lifetime of practice waiting out unexpected delays first with her own work as well as her husband’s in the CIA, not to mention her brother, Thomas. Raising a daughter determined to follow in their footsteps and now having to handle all this without Casey’s father.”
It had been a year since Casey’s father died but Victoria felt sure it wasn’t easy to be the mother of the bride without her lifelong partner. She took a sip of her wine. “I’ve always thought weddings are just a shade easier for a groom’s mother. For Casey and her mother’s sake, I hope Thomas gets here first thing in the morning.”
“I can’t imagine he’ll waste any time,” Lucas said. “Walking her down the aisle might make him nervous, but only in the best possible way.”
Victoria smiled, anticipating the wedding. “It’s sure to be a memorable moment for all of us.”
Chapter Seven
Jason spent another thirty minutes tailing the Jeep, while he waited for word from the office. Naturally, there were plenty of places she might be headed, but he just didn’t believe she was going anywhere other than Glenstone.
The blizzard was getting worse and he knew better than to miss the next check-in, or worse, have no new intel on DeRossi when he called.
He had the woman’s photograph and the information on the temporary license plate. It would have to be enough for now. Resigned and frustrated, he took the next exit and headed back to Denver and DeRossi’s hotel.
Orders or not, there was no way he would sit back and allow open season on Director Casey to go unanswered. The man had done too much for Jason, personally and professionally.
He turned up the volume on his phone and opened the police scanner app in case they got into some new trouble.
The director was more than a boss or mentor; the man never asked his Specialists to do more than he himself was ready to do. Lessons and memories flashed through his mind as he battled the weather to get back across town.
Nearing the airport, he dialed DeRossi’s hotel and asked for her room number. When no one picked up, he ended the call and then dialed her official cell number. That call went straight to voice mail and Jason hoped it meant his search of her room wouldn’t get interrupted.
He found a parking space that afforded a quick exit if necessary and braced for the long walk through the bitter weather. Cold and wet, the warmth of the lobby was a welcome relief. He brushed the snow from his hair and rubbed the chill from his hands as he strolled toward the main elevators. He pressed the button for the floor above DeRossi’s and, knowing how to blend in, he chatted about the unexpected weather with the other guests who boarded the car.
When the elevator stopped at his floor, he exited and deliberately took the long way around toward the stairwell nearest the service areas. It took him a few minutes, but he found a maid with her cart and gave a room number. He sweet-talked her out of extra towels, while pocketing her key card, then headed for the stairs.
Down one flight, towels under his arm, he moved quickly to DeRossi’s room. He knocked, paused, then swiped the card through the reader.
His gaze swept the room, taking in details with one swift glance. She’d left clothes on hangers, and the luggage rack was out, but there wasn’t any luggage in the room. He spotted a cell phone charger in the outlet by the desk, but the tablet he’d seen her use at lunch yesterday wasn’t here. Everything pointed to her intention to return, so he quickly searched for any clues about why she had intercepted the director.
“What do you know that I don’t?” He whispered the question into the empty room as he opened drawers, peeked under both mattresses and searched in and around the mini fridge and microwave.
Finding two wigs explained how she’d slipped by him, and it made him feel all the more determined to find something relevant now.
He paused, hands on hips, feeling every second
It had been a year since Casey’s father died but Victoria felt sure it wasn’t easy to be the mother of the bride without her lifelong partner. She took a sip of her wine. “I’ve always thought weddings are just a shade easier for a groom’s mother. For Casey and her mother’s sake, I hope Thomas gets here first thing in the morning.”
“I can’t imagine he’ll waste any time,” Lucas said. “Walking her down the aisle might make him nervous, but only in the best possible way.”
Victoria smiled, anticipating the wedding. “It’s sure to be a memorable moment for all of us.”
Chapter Seven
Jason spent another thirty minutes tailing the Jeep, while he waited for word from the office. Naturally, there were plenty of places she might be headed, but he just didn’t believe she was going anywhere other than Glenstone.
The blizzard was getting worse and he knew better than to miss the next check-in, or worse, have no new intel on DeRossi when he called.
He had the woman’s photograph and the information on the temporary license plate. It would have to be enough for now. Resigned and frustrated, he took the next exit and headed back to Denver and DeRossi’s hotel.
Orders or not, there was no way he would sit back and allow open season on Director Casey to go unanswered. The man had done too much for Jason, personally and professionally.
He turned up the volume on his phone and opened the police scanner app in case they got into some new trouble.
The director was more than a boss or mentor; the man never asked his Specialists to do more than he himself was ready to do. Lessons and memories flashed through his mind as he battled the weather to get back across town.
Nearing the airport, he dialed DeRossi’s hotel and asked for her room number. When no one picked up, he ended the call and then dialed her official cell number. That call went straight to voice mail and Jason hoped it meant his search of her room wouldn’t get interrupted.
He found a parking space that afforded a quick exit if necessary and braced for the long walk through the bitter weather. Cold and wet, the warmth of the lobby was a welcome relief. He brushed the snow from his hair and rubbed the chill from his hands as he strolled toward the main elevators. He pressed the button for the floor above DeRossi’s and, knowing how to blend in, he chatted about the unexpected weather with the other guests who boarded the car.
When the elevator stopped at his floor, he exited and deliberately took the long way around toward the stairwell nearest the service areas. It took him a few minutes, but he found a maid with her cart and gave a room number. He sweet-talked her out of extra towels, while pocketing her key card, then headed for the stairs.
Down one flight, towels under his arm, he moved quickly to DeRossi’s room. He knocked, paused, then swiped the card through the reader.
His gaze swept the room, taking in details with one swift glance. She’d left clothes on hangers, and the luggage rack was out, but there wasn’t any luggage in the room. He spotted a cell phone charger in the outlet by the desk, but the tablet he’d seen her use at lunch yesterday wasn’t here. Everything pointed to her intention to return, so he quickly searched for any clues about why she had intercepted the director.
“What do you know that I don’t?” He whispered the question into the empty room as he opened drawers, peeked under both mattresses and searched in and around the mini fridge and microwave.
Finding two wigs explained how she’d slipped by him, and it made him feel all the more determined to find something relevant now.
He paused, hands on hips, feeling every second
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