Nodding, she smiled. “I don’t know how you do it, Levi, but it’s as though you're reading my mind. I’m so tired but also hungry. And you’re right, I don’t wa
nt to go out anywhere.”
“You're safe here. They probably traced you to the previous hotel because of your debit card. But what that also tells us is that he has a reach.”
She scrunched her nose and shook her head. “A reach?”
“Someone beyond just a man who’s embezzling from his company. If I had to guess, he’s probably involved in organized crime. That’s probably how he had a go-to man like the one who showed up this morning. But now, we’ve got you off the radar.”
She nodded while listening, then yawned.
“Why don’t you go take a shower and relax. I’m going to see what my coworkers can tell me, and the pizza should be here when you get out.” She gathered her toiletries and he watched as she walked into the bathroom. As soon as he heard the water running, he called Tate.
“Hey, man. Where are you?”
“Albany.”
“How’s it going?”
“It’s fine. We’ve had a chance to talk, and I think she trusts me. I have to confess, I’m glad we’re able to help her.” He heard a chuckle and rolled his eyes. “Okay, okay, that’s all this is… me playing rescuer. Don’t make it into more.”
Tate was still chuckling, but said, “Okay, here’s what we’ve been able to discern. Mark Martins is definitely tied in to some of the illegal betting that goes on in Chicago. It doesn’t seem as though he’s connected to just one particular mob family, but it appears he has several of them as clients. And from what Josh can tell, if he’s been as creative with his other clients as he was with the one that Claire discovered, he’s moving money, laundering money, and embezzling a ton. The five hundred thousand dollars she noticed isn’t much overall, but he doesn’t want to be caught. He could have easily traced her through the debit card she used at the motel… it was tied into the bank that he used to make the transfer into her account. You can tell her not to panic. We disabled that card.”
“Good. Thanks, Tate. I don’t how to repay you for this. It’s certainly not how I expected to come into the job.”
Levi (Lighthouse Security Investigations Book 7) Page 5
