Moving down the hallway I listen to Justin talking shit in my ear as he seemingly tries to impress Decker, Marlee, or maybe both. With the feed covered off and the three of them still in the VIP lounge, I know I'm good to proceed.
That’s not to say my heart isn’t still pounding as I reach Justin’s office door. Any slip up now could cost me everything and ruin any chance we have of stopping Decker. But I’m not going to stuff up because there’s no way I’m ever going to put Marlee in the line of fire—real or otherwise—again. I've faced far worse adversaries than Decker James in my time to falter now. People are depending on me, Marlee needs me to get this done.
Just as I’m about to ease the office door open to slip inside, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I’m surprised to see Harry’s name on the screen. I quickly reject the call and put it away again, not wanting the distraction. I’m not supposed to talk to him anyway, but losing my cool in the middle of the delicate operation would not be a wise decision. Right now I need to focus.
Without being able to see the camera feed, I rely on the audio, pausing for a second just as Marlee's sultry voice fills my ear. “You going to tell me why you wanted to meet me tonight, Decker? You mentioned an event?”
He chuckles. “Can’t a man just enjoy the pleasure of a beautiful women’s company?”
“Of course. But you’re a busy man, and the last time you brought me here, you left me by myself to tend to business. So forgive me if I want to get that part of the evening out of the way first, just in case you get called away again.” Her tone is sassy and almost seductive, the perfect kryptonite. Hell, if I was sitting next to her, there’s no way I’d be thinking about anything other than getting that woman into my bed.
“Hmm,” Justin replies. “She's got you there, Deck.”
“I could make it up to you if you’d let me. I’ve been trying for a week now and you keep brushing me off.” There he goes riling me up again without knowing he’s doing it. Just the thought of him making anything up to Marlee has my fists clenching tight.
“I’m a busy woman. You know how it is,” she replies smoothly. “And we agreed that we would keep this professional.”
“You agreed, Quinn. I never did. Definitely not when it comes to you.” And I can almost see him wink at her. “I definitely don’t kiss my other business associates like that.” I clench my fists at the memory.
“Maybe I had a few too many drinks,” she shoots back with a laugh. I can’t just imagine Decker’s ego taking a hit from her brush off.
“Good to know. Maybe I’ll just keep the drinks flowing so you can get professional like that again,” Decker replies, Justin soon joining him. Whereas I’m thinking about storming down there to drag Marlee out of the club like a caveman instead of focusing on the office I’m about to break in to. Head in the game, Lawrence. She can handle herself just fine.
I take a deep breath and checkup and down the hallway before pushing the door open and slipping inside.
Surveying the room, I move straight to the desk, quickly trying the first set of desk drawers with no luck. Moving to the other set, I find the top two locked but hit pay dirt with the last one. Pulling it open, I catch sight of a generic-looking burner phone underneath a pile of paper.
“Time to focus, gentlemen. You talked about an event, Decker. Did you want me to organize it? The last time we talked, you said you wanted me to focus on the VIPs and influential clients,” Marlee says in my ear.
“I did. It’s being held next weekend, in fact,” Decker replies calmly.
“OK…I can do it. I’m sure I can. It's just short notice, that's all. What's the occasion?” she asks as I carefully pick up the burner phone and try to turn it on. I’m surprised when it not only powers up but I discover that there's no password protecting it.
“I have no doubt, Quinn. But that’s not necessary.”
Scrolling through the call log, I see nothing but four numbers. I take a photo of the screen so the numbers can be traced later but one of them I recognize and it’s the confirmation I didn't want to get. The final nail in Harry’s coffin. I have to block that out of my head now though because until I'm out of this office and back in the control room, I'm a sitting duck and mine and Marlee’s covers are both at risk the longer I stay here.
“What do you mean?” Marlee asks.
Decker chuckles. “Can't a man plan an impromptu celebration?”
“Decker James can do whatever the hell he wants,” Justin lets his hero-worship flag fly and I roll my eyes.
Marlee snorts in my ear. “I guess a man with Vegas in the palm of his hands can do that.”
