Her Officer in Charge (16 page)

“Are you sure you have everything?” he asked as he walked up to her.

“Yes, and I put that other CD you left in the bedroom back in my bag. Where’s the one you took with you?”

“In that paper bag,” he answered, pointing to it.

“I know, you’ll explain later,” she quipped.

“Correct,” he smiled. “Hey, don’t worry. This is all going to be okay.”

“From your lips.”

“Do you trust me?” he asked, bringing her into his arms.

“I do,” she murmured, “but it’s hard being kept in the dark.”

“I know, and I’m sorry about that,” he said, hugging her tightly. “You have to believe me when I tell you it’s for the best.”

“If you say so,” she sighed, forcing a smile and looking up at him.

“Let’s go, beautiful girl.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“We have a stop to make,” he said, picking up his small suitcase and the paper sack, “and then I’m checking you into The Majestic. I wish there were another decent hotel here, but it’s the only one. You’ll be fine as long as you stay in the room.”

“Will there come a time when you can fill me in?” she asked as they reached the car.

“Possibly,” he replied, putting his suitcase in the back seat and handing her the paper sack. “Hold that for me, don’t touch the mug or CD.”

“This is all too mysterious,” she said, taking it from him.

“To be honest, I still don’t have all the answers,” he said, slipping behind the wheel.

“You have some?”

“I have some, but I have more than information,” he said solemnly as he backed onto the street. “My gut has never let me down, and it’s talking a mile a minute right now.”

“That’s good enough for me,” she said firmly.

As Vince drove off down the street, his foot heavy on the accelerator, Bella stole a look at his face. His jaw was set and his eyes were narrowed.

“You look very purposeful.”

“That’s exactly what I am,” he mumbled as they approached the shopping area. “Ah, this will work,” he declared, pulling up outside a coffee shop. “Wait here.”

Taking the paper sack, he ambled into the café and smiled at the portly, middle-aged man behind the counter.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, please,” Vince replied, handing him the paper sack. “Could you please fill this mug with coffee? I’ll just run to the men’s room.”

“No problem,” the man replied.

Moving past him, Vince watched the man reach inside the bag and pull out the CD first. Human nature was a funny thing, and it was something Vince had counted on many times. Dropping the CD back in the sack, the man reached back in for the coffee mug. Wearing a satisfied smile, Vince hurried to the men’s room, but loitered only a few seconds before quickly returning to pay, collect the bag, and leave.

“Do you want the mug in the sack?” the man asked.

“Yes, please,” Vince replied, and, handing the man a five-dollar bill, he took the paper sack and returned to the car.

“Hold this again, please,” Vince said, handing it to Bella.

“Can you at least tell me if Scott is a good guy or a bad guy?” she asked as he drove to the next block and did a U-turn.

“I’m not sure yet,” he replied as he checked his rearview mirror. “Open the glove compartment, pull out the black woolen cap, and tuck your hair under it.”

“I feel as if I’m living in a movie,” she muttered as she did as he directed. “I don’t have anything to hold my hair up.”

“I keep rubber bands in there. Just look for a small plastic bag.”

“Who keeps rubber bands in their glove compartment?”

“I do, it’s amazing what they can be used for.”

“I don’t even want to ask,” she sighed. “Oh, yes, I found them.”

“When you’ve got your hair tucked under that hat, scoot down in the seat so you look shorter.”

“Good grief!”

A short time later they pulled into the hotel, but rather than roll up to the valets in the front, Vince drove around the building and pulled to a stop outside a back exit.

“Stay here, stay low,” he said. “I won’t be long.”

“Vince, I’m started to feel a bit freaked out,” she said, touching his arm.

“You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. It’s going to be okay,” he assured her. Leaning across, he kissed her softly. “I know what I’m doing.”

“I know you do,” she whispered, “you’re absolutely amazing.”

Climbing from the car, he grabbed his suitcase, then hurried to the front of the hotel, walked through the doors and up to the front desk.

“May I help you, sir?”

“Yes,” Vince said briskly, “my name is Nathan Samuels, I’m an author, you may have heard of me.”

