P.I. I Love You (Miss Demeanor Suspense Series Book 1) (4 page)

Garnet said goodbye and headed to the stairs. Blake walked River to the door.

“I’ll keep you updated,” River said.

If it’s before ten when you finally finish your work day, swing by my place. We’re all here having a drink, not the same without you. Love, Shay.

River pulled the note from her door, walked down two doors and knocked.

“Yes, you made it,” Maile said, and threw her arms around her friend as if she hadn’t just seen her this very morning.

Cassie lounged on the sofa and Shay poured a glass of red wine.

“Geeze girl. We started this business to be in one another’s lives, among other things,” Shay said, as she handed River the wine. “Seems like now, we only see each other’s backs.”

“And we should consider ourselves extremely fortunate. Think about it. We’ve moved to a new city, changed careers, and started a new business that will be in the black before the year is out,” River said.

“I know. You’re right. But O.M.G., being successful is sure tiring,” Shay said.

“And here’s to being eternally tired,” Maile said.

The four of them clinked their glasses together.

“I suggested to the girls that we should probably set a weekly Monday meeting now that we are picking up speed. Give us a chance to check in with everyone and keep Cory up-to-date,” Cassie said.

“I think that’s a great idea. Emails are fine, but meeting in person is better. Tomorrow’s Friday. I’ll make sure to tell Cory to get it on her schedule. Is eight good? Gives us an hour before our doors open,” River said.

“Okay, but we want to hear about your case right now, River. What’s with the hunk who wandered through our agency the other day? Is he single?” Shay asked, laughing.

“If you’re referring to Detective Hamlin, I have no idea. We definitely rub one another the wrong way.”

“Sounds like the beginning of a wonderful relationship,” Maile said.

“Yeah right, only if he never opens his mouth.”

“So, your case, what’s going on?” Cassie asked. “It’s certainly bringing us some attention.” 

“This is not your average case. It’s certainly peaked my investigative instincts and kept me on my game.” River told them about the Baxters, their accident, and how she had a feeling the first time she saw the car what might have taken place. “Their attorney has petitioned the court and the case is reopened.”

“Ouch, no wonder you and Detective Hunk are like oil and vinegar. You stomped all over his little ego,” Maile said.

“So, are Blake and Garnet keeping you on to find their parent’s murderer?” Shay asked.

“Yes, but that’s not even the best part. Trudy and Wade, their mother and father, kept a family secret from them.” She explained about the note found in their mother’s safe.

“How awful,” Maile said. “I don’t understand how she could love a man who wouldn’t accept her child.”

“Love, pain, guilt. I can’t say, and I certainly can’t judge. I’ve given it much thought over the past week. If I were put in the position, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I’d like to think I’d take all three of my children and leave,” River said.

The room went quiet as a cemetery. All four of the women stared into their glasses and contemplated life’s twists and turns. Shay rose from her chair, picked up the newly-opened wine bottle, and topped off their glasses.

“What’s your next step?” she asked.

“I had Blake and Garnet make up a list for me of everyone they knew who’d ever crossed either parent. Thought I’d start researching each person on their lists in the morning. I’ll most likely be in the office all day.”

“What about the half-sister?” Maile asked.

“I’m going to start digging into her tomorrow, too. No real suspects yet. A couple of employees sparked my interest. And then there’s Garnet’s fiancé, who proposed to her in her office just this afternoon. Blake and I walked in on them.”

“What? If my boyfriend proposed to me in my office that would be the end of him! Really! Cheap jerk,” Maile said.

All four of the women broke out in laughter. They chatted and laughed for another hour, as comfortable around each other as lifelong friends.

“Well ladies, I hate to do this, but if I don’t get at least seven hours beauty sleep, I’m worthless the next day,” River said.

River stood in line at the Starbucks one block from the Miss Demeanor Agency. She needed a venti caramel latte if she wanted to make it through her research today.

