Cobb (Lighthouse Security Investigations #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,93

noise Cobb made brought the guard to an alert, stumbling as he straightened his body while reaching for his weapon. The guard had barely moved before Drew came up behind him, putting him in a chokehold. As the man dropped to his knees, Drew and Tate grabbed him and noiselessly dragged him back to the door where they’d entered. Cobb knew they’d have him subdued and gagged, no longer a threat.

Josie stared in dumbfounded confusion. Carmen had entered her confinement room dressed in a dark red cocktail dress, modest in length but immodest with the slit up the leg from knee to hip. Carmen’s hands were on her generous hips, her long fingernails painted to match the dress exactly. She also wore the same color on her lips, which were tangled in a snarl.

“First, that imbecile Caesar let you see the clinic records, and then you had to put your nose where it didn’t belong.” Carmen’s hand darted into the air at her sides. “How moronic can you be? You suspect him of illegally moving money and you don’t think that someone with power and position might not want that investigated?”

“But… you?”

With her hands back on her hips, she towered over Josie, still seated on the bed. “Hate to burst your bubble, dearie, but being your father’s political lackey isn’t my career goal.”

With too many thoughts crowding her brain, it took Josie a moment to hit pause and give consideration to just one. “You… my father?” she screeched. “He gave you a chance over so many other candidates.”

“Yes, and I would make pennies compared to what I can do now. But the people I work for need his influence, and you’ve put that at risk.”

Josie realized that Carmen had no idea Caesar had kept his own records. She wondered if he did it to eventually use as blackmail or for his protection but never got a chance. Or maybe he knew if everything else went to shit Carmen wouldn’t get away with what she was doing. Trying to keep her expression blank, she battled the desire to ask Carmen how the operation worked. That’s what they do in the movies, right before someone gets killed. Then a hero comes in. Right now, with Carmen looming over her, she was uncertain that Cobb would get to her in time. Swallowing deeply, she said, “Well, since I don’t know anything, I don’t know why you felt the need to threaten me.”

For the first time since she’d entered the room, a flash of fear raced through Carmen’s eyes. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose, then let it out slowly. “I can’t have any loose ends.”

A gasp of nerves flew from Josie’s lips. “Loose ends? Do you really think kidnapping a state senator’s daughter—one who’s dating the governor’s son—is going to be swept under the rug?”

“No, but there’s nothing to tie you back to me. Nothing to tie any of this back to me.”

Before Josie had time to react, the door slammed open, and the air rushed from her lungs again as another familiar person raced in. “Timothy?”

His gaze landed on Josie before shooting over to Carmen. With his face screwed into a grimace, he groaned, “Fuck, Carmen. I heard you brought her here! What the hell are you thinking? Jesus, this is a train wreck!” He walked the length of the room, his hand tearing through his hair. “Christ, Bert can’t know you’ve done this!”

“Bert?” Josie blinked, her voice shook as her body began to quiver. “There’s no way he’s part of this.”

Timothy whirled around and looked at her, opening and closing his mouth several times. Finally, he ignored her and turned toward Carmen. “What the hell are you doing? This is about making money. Only making money. Jesus, what are you doing?”

“I make sure that we keep making money, you idiot. Something of the rest of you don’t seem to be able to understand.”

Josie’s mind was still reeling with the idea that her cousin would have been part of any scheme in any way but especially knowing that it affected her and her clinic. Still shaking her head, she repeated, “There’s no way Bert’s part of this.”

As though remembering she was still in the room, Timothy turned around, his gaze meeting hers. “No, he’s not part of this.”

“Only because I made sure to keep him in line,” Carmen bit out. “Well, keep all of you in line.”

“What is she talking about, Timothy? What does this have to do with