“So you’re looking for something to hold over his head,” Jessica said. It was more statement than question. “A trade of sorts.”
“Video can be forged and manipulated,” Jim said. “Which is why copies can be easily discredited. The original footage is your primary concern.”
“Max is handling that aspect of the investigation. Your objective is to locate evidence that connects Julian to the deaths of Richard and Victoria Sinclair. I need proof he was the executioner, and I need it before the police.”
“Understood,” the three of them said as one.
“Max.” Hudson nodded to his right-hand man.
“These envelopes contain copies of the crime scene photos and police reports, along with the statements taken from Miss Sinclair, the housekeeper, and the neighbors.” Max slid the manila envelopes across the glossy mahogany one at a time. Ivan slapped his palm down on top of the thick packet to bring it to a stop, then Jim and Jessica followed suit. “You will also find the full work-up of the subject, including the addresses of numerous properties, the various holdings in his family’s trust, and a few of the more mundane facts as well: what he smokes, what he drinks, and his, ah . . .” Max cleared his throat. “Preferences.”
Hudson knew Max was censoring himself for his benefit. The report inside those envelopes no doubt detailed Julian’s “preference” for hookers or social climbing nymphets game for a threesome.
“Do we have eyes on the ground in France?” Jim asked.
Max nodded. “I’ve also placed someone here at Chase Industries and at Ingram for Miss Sinclair.” Max twisted the gold band on his left hand. “If he has someone watching her—”
“He does,” Hudson said. “Julian knew the second we landed at O’Hare and that we shared a limo to her house.”
“Well, the guy now has a new shadow,” Ivan said. “Round the clock. Julian’s stooges don’t only work the day shift, so neither do I. Although I’m not a morning person.” He cracked some semblance of a smile. “And I’d like my coffee black.”
Hudson fixed him with a hard stare. “I don’t fetch coffee, GI Joe. And I’m not paying you to sit on your ass and drink it.”
Ivan chuckled. “I’m liking your boy here, Max.” His words were said without an ounce of condescension. “You’ve got balls of steel under that prissy Tom Ford, dontcha, Mr. Chase?”
“Ralph Lauren Black Label,” Jim corrected. Hudson was impressed. The guy clearly knew his suits.
“Where do we go from here?” Hudson asked, refocusing the conversation.
“Jessica will be conducting back channel investigations,” Max said.
“Most of it’s done on the dark web,” she explained. “If there’s a trail of cash, I’ll find it there.”
“We’ll get started right away,” Jim said, offering no details as to his role in the group.
“Good. I expect results.” Hudson stood. “Funds will be wired to your specified accounts by the end of the day and Max has full authority to approve any additional expenses.” He checked the Patek Philips strapped to his wrist. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting.”
The significance of the location Harper had picked was completely lost on Allie. She was so consumed with thoughts of Hudson and Julian and drug dealers and hit men and private military ops that she didn’t make the connection. Not when she read Harper’s text, not as she jogged through Lincoln Park, and not as she stood waiting on the corner of Division and Clark. It wasn’t until they were standing in line that she realized they weren’t meeting at just any Starbucks. They were meeting for coffee at the location where Nick Chase worked as the shop’s newest barista.
Allie watched him, juggling orders at rapid speed while charming the female customers, and she couldn’t help but smile. For as different as they were, there was still so much about Nick that reminded her of his brother. The same jawline and nose, the same dark, unruly hair, though Nick wore his much longer, and the same confident stride. Their eyes were the most notable exception; Hudson’s being a clear blue while Nick’s were a deep brown. But despite the difference in color, both men expressed themselves clearly with a single glance, and at the moment Nick’s eyes were telling Allie all she needed to know about his feelings for her best friend.
He did a double take when he caught sight of Allie, but instead of flashing his trademark grin, his gaze immediately shifted, searching the crowd to her right and left until he found what he was looking for. Or rather
who
he was looking for. He locked eyes with Harper and a shy smile curved his lips. When Allie turned to her best friend, she discovered a similarly ridiculous grin had spread across her face. And had the cold air outside turned her cheeks a warm pink or was Harper actually blushing?
Oh, how the tables have turned
.
“Is that Nick?” she asked.
Harper squinted and leaned to her left. “Is it?”
Enjoying their little game too much to end it just yet, Allie decided to play along. “I think so. Didn’t he mention something on Christmas Eve about working here?”