“Good morning,” said a low sexy voice in her ear.

She spun around and looked directly into a charcoal-grey tee-shirt. This wasn’t any old ten-dollar cotton tee. It fit its owner’s well-defined pectorals like a second skin and looked like it was made of cashmere, sophisticated and stylish without trying. She balled her hands into fists to keep from reaching up and skimming her palms down the shirt and its occupant. River’s gaze glided past the pecs to the vee in the shirt and up into the enchanting indigo depths of Gage’s stare. He quirked one side of his mouth. Today he wore a well-groomed beard and moustache. Man, her friends were spot on. This guy was sizzling hot.

“Good morning. Undercover work?” she asked, as she focused on his beard.

“Good guess.”

He winked at her, actually winked.
Dammit, focus, River; get a grip
, she chided herself.

“Are you stalking me?”

“I was on my way to your office when I saw you cross the street.”

“You do realize we don’t open for another hour.”

“I know. I have to go back out on my case, and I hoped if I played nice, you would see me early.” He attempted to ingratiate himself with a dazzling smile.

“I know that look. You want something.” She scowled at him.

“What can I get you?” the barista asked.

River rattled off her drink.

“Anything else?”

“I’d like a venti black coffee. My treat,” Hamlin said, and winked at her again.

“Now I know you want something.” She squinted at him and tried for her best
serious look
.

They got their drinks and strolled toward the agency.

“I’m hoping we could share information,” he said.

“We’re not on the same side. I work for my client, not for SPD, Detective Hamlin.”

“I realize that. But we
are
on the same side. We both want justice for the deaths of Wade and Trudy Baxter. And for the love of all that’s good, would you
please
call me, Gage.”

“I know what’ll happen. This information sharing will be a one-way deal, and the recipient will be you.”

“No, it won’t. I’m more than willing to work with you. My butt is on the line here. I just want to find the bastard who did this, and throw his sorry ass behind bars.”

They stood outside the agency.

“You’re not feeding me a line of bull are you? Because if you are, I’ll make you sorry you crossed me—Gage.” River glared at him.

“I believe you would.”

“Let me give it some thought.”

“Are you busy at seven tonight?” Gage checked the time on his phone.

“I’ll probably still be here doing research.”

“I’ll stop by and pick you up. There’s a great grill down on the water. See you then.”

He walked away and left her standing there. Had he just asked her on a date? He did insist she call him, Gage. Don’t be silly, she knew all he wanted was to pump her for information. She shook her head and walked into the agency.

“Good morning, boss,” Cory greeted her. “What a nice way to start the day, having coffee with Detective Hunky.”

“We were discussing the case. He’s trying to pump me for information is all.”

“Naw, you’re too cute. I say he wants to pump you, period.”

“Ha-ha,” River said, as Cory’s eyes ran with tears of laughter. “I’m so thrilled to be fodder for everyone’s morning. Let’s talk business shall we?” She waited for Cory to get a grip on her emotions. “We’re going to hold a weekly meeting on Monday mornings starting next week. We’ll need you here by eight. We’re hoping to keep everyone better informed.”

Chapter Six

River spent the morning checking out every person Blake and Garnet had on their lists. They had a few names in common, but the interesting part was the majority of each list had totally different subjects. It wasn’t really unusual. She learned in her years on the force if you asked ten people what they saw, you would get ten original answers. Throw in different genders and the sky was the limit. Men and women looked at people and situations in completely different ways.

By checking out social media pages, River got a basic overview of each person. She wanted to narrow her list down to six or seven names that jumped out at her. She’d do more in-depth research on each of them. If she came up empty, she’d start over with a new list of possibilities.

****

Gage tried the door and found it locked. She’d probably stood him up; he couldn’t blame her if she had. So far he’d shown her his dickhead side. Frankly, it surprised him she’d agreed to dinner in the first place. He knocked and waited. A few seconds later, River walked into the reception area. She unlocked the door and let him in.

