Page 23 of Wilde In His Arms

“I’ll let our group setting up Blackrock Falls know that you’ll be joining them soon.Mason can oversee everything until you get there.I’d start looking for a place.Unless you plan on crashing at your brother’s until you decide what you want.”

I know exactly what I want and she’s a five-foot-five spitfire with dark hair and blue eyes, who has my heart—and my balls—in a vise at the moment, because she refuses to believe I’m coming for her.

“I’ll start making plans.”He’d already started.

“I’ll contact Mason and make him the offer, though I’m sure he’ll take it.I’ll send the formal offer over to you as well, and we’ll get the ball rolling on your transfer while you tie up this case with an arrest this time.”

Nick didn’t take any offense that his boss implied Javier’s escape had been his fault.Helping his fellow agent, who’d been shot, took priority over arresting Javier.Still, Nick felt the pressure to stop Javier once and for all.“I’m on it.In fact, I’ll be meeting his sister in about ten minutes.”

“Good.I hope you get her to talk and we can get this guy once and for all.I’ll have the team setting up the new office keep in contact with you about their progress.More soon.”His boss hung up and Nick sat back, happy for the first time in a while that things were going his way.

He hit the speed dial for Aria on his phone and left her a message, because it was too early for her to be up yet.“Hey, sweetheart, it’s me.I just got off the phone with my boss.He’s transferring me to Wyoming.I already found a house I know you’ll love.I’m going to buy it.For us.I don’t know exactly when I’ll be there, but soon.I promise.God, I miss you.I hope you think this news is as good as I think it is.”

He hung up and tried to focus back on his case and what he needed to accomplish today.

Nick had Julia Lopez under surveillance, as well as the private resort where she worked.

Snowcap Resort was everything it claimed to be.The place to ski, mountain bike, fish, golf, and network with those who had risen to, or were born into, the upper echelons of society.The who’s who of the small and big screen, the tech world, big business, even government, were members of the private resort.The surveillance team had gotten some great shots of the rich and famous enjoying the amenities.

Though there were a few children spotted, they were all carefully identified as children of the guests, or even school friends, tagging along on vacation.

They hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary.

Julia was seen entering and leaving the property each day that week, arriving on time and leaving within a relatively close time to her shift’s end.Some days ran longer than others for her, but it seemed she kept to her schedule.

The only thing she did after work was stop by her mother’s place to check on her.

Nick had learned that the elder Lopez had been frail for some time.Arthritis.Julia picked up groceries for her mother a couple times a week and stopped by to check on her every evening.

He found the Lopez place interesting.Aside from the main house, there were three small cabins on the property.All vacant.

He wanted to check them out but didn’t have probable cause for a warrant.Yet.

But he wondered why Julia didn’t rent out the cabins to earn some extra money.

Maybe she did from time to time, using some other means to advertise.Word of mouth even.But his mind went to something sinister, involving Javier, the dark web, and pedophiles.He’d have the cyber team look into it.

But first, he wanted to surprise Julia at work and see how she reacted and what she had to say about her brother.

Wednesday was a quieter time at the resort.Most people preferred to stay for a long weekend, while fewer stayed the whole week.He hoped to find Julia less busy and more willing to talk if she wasn’t worried about catering to the elite guests.

He drove up to the guarded gate and flashed his badge.“Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nick Gunn.I’m here to speak to Julia Lopez.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.We’re old acquaintances and this is official business.I’d prefer if you didn’t tell her I was here and allowed me to meet her in her office, or somewhere private where I can talk to her.”

The security guard picked up the phone to call someone, probably the manager, to find out if they should let him in.The last thing they wanted was a fed roaming the property.Their members expected privacy.This was a haven where they could relax and let their guard down.

The security guard hung up.“The hotel manager, Dennis Collins, will meet you in the lobby.Please park in the staff lot to the right of the resort.”The guard handed him a pass to put on his dash.

Nick drove through the massive gates and down the tree-lined driveway toward the circular entry by the main doors.He pulled out of the loop to the right and followed a shorter road to the staff parking lot.It took him only a few minutes to traverse back to the main entrance and walk into the gorgeous lobby.Wood dominated the space.It was a mountain retreat, after all, but this one had huge crystal chandeliers overhead, forest-green upholstered chairs, and navy-blue sofas, accompanied by white marble-topped wood tables.To the right was the check-in desk in the same wood tone with a marble top.Two people manned the desk, while a third watched over the tall cabinet of keys to all the expensive cars parked outside.

“Agent Gunn?”

Nick turned to the gentleman in the black suit, white shirt, and green tie that matched the chairs behind him.“Mr.Collins.”

“Dennis will do.”He waved his arm out toward a more private area, away from their avid audience sitting at the check-in desk nearby.

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