“Did he?” Harper chewed on her lip. “You know, I think you’re right.”
Allie fought the urge to roll her eyes as they stepped up to the cashier. She placed her order first, then stood back to take in the scene unfolding in front of her, watching in fascination as Nick tried his best to play it cool, feigning total focus on the espresso maker as it hissed and squealed while stealing glances in Harper’s direction.
“Hi, Nick,” Allie finally said.
“Hey, Allie.” There wasn’t a hint of surprise in his voice or expression. Clearly he’d been expecting them. “Out for a run?”
“Just finished.”
“Grande caramel macchiato,” he called out to the waiting crowd before setting the beverage on the raised counter.
“Looks like you’re quite the pro.”
“I’m getting the hang of it.” Nick reached for the cup marked with Allie’s name and flipped it in the air. “But we’ll see if I can stand up to the ultimate test,” he said, catching the cup with one hand. He read the detailed drink specifications scribbled along the side of the cup and took a deep breath. “Here goes.” He set the cup down, then proceeded to crack his knuckles as part of a dramatic preparation.
This time Allie did roll her eyes. “I’m not
that
bad.”
Harper appeared by her side, tucking her wallet back into her purse. “Don’t even bother. We both know you too well.”
Nick looked up at the sound of Harper’s voice. “Hey,” he said. They stared at each other for a long beat until the milk Nick was steaming overflowed from the stainless steel pitcher he held in his hand. “Shit,” he said, jumping back as froth splattered all over his green apron.
Allie covered her mouth to hide her laugh, and for about the hundredth time that day found herself wishing Hudson was by her side. Although for Nick’s sake it was probably a good thing he wasn’t. The teasing would have no doubt been swift and relentless. “I’ll grab a table,” she said, leaving the two of them alone at the counter. When Harper joined her a few minutes later, she acted as though nothing was amiss.
“Have you recovered from the jet lag?” she asked, as if everything were perfectly normal and she hadn’t just outed the relationship she’d categorically denied. “I guess that’s one good thing about a twenty-four-hour trip to Europe,” she added, handing Allie her skinny vanilla latte. “My body never had time to adjust.”
“Are we going to pretend like that didn’t just happen?”
“What?”
“Oh please. To quote one of your favorite expressions, ‘I saw the way you two were eye-fucking each other.’”
Harper sputtered into her chai latte, then stole a glance over her shoulder at Nick. He winked and held up a finger to indicate he’d be one more minute.
“So the guy you’re
not
dating is joining us?”
“He has a break in a few minutes,” she mumbled into her cup.
Allie gave her a self-satisfied smile. “And you just happen to know this how?”
“Fine,” Harper said. “We may have been hanging out a bit over the holidays. But everyone else I know was out of town, and Nick’s trying to keep his distance from—”
“Stop. I think it’s great the two of you are . . . hanging out,” Allie said, parroting Harper’s words. “What I don’t understand is why you keep denying there’s more to it. Anyone can see the attraction between the two of you.”
Harper’s face split into a wide grin. “Really?”
“Yes.” Allie smiled back at her friend. Despite the chaos in her life, at least one person she cared about was genuinely happy. Focusing on that was exactly what Allie needed. “Now tell me what’s been going on with the two of you since Christmas Eve.”
“I don’t know, really. I certainly wasn’t looking for anything when I showed up on your doorstep like a human icicle.” Harper cupped her tea between her hands and rested her elbows on the table. “We just sort of clicked that night.”
“I’d say so.” The image of Harper and Nick sitting side by side in front of the fireplace on Christmas morning filled Allie’s mind.
“Nothing happened. I swear all we did was talk.”
“I believe you. Although it was pretty funny the way Nick jumped up so quickly when Hudson and I came into the room.”
“Like a busted teen.” Harper laughed. “Gotta admit, even I was a bit scared when Hudson walked in the room. That man intimidates the hell out of me.”
“So is that why all the secrecy?”
Harper shrugged. “Nick’s not supposed to be dating so soon into his recovery,” she said, answering Allie’s unspoken question. Obviously Harper knew about Nick’s recent stint in rehab.
“And what, he’s worried Hudson will be disappointed?”
“Yeah. I know they have that tough brother act down pat, but Nick is really grateful to Hudson for everything he’s done. Feels like he saved his life, ya know?”
