Page 50 of Dark Memories
He stepped forward, offering his hand. The detective’s grip was strong, and there was a warning in his eyes. What was that all about? “A pleasure, Detective Calder.” He glanced at Delaney. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”
She finally met his gaze. “Of course I would. What happened?”
“Have a seat. I’ll let Jackie tell you.” He moved behind his desk, and when everyone was seated, he turned his attention to Delaney. She glanced at him and there it was, the soft smile he knew was only meant for him.
Unlike when she’d been staying with him and wearing jeans and sweaters, she was all cop today in her cargo pants, Henley shirt, the badge, handcuff case, and holstered gun on her black belt. There was something downright sexy about a woman wearing a gun and handcuffs, the latter he wouldn’t mind them playing with someday. As if she knew where his mind had gone, she narrowed her eyes. He winked, getting a wrinkled nose, which only made him want to laugh.
But two detectives were in his office for a reason, and he nodded at Jackie. “Tell them what happened.”
“I’d just left the building to go to lunch, and a man started walking next to me. At first I thought he’d move on ahead, but he didn’t. He was making me nervous, so I slowed down, but he did, too. That was when I realized he was intentionally keeping up with me.”
She had her hands clenched together, her knuckles white. Zach had heard the story once already, and the rage still burned that Garth Davidson had broadened his nasty game to include Jackie, a grandmother and the sweetest woman he knew.
“Did you know the man? Ever seen him before?” Delaney asked.
“Mr. Jamison showed everyone a picture this morning of that vile man who took our Kali. It was him.”
Delaney took out her phone. “This man?”
“Yes, that’s him. As soon as I realized who he was, I turned around to go back into the building. That was when he gave me a message for Mr. Jamison. He said, ‘Tell your boss he owes me, and I will collect.’ He grinned then, and it was like seeing the devil grin.” She shuddered. “There was evil in his eyes. All I wanted was to get away from him, and when I tried to walk away, he grabbed my arm. He said, ‘Before this is over, he’ll know what it’s like for someone close to him to die. It might be you. It might be that pretty cop he has guarding him.’”
Zach heard two growls. One came from him, the other from Delaney’s partner. He and the detective exchanged looks, both silently pledging that Garth Davidson’s days were numbered. Detective Calder might have a gun and badge and that was good, but Zach had money. Money could buy anything one wanted, and he wanted those he cared about to be safe. He’d hire the best PI money could buy to track Davidson down if it came to that.
“Did he say anything else?” Delaney asked.
Jackie shook her head. “No. When I tried to jerk my arm away and he wouldn’t let me, I screamed. He gave me that creepy smile again, and then walked away. I ran back into our building, bumping into Chandler Burgess as he was coming out.” She glanced at the detectives. “He’s security in the lobby, where visitors check in. Apparently he’d been watching on the monitor and realized something was wrong.”
“We have the encounter on tape, for all the good it does,” Zach said. “No sound, though. My head of security was able to track the taxi. Davidson was left off downtown in front of Smokey’s. It’s a hole-in-the-wall bar.”
Delaney’s partner frowned. “How does your security have access to those other cameras?”
Zach leveled Detective Calder a look. “Don’t ask.”
“Just curious.” Calder shrugged. “We’ll take help from wherever we can get it.”
“I’m assigning one of my security team members to stay with Jackie until you catch Davidson.”
Jackie’s gaze darted to his. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. I won’t risk you being hurt by that man.” He smiled. “Can’t have some douchebag running you off. How would I survive without you?”
“He really wouldn’t,” Jackie said to the detectives. “If you don’t have any more questions for me, I’ll excuse myself.” She glanced at him. “I need to get those reports collected from your department heads before this evening’s board meeting.”
Delaney handed her a card. “My cell number is on there. If you see him again, you call me right away.”
“Thank you, Detective. Truthfully I pray I don’t have any reason to call you.”
“Me, too,” Delaney said.
Zach walked Jackie to the door. “You sure you don’t want to take the rest of the day off?”
“And what? Sit home twiddling my thumbs? I’m fine, really.”
“Okay, but don’t try to sneak out without Jason. He’ll be your shadow until Garth Davidson’s behind bars.”
When he returned to his desk, Delaney and her partner broke off their conversation. “Did Davidson know that Jackie’s my assistant, or did he approach the first person to exit my building?”
“Is she listed on your company’s website anywhere?” Delaney asked.
