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Grady tried to be open-minded, but he was as guilty as the next man of making assumptions about the rich society types. It was easy to forget they had hearts that bleed and hopes and dreams like everyone else.
It was easy to only see the materialistic side, harder to look beyond all that to what lay beneath the surface.
The car pulled up at the golden front doors of Baker & Banks. A waiting valet opened the rear door and helped the ladies out. Grady climbed out the other side. The chase vehicle slowed for the man in the passenger seat to exit, then the driver made a loop around the building to find a parking spot.
Grady lifted his chin to Thomas, the man who joined him on the sidewalk. “Stay out here and watch the street. Anything suspicious, report to me immediately. Any uninvited guests, any unexpected delivery trucks, anyone you see walk past more than once. Understand?”
“Yes, sir. On it.”
“Send Bobby to the alley and loading docks. Same orders.” Grady followed Tinsley and Loretta inside, where they were greeted by a host who steered them toward a photographer and a banner display. They stood in front of it and had their photo taken.
Next, a reporter asked them what designer they were wearing and a few other questions Grady had no interest in. He was busy scoping out the building. It was indeed an upscale store and especially so for this event. He stepped to a man who looked like a store manager.
“I’m security for the Wyatt family.”
“Yes, sir. How may I help you?”
“How many entrances to the store?”
“Well, we have one off Main Street, and another off LaSalle. Then, of course, there’s the entrance from the Copeland Hotel.”
“Excuse me?”
“The hotel across the street. We have a connecting glass sky bridge on the second floor. It leads from Women’s Wear to the floor of the hotel with the Crystal Ballroom. That’s where the luncheon and fashion show will be held. Cocktails and mingling are here in the store, as well as the trunk show later this afternoon. Everything else will take place at the hotel.”
“Are you freaking kidding me right now?” Grady muttered under his breath and dashed to the LaSalle Street exit. He glanced up and saw the sky bridge. “Goddamn it.”
He wore an earpiece, the wire running down his collar, another to his cuff with a microphone. He lifted it to his mouth and hissed into it. “Thomas, part of the event will be held at The Copeland’s Crystal Ballroom. There’s a sky bridge connecting the two locations. Guests will be using that. We now have ten times the area to cover.”
“We can’t do that, sir.”
“The entrance to the hotel is across the street. Get on the corner and do the best you can to watch both. I’ll try to call in backup.” Grady got on the phone with Chris.
“Yeah?”
“I need more men. Can you spare anyone?”
“What’s up?”
“The show at Baker & Banks downtown just turned into the storeandthe hotel across the street. There’s a glass sky bridge between the two. The show and luncheon will be held at the hotel. Cocktails only at the store.”
“Stan and I just happen to be in Dallas, meeting with a potential new operative. We’ll head that way now.”
“Thanks.” Grady disconnected and headed to catch up with Tinsley.
He found her mingling near the jewelry counters and watched as she and her mother greeted other attendees, all of them decked out in the latest designer wear. It was obvious they all traveled in the same social circle. Dallas high society. This luncheon was apparently a highly prized invitation, sought after by anyone who was anyone.
He constantly scanned the area, looking for anyone out of place, anyone who appeared nervous, anyone more interested in Tinsley than the conversation they were having. Everything seemed normal.
There was a moment when Grady froze as Tinsley and the girl from the lingerie shop came face to face. Palmer’s ex-girlfriend. What was her name again? Nora something. He held his breath, waiting for an interaction or more likely an explosion, but none came. Either they were on their best behavior for the public event, or Tinsley didn’t want to upset her mother.
Soon it was time to move across the sky bridge to the hotel.
A transmission came in.
“Grady?”
He put his wrist to his mouth. “Yeah? Chris?”
