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Rosalie rounded the table and met Irene by the door. “Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure. I just talked to your mom on the phone. She and your cousin are settled in their rooms.”
“Thank you. And thank you for arranging for them to stay at the Mountainview Inn. You’re a godsend.”
“Just taking care of the family, sweetie.” Irene patted her cheek. “Your mother is such a nice woman. She invited me to play cards with her and your family tonight. I can’t wait to meet them. Has your mom met Cannon yet?”
Rosalie’s breath hitched.
Irene smiled. “What’s the matter? Are you nervous about introducing your man to your family?”
“Cannon’s not my man.”
Irene’s eyebrows shot above her reading glasses. “You forget that I’m the one who makes up the bed you two have been sharing.”
Heat rushed to Rosalie’s cheeks. “Um, thanks for that. I guess I am a little anxious.” She sighed. “Okay, a whole lot anxious about Cannon meeting my mother. We’re in the middle of a crisis. Hardly a time for a normal meet-the-parents moment, but nothing has seemed normal lately since…”
Irene shrugged. “Maybe you haven’t allowed it to be normal.”
Devon’s arrival saved Rosalie from pondering Irene’s remark.
A few minutes later, Devon flipped off the recording of Malgor’s voice. “That’s definitely the one they called Malgor. The accent isn’t there, but it’s the same voice. I’m sure of it.”
Paul slapped the table. “Finally. We’ve been waiting a long time for confirmation on Malgor’s identity.”
Rosalie didn’t need confirmation. The stab wound on Anya’s back had been enough for her. She peered out the windows to the Rockies. How many hours had she spent trying to find Malgor via cyberspace, searching for clues and patterns, waiting for him to slip up, only to find him on vacation? She sat next to Devon. “While you were being held captive, did you hear the names Karl or Klaus?”
“No. Only Malgor. He was on site one time. He didn’t say much except to bitch about the crappy vodka they had. He wanted the good German brand called Stoffrei.”
Cannon scrubbed his face. “Christ, I hired a murderer, a terrorist, and an alcoholic who drinks on the job.” He glanced at Wulf.
Wulf shrugged. “We Germans like good vodka.”
“Stop beating yourself up, Ford.” Paul’s voice stilled everyone in the room. “Yes, you unknowingly hired evil, although I couldforgive the drinking on the job if the vodka is as good as Wulf says. God knows I could use a shot right now.”
Cannon huffed. “Don’t even think about it until you’re fully healed.”
Paul winked at Wulf. “As soon as I get the doctor’s okay, you owe me a drink.”
Rosalie held up her hand. “Enough male bonding. Let’s find this monster before someone else is murdered.” There were too many people in this town she’d come to love.
Paul looked at Cannon.“How did Malgor come to work here?”
“He was recommended by Theodore, my mentor.”
“Get him on the phone.”
“I can’t. He died shortly after he recommended—” Cannon slapped his open palm against the wall. “If that bastard forced a recommendation from Theodore and then murdered him so I couldn’t follow up, I’ll cut out his heart.”
Paul held up a fist. “I’ll give you the knife. Is there anyone else Theodore knew who might have met Malgor?”
“He noted in his recommendation email that he met Malgor at a university event. He also said that his daughter, who was a nurse at the teaching hospital, had gone on a date with Malgor and thought he was a good guy.” Cannon rattled off her name.
Jimmy scribbled it on a napkin. “I’ll find her.”
Irene flew into the conference room, tears running down her face. “It’s Julia. She’s coded.”
“Coded? No.” The words squeaked out of his frozen lungs. He jumped onto the table. Another jump landed him by thedoor. He heard footsteps behind him but didn’t turn to see who followed.