“Why, yes, I have,” the clerk lied. “It’s an honor to have you here.”

“I need a suite with a view, and total peace and quiet,” Vince continued, opening the pouch and pulling out the fake I.D. and a credit card. “I want to pay in cash, but I know you need the card for incidentals.”

“That’s correct, sir.”

“Please make a note, I want to pay for everything in cash,” Vince repeated.

“Yes, sir, I’ve noted your account.”

“I don’t need any housekeeping. I can’t make this clear enough, I do not wish to be disturbed,” Vince said with a heavy frown.

“I understand, I’ll make sure of it.”

“No phone calls. If that damn phone rings, I won’t be happy.”

“Noted. Do you need help with your bags?”

“Nope, just tell me where to sign.”

The clerk placed the paperwork in front of him, Vince signed it, and accepted the cardkey.

“I understand this hotel has a notary public available.”

“Yes, sir, we do.”

“Please have them come to the suite at seven p.m.”

“I’m sorry, sir, she leaves here at five.”

Opening the pouch, Vince pulled out two hundred-dollar bills, then fixed the clerk with an icy stare.

“I believe this will compensate her for any inconvenience,” Vince said, placing the first bill on the counter, “and this will compensate you for any trouble you may have making sure it happens,” he finished, placing the second bill next to the first.

Vince saw the desk clerk wither under his cold, unwavering stare. “I, uh, yes, sir, thank you, she will be there. Your suite is at the end of the hall away from the elevators, and has an excellent view of the ocean. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me, my name is Ben Hollister.”

“Just make sure she’s on time,” Vince said briskly.

Picking up his suitcase, Vince walked to the elevator, and when it deposited him on the fifth floor, he strode swiftly to the room, quickly checked it out, left the case, and, still carrying the drawstring pouch, ran down the stairwell to the ground floor. Winding his way through the hallways to the back exit, though he knew his car would be where he’d parked with Bella still safely inside, he felt a wave of relief when he saw it.

“Okay,” he said, dropping into the driver’s seat, “are you ready to walk up five flights of stairs?”

“Only if it’s a direct order,” she said, rolling her eyes. “What do you want me to do with this?” she asked, holding up the paper sack.

“Leave it on the seat,” he smiled. “Let’s go.”

The stairs presented no problem for Bella, and when they walked into the suite, she let out a low whistle.

“Wow, this is fantastic,” she said, dropping her purse on the coffee table. “If I’m going to be stuck in a room for a while, this is a room to be stuck in.”

“Bella, I’m pressed for time and I need to talk to you.”

“Sorry,” she apologized. “I just didn’t expect anything like this.”

“You need to understand, things have changed. I don’t want you to be scared, but you do need to take this seriously and follow my instructions to the letter.”

“Sorry,” she repeated, “my head is kind of spinning and sometimes I deal with stress by joking around. I wish you could tell me what’s happened.”

“No time, and like I mentioned, I’m still figuring it out. Sit down with me,” he said, taking her hand and moving her to the couch. “I have checked in under the name of Nathan Samuels. I’m an author writing a book and have left instructions not to be disturbed, no housekeeping, no calls, no nothing. Clear so far?”

“Yes, no problem, Nathan Samuels, writing a book.”

“I doubt you’ll cross paths with anyone, but if you do, you’re my secretary. Call yourself Susan. Does that work?”

“Sure, Susan’s fine. Easy to remember.”

“These are the rules. Don’t answer the door, don’t answer the phone, do not leave this room, do not step out onto the patio.”

“Holy crap!”

“Here,” he said, pulling out one of the burner phones from the pouch. “If you need me, hit star-fourteen. Got it?”

“Yes, star-fourteen.”

“If you get the generic voicemail it just means I can’t answer, but I’ll call you back in minutes, if not seconds. If you call room service, tell them to leave the tray outside the door. Wait at least two minutes, then bring it in. When you sign the bill, just scribble something illegible.”

“Okay, now I think I’m started to get scared.”

“You’ll be fine as long as you do what I said. I repeat, don’t answer the door, don’t answer the phone—except the one you’re holding, of course, that will be me. Don’t speak to anyone through the door.”

