Sleepless in Las Vegas (33 page)

Hearing a loud knocking, Val jumped. “Did you hear that?”

“Unless it’s a ghost we accidentally locked outside the suite, I believe it’s room service.”

“Very funny.” She hesitated. “I don’t want the delivery person to see me dressed like this.”

“But we’re supposed to never be apart,” he said, putting on his best straight face.

“We’ll start doing that after supper.”

“You’re the boss,” he said, heading to the door.

* * *

A
S
THEY
LAID
out their meals on the polished wood dining table underneath a large, sparkling chandelier, Val thought how different Drake had been tonight. Sometimes she was certain she’d angered him, then other times it seemed as though he was trying desperately to please her. And insisting she be the lead investigator, well, would wonders never cease.

At first, they ate quietly, watching the storm outside the windows. Halfway through his burrito, Drake began explaining the twin swap this afternoon. She listened, occasionally asking questions.

“Let me get this straight,” she said, setting down her fork. “After figuring out one of Marta’s stops was at Body Double, you checked the online state business records and learned Yuri was a new shareholder at the strip club. Checking further, you found documents showing he’d also recently eliminated Braxton’s shares in Topaz.”

“Correct.”

“And after calling Body Double and learning Yuri was there most afternoons, you called Braxton and told him about his now zero shares.”

“Right.” Drake took a drink of his soda, swallowed. “That’s when he confided that he was sick of Yuri’s dirty tricks and he was ready to walk. Said he’d stayed at Topaz these past few years because Yuri had blackmailed him. Something about a photo showing Brax talking to a guy who was later found murdered, and ‘witnesses’—more like Yuri’s buddies—who would testify that Braxton had threatened him. He didn’t want to be railroaded into prison, so he stayed put.”

“But after hearing Yuri wiped out his shares, he’s ready to face the accusations.”

“If the DNA from the fence and cigarettes are a match, he has nothing to face.” He thought for a moment. “My mother is still angry about Braxton’s past problems, but I believe he sincerely wants to clean up his life. Then the two of them can have a relationship again.”

She studied the rugged lines in Drake’s face, thought how he’d struggled with gambling, finally turning to his family for help. Thought how Braxton, too, had struggled alone, and now he needed his family’s help.

“Everybody deserves a chance,” Val said, repeating Grams’s words.

“Absolutely. I’ve asked him to stay put at Topaz, carry on with business as usual, until we hear the results of the DNA tests. Don’t want to make Yuri suspicious that we’re closing in. Brax is on board, although he’s not happy about getting a buzz cut. But Yuri last saw ‘Braxton’ with one, so my brother’s getting shorn before going to work tomorrow.”

She sipped her strawberry shake, thinking about that for a moment.

“But…didn’t you risk raising his suspicions when you pretended to be Braxton?”

“Did it all the time as kids, figured I could pull it off. I wanted access to Yuri’s inner office, was hoping for a chance to look through his files. Because of my research, I’ve learned a lot about Yuri’s corporate holdings, knew what information to look for. Things Brax doesn’t know. Got a few minutes alone in that office, but didn’t find anything. Although I picked up more cigarette butts and the cup Yuri drank from.” He grinned. “Just in case Tony has a yen to run more DNA tests.”

Outside the winds and rains lashed at the windows. Thunder growled across the darkening skies.

She stared for a moment out the window before meeting his eyes again. “I still don’t understand…you could have told me it was you.”

He put down his fork. “Val, I was afraid if I told you it was me, you might accidentally let it slip. Not necessarily saying it in words, but maybe with a look. A gesture. I regret hurting you more than you’ll ever know, but I couldn’t chance Yuri picking up on a stray signal and figuring out who I was. He would have destroyed us. Brax, too.” He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re my partner. I’ll never let you down again.”

In the following seconds, Val inspected the worry on his face. His lips were compressed into a tight line, the muscle in his jaw clenched. His eyes were shiny, like glassy volcanic rock.

The knot of hurt she’d been holding inside unraveled as a seeping warmth filled her every cell.

“Your intention was to protect us,” she said softly, “That’s what matters.”