“I’m not late, am I? Are you here alone?” he asked.

“The place tends to empty out quickly on Friday nights. The girls asked me to join them for a quick bite to eat and a movie. I told them I still had too much research to get through and needed to put in a few more hours.”

He noticed she hadn’t mentioned him to her friends.

“I thought it smarter to lock the door, since I can’t see it from the back room,” she said.

“You need to install a security camera,” Gage said.

“It’s on our list.”

“You mean to tell me the past owners had no security cameras?”

“Seems they were old school, trusted everyone, had no cameras and no system. We’ve installed a security alarm, a priority in order to afford our insurance. Come on back while I get my stuff together.”

“Here, let me help you,” he said, as she grabbed her laptop, purse, and overflowing briefcase.

“The grill is a few blocks away, I planned on walking. Why don’t we leave all your stuff behind the reception desk and pick it up on the way back? I’ll walk you home afterward.”

“That’s not necessary. I can get home.”

“This may be difficult for you to believe, given my past performances, but my dad raised me to be a gentleman. At times I attempt to practice that quality.”

River gave Gage a quick sideways glance and smirked. He could tell she was dying to make a comment; instead she stacked her things behind the desk, except for a single file she tucked under her arm. She dug through her purse, pulled out her keys, and headed to the door. They walked down to the water, past the ferry dock, and continued down Alaskan Way.
 

“This is the place,” Gage said, as he pulled the door open for her.

“I’ve never noticed this place before,” River said.

“It’s one of the myriads of hole-in-the-wall eateries unique to this city.”

They were seated at a table in front of the window with a spectacular view of the Puget Sound. The waiter brought them water and a bottle of wine.

“I fall in love with the city more and more each day,” River said.

“I know what you mean, I wouldn’t live anyplace else, and I’ve lived in a number of places,” Gage said.

“Where are you from?”

“Don’t I feel like a heel?”

“What do you mean?” She frowned and blinked at him.

“I did an internet search on you. I thought for sure you’d do the same.”

“I guess I should be flattered.”

“Since you didn’t, I’m an open book. I was born in Seattle. I left when I turned eighteen to join the Navy and see the world. You know the old itch, ʽI’m bored, and much too smart to stay in the same city I grew up in’?”

“And yet you returned?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Like I said, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

“What did you do in the Navy?”

“I flew fighter jets, the one thing I do miss. Still, I get in the cockpit a few times each year. I put in ten years and decided it was time to come home. I’d wanted to be a cop as long as I could remember. Yep, typical boy, pilot and cop. Guess there’s still time to become a firefighter should the urge arise.”

He noticed River relax. She sat back in her chair and picked up her wine. All the while her eyes danced with what looked to him like enjoyment. He took in a slow breath and sat back. He needed to keep his wits about him when he was around this woman. She was bewitching. A man could fall into the deep blue depths of her eyes and never be heard from again.

“My turn,” he said.

“You grew up in Oregon. You went to college, majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology, and moved to Bear Creek, Montana, to serve on their police department. I don’t mean to offend you, but why Montana? It’s too cold in the winters, and too hot in the summers.”

“It’s also a breathtaking place. I enjoyed Montana and got to see most of the state. I took the job because they were the first to offer me a position. I wanted to secure a job on my own. I thought a small town would be a good place to start, and in a lot of ways I was right. Unfortunately, the cowboys in Montana aren’t just on the open ranges; they also carry handguns and drive police cruisers. However, no matter how much I outperformed my male counterparts, I would never be promoted above them.”

“Why didn’t you transfer to another department, or another state?”

“I’d thought about moving. My goal was to make detective. My friends and I met here and spent a week together. While we were here, I saw the ad regarding the sale of the agency. Something just clicked inside me. I wanted to become a private investigator; I studied and got my license. Believe me, it has some drawbacks. I don’t have all the avenues for information at my fingertips like I did when I was a cop. Even so, I love what I’m doing, except for one thing.”

