AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good.” Brook held out her arm. “Would you please stop by the office sometime tomorrow so that we can obtain a probative account of what transpired between you and Dr. Kolsby?”
“Of course,” Millie replied as she shook Brook’s hand. “Would ten o’clock work?”
“I’ll see you then. In the meantime, I’d like for you to recheck your apartment. Look for anything you think might be out of place. Second, you should also go through your clothing, both clean and dirty, to determine if any articles might be missing. Theo will then escort you to the hospital. He will let you know when we have a protective detail in place, as well as make the introductions so you know who will be close by in case of an emergency.” Brook glanced toward the splintered wood on the floor. “Theo, would you also make sure that the landlord fixes the door before the two of you leave? You know the drill. Have him contact a locksmith, and then explain that he can’t have a key until the investigation is complete. Also make sure the locksmith installs a heavy strike plate reinforcer for the deadbolt and a matching ten-pin, anti-pick lock combo.”
Once everything else had been verbally set, Theo followed Brook to the door.
“How is this protective detail going to work?” Theo asked quietly as he joined her in the hallway. S&E Investigations had never hired outside personal security teams, so they were wading into uncharted territory. “If you want to keep this in-house, I guess the team could split time running the surveillance. I heard Bit mention the other day that the van is up and operational.”
The black 2022 Mercedes Sprinter technical van was nondescript, enough to pass as just another one of a hundred messenger service vans crisscrossing the city streets. Its purpose was created for exactly a case such as this one, but they simply didn’t have the staff to operate a twenty-four-hour surveillance alongside an ongoing investigation. It was best to hire outside consultants for Ms. Gwinn’s personal protective detail. The technical van could then be utilized for observing the suspect.
In this case, that would be one Dr. David Kolsby.
Expansion for the firm hadn’t been something she’d ever considered, and she wasn’t about to change course now. The future wasn’t set in stone, though. She’d take things one client at a time, and this specific client needed personal protection immediately. A bodyguard, for lack of a better term.
“Give me the morning to get things fully in place,” Brook responded, already having an independent firm in mind. “I’ve already texted Sylvie. She’s picking me up in ten minutes. I’ve also messaged Bit and requested that he pull every security camera in the area to try and capture footage of everyone entering and exiting this apartment building. I couldn’t locate any type of surveillance on this floor, but there was a camera in the front lobby. City Public Services with their Department of Public Transportation also has CCTV citywide, but the alley behind the building might have a blind spot. I’ll have Bit check with you for details.”
“Did Officer Soerig offer up anything that might aid in the investigation?”
“Maybe.” Brook hadn’t planned on spending so much time in the hallway. She set her purse on the floor and began to slip her arms into the sleeves of her dress coat, hoping that she wouldn’t be waiting too long downstairs. “I like her. She’s smart, observant, and not willing to compromise her ethics as an officer. She’ll be unwinding at a bar after her shift tonight. If I happen to be there at six o’clock, there is a good chance that she’ll give me her personal insight on Dr. David Kolsby and what she discovered during her investigation.”
“That is certainly an interesting way to go about it,” Theo surmised with a smile.
“I’ll give you the specifics regarding Millie’s protective detail once I have confirmation.”
Brook positioned her purse strap over her shoulder before pulling her black leather gloves out from her pocket. The temperature outside was hovering in the low twenties, and snow flurries seemed to be a constant thing over the past few days. Such inclement weather would only prove to be a hindrance in their case, but they’d dealt with far worse.
“Let me guess,” Theo said before he turned to push open the damaged door. “You have people in mind, and they all owe you favors. You know, Bit swears that you have a little black book with blackmail details on almost everyone in the city.”
“Bit reads too many spy thrillers,” Brook muttered as she started to walk down the long hallway toward the elevator bank. She made sure that Theo didn’t catch her smile. After all, she had a reputation to uphold. “Time to get to work.”
Chapter Five
Brooklyn Sloane
December 2022
Friday — 9:23am
“Areyousurethisis how you want to use your chip?”
Alex DeSilva held his tie against his starched dress shirt as he took a seat behind his desk. The coffee cup in his hand was full, and he carefully set it next to a small pile of manilla folders. While he was speaking directly to Brook, his dark gaze had settled on Sylvie with what appeared to be some measure of interest. Introductions had already been made, and Brook had heard through the grapevine that he was fresh off a divorce.
Brook sensed Sylvie’s perceptive glance upon Alex’s question.
While it was known amongst the team that Brook had cultivated many relationships during her time with the Bureau, those distinct favors had been acquired for the sole purpose of locating Jacob.
Alex misunderstood her visit, though.
She wouldn’t be calling in any favors today.
“Who said anything about a quid pro quo?” Brook countered, crossing her legs. She made herself comfortable, knowing this meeting could take a while. “S&E Investigations would like to hire DeSilva Securities on behalf of a client for a protective detail. We’ll pay your normal fee, of course.”
Brook had met Alex a few years ago when the daughter of a prominent senator had garnered the attention of an admirer. The unsub hadn’t been a serial killer in the way that the public viewed that particular term. The male subject had specifically targeted family members of government officials. Considering the nature of the case, Brook had personally delivered her profile to various agencies. Alex and some of his team members had been in attendance.
As for the favors that she’d managed to procure from Alex, there had been a handful of times that she’d garnered intelligence within her purview that had aided in certain protective details. She wasn’t ready to call in any of those tokens that she’d collected with her time at the Bureau, so this visit would be kept strictly a business transaction.
“Just so we’re being completely transparent, there is more than one chip on that pile,” Brook reminded him.