Hearing her words, she realized they were to herself, too. She’d blamed herself for years about abandoning Nanny, leaving her to die, but her intention had been to save her grandmother. She’d let self-blame stand like a wall between herself and the world all these years.

It was time to let it go. Time to finally forgive herself.

She smiled at Drake, ready to be his partner again. “I know you and Tony are working the DNA angle, but I have another idea how to nab Yuri.”

He raised a questioning eyebrow.

“What if I call him tomorrow, tell him I have those documents he wanted, which he can pick up at Diamond Investigations. When he’s there, I talk about the data he asked for, ask questions…and that handy-dandy surveillance camera records everything he says, including accepting the papers.”

He gave her an approving nod. “Very good. However, considering the illegal activity he’s asking you do for him, he probably won’t come inside the agency. Private investigators and surveillance equipment go together like vodka and Russians. Let’s brainstorm a backup plan.”

* * *

A
FTER
DISCUSSING
AN
alternative plan, they set up their equipment for the evening’s investigations. Afterward, they walked around the suite, Drake taking video while Val asked if anybody was there and would they like to talk. They continually checked the compass for signs of electromagnetic activity. There were none.

At one point, they both heard a distant tune, a man singing. So faint they had to strain to hear it.

“The Four Franks,” Val said.

“But we’re on the twenty-ninth floor. Theater’s at ground level.”

“Did you see the ceiling speakers in the hallway? The hotel occasionally broadcasts songs from the show throughout the casino and hotel. Read about it online.”

From nine to ten, the hours the ghostly cocktail party was supposed to take place, Val and Drake sat on the living room couch, monitoring their equipment. No ghostly clinking glasses, no phantom party laughter. Just the outside winds howling and rain battering the windows.

Val suddenly stilled, her eyes wide. “Did you hear that?”

“Beep means I got a voice message.” He retrieved his phone from his pocket, punched a button and listened.

“It’s Mom,” he said, concerned. “Somebody kept ringing the doorbell, so she checked the surveillance monitor, saw a strange man.” He punched the keypad. “I’m calling her back.”

Val’s insides chilled. “Yuri?”

“He’d be crazy to drive in this weather, but then, he’s crazy.”

Lightning popped, igniting the sky an eerie white-blue.

“Ma, Drake. He still there?” He listened intently. “How long has this been going on?” Pause. “We’re on surveillance. Yes, I will.” He ended the call.

“What?” Val asked.

A smile teased his lips. “Seems Grams has a boyfriend. Lives down the block. Got worried about her during the storm, dropped by to check on her.”

“Why hasn’t she mentioned him?”

“She told Mom they just started dating.” He slapped the back of his hand on his forehead. “
That’s
why Li’l Bit said, ‘It’s about love, man.’ He knew she had a boyfriend.”

“Sounds like she hasn’t been visiting the senior center at night.”

“Got that right. By the way, Mom says hi, asked if next Saturday is good to make gumbo.”

“It’s a date.”

They sat in silence for a while, listening to the splattering rain. Occasionally the room creaked, or a window clattered softly.

Slam.

With a shriek, Val fell against Drake.

“Door shut,” he murmured.

“No shit, Sherlock.”

“Wind.”

“Down the hallway?”

“Let’s investigate.”

“Can’t wait,” she muttered. “I’m also bringing the candle and matches.” She could sense his question. “Ghosts can drain equipment energy. The lead investigator has spoken.”

As they walked down the hall, Val whispered, “Bedroom door is open.”

“But the bathroom door is closed.”

“Maybe we closed it?”

“It was open when we walked past it earlier.” He put his hand on the knob. “Let’s go inside.”

They turned on the lights and looked around the bathroom.

“Everything’s as we left it,” said Drake.

Val crossed to the tub and turned on the water. Catching his questioning look, she explained, “I’m calming the spirits.”

“It’s an old building. Could be the building settling, or the air-conditioning unit might have kicked in…”

“Or it really could be…ghosts…” She wheezed in a breath. “I don’t think…I’m coping…all that well.”

He moved forward, grabbed her by the shoulders. “Val, you okay?”

With a half nod, she sank against him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close. His chin nestled against her soft, coconut-scented hair.

