Out of the Mist (Can't Help Falling Book 1) Page 23

  "T-Bone barely made it through surgery, Mattie. I'm through jerking around. I want all of them." Pop's eyes snapped with fury. "Whoever did this is gonna pay."

  Ten minutes later, Matt climbed into the industrial white van. They were parked down the street from KTec. In an hour, he would present himself to Julie's assistant. In an impeccable suit, he'd charm his way into her company. With a zip drive, he'd grab records Mojo hadn't been able to access— in the hope they'd yield clues that remained stubbornly elusive. He'd interview from the list of possible suspects Mullaney had compiled the previous night. And he'd try to stay as far away from Jules as possible. Because at this point, he wasn't sure he could pull off the neutral, disinterested consultant routine he'd perfected over the years.

  At least news on T-Bone was promising. He'd been upgraded to critical. He'd awakened long enough to speak to Mullaney— providing details about the shooting that Finn hadn't been able to see from his angle.

  Matt glanced at the state police tech seated to his left. "Jerry— did you guys plant the transponders?"

  The dark-haired man nodded, not taking his gaze from his screen. "In Julie's purse. She'll never find it. Another one in the battery pack for her mic."

  "And my mother?"

  Jerry smiled. "Got your mom on screen right here. See this dot?" He pointed to a blip on the monitor. "If she escapes— we'll know."

  For once, Maddie would be foiled at staying one step ahead of him. Matt adjusted his headset and turned up the volume, studiously ignoring the strum of nerves in the pit of his stomach. Everyone was safe. For now.

  Soon, her husky voice began weaving through his head. Eavesdropping on Julie's clash with the directors left his stomach in knots. Hearing the anguish in her voice, he knew she'd held herself together with raw courage. Only now— when she was safely back in her office, Matt heard a suspicious sniffling that sounded like tears.

  Until the last hour, he hadn't truly understood what she was up against. If anything, she'd underplayed her issues with the board. Their conversations returned to haunt him— Julie accusing him of quoting the handbook, instead of really listening. When had he become so single-minded?

  She'd faced a hostile board that seemed to relish her eventual failure— absorbed insults and accusations with a maturity that floored him. Jules defined the word resilient. She was tough and funny and smart. She deserved better. From KTec— and him.

  While Riding taunted her about missing time— Matt remembered the bruises marring delicate skin. He'd been unable to forget her eyes— haunted by violent memories she'd likely never forget. After everything she'd been through, Julie had the tenacity and courage to defend herself— even against him. His doubt. The accusations. His stomach twisted as he flashed back to another night. Another woman. Pam had carried an expression of guarded disbelief— that life couldn't possibly be as cruel as it seemed.

  Rooted to his chair, his body tensed as doubt clouded his brain. Could he have done more to protect Pam? Had he really listened to her concerns? Or had he assumed he knew best? So consumed with catching the only known connection to Viper— had he failed her?

  The board members' words returned to infuriate him. Tightening the knot on his discreet 'consultant' tie, Matt frowned. They'd made it personal. When this was over, he would review every scrap of information they'd dug up on the board. If those bastards were guilty of anything, he'd find it.

  Jules could take on the world single-handedly another day.

  ***

  Matt's gaze scoped the bustling lobby, waiting-room Chopin wafting from the speakers as he waited for the harried receptionist to acknowledge him. She offered him a distracted smile as she intercepted another call with a calm belying the chaos at her desk. If the volume of phone calls was any indication, KTec appeared to be thriving.

  He ignored the irritating prickle of awareness crawling down his spine. Julie was here. He was finally in her element. And if there wasn't so much damned ground to cover, he could go to her now. They'd yet to clear the air about what had happened the previous night— both dancing around the knowledge that something dangerously explosive simmered between them.

  He was still reeling. In the span of a single night, his life had changed. Irrevocably. Yet, he couldn't do anything more about it until this case was finally over. Before Jules, he'd wanted to take out Viper for the sheer challenge— and as payback for Pam's death. To put the bastard out of business. To stop the senseless killing for even one day. Now, he wanted Viper for selfish reasons. He wanted Jules safe. He wanted— time. To learn everything about her. To pursue her. He wanted a life with her.

