Authors: DeeAnna Galbraith
Tal came around his desk and grabbed her in a hug. “I’m going to call Hannity to get the shredder service out here ASAP to unlock the box. I’ll start working on it this afternoon. Can you recruit Catherine to help us sift through the rest tonight without telling her exactly what’s going on?”
Glory snorted a laugh. “Have you met Catherine?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tal’s anxiety rubbed off on
Glory. They’d gone to their respective homes and changed before Tal picked her up for a quiet dinner. They finished and returned to Kingston Limited around seven. Catherine was waiting for them. She had asked very few questions about the “couple hours of overtime looking over Kingston financials.”
Tal led them into his office and Catherine stopped when she saw the stacks of printouts and box of latex gloves. She turned to Tal. “Am I missing something?”
Glory looked at him as Catherine pinned her with a gaze. “She really needs to know.”
He nodded and faced the brunette. “Remember when I told you I took Glory to Antigua to help me solve a business problem?”
Catherine grinned. “I should have been so lucky.”
“This,” he tipped his head toward the papers, “is an attempt to find hard evidence.” He sighed. “This doesn’t go further than the three of us, but Alyssia and Jeff Lassiter are suspected of being the stateside connection for the counterfeit production of Kingston foods in Antigua.”
“They’ve been ripping us off?” Catherine was incensed. “I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s pulled some sneaky moves, but this is major.
And
Mr. expensive suits, Jeff Lassiter, is her partner? It figures. Anybody who’s worked with either of them knows they’re only out for themselves.”
Tal held up a hand. “Employee gossip aside, let me tell you what we’re looking for.”
The brunette squinted. “As long as this is all coming out, I want to know why the two of you are involved in this. Did William ask you to investigate?”
Tal threw Glory a pleading look.
She grinned. “Told you she’d want to know.”
He rolled his gaze. “Again, absolute confidence is necessary. I instigated the trip to Antigua because I own Kingston Limited.”
Catherine snapped her fingers. “
You’re
the mysterious holding company I couldn’t track down.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s always the quiet ones. I don’t suppose I can tell Pryce?”
Tal shook his head. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t. At least for the time being.”
Catherine shot a look at Glory. “Were you ever planning to tell me?”
She lifted a shoulder. “It wasn’t mine to tell. But I will tell you I’d already fallen in love with him before he told me.”
“Really?” Tal asked, leaning toward her, eyes shining.
Glory stepped around Catherine. “I was half in love with you before we ever left the country. Did you think I was after your money?”
“Nope,” he reached for her and she straight-armed him. “Back to business.”
“Yeah,” Catherine said. “No hanky panky in front of the help. Especially since the help could be at home engaging in her own hanky panky.” She slapped the nearest stack of printouts. “So, what’s this hard evidence we’re looking for?”
Glory explained the timeline and what they hoped to find.
Tal nodded. “Lassiter might’ve put incriminating paperwork in the shredder box, thinking that would be the end of it.”
The brunette rolled her eyes. “Sounds like him.”
• •
Well into the third hour, they’d made it through three-quarters of the stacks with no luck. Glory was tired and discouraged and the gloves made her hands sweaty. Maybe Jeff Lassiter was smarter than she thought and had carried the papers out in his laptop bag.
Then she saw it and whooped.
Tal and Catherine jerked their gazes toward her. “What?”
She held the print by the corner and grinned. “The fake final. That means the real one should be here, too. Both with fingerprints.”
Tal held an open manila folder. “This is great. If we find the other original, plus everything else we have …”
Glory slipped the pages into the folder. “We’ll find it.”
The doctored original turned up at the bottom of the stack she was working on. “Now what?” she asked after putting it in the folder.
“I call Greg Hannity.”
The Security Center manager got there a half hour later. He glanced at Catherine and her with mild curiosity, then looked around at the stacks of paper as Tal showed him the originals. He took statements that each of them dated and signed.
