Secure Location - By Beverly Long Page 0,19
innocent.
Well, Cruz wasn’t the only person. It was crazy to think that this had something to do with what had happened in Maiter but she couldn’t afford to be stupid about it. She was definitely going to need to talk with Detective Myers about what had happened twenty years ago.
“What are you going to say to Hawkins, Looney and Blakely if you find them?”
“When, not if,” he said. “I’ll find them. And I’ll have a reasonable conversation with them unless I think they’re involved in this. Then I’m going to start cracking heads.”
“Cruz,” she warned. “Detective Myers made it clear. He’s the investigator on this case. Not you.”
“Then he better stick close to my heels,” Cruz said. He backed away from the doorway. “Knock when you’re ready.” He pulled the door halfway shut and Meg heard the television click on.
She got out of bed, pulled the tags off her new underwear and grabbed a freshly dry-cleaned suit. She carried everything into the bathroom with her.
Thirty minutes later, she knocked on the adjoining door. Cruz didn’t look startled at the interruption and she had the sense that no matter how quiet she’d been in her room, that he’d heard and tracked every movement.
He saw too much. It made it even more important that she hide her thoughts from him.
“That’s a nice color on you,” he said, looking at her peach suit.
“Thank you,” she said. She couldn’t remember Cruz ever saying anything about her clothes. He’d always just let his eyes do the talking. Heat. Awareness. Want.
This felt awkward. Maybe because it seemed awkward for Cruz. Like he was saying it because he should and Cruz never did or said anything just because he was supposed to.
They left the room and walked toward the elevator. “You going to eat breakfast?” he asked.
“We keep some fruit and bagels in the executive break area. I’ll just grab something later. If you’re hungry, several places along the River Walk serve breakfast. Plus there are more choices up on the street level.”
“I’ll figure something out,” he said.
When they got to her office door, she saw Tim Burtiss sitting on a chair outside the door. He stood up when he saw them. “Good morning, Meg,” the man said.
“Hi, Tim.” She turned to Cruz. “This is Security Officer Tim Burtiss. Tim was our associate of the month in January. Tim, this is my ex-husband, Cruz Montoya.”
Cruz shook the young man’s hand. Tim was practically beaming and Meg was happy that she’d been able to slip in something about his recent recognition. Not only did it make the young man feel good but hopefully it would also send a subtle message to Cruz that this was one of the hotel’s best security guards. He didn’t need to worry.
It must have worked because Cruz didn’t ask him about his experience, to drop and give him twenty or to demonstrate that he knew how to use the baton that was clipped to his belt. All he said was, “I need to touch base with Meg’s secretary and then we can talk.”
Great. He wanted to meet Charlotte. Which would prompt the woman to ask about a hundred questions and she’d have answers for none of them.
Meg opened the door. Charlotte sat at her desk, a cup of coffee in one hand, a telephone in the other. She looked at Meg, then at Cruz, and told the person that she’d have to return the call. She put down the telephone with a soft thud.
“Good morning, Charlotte,” Meg said. She took a deep breath. “I wanted to introduce you to Cruz. Cruz Montoya. My ex-husband. Cruz, this is Charlotte Anderson.”
To Charlotte’s credit, she showed almost no reaction to learning that her boss had been married but had never mentioned it. Perhaps her lip quivered just a little and her eyes widened but other than that, she was the perfect example of professional control, as always. “Mr. Montoya,” she said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Cruz is a police officer in Chicago and has been in contact with Detective Myers regarding the incidents.” Meg shifted her attention to Cruz. “Charlotte is aware of the telephone call, the note and the damage to my car and apartment.” She deliberately didn’t mention the River Walk shove and was grateful when Cruz didn’t, either.
“Charlotte pulled together the list of names that you reviewed,” Meg added.
“Thanks,” Cruz said. “Security Officer Tim Burtiss is going to be sitting outside the door. He’s going to need to know who is expected.