Cobb (Lighthouse Security Investigations #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,86
around so that their fronts were plastered together, her head resting on his bicep as he pulled her in close. “I know people well enough to know that if those women are in love with their man, they are going to worry about that man. But that doesn’t bother me. I figure in many ways it’s the same as someone who is with a police officer, or a service member, or even someone who works construction on skyscrapers. There are lots of dangerous jobs out there, and so the person with them is going to feel fear.”
“When I looked at the apartment building you were going into the other day, knowing that if I wasn’t with you that you might go alone or with just Mario, I felt fear.” He lifted his hand and gently pushed the hair away from her face. “Depending on the situation, even social work can be considered high risk.”
She grinned and nodded. “I don’t want you to think that just because I might pace and worry that I wouldn’t be good for you.”
“There’s not a doubt in my mind that you would be good for me. But tell me, was all that pacing just your way to deal when your mind is racing, trying to figure things out?”
Her lips curved and she rolled her eyes, certain that he could see neither in the darkness. “You think you know me, do you?”
A chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest. “I might not have known you long, Josie girl, but I do know you. So give it up.”
“I have no idea what you discovered at the casino tonight, but I kept thinking about Caesar. He was always a nice man, at least to me, but if I’m honest, he was also weak. He was an adequate bookkeeper, but he didn’t have an accounting degree. He understood enough about a business’ finances to help them keep their records, but he just could not have been the mastermind of money laundering. So, someone else was handling everything, and it struck me that that person has to be much smarter than he was. His motives? I have no idea. Maybe he was getting paid well. Maybe somebody was blackmailing him into doing it. He never expected me to look at the books, and when I did, it made him very nervous. He must have known at that point that he was going to be found out. If he knew they were as cutthroat as they are, he must’ve known they might come after him or me. And that’s what I keep coming back to, Jorge. In my gut, I don’t think Caesar would have wanted harm to come to me.”
Jorge rolled to the side, turning on the small lamp on the nightstand. She blinked at the sudden brightness, her brow knit as she peered at him.
“What have you decided?” he asked. “Now that you’ve been thinking about it, what’s different?”
“I just thought he disappeared. That would fit someone weaker. You know, not go to the authorities and give himself up. Not do the strong thing and take his punishment. But he ran away. At least, that’s what I thought, and it fit his weak personality. But when we realized he had been taken and…” She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly before continuing. “… killed, then I knew that maybe he wasn’t as weak as I thought. Maybe he tried to do the right thing before he died.”
“I get you’re trying to tell me something, Josie, but I’m not following. What do you think he did?”
“I’m not sure he had time to do anything. But it makes me feel better thinking that he would have tried to warn me.”
“But he didn’t.”
Jorge’s statement wasn’t posed as a question because they both knew the answer. She had received only the mini drive from Caesar, and considering her office and home hadn’t been searched by anyone, no one must have suspected that he’d given her anything. She sighed heavily. “No, he didn’t. I tried to wrack my brain while you were gone, but I think the only thing I accomplished was to make Tate nervous.”
He chuckled again. “Tate can handle himself.” Tucking her hair back again, he added, “I’m more worried about you.”
His words burrowed deep inside, and she leaned forward to press a kiss against his collarbone, feeling when his lips met her forehead.
“I get it, Josie. You feel guilt that Caesar met such a horrific ending, but