Then, I picked up my cell phone and dialed Lance’s number.
“I knew you’d be calling, sweet cheeks. So, I got what you’re looking for.”
“Then hit me with it,” I said. “What happened at that fucking dinner?”
“While you did your job wonderfully, beautiful, it wasn’t an assassin rushing the stage. It was a reporter who got a hot tip that Derek was going to announce some sort of departure from his company?”
“Did this reporter say where they got the tip?” I asked.
“Apparently, she’s a ‘serious reporter’ and won’t give up her source.”
“I’m sure. Okay. What about the gunmen? How the hell do we explain that?”
“Even though there was gunfire, no guns were found. No shell casings. No bullet holes anywhere. No one hurt. Nothing.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “There were gunshots. I heard them. And men running down the stairs. I grabbed a walkie-talkie. The security guards were talking about three gunmen. One had escaped in a white van.”
“I’m just telling you what the police detectives have found. What they did find, however, were firecrackers.”
“What?” I asked.
“You heard me, sweet cheeks. Firecrackers. Loads of used ones that were scattered in the hallway.”
“Are the police really about to blame this on some fucking fireworks?” I asked.
“Looks like it, beautiful.”
“Something isn’t right. None of this is right.”
“And I’m a big fan of your gut. The way it’s toned and shiny and ... mmm. Girl. If I was straight, you’d have a problem.”
“Thanks, Lance. Anyway. I need a favor from you tomorrow,” I said.
“You want me running background checks.”
“I see why they pay you the big bucks.”
“I wish,” Lance said with a chuckle. “But there’s a routine and flow to everyone. Including you. Get me the list, and I’ll get you what you need.”
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
“You always do, and you always come through.”
I hung up the phone and grabbed my bag. Whoever was responsible for this, they were close. And I had my sights set on Emma, his little PA. She seemed innocent enough, but her anger was the type of anger that turned crazy in a heartbeat. Plus, she was one of the few people with direct access to Derek’s mail. As his assistant, she was responsible for his schedule, delivering stuff to his office, and making sure his life transitioned smoothly in his day-to-day work life.
Which meant her hands were personally on his mail every single day.
And with the number of death threats that had made it to his work desk, that was serious.
Emma, literally, had her hands all over those things.
Then, a thought occurred to me. I pulled my cell phone out, called Lance back, and then cut off his cheerful greeting with my idea.
“I need you to look up someone for me now.”
“What’s the name, pretty thang?” Lance asked.
“All I know is Emma. She’s Derek’s personal assistant at his work. She’s a bit possessive of him, and I’m aware of some paperwork that had to be filed between the two of them.”
“You want me to dig up all the shit on her? Because I love digging into people’s lives.”
“Yes. I also want to know what kind of access she has to Derek’s personal life. Does she ever come over to his house? Have they ever had any sort of a fling, despite the paperwork signed between them?”
“I take it the paperwork was HR-related?”
“You’ll know what I’m talking about once you see it. I want to know of any connections this Emma girl has to his personal life, not only his professional one. He’s not being forthcoming about her, and that worries me.”
“I’ll see what I can dig up. I love your adventures. Call you when I got something!”
Chapter 9
Derek
“YOU’RE WHAT?” GRIGGS asked.
“I’m letting you and the team go,” I said.
“Mr. Steele, we’ve worked with you for years. You’ve had protective detail on this house ever since you built it. My men and I have done good work.”