“I like the way you’re thinking, Quinn.”
“You still haven’t told me why I’m here and why Justin is here if you’re not going to talk business,” she asks.
“Maybe I just wanted to see you again,” Decker replies, his voice deeper and smoother, an air of certainty lacing his words. What the hell are they playing at?
No longer needing the phone, I put it back in the exact position it was in and slowly close the drawer again. I scan the desk, searching for anything incriminating. Of course, Justin's smarter than I have given him credit for and there’s nothing but invoices and reports spread out all over the place, none of them arousing suspicion with my cursory glance.
Just as I’m about to give up I spot a folder partially hidden under some paperwork.
Curiosity piqued, I open it up. My eyes widen when I realize I’m looking at phone records for Mary Whittaker along with her DMV photo, details of her life back in Wyoming, and her CV. All of it easily to explain away given she used to work at Marquis. That’s until I see another folder with the same information for her brother Jason as well as bank statements and surveillance images. That’s not something the club would need. The problem is that none of it makes sense.
I quickly snap photos of everything I’ve found. Just as I go to slide my phone back into my pocket, it vibrates again, this time with a text.
“So this event, are we talking a networking event? Promoting the club? What?” Marlee continues.
“It's a celebration for me and a welcome to Vegas party for you,” Decker answers.
Marlee gasps. “For me? Why?”
“I have a property in The Ridges that I’ve just closed on and it will be the perfect venue for what I have planned. And what better occasion to introduce you to the who’s who of Vegas? You’ll have clients coming out your ears and you’ll soon be the most sought-after event planner in the city.”
I whistle through my teeth. The Ridges has houses that go for fifteen million and then some. It's also exclusive and far enough out to be private if needed.
“Really?” Marlee asks excitedly, playing her role perfectly.
“Yeah, babe. All I need you to do is turn up and look gorgeous. You can do that in your sleep, I bet.” I’ve got to hand it to the bastard, he’s smooth. “Justin, show her the real estate photos.” I hold my breath and wait for Marlee to sound suitably impressed as I stand in the middle of Justin's office, looking for anything else that catches my eye.
“Damn. You don't muck around, do you? That house is beautiful” she replies right on cue, earning a chuckle from both men.
“Decker has an image to maintain,” Justin adds.
“Well, that house will definitely do that. I’ve never seen something that big.”
Decker sighs with satisfaction. “I like privacy and nice things to look at while I’m at home. Why do you think I want you there?” His voice is low and husky and I know the man well enough by now to know he's trying to charm her.
Marlee giggles right on cue before pausing. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I’m not. I’m honored you’d give me this opportunity. I just…”
“You want to know why? I get that. I figure, what’s the point of having influence if not to use it wisely? This will be an important night, Quinn. Memorable, even. One that no one will forget.” A chill washes over me at his words. He’s being cryptic as fuck and I don’t like it one bit. What is he planning?
“Are you sure you don’t want me to do anything? Caterers? Security?” she says, sounding like she's working through a list in her head just like any other event planner would do.
Just as I turn to leave, my eyes fall onto a large folder sitting askew on a bookcase. Something carries me across the room to check it out.
“No need, Quinn. Look at you, all work and no play.” Decker muses. “I've asked Aiden Lawrence to be in charge for the night, do you remember him?”
“Hmm. Was he the man with Justin at our first meeting?” She’s playing this perfectly. Quinn has no connection to me, and that’s how it has to stay.
“Yep. That’s him. Good guy. Reliable. Predicable.” I pause with my hand resting on the folder. Decker thinks I’m predictable? Something isn’t sitting right about this whole ‘event.’
Thankfully, Marlee doesn’t falter. “Oh, OK. That's good then.”
“And of course, you'll be my guest for the evening. I've always had a thing for brunettes,” Decker says, his tone dripping with innuendo. I freeze in place, wondering if I heard him wrong.
I clench my fists tightly, my blood boiling. I have to remain calm and focused. I hold my breath as I wait to see whether she takes Decker's bait because it is a strange and out-of-context comment to make, almost one made to trip someone up…
“And yet you're here with me? Should I feel honored or offended that you're suggesting I change my look?”
