and threatened the big guys’ worlds, the assholes ignored them. They never thought that the indistinguishable ones could screw them over. How could they? Why would they? He growled. Oh, yeah, they recognized the threat and they were out to get to the source. But they’d never catch him. They didn’t know he existed. They never dreamed who it was in the shadows, taking them down one by one.
Remembering how easily he’d entered Blondie’s room, he guffawed. Christ, he’d waltzed in, practically in broad daylight, opened the lousy lock with a fucking credit card. He got a picture of every page of the report the chief gave her. Hell, he was in and out in five minutes. But not before he left a few telltale signs. He didn’t care what the boss said. He wanted her to know he was there. Freak her out. But he was careful, fastidious. He better be. He felt a shiver of fear. The boss was angry with him. Called him a fuck-up. Threatened him. Yeah, he had gone a little overboard, but hell, that fucking cop deserved it. Somehow, some way, the fucker had seen through the shadows. Seen him and knew who he was.
The girl would be easy. Just like the cop, she thought she was tough. But it wouldn’t take much to get hold of her. She was careless. He peered up through the bushes at the balcony. She was gone. The peep show was over. He buttoned his suit coat over his portly gut and backed out of the shadows. In minutes, he was one more anonymous, invisible man blending with all the others on the street.
~~~
Brady’s cell phone vibrated in the pocket of his ripped jeans. Yanking it out, he saw Jake’s number.
The voice on the other end was brusque.
“Anything?”
“No, quiet as hell. A couple of things that don’t look good, but as of now, everything is quiet.” He whistled softly. “Hey, buddy, you might want to tell your girlfriend not to do those sexy exercises of hers on the balcony. Every time that broken motel sign out front decides to work, it lights her up like a fuckin spotlight.”
He grinned at the string of expletives Jake muttered.
“Damn! Those are the longest, most beautiful legs I’ve ever seen. And fuckin Christ, those shorts. What do they call ‘em? Boy shorts? Damn, no boy I ever saw looked like she does in shorts. Mmm hm!”
“Cut the crap, Brady!” Jake’s voice was harsh, not amused.
“Can’t resist rubbing it in, big guy. Gotta entertain myself some way.”
Jake swore. “Dammit, Brady, what doesn’t look good?”
Brady heard the concern in Jake’s voice and got serious fast.
“Yeah, sorry, Jake. I know you’re worried. I’m thinking you got a reason to be. A couple of weird things we gotta be concerned about. I got here about seven thirty or so. I talked up some kids boarding on a make shift ramp out in the back. Said they’d been here a couple of hours. I gave them some money, told ‘em I needed someone to keep a watch out for me. Hell, Jake, all they could talk about was that bike of yours and that gorgeous woman climbing on the back.”
He chuckled. “Nuthin like putting impossible dreams in a couple of fourteen year old kids’ heads. Hell, they’ll spend their lives trying to duplicate what they saw today. Can’t say as I blame them. Jesus, Jake! You get the girl and the bike? Damn, some guys have all the luck!”
“Brady, enough.” Jake’s voice was low, threatening. “Now. What do we need to be concerned about?”
“Okay, okay. I pumped the kids about what they saw. After a couple of fivers, they remembered seeing a guy coming out of one of the third floor rooms. He wore a suit, a business kinda guy. A big guy, heavy set. Black hair. He came down the stairs and headed out to the lot. They didn’t see him again. I didn’t think anything of it. Hell, this is a motel. But a little later I chatted it up with the guy at the reservation desk. I asked him how full it was. You know, how’s business, that kinda thing. He said the place was dead. He’d rented three rooms on two, and had one guy in the front and, of course, the “pretty girl” on three. I asked him if there was anyone else on three. He said no, that she was the only one perched up there. Sorry, Jake, not to rub it in, but he went on for fifteen minutes about the exercise thing she does on the balcony. He suggested I stick around, get a front row seat. Like I said, man, that girl of yours is adding more than a little excitement to this dump.”
Jake’s voice was hard, tight. “Don’t let her out of your sight, Brady. And I mean the whole fucking night! I’m going to get her moved out of there tomorrow. I’m arranging a place for her now.”
Brady grinned. “I don’t know, Jake. From the stories I hear told, that little girl is no pushover. Hell, I heard she practically decked the chief. She might be more of a handful than you’re accustomed to, big guy. You might’ve a little more trouble throwing your weight around, Jake. ”
Ignoring Jake’s muttered expletive, Brady continued. “Not to kick a guy when he’s down, but she sure as hell didn’t look happy when you two got back here. Hell, neither of you did. Trouble in paradise? Come on, Jake, I’m sitting under a tree in clothes that Goodwill wouldn’t give their worst customers. Give a guy some hope!”
`Brady laughed out loud when Jake hung up without saying goodbye.
~~~
The next day, Jake sat in the parking lot waiting for her to return. When the red Camaro pulled in, he climbed out of the Army Jeep and swaggered over to her. He shook his head taking in her cutoff jeans and stretchy tank top. Her platform sandals laced up around her slim ankles added dangerous inches to her show girl legs. Down, boy, he warned himself. Not that it would do any good. He’d had a hard on since he met her. It was clear that he wasn’t going to get relief any time soon.
She was unloading grocery bags when she saw him. If he didn’t know better, he might think she was glad to see him. He huffed to himself, that wouldn’t last long. He was right.
“Don’t you ever work?” Her chin went up in the air as she narrowed her eyes at him.
He smiled a hard smile. “Yes I do. I’m investigating a murder. How about you?”
When she tossed her head and turned to walk away, he caught her arm and took one of the packages from her.
”Tell you what, sugar, let’s put this stuff in the Jeep.”
She flushed and glared at him. “Now, why would I want to do that, Agent Gardner?”
Jake shook his head. “You obviously didn’t pick up your messages. Or is it just mine you ignore?”
When she flushed and looked away, he continued.
“It’s not safe here, Lexie. I’m moving you, darlin’. This place isn’t safe for you.”
She frowned, then looked away, not meeting his eyes. Surprised that she didn’t protest, he decided to lay it out.
“Someone was in your room last night, when you were out with me.”
Her frown deepened, but again, she didn’t answer. With a shock of understanding, he realized she sure as hell didn’t look surprised.
The anger he’d tamped down all morning flared. His voice was hard, crisp. “But you knew that, didn’t you?”
When she looked up at him, her cheeks were bright pink. She bit her lip, then turned away, refusing to meet his eyes.
He moved toward her backing her against the car, purposefully looming over her.
“Goddammit, Lexie. You got back here, and knew someone had been in your room? And you didn’t bother to call me? You stayed in that fucking room all night long knowing that some intruder had been there? And chose not to call me? Is that what you’re going to tell me? “
She angled out from under him and threw him an angry glare.
“I’m not going to tell you anything. But…I… didn’t sleep in the room. I slept on the balcony.”
At the mention of the balcony, Jake’s vision blurred red. It didn’t help to know that she was too scared to sleep in the room and she still didn’t fucking call him.
His voice was sharp. “Go get packed. I’ll talk to the guy at the desk and clear out your bill.”
She jerked around and pressed her fists against her sides.
“I can take care of my own bill, thank you.”
Jake shrugged. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, sugar. They’re already raking you over the coals. They’re charging you for an executive suite, double the cost of a basic, and aren’t giving you the military discount. I’ll put it this way. You can handle it or I will. Your choice.”
She hesitated then said stiffly. “Go ahead. You like to be in charge. Go for it!”
~~~
When she came down the stairs, he met her on the landing and retrieved her suitcase and duffle bag. She
