Page 64 of Unmasked

“I’ll be back soon.” With one last kiss, he reluctantly released her, watching as she disappeared into the room.

He tossed a look at Zane, who, until now, had been doing his best not to eavesdrop. “Keep an eye on them. I need to meet with Sullivan at Blackwater Key, then head to the office for a bit. Call me if you need anything.”

“You got it.” Zane gave a curt nod, and he forced his feet to move toward the elevator before he could second guess himself and turn back.

He really didn’t want to leave Everleigh, but he needed to know what Cade had found. Cade hadn’t gone into detail, but the tone of his voice when they’d spoken earlier told him he wasn’t going to like it.

Fifteen minutes later, Knox walked into the police station and nodded to Ford Whitaker. “Hey, Ford. Cade around?”

“Sure is.”

Not wanting to deal with security at the hospital, he’d left his sidepiece locked in the car. As soon as he was buzzed in, he headed back to Cade’s office. Cade’s attention was fixed firmly on the computer screen in front of him, but he must have heard him coming, because he waved him in. “Hey.”

He sank into the chair across from Cade, studying the dark circles beneath his eyes. “Long day?”

“You have no idea.” Cade gave an abbreviated shake of his head. “I’ve got bad news.”

Cade grimaced, and he stiffened, immediately wary. “What?”

“Your photographer—Tate—is dead.”

“How?”

“Single gunshot to the chest. Miami PD found the body two days ago and made a positive ID.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “Any idea on time of death?”

“Several days, more than likely. His landlord went in to check, since Tate owed him money. ME is estimating he was there for several days before anyone noticed.”

Well, that explained why Cade hadn't been able to touch base with him. “And no one heard anything?”

“Not that was reported.”

“Well, where are we on the video front? Any good news there?”

“Maybe,” Cade hedged. “Angle's not great, but we've got the guy’s profile.”

“Let’s take a look.”

Cade opened up the file, and he pulled up a chair next to the desk and settled in. On the screen, the country club bar was highlighted from the camera’s position high in the corner of the room. A few people milled around the dark wooden bar top, holding drinks and talking. A bartender manned the drink well, taking orders and cleaning up after the patrons. He watched as the waiter moved behind the bar and passed an order to the bartender.

The waiter disappeared, presumably to check in with the kitchen staff. The bartender pulled a bottle of whiskey from the shelf, then poured several fingers into a glass and set it aside for the waiter to pick up on his way back to the table. For several seconds it remained unattended. Then he saw him.

Dressed in a long white coat like the rest of the kitchen staff, the man moved around the bar. He exchanged words with the bartender, who bent to retrieve something for him. While she was occupied with her task, the man passed his hand over the glass of whiskey. Just as quickly, it returned to the side.

He couldn’t tell what he’d had, but the item in his hand disappeared into his pocket before he accepted the bottle from the bartender. Then he was gone just as quickly as he’d come.

The entire thing lasted less than fifteen seconds, and he heaved a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. “What are we going to do with that?”

“Let’s take another look, go frame by frame,” Cade suggested.

The second time around, they got a quick glimpse of the man as he turned. He squinted at the screen, the man’s features obscured by the grain of the video. “Stop.”

Cade paused the video, and he could feel Cade’s gaze on him. “You recognize him?”

He studied the black and white screen intently, then slowly shook his head. “No, but...”

No one at the country club recognized him, so he assumed he didn't move in Beaumont’s circle. Who was this guy? “Something about him looks familiar.”