Allie gave a somber nod. She knew all too well the lengths to which Hudson had gone to protect his brother.
“The last thing Nick wants to do is let him down.”
Allie wasn’t nearly done questioning Harper, but when she spotted Nick making his way toward their table, she knew the rest of her interrogation would have to wait.
Nick picked up a chair and spun it around. He straddled it, then crossed his arms over the wooden back and leaned forward. “How did I get so lucky as to have two of the prettiest girls in Chicago stop by my Starbucks?”
Allie met his gaze with wide, innocent eyes. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because one of them is your girlfriend?”
Nick’s eyes darted to Harper, who sat gaping at Allie. “Guess we weren’t too subtle.” He chuckled. “I take it she knows everything, then?”
“Well, yeah, sort of—I mean no,” Harper stammered. “I never said I was your girlfriend.”
A lopsided grin spread across Nick’s face as he watched Harper struggle. It was a grin Allie had seen before, when he was a young, carefree boy. Her heart swelled at the sight of that smile on his face again.
“It’s all good,” Nick finally said, putting Harper out of her misery. He reached for her hand, bringing their entwined fingers to his mouth and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “That’s what you are, right, babe?”
There was no mistaking Harper’s reaction for windblown cheeks this time. Her face blushed as red as her hair. Allie smiled. Seemed the Chase brothers had more in common than just their looks. Her gaze shifted back and forth between the two lovebirds until she feared someone at another table might actually catcall “Get a room.” She cleared her throat with an exaggerated cough.
“Sorry,” Nick said a bit sheepishly. “It’s not that we didn’t want you to know.”
“It’s okay. Harper explained.”
Nick grew serious. “It’s just . . . Hudson’s been really good to me. I don’t want him to think I’m not taking the program seriously.”
“I get it.”
He grinned. “I knew you would. So you won’t say anything to my bro about . . .” His gaze shifted to Harper.
“I’m trying to keep my conversations with your brother strictly business.” It wasn’t the assurance Nick was looking for, but it was the best she could provide without outright lying to him. In reality she never again wanted to have secrets of any kind between her and Hudson. Not after everything they’d been through, and especially not in light of everything else they were dealing with.
“Yeah, about that,” Nick began.
Allie shook her head. “Oh no, not you too?”
“It’s my fault,” Harper said. “I asked him to gang up on you.”
“I’ll remember this, Nick,” she teased. “Don’t even think about asking me for help when her birthday rolls around.”
Harper frowned. “Can we talk about this seriously for a second?”
No, they couldn’t. Allie couldn’t seriously discuss a life without Hudson in it. She’d barely faked her way through the conversation they’d already had. Harper would surely see through her lies if she had to go into more detail about why she no longer wanted to be with the man she loved. “Harper, I—”
She was saved by the ping of an incoming text. It wouldn’t be Hudson, since they had agreed on radio silence, and since Harper was sitting in front of her that meant it could only be the office. For once, whatever emergency awaited her was a welcome interruption.
But when she pulled her smartphone out of her pocket it wasn’t Colin or Ben whose name appeared on the screen. Instead the sender was listed as private.
Tic Toc, Alessandra.
Allie felt the blood drain from her face as she read Julian’s less than subtle reminder.
“Everything okay?” Harper asked.
Allie looked up to see both Harper and Nick staring at her, concern written all over their faces. “Oh yeah, just a last-minute glitch on a contract I thought we’d already put to bed.” She gathered her coat and coffee. “I need to head up to the office.”
Nick stood when she did. “Want me to grab you a cab?”
“No, sit, enjoy the rest of your break. I’ll call you later, Harper,” she said as she dashed out the door. It took every ounce of strength to fight the impulse to run straight to the Palmolive building and into Hudson’s arms. It had barely been twenty-four hours since they’d been together and already the separation felt like torture. She longed to see him, to feel his touch or just hear his voice. She stared down at the phone still clutched in her hand and sighed. Even a call was too risky. They still had no idea who was acting as Julian’s eyes and ears, or to what lengths he’d gone to keep her under surveillance.
A taxi pulled alongside the curb and she ducked inside, stuffing her phone back into her pocket as she gave the driver the address of Ingram’s headquarters. There might not have been any fires to put out, but losing herself in work sounded like a much better option than pacing the floor of her brownstone. She and Hudson had plans to rendezvous the next day, but for now at least, there wasn’t anything she could do but wait.