Meeting Danger (Danger #1) (19 page)

He mentally shook himself as he handed over her drink. “Here.”

“I’ll just get us some cups.”

He remained in the doorway, watching as she headed to the coffee station, her hips swaying slightly. She gathered two cups before she turned around and stopped in her tracks. “Aren’t you coming in?”

No matter how much he wanted her, he could never have her. The thought brought on an unexpected sadness.

He needed to say good night. Now. Before what little resolve he had crumbled.

She was studying him with a frown, and Camden could only guess the way he looked—like a complete fool.

Quickly, he said, “Good night, Autumn.”

She was blinking rapidly, cups still grasped in her hand, as he shut the door between them.

• • •

After the door closed, Autumn set the cups down and sank onto her bed. Camden was so much taller than her, whenever she stood close to him, she had to tilt her head back to see into his eyes. There were no flecks of green in his eyes but yet they were very light in color. A warm hazel, more golden rather than brown.

Those warm, kind eyes drew her in and captivated her. But her attraction went far beyond his appearance. At his core, Camden was a good person, an agent who was dedicated to justice. Never in her life had she been around someone like him. Never before had she felt this kind of desire.

Whenever she was close to Camden, flutters went through her system. She’d never felt flutters with Butch. Okay, maybe she had, but those flutters had been induced by fear, not desire.

She lay back on the bed with a sigh. She wasn’t going to be able to ogle Camden anymore. The two of them were from different worlds, and she couldn’t fantasize about him. Nothing was going to happen between them.

Camden pulled into an open space in the parking lot of North Grove Apartments in Allentown, the complex where the victim, Lee Wells, had lived. Luke Davis had been twelve years old when he’d been a witness for the prosecution during Brian’s trial two years ago. He had also been a resident here at the time of Wells’s murder. Hopefully Luke and his family hadn’t moved..

Camden walked over to the complex’s basketball court where a kid of about twelve stood shooting hoops.

“Have you lived here long?” he called out.

The kid stopped dribbling and turned. “Yeah. Why?”

Camden took off his sunglasses. “I’m looking for Luke Davis. Do you know him?”

“He’s my next-door neighbor. Want me to see if he’s home?”

“That would be great.”

The kid took off running and disappeared up a flight of stairs with Camden following him at a slower pace. When a heavyset teen opened the door at the top of the staircase, the younger boy stuck a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward Camden.

“He wants to see you.”

Luke frowned down at Camden before moving toward the staircase. Camden stuck a hand out when the teen reached the bottom stair.

“My name is Camden Taylor. I’m a federal agent from DC.”

The teen shook Camden’s hand, his eyes narrowed. “Has something happened?”

“No. I’m here about the murder of Lee Wells. Would it be all right if I asked you a few questions about what you told the local police?”

Luke shrugged. “I guess so.”

“You saw a man here a couple of days before Mr. Wells was murdered, is that correct?”

The boy nodded. “I thought it was a visitor for Miss Hanes.” He gave Camden a sheepish smile. “She had a lot of boyfriends who used to visit back then.”

“Does she still live here?”

“Nah, she moved out last year.”

“Miss Hanes testified in court that she didn’t have a visitor matching that description.”

“Yeah. She said it wasn’t anyone she knew.”

“Where did Mr. Wells live in relation to Miss Hanes?”

“The next apartment over. Right there.”

Camden gazed at the apartment the teen pointed to. “Do you remember telling the police that the man you saw had a tattoo on his forearm?”

The boy rubbed his own arm and nodded. “Yeah, I remember that.”

“Can you describe the tattoo?”

“I told the police it was a candle.” The teen frowned. “But now I know that was stupid. I mean, who gets a tattoo of a candle?”

“If it wasn’t a candle, what do you think it might have been?”

The boy looked up into the air, clearly struggling to remember. “If I had to guess now, I’d say it was a dagger.”

A dagger
. “Have you remembered anything more about the man’s appearance since you were interviewed?”

“No. He had a baseball cap on so I didn’t notice very much. Only that he was a white guy. Tall and fit.”

“Do you remember hair color?”

The teen shook his head. “It was covered by the cap.”

