DAY TWELVE-SEPTEMBER 16
FRIDAY EVENING
Jacqueline Moore lived in an expensive penthouse loft on Larimer Street, not far from Coors Field in the heart of LoDo-a place befitting the stature of a senior partner in one of Denver’s most established law firms. After work, about six o’clock, Teffinger pointed the Tundra toward that loft to have a chat with her.
Mean charcoal clouds blew in and filled the sky.
Rain dropped on the city.
He set the windshield wipers to intermittent, but they made a godawful noise every time they raked back, so he turned them off and made a mental note to replace the blades.
He wanted to know exactly why Moore had quit the firm. And why she’d warned Aspen that her life was in danger. More importantly, he wanted to confirm that the source of that danger was Derek Bennett. And find out if she had any information as to how or when he might strike.
Jacqueline Moore was definitely in the mix of things.
Dirty.
That was obvious from the conversation in the hallway that she had with Derek Bennett, referencing a murder, overheard by Aspen and Christina Tam-that and her strange behavior today. If it turned out that she was only nominally involved, however, maybe he could scare her into turning state’s evidence.
Either way, he needed to squeeze her.
He circled around the area, caught up in a claustrophobic press of traffic, finally finding an empty spot on Walnut. He used to carry an umbrella in the Tundra, but it mysteriously disappeared more than a year ago.
He stepped into the rain, making a mental note for the fifth or sixth time to get another umbrella, and then hoofed it over to the building.
By the time he got there, he was soaked.
A security guard sat behind a desk in the lobby, strategically positioned to protect the elevators. She was a woman in her mid-twenties, dressed in a dark blue uniform with her hair pulled into a no-nonsense ponytail.
Put her in makeup and nice clothes and she’d be a looker, though.
Teffinger flashed his badge. “I need to see Jacqueline Moore,” he said.
She studied his eyes and then said, “She’s not in.”
“You sure?”
She was.
She would have seen her. Also, there was no elevator activity going to the penthouse since early this morning.
“How late are you on duty today?” he asked.
“Two.”
“In the morning?”
“Right.”
He handed her his card. “Do me a favor,” he said. “As soon as she shows up, call me on my cell phone, no matter what time it is. Also, I’d appreciate it if she didn’t know I’m looking for her. Do you think you could help me out with that?”
She could
And would.
And stuffed the card in her pocket.
“I like your eyes,” she said. “Especially the green one.”
From there he went straight to Davica’s place. They took a long run in the rain and then showered together. She kept trying to massage his cock and he let her, but only a little.
“As soon as I have this case buttoned up,” he said, “you’re going to get more of the little fellow than you ever wanted.”
She frowned and rubbed soap on his chest.
“You’re driving me nuts. I can’t wait that long.”
“Me either,” he said. “But it may be any day now. Let’s just give it a little more time.”
She rubbed her stomach on his.
“You’re the biggest tease I’ve ever met in my life.”
“Trust me, I’m not trying to be.”
While Davica went into the kitchen to see if she could find anything edible in the freezer to microwave, Teffinger went into the garage and sat behind the wheel of the Corvette.
A plan came to him.
A plan precipitated by the fear that Derek Bennett might actually strike Aspen tonight.
Or if not tonight, then this weekend.
He pulled out his cell phone and made a number of calls to set it in motion. Everyone cooperated and sprang into action, even though it was Friday night.
Then Davica opened the passenger door and stuck her head in. “There you are,” she said. “I found food.”
“Excellent.”
He was starved and would need the energy for tonight.
“You look weird,” she added.
“I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
“Whether I should bring you with me tonight or not.”
“You better,” she said. “You owe me something after the way you keep teasing me. So where are we going, exactly?”
He stepped out of the mid-year beauty and carefully closed the door.
“You’ll see.”
85
DAY TWELVE-SEPTEMBER 16
FRIDAY EVENING
When Aspen got a call from Teffinger early Friday evening, she was shocked to find that he was taking Jacqueline Moore’s warning so seriously.
She was even more shocked at what he proposed.
But she agreed to go along with it.
So did Christina Tam.
They packed, threw two suitcases in the trunk of Christina’s car, and met Teffinger at the Table Mountain Inn in downtown Golden. He checked them in under an alias, paid cash, and helped carry their stuff up to the room.
It was a nice two-bed suite with a New Mexico decor.
“You guys don’t have to stay holed up here,” he said. “I can’t see how anyone could trace you here. But if you feel the need to go out, stay within walking distance.”
“I need to get drunk,” Aspen said. “I’m getting totally stressed out.”
“Go for it if you want,” Teffinger said. “Just be sure you keep your cell phone with you.” He cocked his head. “So you’re pretty sure that Bennett knows you’re staying with Christina?”
Aspen nodded.
“It’s common knowledge in the firm, after my apartment got busted into,” she said. “I can’t image Bennett not knowing.”
Teffinger looked at Christina.
