Which meant the others were Kovitch’s team over at VMA. One marking was larger than the rest, and not a circle—a black diamond. It stayed in one place. Hopefully Veena would get some sleep.
“That’s rad,” I said.
His eyebrow lifted. “Rad?”
“Um, impressive.” I took a deep breath and dove in. “Owl told you about the new texted threat?”
“He did. Not much we can do about it tonight. I’ll call the sheriff’s office in the morning. See if they’ll get another subpoena. I’m not holding out much hope, though. These people know how to manipulate the system. They use the number once, ditch it, get a new one. Veena will probably get more texts.”
I grit my teeth. So much time wasted. But we had no power beyond any other citizen. We had to be smarter than the extortionists.
“What have you found out about Darya?” I asked.
“Not a whole helluva lot. Local police refused to confiscate her computer or cell phone without proof she cut that tramp. The instructor still says it was an equipment failure. And we have zero proof she was involved with this, either.”
I slammed my hand down on the chair arm. “The tramp didn’t fail; it was cut. And I think Darya knifed it.”
“I agree with you.”
I blinked. “You do?”
“Not necessarily about Darya, but I think someone cut the tramp deliberately. From the pictures, it didn’t look like a tear to me, either. Too neat of a line.”
“Have you learned anything about her?”
“We got some information, but nothing stood out. Black Diamond’s a rich kid from California who likes to snowboard. Darya’s a rich kid from Eastern Europe who likes to snowboard.”
“That’s it?”
“You know how hard it is to dig up information about a private citizen in Minsk, Belarus, Green? We aren’t the CIA. SSA’s connections only go so far.”
I grit my teeth. “We have jack to go on.”
He stared me down. “I know you aren’t criticizing the way I’m running this operation . . . not after all the chances you’ve had.”
“No, sir. I’m sorry.” My eyes closed as I calmed myself down. “I didn’t come out here to argue with you, Chief.”
“That’s what you call arguing?” His lip turned up into a small smile. “So, why are you here?”
“I need your help.”
“Truer words were never spoken.”
My words poured out a little too fast, like salt from a box. “Look, I know I’ve done everything wrong since I started. At the beginning, I was only worried about my job, getting it right to jumpstart my career. But now, I don’t want to see Veena get hurt again.” I rubbed at a spot on the table; I couldn’t look him in the eye. “I want to do better. I want to get this right for me . . . but more importantly for her.”
He studied me for a minute. “What is it you’re asking for?”
I pulled my seat a little closer to him. “I want to do better. I don’t want to lose Veena. Please, help me learn to do my job the right way.”
He took a drink. “You know how long I’ve been doing this job, Green?”
I shook my head.
“Twelve years. Twelve long years. I’ve done a lot of things in that time, and most of them weren’t glamorous.” He jerked a thumb back at the computer screen. “I was out there in the cold for ten hour shifts night after night, like Owl. I drove the car and spent nights putting together security plans for spoiled kids and pampered adults, like Bart does now.” He nodded to himself. “I gotta admit, it chaps my ass that you rolled into this plum position green as a Granny Smith. Chaps a lot of our asses.”
I nodded, eyes down. Whatever he needed to say, now was the time for me to listen.
“I could’ve—maybe should’ve—fired you at least three times already.”
“I know.” And he probably should have. Only I heard a but coming.
“But I think your heart’s in the right place, Green. You care about your job and your principal.” He shifted the soda water around in his glass. The bubbles were almost gone. “Not everyone on the circuit is like that. Lots of big egos running around, only care about themselves and their bank account.”
I peeked up at him. “So—you’ll help me get better?”
A long sigh and a resigned expression told me more than his words could. I launched up and hugged him in his chair. “Thanks, Chief!”
He pushed away from me, hands up between us. “No hugging. No hugging,” he muttered. “The last thing I need is a sexual harassment case.”
I sat back down. “Do you have any advice for me now?”
“You bet I do. Check in with Owl and his team at shift change every day. They’ve got eyes on the situation, and they’re out there supporting you every night. Take ’em some coffee or something and get their thoughts.”
My head bobbed. Coffee and bonding, okay.
“Do the same with Ice and his team when you can. And then take a break when you’re done. The idea of time off is that you are actually off. You’re wound tight as tape, Green. You can’t make clear decisions like that.” He touched my arm. “I agreed to help you, and I will, but use your head. I can’t save your job again, got it? You got to stay out of trouble and get this right, for your sake and for Black Diamond’s.”
I nodded. But getting things right wasn’t a talent I seemed to have.
The next day, while Veena and the others trained, I went back to the Inn armed with coffee and some pastries from the Mogul Café for Kovitch and his team. Suspicion flitted over his features for a second, but it didn’t stop him from stuffing a raspberry Danish in his mouth. Not the pastry I’d thought he’d go for, but whatever. He