“I’ll turn this over to the man working your case first thing tomorrow,” he said. “You’re very lucky.”
Tal looked at Glory. “I know.”
• •
Glory called Pryce’s new office number at nine a.m. the next morning. “Hi,” she said. “Are you free for lunch?”
That call had barely cleared when her line rang. “Glory Danvers.”
“How about lunch?” Tal asked.
“You’re too late. I’m having a business lunch with Pryce. He’s reviewing my qualifications.”
“As long as he does it from a distance. Can you come down at break this afternoon? Greg Hannity dropped by a few minutes ago. He caught the detective in charge of the case as he came in this morning and turned over the printouts. He learned something else.”
“What?”
“Nope. I have to retain my cloak of mystery until we get married. Otherwise you might glimpse how boring I really am.”
Her stomach flip-flopped. Was he crazy? She’d never get used to the feeling she had just talking to him. “Be that way, then. I’ll see you around three.”
She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. Mr. Lassiter’s calendar is full this afternoon.”
“Lassiter just come in?”
“Yes, that’s right,” she answered.
She heard the grin in his voice.
“Pryce hasn’t got a chance.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Good-bye.”
She smiled pleasantly at Jeff Lassiter. “Good morning.”
He nodded curtly and went into his office.
• •
Glory was still reeling at the success of her interview with Pryce when she went down to R&D that afternoon. Tal was on the phone, so she closed the door softly, punched the lock, and sat to pour some of his wonderful steeped tea.
He finished his conversation and walked around the desk, pulling her into his arms. He sighed as he hugged her. “I never realized how much I missed by not having someone to share things with.” He kissed her lightly. “How did things go with Pryce?”
She kissed him back enthusiastically. “Great. I took my resume’, work samples, and copies of letters of recommendation. He said he was impressed. Especially when I told him I had a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish and French. He made me a verbal offer, with a formal one to follow when his computers get installed Monday. I start in three weeks.”
Tal hitched an eyebrow. “You didn’t ask
me
for a letter of recommendation.”
“Pffft. He wasn’t looking for a letter to the editor of Playboy.”
He held her away. “Cute. Maybe I was too hasty about you moving to a new job. I have to think about what’s best for Kingston, you know.”
Glory felt absurdly pleased by his reaction. “The company or you?”
“Me.”
“You’re too late. I accepted the offer, provided I can take time off for a honeymoon.”
“Then could I tempt you with an early dinner and a chance to practice your honeymoon skills?”
She warmed to her toes. “I could be persuaded.”
• •
Tal smacked the ball low and clean, spinning it out of Nate’s reach. He jumped, shouting “Game,” then collapsed gasping, his back against the court wall.
“You enjoyed that,” Nate said, mopping sweat with this wristband, and sliding down next to him. “Was all that energy a result of not playing on Monday?”
“Nope. Worked things out with Glory. We’re getting married.”
A grin split Nate’s face. “Compatible?”
“Can’t begin to tell you,” Tal said.
His friend winked. “Gets better.”
Tal rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. The passion he’d found with Glory was nothing like the unhealthy possessiveness his father had showed toward his mother. It never would be.
Last night he’d trapped her in his entry hall, telling her he couldn’t wait and wanted to make love to her on the floor, right then.
Glory had taken him up on the challenge, quickly ridding them of their clothes and demanding to know, between kisses, where he was hiding the condom. The next thing he knew, they were in his bed, laughing between breathy exhales of great sex.
Nate pushed up from the wall. “You’re embarrassing us both with that moon-faced look. I’m sorry I asked and surprised you have any energy at all. If this is how love is going to affect you, I capitulate all future games.”
Tal opened his eyes to see his friend holding out a hand.
“Congratulations,” Nate said. “You got the whole package whether you wanted it or not.”
He gripped Nate’s hand and stood. “I know and it makes me stupid happy.”
• •
Tal arrived at Seattle Police Headquarters for his appointment and was shown into an office.
