Caliber Detective Agency Box Set 3 Read online

  “Yeah, well hearing is not enough. I wish you would listen to me too. But if you won’t take my advice, maybe you’ll listen to Caliber.”

  “What’s this all about?” Jake asked.

  “Hector started a business and is calling himself a security expert,” Shea said.

  “A couple of friends and I were looking for work as bodyguards,” Hector said. “But because we got records, we can’t get licensed, so we call ourselves security experts.”

  “I guess that’s legal, but you guys might have trouble getting clients,” Jake said.

  “Nah, we already got one,” Hector said. He then pointed at an article in the newspaper that described Leslie’s run-in with Stan Harper.

  “Yeah,” Jake said. “I heard that Leslie and Karen started up the B-Girls again. This guy Harper sounds like trouble.”

  “He wasn’t arrested, just let off with a warning,” Shea said. “But I don’t want Hector to get in the middle. It could be dangerous. Besides, you’re no bodyguard, Hector. You paint cars for a living.”

  “Yeah, but I need to earn some extra money.”

  “Why is that?” Shea asked.

  Hector took her hand. “Because engagement rings cost some serious money.”

  Shea sighed as a smile crossed her lips.

  “See that, Caliber, that’s why I can never stay mad at this big ape.”

  Jake smirked at her.

  “If Hector is thinking of marrying you, maybe he does like to live dangerously.”

  Rayne walked up four flights of stairs. After reading the handwritten sign on the third door on the left, she entered the offices of B-Girl Enterprises.

  Leslie and Karen were seated together behind an old wooden desk. The desk was kept level with the help of a stack of newspapers, which were jammed under a broken leg. The young women looked up in surprise at their visitor, then recognition lit their eyes.

  Karen stood and walked around to greet Rayne by giving her a kiss on the cheek. Karen was a brunette with large breasts who had just turned twenty. She was on her way to getting a degree in business administration.

  “This is a surprise, Rayne. Did Mrs. Caliber send you here?”

  “Why would Gail send me here?”

  “We thought she might be mad about us stealing her idea for the B-Girls,” Leslie said.

  Rayne smiled at them. “I work for myself now. I own Pruitt/Carver Investigations.”

  Karen laughed. “Lucky girl, Trace Pruitt is hot.”

  “Hmm, yes, but looks aren’t everything. Anyway, I’m here to make you an offer. I want to be a silent partner in the B-Girl business.”

  “Really?” Karen said, and the surprise in her voice was evident.

  “And what would you bring to the table,” Leslie asked. “Did you want to work as a B-Girl? You have the looks for it.”

  “I would supply cash,” Rayne said. She reached into her purse and removed a check, which she laid upon the scarred wooden desk.

  Karen gasped at the amount, while Leslie narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

  “If you’re giving us this much money, you’re going to want control.”

  “I want fifty-one percent of the business, but I also want to do things the right way. We’ll rent a real office, hire girls, and you two can concentrate on running the business. You’ll make more money with me than you will without me.”

  Leslie picked up the check and gave it back to Rayne.

  “I’m not interested in handing over my business. However, we would make a great investment.”

  Rayne looked around the shabby office.

  “You must meet clients elsewhere, or you would never get hired.”

  “We use the coffee shop down the street,” Karen confessed. “But once we start making money we’ll get a real office.”

  “You could have one next week, plus, you would no longer have to work as B-Girls yourselves. I saw that article in the paper, Leslie. There are a lot of creeps out there like that Stan Harper. I would supply the girls with security.”

  “We hired more security this morning, Rayne. Karen and I will make the business work.”

  Rayne tore up the check, then produced another one which had an amount written on it that was less than the first one. It was also held to a contract by a paperclip.

  “If you change your mind in the next thirty days, have your lawyer read over this contract. It’s written in simple terms and gives me sixty-percent of the B-Girls.”

  “Sixty-percent?” Leslie said. “You’re now offering less money for a higher percentage?”