  While increasingly worrisome thoughts shuffling randomly through his head, his attention remained on the receptionist. Out of habit, he listened while she handled a persistent caller. Years of investigative snooping had left him with the habit of eavesdropping on the people around him. Rather than fight it, Matt had learned to appreciate it as a bonus source of information. The only clue to the receptionist's annoyance was the scowl that settled briefly over her features.

  "Yes, Mr. Dandridge. I'll inform Miss Kimball you'll be stopping by."

  His pulse quickened. Despite Mullaney's desire to broaden the scope, Matt still viewed the attorney as a prime suspect. He had motive, access and opportunity. Leverage with the board. And an impeccable pedigree. Accusing someone like Dandridge would be considered foolhardy in many circles. It could break a career. Maybe that was how he'd flown under the radar all this time.

  The receptionist covered the mouthpiece of her headset as an attractive brunette approached the desk. "Tori, this is Mr. Barnes to see you."

  Time to put his game face on. "Miss Stansky? I'm Matt Barnes with TCI Group. I believe you were expecting me?" He offered Julie's friend a devastating smile.

  "Welcome to KTec, Mr. Barnes." She shook his outstretched hand, her fingers lingering. "Julie informed me I'm to be at your disposal today."

  He was immediately enveloped in a choking cloud of jasmine perfume. "I'm sure you're aware we've been hired to audit specific areas of the company, with the intention of installing controls that will ultimately streamline your operations."

  She nodded as they crossed the reception area. "I freed an office near mine for your use. What exactly does TCI Group do?"

  It was the perfect cover for his forensic work. Anyone checking into TCI would find a fully operational website, updated regularly by agency techs. TCI 'clients' were taken from actual DEA drug busts, their sanitized case studies part of the ironic 'lessons learned' page on the website. "We offer forensic accounting services. . . inventory management systems. Accounting systems and consultation."

  "I hadn't realized Julie was moving forward so quickly," she said.

  Tori Stansky was a portrait in contrasts. Where Julie was tall and slender, Tori was packaged in a small, voluptuous body that seemed to crackle with energy. Her smile was friendly in a dutiful way, her mannerisms that of the helpful assistant. But Matt didn't miss the undercurrent of exasperation in her voice. Trailing her down the hall, she showed him into an office two doors down from the conference room. The set-up would be perfect, well in range of hearing everything that went on.

  After logging him into KTec's systems, Tori lingered, leaning against the doorframe. Aware of her interest, Matt set his briefcase on the table behind the desk. His radar up, he had the strange sense she was testing him.

  "Can you be more specific about the records you'd like to review? Julie didn't get around to the details— and she's tied up today."

  "Why don't I start with financials for the last few years and then I'll review the projects by budgeted to realized profit. That will give me a sense whether KTec's issues might be management related or more of a systems issue."

  "Financials I can handle. But the rest will have to wait," she countered.

  Perhaps he was slipping. His smile used to work like a charm. "That will be fine," he conceded. Tori Stansky hid her animosity behind a well-practiced sm
ile. But he could sense the prickliness from across the room. She was clearly ticked that Julie hadn't kept her in the loop. He wondered where the competitiveness ended— because according to Jules, they were friends, too. "To make it easier, I'd like to start with the projects that lost money, either by profit erosion or some other mitigating factor."

  Her well-glossed mouth formed a perfect pout. "We might be working late tonight."

  The emphasis in her silky voice was not lost. "I appreciate your assistance."

  "I aim to please."

  Tori was an intriguing bundle of contrasts— annoyed by his requests, yet hitting on him at the same time.

  Turning, she glanced at him with a practiced air, the short, sleek bob of dark hair moving with her. "That's still a lot of jobs. We may have to order in," she suggested.

  "I take my work very seriously, Miss Stansky. If it involves long hours, I'll be happy to keep you fortified." Playing along with her blatant invitation, her cheeks flushed with heightened color. A thrill-seeker. Hell— he might be in over his head with this one.

  "Fortified . . . I like that word." She took a step closer.

  Christ, if he didn't watch it, she'd have him up against the wall— likely with the door still open. For now, he had bigger fish to fry. "If you have projects losing money, I guess it's good that Miss Kimball wants to get to the root of the problem."