A harried-looking man rose from behind a desk piled with folders and extended his hand. “Lieutenant Dunn. I’ve reviewed your file, and wanted to be clear on the role Seattle PD will play in your case.” He pulled a sheet from the open file in front of him. “I understand the parties in Antigua have been enjoined from further production and sales of the counterfeit goods.”
Tal sat. He got the feeling this man thought that should close the issue. “My Security Center manager turned over the last of the physical evidence, I believe. That indicates two of my senior officers were not only part of the whole scam, but they set it up from here. I want them prosecuted.”
Dunn scanned the file, fingering through a few more pages. “Do they know you suspect them?”
“I haven’t confronted them, if that’s what you mean. But I did bring up the demise of the counterfeit operation in a high-level staff meeting two days ago. I intimated that the bulk of the investigation is happening in Antigua.”
The lieutenant looked up. “I know you think this nails it to the barn door, but truthfully, your prosecution may only lead to a heavy fine and no jail time.”
Tal felt his jaw bunch. “So be it. But they’ll also be fired and blackballed in the industry.”
Dunn gave a slight shrug.
“I’m not trying to be petty, lieutenant. I sank all my savings and worked hard to put this company in a place of respect. Unfortunately, I spent too much time letting others run it.” He stood. “If I did nothing but fire them, what’s to stop them from bilking another company? Business is hard enough without having to deal with vultures like them.”
Dunn’s demeanor changed slightly. “Fair enough.” He tapped the open file. “I’ll turn this over to the appropriate prosecutor, who’ll work with the state department people you have listed. Someone will contact you with the results of the investigation.”
Tal thanked the man and left. He was a little unsettled about what he’d put in motion. Not because it was overkill, but because of the reactions of Alyssia and Jeff. He figured Alyssia would lie and try to weasel her way out, placing the bulk of the blame on Lassiter. Even if presented with hard evidence.
It was Lassiter who worried him. The CFO was a wildcard Tal knew little about. A friend of William’s had recommended him, and although arrogant, Jeff Lassiter had done his job well enough that he might figure he could dodge the bullet. Or, considering the anger he’d shown in the recent meeting, Lassiter could turn nasty.
Tal shook his head as he walked back to his building, glad some action would be taken, soon. A shiver ran through him. And doubly glad his spreadsheet scheme to marry Alyssia had failed miserably.
He needed to talk to William about discreet inquiries. Kingston would need a new CFO and VP of Marketing and Sales. Maybe he’d talk to Pryce. They were both in the food industry and since Pryce was looking to fill his own office staff, he might be able to recommend qualified people. On the other hand, they did have some highly qualified people in Kingston’s Marketing and Sales Department. They might fill from within.
This time he’d be part of the interview team.
A smile twitched his lips. He’d also have to confess that Glory was leaving and it was his fault. William would forgive him for that one, though.
Tal reached the elevators at Kingston Limited and stood mulling his choices. Up, to see William, with a chance to talk to Glory, or down, to his office to work through lunch and make up for the time the appointment had cost him. Easy decision. He grinned and pushed the up arrow.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Glory’s day took on a
bright edge when Tal stepped off the elevator. She’d asked Jeff Lassiter for a fifteen minute slot on his calendar so she could tell him she was quitting. Normally, the administrative manager, Shelly, would do it, but Glory wanted the satisfaction. Her bravado was slipping however, and she was no longer sure of her decision.
Tal stopped to talk to Catherine, then glanced at his watch before coming to her desk. He walked behind her, bent close, and pretended to study the paperwork she had out.
“You smell terrific. Ever made love on a desk?”
Warmth shot to her core. “No, I almost did on an entry way floor, once. Oh, and I want to bite your earlobe.”
He straightened. “Okay, bad idea, you win.”
She wanted to giggle, but threw a glance at the CFO’s closed door. “I’m giving notice personally this afternoon. I wanted to get it out of the way.”
“Nervous?”
“That’s part of it, I guess. He’s been acting strange, too.”
