Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Five) (22 page)

“I don’t like being suspicious of everyone we know and those few strangers we had typically treated as new friends,” Devyn murmured as she turned her head so that only Trigger caught her words.

Something needed to change and maybe, just maybe, Gunny and Doc could help Trigger and the police end this nightmare the townsfolk were currently living through.

‡

T
rigger was very
satisfied with the detail put into the new security system for The Laughing Griffin. The technician had more training than the average novice installer. He’d measured angles and fields of movement across the bar. He’d established security zones by utility and exclusion based on hours of operations, any of which could be changed on the fly by selecting different preprogrammed profiles listed in the user menu system. All of the cameras were high definition and several traversed to follow movement around the room.

The entire system could be monitored from the office or her bedroom via laptop computers and several flat screen monitors. The lower level windows had automated steel interlocking shutters. The upper level had bars outside the windows that could only be released from the inside.

The outside doors all had heavy-duty deadbolts and steel frames. The complete downstairs floor plan was actively recorded to an onsite network hard drive and an offsite mainframe at the security firm headquarters. There were two hardline alarm paths and a cellular backup.

The entire security system used voice recognition and fingerprint readers to control access to the multiple operator functions, including Isaac and Erwin as users, with both Devyn and Trigger as system administrators. It even recognized Diesel as a free roaming guard during after hour shifts, not that he would be there past next week, but she refused to think about that right now.

Devyn had watched the majority of it being installed in disbelief between ensuring her new air conditioning unit was being installed properly and asking Trigger if all of this was really necessary. It most likely wasn’t, but after three murders…she wasn’t going to complain and he was grateful. This gave him peace of mind.

Isaac had just opened the doors to the bar, and to anyone who cared to notice it would appear that nothing was amiss. Doc and Gunny were currently enjoying a game of darts, and Devyn was wrapping things up with Brian Gathright and the AC repairs. He’d gone to school with them and had taken over his father’s business when Curt Gathright retired several years ago. Brian had ordered a new air conditioning unit to service the upstairs that was most likely going to set Devyn back a couple thousand dollars. He definitely wasn’t her favorite person at the moment from the way she was shooting him daggers with those green eyes of hers.

“Have you thought of what you’re going to do with the garage?” Isaac asked, already pouring a domestic beer for Mr. Ashbaw, who’d called it an early day on this hot Friday. The older gentleman took his usual place at the bar where he always sat on the weekends, and settled in to watch the weather channel roundup as the meteorologists were calling for some severe thunderstorms later today. That wasn’t surprising with the rising humidity. “Micah and Dalton have both lost their jobs recently, but you might want to speak with Ashbaw. He’s been talking about retiring from the mill, but he’s always saying he doesn’t want to die of a heart attack from lack of physical activity. He also knows his way around an engine, what with that 1941 Dodge WC pickup truck of his. He would take it in to Joey for an oil change now and then, but only as an excuse to socialize while the job was being done.”

“That’s good to know,” Trigger said, itching to get over to speak with Gunny and Doc. Starr had evidently said something to Gunny earlier from the way he was keeping the info close to his chest. He hadn’t had much chance to talk with Gunny alone considering he’d been supervising the security system upgrade. Trigger didn’t like being kept in the dark when it came to news about Red Starr. This team was a complete unit because of their close relationships. It needed to stay that way. “I hear Linney has been into some stuff that I’m not comfortable with, especially for one I’d have to entrust with the day-to-day operations of the garage. Mac would roll over in his grave if I’d made a decision like that and you damn well know that, Isaac.”

Trigger finally caught sight of Devyn coming out of her office with an irritated look on her face. He held up saying anything else until she made her way behind the bar and came to stand beside Isaac. She immediately reached for a bar towel and tossed it over her shoulder. He understood her frustration and that of most the people in town. It was hell to be in this stage of an investigation, where there was nothing to be done except wait for any signal indicating progress.

“A dozen fans would have been a fucking cheaper investment,” Devyn grumbled, leaning forward and resting her palms on the bar’s countertop. Her brow had two cute lines down the middle. “Or I could just sleep in my office. I’m surprised Mr. Gathright hasn’t retired to his mansion in Florida where he golfs every day and then spends evenings on his sailing yacht. All he does is fish on that old rust bucket of a fishing boat he bought ten years ago while Brian runs the business. Hell, Brian should be able to close up shop next week and retire at those rates.”

Isaac laughed and then took Mr. Ashbaw’s beer down to the end of the bar, leaving Trigger and Devyn alone for a moment. He supported his forearms on the counter across from her and leaned in close enough so that their lips were inches apart. Her green eyes finally sparkled, causing her annoyance to fade away. She even lifted one eyebrow in provocation.

“We’re not sleeping in the damn office,” Trigger informed her softly, lifting a hand so he could leisurely caress the side of her cheek with his finger. Last night wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy them. “There are things I want to do to you that an office chair wouldn’t nearly support.”

