Normally laid-back, deep worry lines puckered his brows. Decker brushed past him and set his laptop on the conference room table. “I need to show yousomething.”
“What additional damage did Larry and Ruthdo?”
“I finally got a hit on rejuvenation. You’re not gonna believethis.”
Two strides and Crockett stood beside him. After reading the online ad, his blood ran cold. “Holyfuck.”
32
Rejuvenation
Alarms sentCrockett poweringout of his office. He broke several traffic laws and arrived at the club in seven minutes. Though he had no reason to believe Alexandra was in immediate danger, he needed to locate her and get her the hell out of there. Being at Incognito wasn’t safe and it sure as hell wasn’t smart. He’d alert the authorities and let them handle thesituation.
According to the tablet in the greeting room, Alexandra had checked in forty five minutes earlier and would be waiting in the lounge. He strode across the hall, bumping into several clubbers as he pushed his wayin.
“Good evening and welcome to Incognito’s grand reopening.” The familiar voice of the faux Frenchman boomed through the mic. “Time for our first drawing of theevening.”
The spindly assistant stood on the bar sporting a microphone and a cheap toupee.You’d think he was inVegas.
Crockett strode around the restaurant, but he couldn’t find her.Where the hell isshe?
Wendy hurried over. “You’re Electra’s friend,right?”
“Yes.”
“I waited on her earlier andshe—”
Francois announced the winner and the applauding partygoers drowned out what she said. “Say thatagain.”
“Electravanished.”
Adrenaline shot through him. “What do youmean?”
“She ordered two glasses of champagne and told me she wanted to wait to order food until you arrived. I brought her the champagne, but when I checked on her, she was gone.” Wendy held up the black clutch. “She leftthis.”
Crockett opened the purse and retrieved her phone. When he pressed the home key, his unread text appeared on the screen. “When did you last seeher?”
Wendy shrugged. “Maybe twenty minutes ago. I thought you’d arrived and you guys went into a suite. It’s not like her to stiffme.”
“Thanks for telling me.” He pulled a Ben Franklin from his pocket and offered it toher.
Shaking her head, she threw up her hands. “I wasn’t telling you for themoney.”
“I know that. Is Jasehere?”
“Of course. It’s a big night for the club.” She bit her fingernail. “I’m worried something happened toher.”
He dropped Alex’s phone into his pants pocket, then shoved the money and the clutch at Wendy. “Keep these. I’ve got to findher.”
Even if Crockett had access to every suite on the floor, he wouldn’t check them. His gut told him she wasn’t in any of those rooms. Somehow she’d gotten into that hidden room behind the unmarked suite and couldn’tescape.
Crockett’s feet ate up the wood flooring as he strode down the hallway, his sights set on the room at the end of the hall. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, he centered himself. Then, he inhaled a deep breath, aimed for just above the handle and kicked the hell out of the door. The frame snapped and the door burst wide open, amber light glowing from the night table lamp. Three quick strides and he stood at the back wall. Desperate to get into the secret room, he couldn’t find a handle or button to trigger the door, so he felt along the contours of thewall.
“Get out now or security will throw youout.”
Crockett spunaround.
Francois’s ridiculous French accent had been replaced with a hissing, grittyvoice.