Tal walked around her desk and laid his hands flat on the surface. “Strange, how?”
Glory met his gaze. “Cancelling most of his appointments for the next couple of days, delegating subordinates to run meetings he usually heads, stuff like that.”
“Sounds like someone getting ready to bolt.”
“Hardly proof of intent, though.”
Jeff Lassiter opened his door and looked at Glory, dismissing Tal with an irritated glance. “You wanted some time?”
Glory composed her expression. “Yes.” She stood and spoke to Tal. “Excuse me. I’ll take care of your request, later.”
She walked into the CFO’s office and sat in the chair opposite his desk. As he walked around the desk she noticed his normally GQ appearance was almost disheveled. Crooked tie, suit bagged at the elbow and knee, and, heaven forbid, no matching pocket handkerchief.
He remained standing and rubbed the pads of his fingers together before tapping his desktop with and index finger. “What request?”
“I beg your pardon?”
He pushed out an annoyed sigh. “What request are you going to get back to Kingston on?”
Her mind became a squirrel cage. “Um, he lost some data on his hard drive, including last month’s final report. He asked me to resend.”
“No doubt due to our recent surprise computer audit,” he said.
Glory had no answer for that and stayed quiet.
Lassiter turned his back to her, staring at his pocket view of Elliott Bay. “What did you want to see me about?”
Bolstered by her talk with Tal, she plunged in. “I’m giving notice. I know I’ve only been here two months, but I wanted to tell you personally.”
Interest lit his expression as he turned his head. “Better offer?”
No disappointment, just curiosity. That was weird. “Yes. More money, more responsibility, and the potential for travel.”
That seemed to pique his interest. “Travel? Sounds like a good offer. We all need to take care of number one, you know? Well, congratulations.”
Back to the squirrel cage. “Um, Shelly has my resignation in writing and hopes to fill my position with a week left for training my replacement.”
Lassiter had turned back to the window. “All right.”
Tal had nailed it. Seemed like Jeff Lassiter was just marking time.
Back at her desk, Glory listened to a voicemail message from Tal asking her to lunch
and
dinner.
She called him back. “No can do either time. I’m watching phones at lunch while Catherine visits her wedding planner, and sitting through dinner and decisions with her this evening.”
“And I’m spending afternoon break with two of my team. Call me later tonight when you’re done?”
• •
Tal’s cellphone rang a few minutes past ten p.m. “Hi.”
“Catherine owes me a high-end spa massage for being a human shield between her and her mother.”
“Sounds terrifying.”
“All in an evening’s work for the maid of honor. Just calling to say goodnight and tell you big decisions were also finalized on the reception dinner courses and the wedding cake.”
A need, sharp and urgent surged through him. “Could you tell me all about it in fifteen minutes?”
“You’re calling me back?”
“Nope. I’m coming over.”
“It’s a little late.”
“I promise not to keep you up.”
Glory sighed. “It would be nice to see you.”
He took that as an okay. “See you in fifteen.”
She opened her door wearing faded plaid flannel pajamas. Her hair was pulled back from a freshly scrubbed face.
She looked adorable.
Tal took her in his arms. “We have to stop meeting like this.”
Glory rubbed her face against his shirt. “You first.”
“I mean it. It’s time to set a date, put together a guest list, all that stuff.”
She pulled back and pinned him with a look. “In addition to closing the counterfeiting case, replacing two company officers, and one executive assistant. What time?”
Wryness pulled at one corner of his mouth. “Give or take a couple of weeks?”
“Give or take.”
He took a deep breath. “Or.”
She grabbed his chin between her thumb and forefinger. “Out with it.”
“I came up with a plan to circumvent the whole messy thing Catherine and Pryce are going through.”
She let go, blinking. “No marriage?”
He laughed. “You aren’t getting away that easy. How about I fly eight or ten of our friends and relatives to Tahoe where we can rent a tasteful suite and make it legal?”
Her chin dropped. “You’re serious.”
