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"It's hard to believe it was just a coincidence,” Daniel said. "But, we need to do some more digging."
"Yep!" Ryder looked at me. "You mentioned Ariel's neighbor saw the person who delivered the flowers?"
I nodded. “Yes. And better yet, her apartment has surveillance cameras."
Daniel poured another round of drinks. "Sure they do. But management won't give us access to the videos. And we can't wait for Carter to do it for us. He's been fucking around for years now." The waitress arrived with our steaks, and we all fell silent as she set them down in front of us. Once she was gone, Daniel spoke up again, rubbing his hands together. "So, what do you say we take a little trip over to Ariel's apartment complex and see if we can get our hands on those videos?"
"I'm in," Ryder said, laughing.
"Me too," Chase snickered. "I've been itching for a chance to do some real detective work."
I held up my hand as I spoke. "The drinks have numbed your brains. We'll all get arrested if we go carelessly exploring a luxurious apartment complex. And even if there were security videos, they wouldn't be on-site. That stuff is all done from a remote location," scoffing slightly, I continued, "I'm embarrassed for you all. You're supposed to be a bunch of techies, yet you've forgotten what our profession calls for... Let's not behave like rank amateurs."
They laughed. Finally Chase told me. “The joke's on you, buddy! You've been under too much stress. Of course, we were speaking figuratively."
"What are you suggesting then? Fill me in." I scratched my head, wondering if I was the one with the numb brain.
"Did you happen to see a logo or something outside or elsewhere that would indicate what security agency Ariel's property management uses?" Ryder wondered out loud.
I thought for a moment, and then it hit me. "They use ABC Security."
Chase leaned closer. “Then we hire a private security team, one with military experience. Let's let them handle requesting copies of the videos… go through the proper channels.”
“We’ll offer ABC a fee they can’t refuse,” Daniel added.
"I'm on it tomorrow." Ryder poured us all another round of drinks and held up his glass. "To our future!"
"Here, here!" We said in unison.
As I was lifting my glass, my phone vibrated. I had a text.
Ariel: I just landed and got cell service. I'm in London. I'm okay. How are you?
Chapter Fifteen
Ariel
Every time I stayed with Marcie, it felt like staying in Neverland. She had a whole room on the third floor of her Knightsbridge townhome just for me. It was decorated so cheerfully that I used to love opening the windows and watching the drapes billow in the breeze. But today was different. Looking out the dormer windows, I could see fog and gloom. For a moment, I thought maybe this really was Neverland, and I was sleepwalking...
Was I really back in London?
I glanced down and wrapped my coat around me, realizing I had worn this sundress for at least two days — but who was counting? I collapsed onto the soft bed, exhausted from my travels. It had been a full day since I boarded a plane in Phoenix bound for London. As soon as I had cell service after leaving San Diego, I called Marcie and she demanded I leave immediately and come stay with her to get away from any potential danger. And I was more than happy to oblige.
Marcie and I had our ups and downs, but she always had my back — even when Nolan tried to make an issue about me moving back to the states — leaving to pay the rent on his own. On the phone, she told me I could stay with her as long as I wanted, no questions asked. But even as those words had escaped her lips, I knew she was full of crap. Marcie would demand to know every single tidbit of information I had to offer. Anyway, I was grateful to have a place to stay and didn't want to overstay my welcome, so I told her I'd be there for a week or two at most.
But now, as I lay in the featherbed and stared at the unfamiliar shadows on the ceiling, all I wanted was sleep for a week. Or two. Maybe even three. I was too jet-lagged to even think about unpacking my bags or taking a shower. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and let the world disappear.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. As I was dozing off, Marcie came bounding into the room, chattering a mile a minute as she started unpacking my bags for me. "I'm so glad you're here. I know you're tired, and I want you to rest. But first, at least give me more details than, "I need to get out of town for a while. The guy I was telling you about is involved in a crime."
My suspicions about Marcie were right. So, I took a deep breath. Even as tired as I was, I propped myself up on my elbow and set her straight. "First, his name is Guy."
"Oh, yes. I remember now." Marcie shook out the clothes I had hastily stuffed into my suitcase and hung them in the closet. "I can't trust you out of my sight,” she said. "What were you doing getting involved with a criminal? From how you described him, I thought he was Prince Charming or something."
I frowned. "He's not a criminal."
"Good to know."
"First of all, Guy is a very successful businessman--”
