[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
empty. Can t be positive unless we clear every room. My guess is he s watching from outside.
On a silent nod, both men serious now that weapons were drawn, they moved in tandem down the
short hallway. It took less than five minutes to verify three of the rooms were empty, and the fourth
contained stacks of white cardboard bankers boxes, each labelled with a year presumably the date
of the records within.
Why would they leave these boxes? Isn t this evidence of some sort? Ryan whispered.
The crime scene is Draco s office, so even though they would have checked every room in the
building, it s not likely they could take anything not directly related to the shooting. I suppose they ll
dig further into the club background if the investigation wears on?
I guess, Ryan said. Man, we ve got a lot to learn if we re going to be PIs once we retire&
Shut the fuck up, Rhino. You ve got a job to finish, Cliff said, although a smile played about his
lips at the reference to one of many post-Navy careers they d discussed over the years. Private
investigator usually came up after a few too many brews while binge-watching NCIS.
Cliff checked his watch. Let s look at the office, then& you said there s an elevator in there?
Yeah. Maybe we can hit the third floor quick and be back downstairs before your detective
arrives. Since Draco gave you free run of the place we ll have plenty of time to look around after he
officially turns the keys over. Speaking of which& why d you blow the door?
I was in a hurry. Besides, I didn t blow it much. Just took out the locking mechanism. It s
repairable. Come on, let s hurry.
Moving quickly, they closed the door behind themselves, then using hand signals, they counted
down before bursting into the office, weapons at the ready.
Blood still stained the floor, although someone had cleaned up the biohazards. Draco would no
doubt be getting a bill from the local crime scene decontamination contractors. From the angle of the
stain, Ryan could visualize where the bartender had fallen, just inside the door. Circumventing the
dark mark on the cheap carpet, he stepped farther into the room, aware of Cliff s presence behind
him.
As before, Ryan went left and Cliff right until they cleared the space. When he got to the partially
open bookcase, Ryan ducked behind it and stood looking at the bed for a long moment. An ugly heat
burned low in his belly when he thought of Cliff lying here, cuffed to Draco s headboard. Pressing his
lips tight together to keep from saying anything stupid like from now on my bed is the only one
you ll be cuffed to he flipped on the light switch then crossed to where the elevator doors were
partially concealed behind a trifold screen. He pushed the button and they slid open noiselessly.
I didn t even know that was there, Cliff said quietly from the entry.
Ryan turned and walked back to the main part of the office, needing to be away from the bed and
the unwelcome images of a bound and submissive Cliff.
Ryan? Tell me again why you re here?
Meeting his friend s light steel-gray eyes, Ryan waited a beat before he answered. Cliff s once
dark hair was definitely more salt and pepper now, and longer than he usually wore it. He d been up
and getting ready for a run early this morning, with no time for a shave, so his jaw was scruffy and
begged for Ryan to touch it, to feel the bristle beneath his palms. The loose-fitting windbreaker did
little to disguise the solid build of the man, even under his body armor. Everything about Cliff was
just& right.
Why hadn t he realized this sooner? His heart seemed ready to gallop away, the beat of his pulse
sounding loud in his ears. Moistening his lips, Ryan stalled for time, forgetting for a moment what the
question was.
You re still active duty, Ry& and with your new orders& this really is a situation you shouldn t be
involved in. I appreciate you going through the building with me, but seriously, you need to go before
Wagner gets here and officially makes you part of the case. This is something I can handle alone.
Ryan blinked once, then the truest words he d ever spoken seemed to tumble out of his mouth.
You re never going to be alone as long as I m alive.
*
Cliff stared at Ryan, trying to make sense of the words coming out of his friend s mouth. It was the
second time he d said something to shock Cliff since he d arrived& twenty minutes ago? Before he
could ask for clarification, the quiet vibration of his phone against his hip drew his attention. Since
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]