  Rayne’s smile was apologetic.

  “You refused my first offer, and this is business. Anyway, I wish you luck, and stay safe.”

  Leslie went to hand back the contract and check, but Karen snatched it from her hand.

  “We need to talk this over,” Karen said.

  “I hope to hear from you soon,” Rayne said, as she opened the squeaky office door and headed for the stairs.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Kelli Ross turned from the file cabinets inside the reception area of the Caliber Detective Agency and sent Lauren a smile.

  “You’ve filed everything correctly. That’s such a relief. We once had a temp here who had the whole system in chaos after only two days.”

  Lauren grinned back at Kelli.

  “I remembered what you taught me, and I’m using the same system on Mrs. Caliber’s files, which was easy, because they were already in order.”

  “That’s because I filed most of it when I had your job.”

  Lauren took her purse from a bottom drawer of the desk.

  “Speaking of which, I guess I should be getting downstairs now that you’re back.”

  Kelli shook her head. “No, we’ll need you up here a little while longer. Don’t forget, I’ll be going on my honeymoon soon.”

  “Lucky girl, and that works for me. I like it up here.”

  Kelli laughed. “The old man grows on you, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes,” Lauren said, although she had been thinking of Christopher.

  The phone on the desk rang. Kelli answered it. After a short conversation, she hung up and spoke to Lauren.

  “Deb from downstairs says that a new client is on his way up, a Mr. Llewellyn. Is Mr. Caliber expecting him?”

  “Yes, Kelli, and he already has the new client file in front of him on his desk.”

  “Great work. It’s nice to know that the office has been in good hands.”

  The elevator pinged! its arrival. Once the doors slid open, a middle-aged man stepped off. He was dressed in a good suit and his shoes were gleaming. Despite that, there was a two-day growth of stubble on his chin and his eyes held worry.

  As Kelli informed the old man that the new client had arrived, Lauren greeted Mr. Llewellyn, then escorted him into the main office.

  Jake was there along with his brother, Chris, and Velma. Before leaving, Lauren sent Chris a smile, which he returned.

  As Lauren turned to close the door behind her, she saw the look of displeasure on Velma’s face, and her smile vanished.

  Kelli was sitting behind the desk and was making out a handful of last minute wedding invitations. As Lauren walked over, Kelli handed her one.

  “I feel horrible about inviting you at the last minute like this, but Jake and I really didn’t know you very well until now.”

  Lauren grinned as she took the invitation.

  “I’m not offended. I’m honored that you want me there at all.”

  “Who will you be bringing with you? Anyone I know?”

  “I have a dinner date tonight with Chris’s friend, Garth Drexel. If that works out, then I’ll ask him to the wedding.”

  “Good, that would save me making an invitation out for him. I’ve never met Garth before, but Chris has mentioned him a few times.”

  Lauren looked back at the door to the main office, then checked her watch.

  “Kelli, if I took an early lunch, would you watch things he
re for me?”

  “Of course, and have a long lunch. It will be a quiet day once the client leaves.”

  “I think I’ll do that. I have an errand to run.”

  “Great, and I’ll see you later.”

  Lauren grabbed her purse and stepped on the elevator. She had meant what she’d said to Velma earlier. She would not attempt to get involved with Christopher. But that would be much easier to do if the temptation and opportunity to do so were removed.

  After leaving the Caliber building, Lauren strode across the street. She was headed for the new glass tower and the offices of Pruitt/Carver.

  She was sure that Rayne was interested in hiring her away from Caliber. Perhaps that would be best for all concerned. She found that Chris Caliber was creeping into her thoughts on a regular basis.

  The new client, Peter Llewellyn, was the owner of a small chain of jewelry stores. There were four stores, and one of them had been robbed two days earlier. One of Llewellyn’s store managers, a man named Mike Carlson, had been beaten during the robbery.

