Read Online Bridal Armor by Debra Webb - Free Book Online
Authors: Debra Webb
Tags: Romance
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tick by. Holt wanted to know what DeRossi knew and Jason couldn’t imagine admitting another failure today. The main area of the room was clean so he moved toward the bathroom and vanity, mentally crossing his fingers he’d find something to report.
All of the places he would have hidden something vital were empty. He worried someone might have beaten him to the search, but the room was so clean there was no way to tell. The stunning redhead he’d run into twice already popped into his mind and he pulled a penlight out of his inner pocket. Turning it on, he scanned the room for any sign of her, but came up empty. Jason shook his head. Finding a stray red hair was a long shot and he had to quit following tangents and find something worthwhile for Holt.
He knelt down and peered at the underside of the sink and swore at the flap of tape hanging down.
Surely there had been a more infuriating assignment in his past, but he was hard pressed to remember it right now. He stood up, searched the pockets of the clothing she’d left behind, but there was nothing.
DeRossi had proven more of a challenge than he’d anticipated, and it only put his instincts on high alert. The cosmetic case on the vanity was the only item left he hadn’t examined and, with hope dwindling, he poked through it.
Beauty tools, small pots and tubes in various colors and a fabric headband did nothing to shed light on her purpose with the director.
He was running out of time. Any minute the maid would report her key card missing and a few basic questions would have the security team searching for him.
Frustrated, he checked his reflection in the mirror, tucked away the penlight and smoothed his suit jacket. What had he expected? A detailed outline of her plans signed by DeRossi lying on the desk?
He was reaching for the door when it hit him. Turning back to the vanity, he went through the cosmetic case once more, confirming what wasn’t there. No toothbrush or toothpaste.
“Well, well.”
She might have a reservation for this room through Monday, but she had something else planned between now and then.
The second examination of the cosmetic bag proved more valuable as he spotted a tube he’d assumed was just a different brand from the rest of her cosmetics. No, this wasn’t a lipstick, it was a flash drive.
He might not know exactly where she was going, but he was finally getting somewhere. Provided this wasn’t just a collection of her favorite photos. And it was a relief to know he wouldn’t be wasting time loitering in the lobby for her return.
Re-energized, he glanced through the peephole. Seeing no activity in the hall, he pulled the door open a crack and then slipped out. Keeping his head down, he walked toward the opposite stairwell and dropped the key card on his way back down to the lobby.
He reached his rental car without incident and cranked the heater as he called Holt to bring him up to speed.
“Did you find DeRossi and the director?” Holt demanded.
“Not yet, but I know where she isn’t.”
“Meaning?”
He thought of the flash drive, but didn’t want to mention it until he knew it mattered. “Her room is clean, but she’s not planning to be back tonight.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Jason hoped he wouldn’t have to explain his certainty.
“Any sign of the problem child?”
“Maybe.” For some inexplicable reason, Jason hesitated to mention the explosion or that he’d spotted the redhead there. This was Holt, his boss, trusted as Thomas Casey’s second-in-command for years. “DeRossi had a rental car stashed in long-term parking. It was blown up a couple of hours ago. No casualties,” he added before Holt could ask.
“Any clues?”
“Nothing substantial yet.”
“Stay on it and stay alert.”
The line went dead and Jason stared at it for a long moment, a part of him wishing he hadn’t passed along that much information.
Something felt off and he just hadn’t been able to put his finger
All of the places he would have hidden something vital were empty. He worried someone might have beaten him to the search, but the room was so clean there was no way to tell. The stunning redhead he’d run into twice already popped into his mind and he pulled a penlight out of his inner pocket. Turning it on, he scanned the room for any sign of her, but came up empty. Jason shook his head. Finding a stray red hair was a long shot and he had to quit following tangents and find something worthwhile for Holt.
He knelt down and peered at the underside of the sink and swore at the flap of tape hanging down.
Surely there had been a more infuriating assignment in his past, but he was hard pressed to remember it right now. He stood up, searched the pockets of the clothing she’d left behind, but there was nothing.
DeRossi had proven more of a challenge than he’d anticipated, and it only put his instincts on high alert. The cosmetic case on the vanity was the only item left he hadn’t examined and, with hope dwindling, he poked through it.
Beauty tools, small pots and tubes in various colors and a fabric headband did nothing to shed light on her purpose with the director.
He was running out of time. Any minute the maid would report her key card missing and a few basic questions would have the security team searching for him.
Frustrated, he checked his reflection in the mirror, tucked away the penlight and smoothed his suit jacket. What had he expected? A detailed outline of her plans signed by DeRossi lying on the desk?
He was reaching for the door when it hit him. Turning back to the vanity, he went through the cosmetic case once more, confirming what wasn’t there. No toothbrush or toothpaste.
“Well, well.”
She might have a reservation for this room through Monday, but she had something else planned between now and then.
The second examination of the cosmetic bag proved more valuable as he spotted a tube he’d assumed was just a different brand from the rest of her cosmetics. No, this wasn’t a lipstick, it was a flash drive.
He might not know exactly where she was going, but he was finally getting somewhere. Provided this wasn’t just a collection of her favorite photos. And it was a relief to know he wouldn’t be wasting time loitering in the lobby for her return.
Re-energized, he glanced through the peephole. Seeing no activity in the hall, he pulled the door open a crack and then slipped out. Keeping his head down, he walked toward the opposite stairwell and dropped the key card on his way back down to the lobby.
He reached his rental car without incident and cranked the heater as he called Holt to bring him up to speed.
“Did you find DeRossi and the director?” Holt demanded.
“Not yet, but I know where she isn’t.”
“Meaning?”
He thought of the flash drive, but didn’t want to mention it until he knew it mattered. “Her room is clean, but she’s not planning to be back tonight.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Jason hoped he wouldn’t have to explain his certainty.
“Any sign of the problem child?”
“Maybe.” For some inexplicable reason, Jason hesitated to mention the explosion or that he’d spotted the redhead there. This was Holt, his boss, trusted as Thomas Casey’s second-in-command for years. “DeRossi had a rental car stashed in long-term parking. It was blown up a couple of hours ago. No casualties,” he added before Holt could ask.
“Any clues?”
“Nothing substantial yet.”
“Stay on it and stay alert.”
The line went dead and Jason stared at it for a long moment, a part of him wishing he hadn’t passed along that much information.
Something felt off and he just hadn’t been able to put his finger
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