Panic crowded his chest at her expression. “Or not.”
She caught at her lower lip with her teeth for an instant. “The sentiment is wonderful. I’d just rather we meet each other’s parents in a setting other than an airport.”
Tal sucked air through his teeth. “Guess that trumps a quick getaway.”
Glory nodded. “Speaking of getaways. Wanna hear how it went with Lassiter?”
“Sure.” He led her to the couch and pulled her onto his lap. “What happened?”
She scrunched her nose. “It was strange. I told him I was giving notice and he asked if it was a better position. I told him it had a higher salary, more responsibility, and the possibility of travel. He kind of latched onto that. Said we all have to watch out for number one, and travel sounds good. Otherwise, he didn’t seem to care one way or the other. Like my leaving didn’t affect him.”
Tal yawned. He’d be more interested in Lassiter’s reaction later, but tiredness had seeped into his bones and stolen his attention.
Glory mirrored his yawn. “Let’s sleep on it and revisit his possible motives tomorrow.”
• •
Traffic on Aurora Avenue at 6:30 a.m. danced an uncoordinated waltz. Tal allowed extra space between his car and the one in front so he could glance at the strawberry blonde hunched next to him. Eyes half closed, Glory had grumbled barely understood curses when her alarm went off and he suggested they go to the exercise room at Kingston’s to get in an early workout.
“Eyes on the road, Kingston.”
“Is this the kind of abuse I can expect from now on? And where did you learn those cuss words?”
“Yes. And from Aussie seatmates on a long train ride through Germany a couple of years ago.”
His unrestrained laughter was followed by instant sobriety when the brake lights of the car ahead flashed on.
“Told you,” she said.
“Okay, okay. I’ll focus until we’re finished working out, then all bets are off.”
“Shower’s very small.”
He’d lied about watching the road and peeked at her. A smile had hijacked one side of her mouth.
“Counted on that,” he said.
• •
He continued to tease her about her morning mood as they came in through the alley door and he opened the workout room.
A muffled crash interrupted them, followed by several more.
Icy fingers found purchase in his gut and started climbing. “That came from the lab.”
He dropped his bag and grabbed her arm. “Call the police. Tell them it’s a break-in. Wait for them at the front door. Do
not
come downstairs.”
Panic widened her eyes. “What are you going to do? Tal, please stay. The police can be here in a few minutes.”
The sound of more breaking glass made his decision for him. He took her other arm and shook her gently. “Honey, please just do as I ask.” He let go and sprinted for the stairwell.
Cold certainty camped in his mind as Tal’s feet slapped the concrete steps. Fewer than a dozen people knew the after-hours building code. He ticked off the list of possibilities in his head. Greg Hannity, no. Security guards, no. Fire department, no. William, no. That left company officers and department heads.
He blew through the stairwell door to sub-level two. Louder sounds of splintering glass greeted him and a band of horizontal light showed at the base of the lab entrance.
Tal ran and cracked open the door. The big room was a nightmare. The remains of glass beakers and test tubes glittered among the jewel-toned fruit sauces and chocolate brown on workstation tops and the floor. A tall figure dressed in a white Tyvek overall with hood, had his back to him and was methodically sweeping the array of containers off the last two counters with a mop handle. He was alone.
The perimeter of the room gave him the best surprise advantage Tal thought, plus he had on thick-soled work-out shoes. He started toward the man, who now brought the handle down on the monitor at the workstation’s center. It was hard to gauge the guy’s build under the shapeless white coveralls, but Tal felt anger-induced adrenaline singing through his blood and knew he could hold his own.
He’d made it to the far end of the room when the man let the mop slip through his rubber gloves and leaned it against the counter. His heavy panting joined dripping liquids as the room’s only sounds.
Tal ran the last few steps, knocked the mop to the floor and kicked the back of the intruder’s knees. The man shrieked and grabbed at the edge of the stainless steel table as he went down. Unfortunately for him, the surface was covered in a slimy concoction and his grip slipped. As the intruder turned toward his assailant, Tal recognized a wild-eyed Jeff Lassiter.