“Did you happen to see what kind of car he was driving?”

“No.”

Camden gave the apartment another once-over before turning his gaze back to the teen. “You’ve been really helpful. Thank you so much, Luke.”

“Sure.” The boy gave Camden a nod before jogging back up the stairs.

• • •

Camden’s next stop was Encompass Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia. The office park he pulled into had three buildings, and from the sign out front, seemed to house mostly medical-related businesses.

“I’m here to see Mr. Graham,” he told the receptionist in the entry of the Encompass building.

Minutes later, he was ushered into Graham’s office. Michael Graham was a thin man with graying hair. He stood up from behind his desk.

“My assistant said you’re a federal agent, Mr. Taylor.”

“Yes, and it’s your daughter I’m hoping to get in touch with.”

“What about?”

“The murder of Lee Wells.”

Graham frowned. “That’s a closed case, Mr. Taylor. Why would the Feds be involved?”

“I have a few questions. I’m a friend of Brian Bailey’s.”

Graham raised his brow but didn’t comment as he gestured for Camden to take a seat before sitting again behind his desk.

“I understand Andrea’s no longer working for the City of Philadelphia.”

“Right. She works for a public relations firm now.”

“May I ask which one?”

“You won’t need that information. She’ll be here soon.”

“She’s on her way here?”

Graham nodded. “Most days, Andrea and her boyfriend have lunch together, and he works here in this complex. I’m into real estate development as well—you have to diversify, you know,” he added with a shrug, “and I rent office space to her boyfriend and his father. They own a pharmaceutical distribution company.”

Camden gazed out to the courtyard. Interestingly, Lee Wells had also had a pharmaceutical distribution business.
What are the odds?

“What’s the difference between a pharmaceutical distributor and what Encompass does?” he asked.

“In the simplest terms,” Graham explained, “we focus on research and development, as well as production, and companies like theirs handle distribution. Sales, if you will. Some pharmaceutical companies, particularly the larger ones, do both.”

“Which building are they in?”

Graham moved to the window and pointed. “That one. It’s Cobalt Systems. The receptionist will be able to point Andrea out when she gets here.” He glanced at his watch. “I’d do it myself, but I’m expected in a meeting.”

“Thank you.”

Camden headed across the courtyard. After speaking with the receptionist at Cobalt Systems, he took a seat on one of the lobby’s wooden benches.

When a tall, slim woman with long auburn hair appeared a few minutes later, Camden looked toward the receptionist. She gave him a subtle nod.

Camden rose. “Andrea Graham?”

“Yes?” Andrea stopped short. “Do I know you?”

“My name is Camden Taylor. I’m a friend of Brian Bailey’s.”

She blinked hard. “I thought I knew all of Brian’s friends.”

“I met him inside Edgewater.”

Her gaze darted toward the receptionist. She quickly moved toward a panel of windows and motioned for Camden to follow.

“As an inmate?” she whispered.

“No.” Camden brought out his badge for her inspection. “I was on assignment there.”

She nodded but still looked uneasy. “What can I help you with?”

“I’m looking into Brian’s case.”

Her face pinched into a frown. “Why? Has new evidence come in?”

“Not yet.”

She looked dazed after he explained his belief in Brian’s innocence. “How is Brian?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Discouraged, I’d say. Angry. Frustrated.”

She stiffened at the words.

Camden pointed toward her hand. “You’re engaged?”

“Uh, yes.” She looked down and then clenched her hand into a fist as if the ring embarrassed her. She sighed before she continued. “It’s not like I was trying to date anyone after Brian. Josh and I . . . we already knew each other. We used to date.”

The guilty rush of words trailed off and her eyes welled up. “You said Brian’s miserable?”

“Things have been rough on him, but he’s hanging in there.”

Andrea bit down on her lip.

“Your fiancé works here with his father?”

“That’s right.”

“I’d like to speak with him.”

“With Josh?” Another frown. “Why?”

There was no sense implying that Josh Solomon had the only known motive to frame Brian. Wanting to keep things cordial, Camden simply said, “I’m trying to follow the investigation the detectives did.”

Andrea walked over to the receptionist and asked for Josh.