“Promises, promises,” Devyn muttered with a challenging smile before pulling slightly away when she slid a glance over to where Gunny and Doc were playing darts and then to the front door where a couple more people came in to kick start their Friday afternoon. She sighed in resignation and then tapped the wooden surface with her hand. “Go join your friends. The storm is rolling in, it’s a Friday night, and there’s no telling what will happen with that sick son of a bitch still roaming around out there.”

“Just don’t leave the premises without me,” Trigger warned, letting her off the hook. This wasn’t the time or place for their personal desires. She was right when she said a culmination of things were happening. “And keep your eyes and ears open for anything out of the ordinary.”

Trigger was caught off guard by the wink she just gave him, so unlike her demeanor since he’d returned. It was nice to see the old Devyn he was used to and it made him want a future with her even more. And that brought on another round of challenges he’d eventually have to face, because she assumed he was going to leave here without her.

“I know that look,” Gunny commented, reaching for the coffee Isaac had made especially for Gunny and Doc. They would never drink while on duty, and though technically they were still on their own personal time…they were conducting business in the sense that they needed to keep innocent people from being killed. “It’s the same look you get right before we reach enemy territory—determination, grit, and confidence all rolled together. Who are you about to annihilate?”

“No one, but you do have me wondering about something. You and Jade are just starting out, but have you thought about how your long absences away on assignments are going to affect the two of you?” Trigger asked, not having the fortitude to be the butt of a joke. He also wasn’t one to normally seek advice from his team leader on personal matters. Doc returned to the high-top table from pulling his set of steel darts out of the horsehair board, joining in on the conversation with Diesel by his side. The Shepherd was all too happy to have his friends back. “I’ll be honest with you guys. I want Devyn in my life, but I don’t know how the hell that’s going to work when we’re gone weeks at a time. At least Daegan and Ferrin get to travel together.”

“Jade and I will figure it out as we go,” Gunny said with full conviction before taking a seat on one of the stools. He lifted his coffee cup, but didn’t drink from the mug. He shot Devyn a glance, who was still behind the bar keeping busy with the new patrons who’d started their Friday a little early. “I wasn’t aware the two of you were that serious. Congrats, man. I mean it. This life we’ve chosen to live isn’t easy and any small measure of a relationship we can obtain is essential.”

“What our team leader means is that he’s glad to see you’re happy,” Doc interpreted, his eyes glued to the front door. He motioned with his darts to the newcomers. “You were right. Kilgore and Linney just walked in. How in the hell do they afford their beer if they don’t work?”

“Let’s just say it’s probably not altogether legal, at least in Linney’s case,” Trigger said wryly. He shook his head at what could have been two amazing athletes. “Micah could have easily played college ball, but he was in a freak bike accident that really messed up his left leg.”

“And Dalton Linney?” Doc asked, sizing up the two men as they immediately claimed the pool table. “Why didn’t he go on to play?”

“Got caught up in amateur pharmaceutical distribution.” Trigger thought back to his high school days. “I still can’t fathom why someone would target a basketball team from over fourteen years ago. It makes no sense at all.”

“Stick was friends with a profiler back in his early relationship with Simone. He was saying the killers they targeted were some sick bastards. Who knows what could have set off a psychopath to start going on a killing rampage. The fact is we might never know exactly why this suspect turned from his life as it was and started killing people he’s known since birth.”

“You think the scum will try for them in a public setting like this?” Gunny inquired rather thoughtfully, as if he were thinking about a move on a chessboard. He’d already caught the stares of most of the customers in the tavern due to his large, imposing frame. Trigger wasn’t so certain anyone would try anything next to this intimidating individual. “He’s picked places that were relatively abandoned of people. I don’t see that changing unless he wants to finish in a blaze of glory.”

“Neither do I,” Trigger agreed, catching sight of Devyn walking down the hallway toward the staircase to her apartment. There was a slight sway in her hips that reminded him of how she moved underneath him last night. It was too bad she had business to attend to or he might have sidelined her for the rest of the afternoon. “I’m going to go brew us another pot of coffee. It’s going to be a long night and we need to be prepared for anything and everything.”

*

Devyn had literally
felt physical pain over handing the large-summed check for the deposit to Brian, but she gritted her teeth through the emotional agony and signed her name anyway. She also managed to finish up some paperwork and cut Isaac his payroll check while she remained back in her office. She ran her tongue over the disgusting tasting glue of the envelope and sealed it tight before tidying up her desk.

Once Devyn was finished, she sat a moment longer staring at the Newton’s Cradle Joey had given her one Christmas. He’d said every office he’d ever seen on television had one. She couldn’t resist lifting one of the steel balls, releasing it, and allowing the counter effect to swing into motion. He was always coming up with silly things like this in his head and she was going to miss his ability to make her laugh on days when that was the last thing she felt like doing.

Devyn sighed in resignation, knowing how busy Fridays were, especially after five o’clock. She stood and made her way to the wooden door, not even remotely heavy enough to prevent the beat of the jukebox from coming through. She opened it only to then make sure the door was locked behind her. It was the first time she’d ever done it, but Trigger had convinced her not to take any more chances until the person who killed Joey was behind bars. He had the security technician install a push button cypher lock on her office door. It locked itself twelve seconds after the door closed. She just needed to make sure it was pulled closed and engaged.