  Though he succeeded in dousing her enthusiasm, Tori's brown eyes snapped with the confidence of a woman who knew exactly what she wanted. Matt had no trouble picturing her in a hotel lobby scoping out her next victim.

  "Touché. I'll get you those reports."

  Shaking his head when she left, he slipped the receiver in his ear that would allow him to keep tabs on Julie. Before settling down at the computer, he texted an alert to the tech team. Maybe someone at KTec would take the bait— seeking more information on TCI Group. And if so, why were they looking?

  ***

  "Omigod, where did you find him?" Tori leaned back against the door, one hand to her throat as she dramatically fanned herself.

  "Where did I find who?" Julie resisted the urge to smile. Her friend had only met Matt fifteen minutes earlier, yet her expression indicated she was already well on the hunt.

  "Hello? The stud in the office two doors down? Your consultant."

  "Mr. Barnes? He's okay, I guess." If he were listening, there was no sense feeding his ego.

  "Hooyah . . . he's a hottie." Tori flopped into the chair across from her desk, examining her crossed legs.

  "Last night you said you were in love."

  "Well, yeah . . . but I'm not dead." Her friend's arched brow indicated she apparently fit in that category.

  "He's sort of serious, if you ask me." Especially when he was kissing you. He took his work very seriously. And in bed. God— he was seriously good in bed. Suddenly warm, her pulse quickened at the memory. She imagined Matt listening to them . . . Would his expression be one of embarrassment, or would he be remembering what they'd done that morning?

  "Seriously gorgeous. He's got a body like a lifeguard— and those eyes." Closing hers, Tori groaned. "Sort of edgy . . . sort of Indiana Jones with those cute glasses. And that mouth-"

  "His mouth? You noticed his mouth?"

  "Hell, yes."

  Julie shook her head in disbelief. Now, the body she could vouch for. It was incredible. And skilled. And versatile. Her stomach tightened. She scrubbed her hands on her skirt, annoyed that her fingers were tingling. And his mouth— what it could do. She felt the slide of perspiration down her back.

  "I love a man wearing glasses," Tori confided. "All I can think about is how I'd fog them up."

  Okay— seriously? Matt had to be blushing at this point. "Tor— I have to work with this guy. Now, I'm going to be thinking about his foggy glasses."

  Her friend cracked up. "Good. Maybe you'll do something about it."

  Agent Barnes had two expressions - staring at her as though she were mounted on a slide under a high-powered microscope and the look he had when he appeared ready to strangle her.

  Her friend sighed. "He's probably great in the sack."

  The best. Startled, Julie glanced up. Had she said that aloud?

  "Juju, if you don't jump him— I'm taking a crack," she warned.

  Like her wanting him could stop Tori? She'd always taken whatever she wanted. Glancing at her friend, she vamped the mock horror in her eyes. "I'm not sure he's my type."

  "How would you even remember your type?" Tori shot back, chocolate eyes sparking indignantly. Eying her with pity, she swung her legs to the rapid-fire tune only she could hear. "He's asked for the last three years of financials. You want me to make copies from the archives?"

  Fog up his glasses, indeed. She smiled. "Give the man whatever he wants."

  ***

  "You were right on the Dandridge hunch."

  Mullaney's raspy voice disrupted Matt's train of thought. KTec's system was revealing a startling amount of information in a short period of time. The inventory problem at the warehouse had been going on at least two years— probably longer and Stephens had help. For the thefts and product disruption to not hit the financials, someone was covering Stephens' actions. That information alone narrowed the list of suspects to employees in Julie's echelon.

  Pocketing the flashdrive, he refocused on Mullaney. "What about him?"

  "It looks like he's got side deals going with at least three board members."

  Matt walked to the door, glancing into the hallway before he closed it. He didn't want it shut long for fear of raising suspicion. "That doesn't necessarily mean he's guilty."

  "No shit." Mullaney chuckled. "I been doin' this a long time, kid."

  Stabbing his fingers through his hair, Matt paced the office. "Sorry. Go on."

