Nicholas
“Hispanic female appears to be in her late teens, possibly early twenties. She was found in the bed by hotel housekeeping.” I enter the hotel suite no more than two hours after I left Emerson’s apartment where I got the call.
Following behind Perry, I listen intently as he explains the situation. “She has marks to both wrists and ankles which lead us to believe she was bound, and the marks on her throat indicate possible strangulation. Whether asphyxia is what led to her death or not is undecided at this point until the autopsy is performed.”
I step up to the side of the bed and scan over her body. She is naked, her hair a matted mess, a possible sign of struggle. Carefully, I observe the team as they scrape beneath her nails, gather items from around the room, and so on, all things that may be used as evidence.
“Have we gathered the security tapes from the halls and elevators?”
Perry nods.
“Interviewed the staff who worked over the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours?”
“We’ve spoken with the hotel manager, and he has called in Mr. Mansfield to gather this information for us.”
Just the mention of Emerson’s father's name causes my lip to curl in irritation. I had no idea this location is one of his.
“He wasn't agreeable at first until he realized that once the media got wind of this, they would be bringing a lot of unwanted attention to his fine establishment.”
“Is he here now?”
Perry nods. “Apparently he arrived only moments ago.”
“Let’s go check those tapes and have a little chat with Mr. Mansfield, shall we?”
The entire ride back downstairs to the main lobby my body hums with energy. I continue to remain tight-lipped as Perry walks toward the front desk and then veers off to the left and begins walking down a long hallway. Even from a distance, I can almost feel her, my hands fisting as I fight the urge to go to her. Emerson is in the middle of a conversation when she turns her head toward us, almost like she feels my presence.
I don’t miss the shock that fills her eyes as she glances between the open door to her left then back to me once more. I imagine just inside that door is the man I despise though I’ve never physically met him.
“Ms. Mansfield,” Perry greets her as I keep my eyes locked on hers. “This is the lead detective on this case, Nicholas Vaughn. He would like to see the tapes from the last twenty-four to forty-eight hours from floor twelve, as well as the main lobby and any other entrances or exits to and from the hotel.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Vaughn.” Emerson reaches her hand out toward me, and I only stare at it with my eyebrow arched. So this is the game we’re playing? Daddy is near, so she can’t possibly show that she knows the man her father feels is beneath her.
I take her hand in mine, but instead of speaking I merely nod in greeting. The desperation in her eyes that indicates she wants me to keep our knowledge of one another hidden only pisses me off, especially after the weekend, hell even the morning, we’d just had together.
“Detective Vaughn,” my stare down with Emerson is cut short by the arrogance of her father as he steps out of the room, “I’ve gone over with my security team the needs of your department, and they are fully prepared to assist you without any hesitation.”
He doesn’t offer a handshake, just his curt nod as he speaks in a clipped tone.
He is tall with silver grey hair and a squared jaw. I can almost see the arrogance rolling off him in waves. I look between Emerson and her father, trying to find one ounce of resemblance, only there is nothing connecting this man with the woman I’ve begun to fall for.
“We’ll be in my office.” He grips Emerson’s elbow and I can feel my body go rigid immediately. “If you would like anything further on this matter that my security team cannot provide, I’ll need you to discuss that with me.”
“Or her?”
I watch as Hector looks over at his daughter and find the way he glares at her infuriating. His expression looks like he feels she isn’t capable of anything more than he assigns. “Her job does not entail such things.”
Emerson looks down, and again I want to punch the smug bastard for making her feel inferior. Sorry piece of shit is something, that’s a fact. I stand in place as I watch him lead her down the hall. Just as they round the corner, she looks back at me.
It takes all I have in me not to take off after them and rescue her from the hands of that entitled prick. But the fact is she is a grown woman, and she is the one who gives him the power he holds over her. She is also the only person who can take that away.
* * *
“What’s up your ass?”
I glare at Terry as he sits in the chair across from me.
“Don’t poke the bear,” Spencer responds before I get the chance to. “He’s sulking, and I’ve already been threatened with bodily harm. There was mention of a beer bottle being shoved up my ass, which let me say is not gonna happen.”
“Why is he sulking?” Terry asks Spencer, as if I am not even there.
“It would seem that he ran into Emerson today.” Terry arches a brow, questioning Spencer’s statement. “The bombshell that won him at the auction. They’ve been hooking up, played house all weekend too.” Terry waves his hand indicating Spencer should continue. “He saw her earlier today when investigating a case, and it would seem that she pretended not to know him because her father was there too.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Hector Mansfield,” Spencer says, and it seems explanation enough.
Terry’s eyes widen, and he mumbles, “No shit.”
“I’m right fucking here, you assholes.” I reach out and smack both on their foreheads.
“So Daddy doesn’t approve?”
“Unless I have a trust fund and six cars lined up, I’m at the bottom of the list.” Hell, I’m not sure that shit would even make a difference since I still wouldn’t kiss his fucking ass like other men do. That man will not have any type of control over me, not now or ever.
“Have you talked to Emerson?” Spencer asks, and I shake my head. “Have you attempted to call her?” Again I shake my head. “Are you gonna?”
“Nope.” I lift my beer to my lips and take a swallow. “I thought about it,” I add once I lower the bottle, “but then decided I’m a grown man and have no need for games. If she wants to act like she doesn’t know me then so be it. But I sure as hell am not going to run to her or chase after her either. I’ve made my intentions clear, and if that's not enough then fuck it.”
“Yeah,” Terry says clicking his beer to mine, “then fuck it.”