“It’s been a long day,” he murmured. “You need to rest.”

He felt more than heard the single-word response—
no—
muffled against his chest. He had to smile. Die-hard Val, trouper to the end.

“A short break, then.” He looked at the filling tub. “Maybe a hot bath.”

She pulled back her head and looked up at him with big, moist brown eyes. “Only if you take it with me,” she whispered.

He cupped her chin. Her skin felt like satin. “Are you sure?”

She blinked. “About wanting this?”

“More than that.”

“Respecting you afterward?”

He half smiled. “Are you…over your conflicted feelings about me?”

“Like you’re Mr. Uncomplicated.”

He sighed, tracing the delicate curve of her cheek, his fingers threading into her silky hair. “I want…” The ache inside was almost debilitating. “More than…one night.”

She pressed closer and whispered, “Me, too.”

“Hold that thought. Let me check our bath.” As he adjusted the water temperature, the lights went off.

“I did that.” Val set the lighted candle on the far edge of the tub. “Also locked the door. Just made me feel better.”

He straightened and faced her. The flickering light cast a golden haze in the room. His chest filled with an unbearable ache as he watched how the light played with her hair, shimmered down the graceful sweep of her neck, glossed her elegant bare arms.

Val’s hair, eyes, skin had stolen every fragment of light in the room. What she hadn’t robbed seemed to linger around her, hovering like an aura.

“C’mere, beautiful.”

With a slow smile, she moved closer.

He cupped her face in his hands, feeling as though he stood on the edge of a hundred-foot cliff with the ground crumbling beneath his feet.

He had never been more eager to fall.

“You’re like the air I breathe,” he murmured, “with me all the time, tormenting my thoughts, stealing my sleep.”

Just before his mouth met hers, he felt her sigh release on his lips. Before, his kiss had been rough, demanding. This time he wanted to do it right. Savor the sensation of his lips on hers, explore this sweet mouth made for love.

He nuzzled her cheek, trailing his lips across her silky skin to the corner of her mouth. Brushing a light kiss there, he murmured, “Let me inside, Val.”

She opened her mouth, and he played his tongue along the sensitive inside of her lip, tasting strawberries and lemon. Anchoring her head with his hands, he tangled his tongue with hers in erotic play, then slowly probed deeper into the moist warmth until he filled her mouth, his groin tightening when she responded with a soft, needy groan.

When he pulled back, she stood there, gulping air.

“We have on…” She heaved a breath. “Way too many clothes.”

It was as if a starting gun went off.

As she reached for the waistband of his pants, he grappled for the hem of her T-shirt. When she popped the button of his jeans, he bunched the thin cotton material in his fist, only to lose his grip when he felt her hands on the outside of his groin, wrestling with the zipper. Managing the intricacies of what went where required too much thinking.

Driven by hunger, impatient with need, he grabbed fistfuls of the T-shirt, and with a guttural cry, ripped it off her.

“Lord have mercy,” she whispered shakily, her arms dangling at her sides.

He yanked off his shirt, tugged down his zipper and hauled off his jeans, shoving them aside. “Turn around,” he growled.

* * *

V
AL
FACED
HER
reflection in the mirror behind the sinks. In the soft candlelight, she eyed her pink satin bra and the white cotton boxers that hung low on her hips. Not exactly the sexy outfit she would have liked to wear their first time, but it would soon be off anyway.

He muttered a curse as he fumbled with the back of her bra. “Where’s the…”

“In front.” As she undid the fastening between the cups, he slid his hands around to her mounds and kneaded them. The clasp released and he gently peeled off the bra. His eyes glinted like a cat’s as he stood behind her, admiring her naked breasts.

“Beautiful,” he whispered huskily, his fingers slowly circling her puckering nipples.

She leaned her head against him, lost in the sensations of his masculine scent, the roughened pads of his fingertips, the cushion of his hairy chest against her back.

Through the haze of her arousal, she became aware of a ceaseless, rushing sound. Water.

“Hot tub,” she rasped.

“Got it under control, baby,” he murmured in the curve of her neck, his low-throttled tone sending goose bumps skittering across her skin. “Not even half-full.”