“This is so intense.”

“There is no reason for anyone to call up here, but if someone does, and leaves a message, it’s okay to listen to it, but then call me and let me know. If the phone rings and there’s no message, call me right away.”

“You’re telling me to remain incommunicado.”

“Yes, that’s it,” he smiled.

“I wish you could stay,” she sighed, leaning into him.

“This will resolve itself very quickly,” he assured her as he took her in his arms.

“What’s very quickly? A day, two days?”

“Possibly hours.”

“That fast?”

“Possibly,” he replied. “Right now I have to put this pouch somewhere safe.”

Moving into the bedroom closet, he reached for a pillow on a high shelf, and after taking out the second phone and stuffing it in his pocket, he pushed the pouch to the bottom of the pillow slip, and placed the pillow back on the shelf.

“Wouldn’t the safe be more secure?” Bella asked.

“Lord, no. I don’t expect anyone to show up and start hunting, but if they did, the first place they’d go would be the safe, and it takes about five seconds to open those things.”

“I had no idea,” she muttered.

“I brought a suitcase for appearances, but I did throw some clothes in there if you want to hunt for something to change into. I’m sure you’re sick of your jeans and sweater by now.”

“Totally. Will you be back soon?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, sweetheart, I promise.”

Chapter Twenty

Bolting down the stairs, Vince hurried to his car and put the burner phone under the seat. Moving around to the passenger side, he opened up the paper sack and, using the paper towel, he picked up the travel mug and poured out the contents.

“Into the fire,” he muttered as he jumped inside and sped out of the parking lot. “I’d better be right about this.”

The base was a short drive from the hotel, and he used every minute going over the facts in his head. By the time he was pulling up outside the building that housed the major’s office, he was convinced his assessment was right. Grabbing the paper sack, he took a moment to compose himself, then headed inside.

“I believe he’s expecting me,” Vince said, smiling at the secretary.

“Yes, go ahead,” she smiled back.

Knocking on the door, Vince pushed it open and walked inside.

“What have you got for me?” the major demanded. “Where’s the girl? I thought you were bringing her with you.”

“She had other plans and I couldn’t persuade her to join me, but I do have Scott’s prints, along with hers so you can isolate them.”

“Explain,” the major scowled.

“In this bag is a CD. I believe her prints are on the case, and just to be sure I also got a clean set of hers on a travel mug so you won’t have any trouble eliminating them.”

“I see. A bit convoluted, but thank you, captain. Is she still at your house?”

“She was going to walk to the township to do some shopping.”

“That’s all, I’ll keep you posted. You’ll be in your office?”

“Yes, sir. I’m going to grab something to eat, then I’ll be sitting behind my desk.”

“Fine, good work. Dismissed.”

“Thank you, sir,” Vince replied, and, taking a silent deep breath, he headed out.

Nodding his goodbye to the secretary, he returned to his car and left the base, continuing a short distance before pulling to the side of the road. Retrieving his burner phone from under the seat, he punched in a number.

“Colonel Brady’s office.”

“This is Captain Valenti calling. Please tell the colonel I must speak with him immediately, code 1001.”

“Right away, sir.”

Reminding himself to breathe, his pulse ticking up, Vince waited.

“Captain? What’s the emergency?”

“Sir, we have a situation, and I’ve taken some initiative.”

“I’m listening.”

Vince knew how to bullet point and outline information, and the colonel’s attentive silence was testament to his ability. When he’d finished speaking there was a long pause, and for a moment Vince feared he may have misread the situation.

“You should never have left the field,” the colonel declared. “Nothing short of brilliant work, captain.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Your assessment is correct, and your confusion about Bateman is understandable. Allow me to enlighten you.”

It only took a few minutes for the colonel to fill in the blanks, and Vince closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

“Of course. I should have seen that,” he mumbled.

“I’m glad you didn’t,” the colonel remarked. “Things may not have crinkled out as they have. You’ve moved things up a bit, but that might be just as well.”

“That’s good to hear,” Vince replied.

“I assume the number showing here is your clear line number.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go about your business. You’ll be hearing something soon.”