As they waited, Camden asked, “Did your fiancé know Lee Wells? I understand they’re about the same age, and that Wells had a pharmaceutical distribution business too.”

Andrea nodded. “Lee Wells used to rent this space before Josh and his father took it over.”

Camden tamped down his surprise. “Lee Wells used to rent this same space?”

“Yes. Josh and his father took over many of Lee Wells’s clients after he was murdered.” Andrea spotted her fiancé. “Here’s Josh now.”

A fair-haired man of about thirty approached, and Andrea made introductions.

“Mr. Taylor is looking into Brian’s case.”

Solomon met Camden’s gaze and frowned. “What is there to look into, exactly?”

Camden was still reeling from what he’d just learned—competition with Wells’s business was another potential motive for Josh Solomon to have committed murder. He forced his thoughts aside.

“I’d like to ask a few questions.”

Solomon’s jaw set. “Go ahead.”

“You and your father bought Lee Wells’s business?”

“We didn’t buy it. It wasn’t for sale. When we took over the rental space, we were able to pick up a lot of his old clients. What does this have to do with Brian?” Josh’s gaze narrowed a moment later. “Are you trying to suggest something?”

“Josh.” Andrea stepped forward and laid a hand on Josh’s arm, obviously trying to defuse her fiancé’s tension.

Camden held up a hand. “I’m only trying to understand things.”

“Wells was lousy at business,” Solomon snapped. “That’s what you should understand. The clients we serve have been happy with the change.”

Knowing he wasn’t likely to get much more from Solomon, Camden said good-bye to the couple.

• • •

That night, Camden stared down at the notes he’d made. He’d just finished reading the autopsy and lab reports. Unfortunately, nothing had stood out the way he’d hoped.

He gazed at the door separating his room from Autumn’s. Instead of taking her out that night, he’d brought back takeout. He’d quickly eaten before excusing himself so he could get back to reading the transcripts.

After debating for another moment, he rose and walked to the door.

Autumn answered the door and gave him a small smile. “Do you want to come in?”

He gazed at her bed. The last thing he needed was a repeat performance of the thoughts he’d had the night before. But he could also remember the hurt look on her face from earlier this evening, so he nodded and stepped inside.

“Did you finish your work?” she asked.

“For now.”

She took a seat on her bed, pulling one jean-clad leg beneath her. “Did you find anything?”

“Not really.” He let out a sigh.

“What will you do next?”

It was a good question. If the motive he’d learned about had been presented at trial, there might have been enough for the jury to have had reasonable doubt. But would the newly uncovered information be enough to get Brian a retrial? Camden wasn’t sure.

He pushed the thought aside. “In the morning, I’m going to stop by and see Brian’s old roommate. He wasn’t home when I went by today. Other than that, I’m out of ideas.”

As if sensing his frustration, Autumn rose and moved toward him. “If there’s anything there, you’ll find it.”

“Thanks.” Camden scrubbed a hand over his face, suddenly feeling worn out. But her praise meant a lot. “Listen, we’ll probably be able to leave tomorrow afternoon. The prison’s less than an hour out of our way. We can stop by and give Brian an update. He’ll be interested to know about the additional motive I found for Solomon to want Wells dead.”

“Okay. I’ll get packed in the morning.” She glanced at her workbooks spread out on the bed before she asked, “Can I, um, do anything for you?”

“What?”

Autumn blushed as she gazed up at him. “It’s not like I’m a detective or anything, but I was wondering if there’s anything I can help you with?”

God, she was caring. And sweet. As Camden stared down at her, he felt awful for having brushed her off the night before and hurting her feelings. Before he realized what he was doing, he’d leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on her lips.

Autumn’s eyes were wide when he backed away.

“I’m sorry. I—” He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m never going to take advantage of you, Autumn. You need to know that.”

Not giving her a chance to respond, he backed away. She was still staring at him as he said good night and left the room.

Camden sighed hard after he shut the door between them. Damn the regret he was feeling; he’d done the right thing by leaving.

• • •

The next morning, Camden was still trying to put the kiss out of his mind as he drove to meet with Pierce Sanders, Brian’s old roommate. The door of the small home was answered by a slightly overweight man in his mid to late twenties.