Tri Me (Primrose, Minnesota, Book 4) (11 page)

Alex opened the door and Jackson strode into the room. “Ladies.” He glanced at the table and then frowned. “I thought you were planning a baby shower.”

“We are.” Dara tapped her wine glass. “You’re welcome to join us.”

“I will respectfully decline that offer. I need to borrow Alex for a few minutes.”

Bri shrugged. “Your loss. And don’t go bringing her down. It’s taken us several hours to get her mind off of … you know.”

Jackson took her hand and they went to Marnie’s spare bedroom.

“Sorry. We need to talk about it.”

And just like that she was dragged back into the real world where some crazed woman wanted her dead.

She sat on the foot of the bed. “Tell me everything you know.”

“Not much. We know it’s arson.” He sat beside her.

“Yeah. I got that impression when you asked about the gas can. What else?”

He handed her a plastic bag with a shiny, silver tube inside. Powdery black particles gathered in the corner of the bag.

She raised an eyebrow. “Do you know what this is?”

He grinned. “Jake says it’s a lipstick holder.”

“That’s correct. Where did you find it?”

“Ryker found it at your house. It’s engraved.”

Through the plastic, she rolled it over and saw the initials.

“Is it yours?”

“No. I don’t use one of these.”

“Do you know anyone with those initials?”

“No, only me. I assume you dusted it for fingerprints.”

“Without success.” He returned the bag to his pocket, then laced his fingers through hers. “But, we managed to trace the phone calls.”

“Any luck?”

He nodded. “The calls were made from three different numbers, all registered to Luxury Imports. Ring a bell?”

“I do legal work for the company.”

“Is there anyone there you can connect to the crime?”

She shook her head. “I’m only acquainted with Lucas Sebastian and his secretary. Another dead end, huh?”

“We’re still working on it.”

“I know it takes time. I just hoped things would move more quickly.” She released a hard sigh. “I can’t believe she’s managed to destroy everything I own.”

“They’re just
things.
You’re still alive and you have your friends.” He nudged her shoulder with his own. “And me.”

“Lucky me.”

“Yes, you are one lucky woman.” He stood and pulled her next to him. “Walk me to the door.”

“You’re retreating?”

“Never. I need new strategic maneuvers. I’m outnumbered here.”

“Scared?”

He placed a peck on her lips and then gave her a totally unexpected response. “Out of my mind.”

A satisfied smile split her lips. “Good answer.”

She dropped his hand as they left the bedroom and stepped into view. Immediately, she felt the loss.

“No one leaves for an hour after that bottle is empty,” he told her friends as he opened the door.

“We won’t.” Annie hiccupped and then giggled. “Marnie will make sure we’re dried out before we leave.”

Jackson simply shook his head on the way out. Alex closed the door and turned to find all of them staring at her with goofy grins.

“I can clearly see that all of you have had too much wine.”

“Nope.” Marnie patted the sofa cushion next to her. “Sit.”

She lowered herself to the sofa and attempted to change the subject. “I thought we were going to watch a movie after our planning.”

Dara shook her head and sat on the cushion next to her. “Not until you tell us what went on in there.”

Bri nodded from the recliner. “Yes. Do tell.”

“Stop. We just discussed my case. That’s all.”

“Anything new?”

“They traced the phone calls to Luxury Imports.”

Bri’s eyes widened. “So Mr. Sebastian is somehow involved?”

“We don’t know. There’s still so much unknown.”

Dara patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll plot it out and come up with something.”

That made Alex grin. Leave it to Dara to solve a crime by plotting a novel. She only wished that would work.

Jackson moved his gaze around the RSI meeting room from one of his teammates to another, wondering how in the hell anyone would agree to participate in the day’s mission. He actually held the ace this time; he was the only one who knew the plan intimately.

“Storm needs some sleep,” Ryker told them. “Who’s going over to Marnie’s apartment to relieve him?”

Jackson bit back a grin as he glanced at Mace. “It’s your turn, isn’t it?”

“I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon.” Mace nodded at Jake. “What about you?”

“I’m planning to take Bri out to dinner.”

“That takes all day?”

“Yes, it’s a big night.”

“Can’t you reschedule?”

“No.”

Mace obviously wasn’t buying the other man’s explanation. “Why?”

“Special occasion.” Jake smirked. “Besides, I’m one hundred percent sure I’ll be in bed early.”

Ryker lifted an eyebrow. “No one wants to volunteer?”

“Won’t do me any good.” Jackson kept a tight rein on his amusement. “They’d blow my cover in a heartbeat.”

“Fine. Stewart, Rawlings and I will draw straws. Well, toothpicks.” Ryker opened a drawer in a table next to the sofa and pulled out a box. He pulled out three, broke the end off of one, and then shielded them with his fingers while holding them. “Shortest pick loses.”

Each man chose a toothpick.

“Guess it’s my shift.” Ryker held up the broken toothpick. “At least I can do it without being seen.”

“Actually, Alex is going stir crazy.” Jackson smirked. “You get shopping detail.”

Ryker folded his arms over his chest. “You can’t be serious.”

“As a heart attack. Alex lost everything in the fire. Marnie insists they buy new clothing.”

The room went eerily still and for several seconds, Jackson thought he might witness the Ranger’s expertise in enemy intimidation. The man sat silent, his face totally devoid of even a hint of emotion.

“It only makes sense,” he said carefully, “you’re the expert tracker.”

Still, Ryker didn’t budge.

“Oh, hell,” Mace mumbled under his breath.

Several more seconds ticked by and Jackson began to think it might be to his advantage to remind the other man of their close friendship. Either that, or dig a six foot hole.