Tal went down with Lassiter, intent on holding him until the police got there. He’d been right to think the CFO might pose some kind of threat, but this was crazy. Lassiter’s left arm swung up at an angle and caught Tal on the jaw. Fury, and now pain, pulsed as he grabbed at the slippery Tyvek suit.
Lassiter grunted and yelled, “Get away from me,” as he tried to scramble on hands and knees out of Tal’s grasp. Then the CFO twisted on the floor, screaming, “I’m cut. Let me up.”
Tal eased his grip and was rewarded with a vicious elbow to the ribs. He kneed the middle of Lassiter’s back, knocking him flat. Tal brought his forearm to the back of his opponent’s neck, effectively pinning him to the floor.
“Tal!”
He looked over his shoulder to see Glory using the same route around the perimeter of the room he’d used. It took him a second to realize she held a three-pound dumbbell stiffly in front of herself, like a weapon. Ready to help.
He laughed, which made his jaw and ribs hurt. “Couldn’t stay put like I asked, could you?”
Glory slowly advanced to the side of the prone figure, but kept her gaze on Tal. She didn’t lower the dumbbell. “Are you all right?”
Lassiter stopped squirming for a moment, but Tal didn’t release pressure on the man’s neck. “Yes. Are the police on their way?”
“I called them, turned off the alarm, and wedged a company directory in the front door. I also called in Greg Hannity.” Only then did she drop her gaze to the figure. “Who is it?”
Muffled words came from under the hood that now mostly covered Lassiter’s face. “Glory? Help me. I came down to investigate noises and Kingston attacked me. I’m cut and bleeding.”
Pale uncertainty crossed her features, but only for a second. She kicked Lassiter’s ankle. “You’re a liar. Shame on you.”
Shouts of “Seattle Police,” broke out in the corridor.
“In here,” Tal yelled.
Two officers came through the doors, guns drawn. One was younger, and fit. One older and a polite term would be stout. They couldn’t see why Tal was kneeling, but as they made their way through the destruction, one of them said, “Holy crap.” Then, “Is anyone armed?”
Tal stood, his jaw and ribs singing in pain as he moved toward Glory. “No.”
One of the officers pointed at Glory and barked, “Put that down.”
She lowered the dumbbell to the floor.
Beside them, an escalating groan from Jeff Lassiter. “Help, please. He attacked me. I’m cut and bleeding.”
The young officer crunched his way across the last few feet and knelt by the CFO while his partner radioed for paramedics.
The older man then tipped his head at Glory. “You the woman that called this in?”
Glory straightened. “Yes.” She pointed at Tal. “He asked me to.”
He cut his gaze to Tal. “You should’ve left it at that. Let’s go back out in the hall and hear your story. My partner will take care of the other man and get his side.”
Tal knew that was the way it worked, but couldn’t tamp down his anger. The CFO’s destructive fit would cost thousands in destroyed equipment and more in labor hours lost.
He heard Lassiter’s pitiful plea as they left. “Please don’t let him hurt me anymore. He went psycho.”
Glory’s hand slipped into his as Tal focused on remaining calm.
• •
Tal was blown away by the speed at which word of the attack on the lab spread through Kingston Limited. He’d been seen by the responding officers as the aggressor, quickly separated from Glory, and extensively interviewed. He told his version, touching lightly on the drama behind Lassiter’s meltdown. The officer’s eyebrows rose at the mention of Detective Dunn’s name and the ongoing case.
Before the cleaning crew got started, the mess in the lab had been seen and a rumor started that the destruction was a result of an epic fight. His response on hearing the story had been a hearty, but painful laugh.
By the time Tal was allowed to go, yellow tape had been strung across the lab doors and all his techs stood in the hallway. He sent them home and stopped by HR to let them know his staff was on paid leave and to please take care of the paperwork.