  The robbery team consisted of a man and a woman. Although they were wearing masks, Mike Carlson was certain that the female member of the team had been Llewellyn’s daughter, Emily. Llewellyn had gotten Carlson to agree not to voice his suspicions to the police.

  Peter Llewellyn was certain that his daughter had fallen in with the wrong man after becoming a drug user. His hope was to separate her from her violent, thieving companion and get her help for her drug problem. He had come to Caliber with the hope that they could assist him in accomplishing that.

  The old man took a puff on his cigar, then sent the smoke toward the ceiling of his office.

  “Mr. Llewellyn, if you’re so certain that your daughter was behind the robbery of one of your stores, then why didn’t you tell that to the police?”

  “She’s my only child, Mr. Caliber. And yes, she’s deeply disappointed me, but I still love her more than life. I do not want to see her behind bars.”

  “I understand, but if you’re convinced that she’ll rob you again, why not increase your security and change the access codes on your alarm system?”

  “No, sir. I want her to break in, and when she does, I want one of your people waiting for her. My daughter doesn’t need to be incarcerated, she needs to go through treatment at a drug center.”

  Jake was standing with Christopher and Velma behind the old man’s desk. He spoke to Mr. Llewellyn.

  “Even if we agreed to help you, the cops might have to be called in. There’s a chance that this accomplice of your daughter could turn violent, as he did before.”

  Mr. Llewellyn stared up at Jake.

  “You look more than capable of putting the fear of God in a man. Perhaps a warning backed by violence would dissuade the man from ever seeing my daughter again.”

  “I’m not a thug, Mr. Llewellyn, but yeah, I can be persuasive.”

  Mr. Llewellyn clasped his hands together atop the desk.

  “I understand that I’m asking a lot, but I truly believe it’s in my daughter’s best interest. She’s gone down a wrong path, but my Emily has a decent heart. She deserves a second chance.”

  “What’s your wife think about this?” the old man asked.

  “I’m a recent widower, sir. In fact, it was my wife’s sudden death that sent Emily into a tailspin.”

  The old man looked conflicted. Playing security guard to a store while hoping to corral a problem child wasn’t their usual case. On the other hand, he thought they might help Llewellyn.

  As a man who had raised a son alone, the old man knew a bit of what Peter Llewellyn was going through.

  “Jakey?”

  “Yes, Granddad?”

  “It’s your call, boy.”

  Jake leaned over and spoke softly to his grandfather.

  “You want me to decide? But that’s always been your job.”

  “I remember seeing your picture on the wall of the lobby. That makes you the man in charge.”

  Jake laughed. “Your picture hangs there too, but I get your meaning.”

  Jake straightened, then held out his hand toward Mr. Llewellyn.

  “If your daughter makes a move on one of your other stores, we’ll be there to grab her.”

  “And you’ll not involve the police?”

  “Not unless she forces us to do so.”

  “She won’t be violent. The violent one is that partner of hers. He’s the one that beat on Mike Carlson.”

  “Then we have a deal, sir,” Jake said, and shook the client’s hand.

  Llewellyn stayed in the office a while longer as he gave Jake, Chris, and Velma the information they would need to act.

  Once he’d left, Chris and Velma headed out to grab a quick lunch. When they were alone, the old man spoke to Jake.

  “I agree with your decision, and get used to making them. Someday soon, it will be you sitting behind this desk.”

  “When that happens, I’ll be ready, but why do you say it will be soon?”

  “Maggie has a ton of accumulated vacation time; she wants us to go on a cruise around the world.”

  “That would be awesome, Granddad.”

  “I said no at first, because it would mean I’d be gone for months, but then I thought, why not?”

  “Were you worried about leaving me in charge of the agency?”

  “Not at all, boy. You’re as good as I ever was. Hell, you’re better.”

  Jake sat on a corner of the desk and stared into his grandfather’s eyes.

