Read Online Secure Location by Beverly Long - Free Book Online Page A

walked into the ballroom. Employees were setting up tables, arranging chairs, testing a sound system. Everybody ignored him, which really pissed him off. Not only because it was wasting his time but more important, it meant that any weirdo could come in and nobody would notice.
    Cruz watched to see who might be in charge. There was a guy with a clipboard who seemed pretty intent upon barking out orders. Cruz tapped him on the shoulder. “Beatrice Classen?” he asked.
    The guy pointed to the head table, where a woman wearing a bright pink sweat suit was jawing on some poor guy about the fact that the head table needed a skirt. As he got closer, it became apparent that the problem was that it needed to be ivory, not white.
    “Ms. Classen?” he inquired.
    “Yes.”
    “Cruz Montoya,” he said.
    Her hair was thin and had lots of static electricity, making pieces stick out as if she’d poked her finger in a light socket. She probably weighed in at about two-fifty, making her almost as round as she was tall. “I have your information right here,” she said, pointing at a manila folder on the table.
    He leafed through the photos. One Hispanic, one black and two white men. He studied the white men. They were full poses, not just head shots. “This guy looks pretty tall. You know his height?” he asked, holding up one.
    “Well, everyone is tall compared to me, Mr. Montoya. However, I did hear him mention once that he was six-six.”
    Cruz set it aside and picked up the other photo. “Tell me about this guy.”
    “Oscar Warren. He was part of the first rotation so he hasn’t been at the hotel for several months.”
    “What was he in prison for?”
    “Aggravated arson. He set his girlfriend’s apartment on fire after he found her in bed with another woman.”
    Another woman. It had been a punch when Meg had left him to follow another man across the country. Would it be better or worse if the woman you loved suddenly switched teams? Maybe he was pissed off at all women now, hated the whole breed. “Have you seen him since he ended his assignment at Meg’s hotel?”
    “Of course. We arranged for his second rotation. He’s at a food pantry, on Fourth and Taylor.”
    “I appreciate you showing me these,” Cruz said.
    “I was sorry to hear about Meg’s trouble. But I know that none of these men were involved. Clients of our program are vetted very carefully and none of them want to do something foolish and end up back in prison.”
    He looked around the room. “Looks as if it’s going to be a nice event. Did people have to buy tickets in advance?”
    “Yes. We sold tickets at multiple locations around town as well as online. I was thrilled when we sold out days ago.”
    Tickets in advance. That was good. It meant that bad guys, on a whim, a dare, or a meth high couldn’t decide to walk in and start causing trouble. But given that there were multiple access points, Meg’s tormentor simply would have needed to plan ahead a bit to have a good seat, one with a clear view of the stage.
    “When will Meg give her speech?”
    “We’ll have dinner first, then the awards presentation to both participants in the program and to business leaders who have helped keep the program alive. Then Meg’s speech will close out the event.” She studied him. “I was sure that I’d told Meg she could bring a guest.”
    “You did,” he said. “But I thought I was going to have to work. I just found out this morning that I’m free.”
    Beatrice’s eyes sparkled. “You know, Mr. Montoya, we still have one available seat at the head table. It would be a wonderful surprise for Meg.”
    He wasn’t so sure about that but after last night, there was no way he intended to let Meg go to an evening event without protection. Slater could no doubt be convinced to keep a security officer with her. Jerk might even volunteer for duty himself.
    Not a chance that Cruz was going to let that happen.
    “That would be great,” he said. “I