“What might that be?”

“The less-than-pleased looks I get from cops when I tell them what I do.”

“Guilty…sorry about my initial attitude. In case you didn’t pick up on it, I’m trying to redeem myself.” He waggled one eyebrow.

“I see. I think I’ll choose to believe you’re being sincere, until you prove me wrong.”

Gage feigned offense. He dropped his jaw and gave a little twitch of his shoulders and head. “Well, Ms. Nightingale, I believe you just insulted me.”

“No, not at all. Like any good investigator, I can only base my deductions on past performance.” She gave him a wink. “Are you going to tell me why you invited me to dinner?”

“You mean for reasons other than your tantalizing personality?”

She nearly choked on the wine as a full belly laugh erupted from her. The sound was so pure and joyful, he couldn’t help but join in—even though he was sincerely shocked at his own reaction. Once the two of them could breathe again, he broached the subject.

“I’m going out on a limb here, but I believe you already have a good idea,” he said.

“Let me guess. You’ve way too many suspects and little time.”

“That about sums it up. Like I said before, we both want the same thing. Does it matter more to you to solve the homicide on your own, or make damn sure the scumbag gets to see the inside of a prison? I mean after all, you’ve already managed to hand me my balls.”

“Detective Hamlin, is that your way of apologizing?”

“Am I more likely to get your help if I say yes?”

She pulled the file from beside her.

“I’m not going to regret this, am I.” It wasn’t a question. It was a demand. “We’re going to share information regarding this case. And…when I come to you with a request, you
are
going to help me.”

He saw the fire in her eyes. He believed this was the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

“On that you have my word.”

She opened the file and handed him copies of the two lists.

“There are a couple of the same names, but most of the names are different,” he said.

She explained to him where she got the lists, and showed him her list of five possibilities.

“Based on the two lists, these are your best guesses?”

“Yes, with one addition. Ellis.”

“The boyfriend?”

“Not any more. As of yesterday afternoon, in the middle of the workday, and the middle of Garnet’s office, he proposed.”

“What the hell?”

“His attempt to comfort and support her—or so he and Garnet insist.”

“This is a great start. I’ll dig in deeper and see what falls out,” Gage said, glancing down at the two lists.

“Good. It will free me up for a few days to work on another case I’ve had to put on the back burner.”

“Anything I can help you with?”

“I highly doubt it. Not unless your reach goes clear out to Cellar Glen.”

“A little bedroom community, about forty minutes outside of San Francisco?”

“Yes.”

“Well…it just so happens I’m taking a plane to San Francisco tomorrow.”

“Really.”

“No, you don’t understand. I’m flying a private jet there. Want to join me?”

She squinted her gorgeous eyes at him. “How is it you can afford to own your own jet?”

“I didn’t say I owned it. I said I was flying it. A Navy buddy of mine owns a charter company. We trade favors. You’re welcome to join me.”

“Why are you going to San Francisco?”

“My baby brother lives in the city. We haven’t had a chance to see each other in months. Tomorrow is his birthday. I bought tickets for the Giants game. Good ones, right behind first base. I told him I was coming to spend the day with him. He’s going to be in seventh heaven when he gets a load of these babies.”

“What a nice thing to do. Thank you. I would love to join you.”

Gage rose from his chair and pulled out River’s.

She stood up and stared at him.

“What, do I have spinach between my teeth?”

“No. Let’s get this straight. I didn’t ask for this favor. You offered it. You still owe me.”

He leaned in closer, as if to say something he didn’t want anyone to overhear. She stood her ground, just like he knew she would. In one fluid gesture he placed a quick kiss on her silky-smooth lips. River’s eyes grew wide and in an attempt to step back, she bumped into the table. Gage reached out to balance her.

“Thank you for a productive evening, in more ways than one,” he said.