  "So— Dandridge worked with Griggs on at least three side deals. They were involved in commercial real estate, for one. Mojo's found several Boston properties they bought together."

  Impatient, Matt forced himself to wait for the rest. Sean Mullaney loved a good story and he'd drag it out even longer if he tried to rush him.

  "Thing is— the value of the properties— it's friggin' huge. At least two of the deals were all cash."

  His pulse quickened. Okay— it was a serious break. All cash deals happened every day for legitimate reasons— but they were also a great way to launder cash— a favorite of drug cartels. "Let me guess— their incomes don't correlate to the value of the deals."

  Mullaney grunted. "We're talking at least ten million bucks, Magic. And Mojo's only looked at real estate transactions in Boston so far. You know we're gonna find more when she branches out to the burbs. They've established LLCs all over the place to distance themselves from the transactions."

  A sudden thought struck him. If this had been going on for years— maybe Julie's father had been involved. Sifting his memory, he tried to recall when she'd said her dad passed away. She'd said it was sudden. What if-

  A chill swept over him. Matt wasn't sure which would be worse— if her father had been involved— or if he'd discovered what Dandridge was doing— and been silenced.

  "Sean— can we check into something?" Lowering his voice, he moved as far away from the door as possible to ask his friend for the favor. "If it amounts to anything, I'll— talk to Julie." Heart sinking, he hoped her dad hadn't been involved. Hoped too, he hadn't been a victim.

  Mullaney's tone turned brisk. "We have enough to search Griggs' place. They're getting a warrant issued this afternoon. Leo and my boss are making noise about pulling Dandridge in for questioning."

  "Can't we hold off?" News that big would reach Dandridge quickly. Too many people would want to blab— to earn points with the powerful attorney, or take a poke at him. Matt remembered the receptionist's words. "He's coming here sometime today."

  "I'll try." He frowned. "But there's blood in the water. The sharks are circling."

  If the case blew open now, Dandridge would walk. The
y had no hard evidence yet. Only the circumstantial bread crumbs of a money launderer at work. "I want to get him on the drugs, Sean."

  "No shit." The old man scowled. "We need to speed up the process. I've got four teams out combing the city. And I need you for Griggs' place."

  "Whatever you need."

  "Good. Maybe you can break away for a couple hours this afternoon. Dandridge wouldn't try anything on Julie while she's at work."

  Warning strafed his spine. "No way. If I leave, she goes home." And Julie would be seriously pissed about it.

  "Nothin's gonna happen, Magic. We can have someone in the van listening for trouble."

  "And then what?" Frustrated, he challenged the old man. "Charge in here to rescue her? They wouldn't get past the lobby— not to mention our cover's blown."

  "She's safe-"

  "Not happening, Pop." He wouldn't leave her unprotected. If that made him appear compromised to the rest of the team, he didn't give a damn.

  "Fine," Mullaney relented, his tone aggrieved. "Stay there. Do you think you can find time in your social schedule to work tonight? We're hitting a few of the board members."

  Matt suppressed a smile. Pop was taking the change in plans unusually well.

  By tonight Jules would be safely locked up in the penthouse with his mother. He winced. He'd owe her for that. "No problem."

  "Good. Maybe tonight we can discuss how whipped you've become."

  ***

  Julie lasted nine hours before it became impossible for her to concentrate. Nine hours of fantasizing about Barnes . . . behind his desk. Even her meeting with Ray Dandridge an hour earlier hadn't shaken her resolve. Their conversation had been . . . normal. The usual briefing they held every Tuesday. She'd dissected every syllable of their conversation, but couldn't pinpoint anything that set off red flags. Even their discussion about Griggs' payout had seemed normal— business-like. No nuance, no subtext. No veiled threats. Dandridge didn't act like a man concerned about his future. After Ray left, a quick text from Matt, who'd listened in, had confirmed her impression.

  Glancing at her watch, she released a calming breath. Five o'clock. She rose from behind her desk. Most of KTec's staff had cleared out— most importantly, most of the employees on this hall. It was time— to give in to the strongest impulse she'd ever had. Distracted, she wiped her palms on her skirt. By the time she reached Matt's temporary office, her heart was ricocheting off the wall of her chest. But her smile was one of promise.