“Fine.” Ryker finally stood and shoved his sunglasses over his eyes. “Just remember you owe me.” He headed out of the room and then paused before he entered the hallway. “All of you.”

“You set us all up, Stewart.” Mace released a hard breath. “That’s just wrong.”

“Someone had to do it.” Although he attempted to shrug off Ryker’s last ultimatum, he had to admit, he was just as bothered as Mace. “On the other hand, Lucas Sebastian agreed to talk to us.”

“I say we go now.” Jake stood and headed out of the room. “Before Ryker changes his mind.”

“Right behind you.” Mace stood, tucked his crutches under his armpits and followed suit.

Jackson kept an iron grip on the steering wheel while he drove across town to Luxury Imports, hopeful that a lead would develop from the visit. Silence filled the interior and experience told him that both Jake and Mace were mentally reviewing facts before they questioned Lucas Sebastian. He had nothing but confidence in this maneuver. The three of them worked together like a swarm of bumblebees, collecting facts until they had enough ammunition to dive bomb their suspect into a confession. If Sebastian was even remotely involved in this bullshit, it wouldn’t take more than minutes for them to bust him.

Encouraged that the visit would provide answers, he drove onto the lot and moved his gaze around the compound. Luxury vehicles of several makes and models occupied the well-kept area, all brand new, immaculate, and clearly labeled for a wealthy sale. Salesmen dressed in suits and shiny shoes stood under a canopy at the front door poised to make a sale. The smell of money invaded his nostrils.

Once parked, they entered the dealership and Jackson approached the receptionist. “Jackson Stewart to see Lucas Sebastian.”

The blonde behind the counter stood and again, he wasn’t surprised. The young woman couldn’t have been over twenty-one and to quote Ryker, 36-24-34. She gave him a very bright and very-practiced smile before she batted her eyelashes.

“Good morning, Mr. Stewart.” She nodded at Jake and Mace. “Gentlemen. Mr. Sebastian is expecting you. Please, follow me.”

They followed behind her swinging hips until she finally stopped just outside a large, open sitting area just behind the showroom, complete with two rows of recliners and a big screen television. “Make yourself comfortable.” She pointed at a counter along one wall. “Please help yourself to coffee or cappuccino. Or if you’d like, there are bottles of wine in the refrigerator underneath. Mr. Sebastian will be with you momentarily.”

“Thank you.” Jackson watched her sway out of the area and then turned to Jake. “Wine at 10:00 a.m.?”

Jake smirked. “Quick sale.”

“Pretty snazzy set-up.” Mace pointed with one crutch at the counter. “Quartz, I’m pretty sure.”

“Probably imported,” Jackson mumbled.

Before any of them could comment further on the high-end interior, they were greeted by a man Jackson assumed to be their witness.

“Gentlemen, please excuse my tardiness.” He extended a hand to Jackson. “Lucas Sebastian.”

“Jackson Stewart,” he said as he returned the handshake. “These are my partners, Jake Rawlings and Mace Turner.”

Handshakes and introductions exchanged, the owner led them down a hallway and into another plush office.

“May I offer any of you a beverage?” The other man took a seat in his executive’s chair behind the desk, leather no doubt.

He glanced at Mace and Jake, met with a nod in the negative by each man. Impatience pushed Jackson to ask for alcohol this time but he resisted. “No thank you, Mr. Sebastian, we’d like to get right down to business.”

“Of course. How may I help you?”

“As we discussed on the telephone, we’d like to discuss Alex Jennings. You are acquainted with her, correct?”

“Yes, Alex is my attorney.”

He decided it best to jump right in to see just exactly how loyal Sebastian was to Alex. “Unfortunately, Alex’s life has been threatened.”

The other man’s jaw fell open and a red flush made a beeline up his neck and into his face. For half a second, Jackson contemplated calling an ambulance. Body language didn’t lie; no doubt about it, the man was loyal. “We must hire security,” he said finally.

“We’ve got that covered. We want to be completely up front with you, Mr. Sebastian, we aren’t working with Primrose PD on this and some of our methods are questionable. We represent Recovery Specialists, Inc., a private recovery service.”

“Please call me Lucas.”

He nodded. “Lucas. We would appreciate any information you have.”

“Certainly. What do you need to know?”

“To date, Alex has received three voicemail messages. According to our sources, the calls were made from three different phone numbers, all of which belong to your company.” He turned to Jake. “Can you give him the numbers?”

Jake quoted the digits from memory. “Can you tell us anything about those?”

Lucas picked up the phone receiver on his desk. “Mrs. Cunningham, could you please come in here with a list of the company’s phone numbers?” He paused and then ended the call.

Not more than a minute later, a mature, round woman entered the office and handed Lucas a piece of paper. “Thank you,” he told her as he read. “Those numbers are assigned to cell phones used by Mario Russo, Hailey Michaels, and Lindsey Jordan.”

“Employees?”

“Yes.”

Jackson committed the names to memory. “Have those individuals been with your company long?”

“We have a very low turnover. I keep my employees happy so they tend to stay. Everyone has been here three years or longer except Katie Roberts.”

Jackson gave the guy credit for bringing up the black mark on an otherwise clean operation. “Ms. Roberts filed a sexual harassment suit, currently ongoing,” he continued. “She was employed as a title clerk but wasn’t satisfied with just being an employee. She wanted social status. When I turned down her advances, she swore revenge. Alex says we have a solid case against her accusation.”

“Our mystery caller is female. Do you suppose Ms. Roberts could be desperate enough to threaten your attorney?”

Lucas exhaled hard. “I’d like to say no, but I’ve found she is quite spiteful. We were all like family here until she filed the action. She was very close to some of the ladies here. Probably still is.”

Mace steepled his fingers under his chin. “Close enough that they would offer use of their phones to call and threaten Alex?”