  “Was my dad ever going to sit in that seat? I loved him to death, and I know he was tough, but I don’t think he had the grit needed.”

  The old man looked thoughtful as he answered.

  “My Jakey would have done well, but no, he was not like us. Speaking for myself, I know his heart was kinder than mine, and there were times he let his emotions get the better of him.”

  “That’s what I thought, and Chris is the same way. As much as I’ll miss working with my little brother, I think Chris will be better off as a lawyer.”

  The old man chuckled, then used his cigar to gesture around at the office. Unlike the glass tower across the street, the walls of the Caliber Detective Agency were far from new.

  “Someday, this will all be yours.”

  Jake had been lighting his own cigar, and after taking a puff, he spoke.

  “Following in your footsteps is all I’ve ever wanted, Granddad.”

  “Thanks, Jakey, and I wanted the same thing when my own Granddad was running the agency.”

  “I wish I could have met him,” Jake said.

  “Hell, boy, we both see him every time we look in the mirror.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  At Pruitt/Carver investigations, Lauren nibbled on her bottom lip as she considered the offer Rayne Carver had just made her.

  They were seated in Rayne’s office and across from each other with a glass-topped desk between them.

  “That salary offer is generous, Rayne. May I have time to think it over?”

  “Of course, but tell me, are you unhappy at Caliber?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that.”

  Rayne leaned forward.

  “I’m sure you’re aware that Christopher and I had an affair while I was at Caliber.”

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe it would have been best if I had left sooner.”

  “Meaning?” Lauren said, as she arched an eyebrow.

  “I was just pointing out that personal entanglements at work can be problematic.”

  “I see.”

  “If you accept my offer, how soon could you start?”

  “Oh, I would have to give notice, and of course, I wouldn’t leave until after Jake and Kelli’s wedding.”

  “The wedding, yes, and were you invited?”

  “I was,” Lauren said.

  “Then I guess I’ll see you there. Will you have a date?”

  “I hope to.”

  Rayne smiled as sh
e stood and offered her hand.

  “Thanks for coming by, Lauren. I hope you’ll say yes to that offer.”

  As they were leaving, Pruitt was standing at the window in the reception area. He was sipping on a cup of coffee and looking down at the street. He sent Lauren a smile, but his gaze was pleasant, and not his usual lusting glare.

  Once Lauren had left them, Rayne spoke to Pruitt.

  “What’s up with you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Lauren? How come you haven’t hit on her? Please tell me you’re not racist toward black women.”

  Pruitt nearly choked on his coffee.

  “I’m no racist. And I’ve been with women much darker than her.”

  “Okay, so how come you don’t hit on her?”

  Pruitt set his cup down on a side table. When he spoke again, his eyes had a faraway look.

  “Being shot changed me.”

  “In what way?”

  “When I was fading out after the shooting, I just knew that I was going to die, and Rayne, my last thought was about you.”

  “You said that in the hospital, but what do you mean?”

  “When I thought of you, that’s when I knew I loved you.”

  Rayne laughed. “You don’t love me, Pruitt. I’m not even convinced you’re capable of it.”

  Pruitt took a step back, and Rayne could tell she had hurt his feelings. Before she could say anything else, the office door opened, and a man stepped in.

  The man was in his thirties, had wavy brown hair, and walked with a limp. Given the discoloration around his right eye and cheekbone, someone had recently given him a beating.

  “Can we help you?” Pruitt asked.

  The man looked Rayne over, then spoke to Pruitt.

  “Yeah, my name is Mike Carlson. I want to hire you.”

  Mike Carlson told Rayne, Pruitt, and Sammy Sloan the same story his employer, Peter Llewellyn, had told the Calibers. He also believed the couple would return to rob another store.

  “Llewellyn begged me not to tell the police that I thought it was Emily, his daughter, beneath the mask I saw. I agreed, but only because I had no proof. I want you people to get me that proof and place that spoiled bitch in jail.”