“Not at all,” he muses. “What do you think, J? Wouldn't Quinn look breathtaking as a brunette?” In my head, he's reaching out and touching one of her soft flowing waves of dusty blonde locks and in my head, I’m ripping his hand away and punching him in the mouth.
“Um, yeah… sure,” Justin replies, sounding confused. “I bet Quinn would look good in anything though.”
“Thank you, Justin. That's very sweet of you,” she replies coolly, her voice thankfully betraying nothing. “I used to be brunette but decided that anything’s possible in Vegas and that means I can try being blonde.”
“Mmm hmm,” Decker’s hum sounds pleased at the reaction he was undoubtedly going for. But alarm bells are ringing like foghorns in my head.
“Now, since we’re not really here to talk business, I think I might leave you and get on with my evening,” Marlee announces, giving me my cue to hurry up and get out.
The three make small talk in my ear as Marlee says her goodbyes and I open the folder, my mouth dropping open at the first page I see—a list of names, locations, and payment details, none of which seem to have anything to do with Marquis. The payments are all innocuous, most of them going to and coming from overseas accounts, but the people involved are names that would be recognizable to anyone in law enforcement.
My heart races as I contemplate the information in my hands. Moving to the second page, I freeze when I see Harry's name listed, followed by Barrett's mother-in-law. That makes no sense.
Also in the folder are lists of property locations, dates, times, and contacts that no one with legal business dealings should have.
“Have a good evening, gentleman,” Marlee says in my ear. Time to leave.
Cursing myself for running out of time, I scan the first list again, committing it to memory before closing the folder and sliding it back in place before I carefully make my way out of the office.
I’m halfway down the corridor when Chris steps out of the control room.
“Hey,” he says with a frown. “I couldn't see you on the monitors and I'm due my break. Everything OK?”
“Yeah, man. It's all good. Go take a load off and I'll take over till you get back.”
“Thanks, A,” he says, looking me over a moment longer before giving a chin lift and turning away.
It's not until I'm back at my desk that I realize I haven't turned the audio off from the VIP booth, and what I hear has my blood running cold.
“Everything set for Saturday?” Decker asks Justin, his voice low.
“Yeah. Just how you wanted it,” the man replies.
“Good.”
“You sure you want to do this? There are other ways to get it done,” Justin continues, almost sounding reluctant to comply.
“This is my game and this is how I want to play it. You more than anyone know how I operate and how I always get things done. What makes you think that I’d change my plans now just when I’m close to everything I’ve been working toward.” Decker’s voice is as menacing as I’ve ever heard it and it’s foreboding enough to have a chill going down my spine. This is his game? And what has he been working toward?
“I wasn’t… I mean, I’m not—” Justin stutters.
Decker growls. “How about you don't question me, and I’ll forget where you came from and how easy it would be to send you back there? Huh, Justin?”
“Ye-yeah. I hear you, Deck. Loud and clear.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard Justin sound scared until now.
“Good. Now why don't you go back upstairs and get back to work. There's a lot to be done before Saturday, isn't there? And have someone follow her home. I want to know she gets there safe and doesn’t leave.” Shit. I need to warn her. I want to kick myself for leaving my burner phone downstairs. Deciding it’s worth the risk, I pull out my cell and send her a quick text message telling her to go home and stay there and that I’ll explain later.
After Justin leaves, the audio goes quiet and I watch on the cameras as Decker sits by himself and watches down over the ground floor, as if surveying his kingdom.
I turn the audio off and wait until Ben leaves to take a leak before switching the cameras back to live footage. But I can’t shake the same sinking feeling that’s plagued me all night.
Whatever Decker has planned for Saturday, I'll be there. Whatever he has planned for Marlee, I’ll stop it.
Until then, I just need to get to the end of my shift and then I can organize a meet up with Marlee and Barrett for a debrief so we can formulate a plan and work out what the information from Justin’s office means.
Because I’m more sure than ever that something big is going down. And right now, I might just be the only one who can stop it.