Page 21 of Tough as Steele

Nate expected that response, but the job was what it was.

“I’ll be in and out.” He handed his card to Randy. “Call me if you find anything even the least bit suspicious.”

Nate turned to leave but heard a noise coming from the bedroom.

“You have someone else here?” he asked Randy.

“There’s a detective in the bedroom.”

Bishop hadn’t said anything about assigning someone else to the investigation.

Londyn.Had she heard? Was she back?

Nate gritted his teeth and headed for the door.

He turned the corner to find her standing by the antique armoire. She hadn’t taken the time to change her party attire and still looked fresh. He, on the other hand, was probably a disheveled mess by now. And heaven help him, he was glad to see her, and yet annoyed too. She might be partnering with him, but he hadn’t authorized her to be in the building nor given anyone leave to let her in.

“What are you doing back here, Steele?” He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from fisting them.

“Helping you do your job.” She looked at him, the left door in her hand. The door he hadn’t thought opened. “Looks like we now know how Mimi was taken from the building.”

6

Londyn wasn’t surprised to see a flash of irritation in Nate’s eyes, but he might not have heard about their partnership yet, and she would give him the benefit of the doubt.

“How did you get past the guard at the door?” He got the words out between clenched teeth. “I told him not to let anyone in, even you, without telling me.”

“I told him you were expecting me. He said you were with your LT. I told him not to bother you. Didn’t he tell you I was here?”

Nate shook his head and stepped her way. “How did you get that open?”

She held up a magnetic keycard. “I searched the drawers and found this. The door has a magnetic catch.”

“I saw the card too, but it never crossed my mind that it would work on that door.” He let out a breath. “Especially when Wendy claimed it didn’t open.”

“I figured it had to open. You must not be as devious as I am.” She grinned and dropped the card back into the drawer.

He cracked a smile, and his face lit for a moment. Wow. The relaxed expression she hadn’t witnessed before gave him this whole charming vibe that she could add to her attraction to him. Which she wouldn’t do. Not with a huge lead staring her in the face.

She shone her phone’s light into the opening. “A secret stairwell.”

He moved close and poked his head in the opening, a woodsy smell emanating from his skin. “Why would Mimi need a secret exit from her own house?”

“Maybe she didn’t feel safe at her age and built an escape instead of a panic room.”

“Could be.” He stepped closer to look inside, and she smelled that complex aftershave again, this time noting a hint of musk. “Obviously whoever took her had to know about this exit.”

“Wendy,” Londyn suggested.

Nate met her gaze. “I was thinking the same thing. She doesn’t seem to care about Mimi’s disappearance at all. She’s been reluctant to help when she should be all over wanting to find her boss.”

Londyn told him what she’d learned. “Not sure if Mimi didn’t do her due diligence on this woman before hiring her or if Wendy found a way to hide her past.”

Nate held her gaze. “I was about to look into her, but let’s check this out first.”

Londyn struggled to pull her gaze free. “We know no one has been in here since Mimi’s abduction. It wouldn’t hurt for us to put on fresh booties. We’ll keep from having any cross contamination.”

“I’ll get them.” He spun and crossed the room.

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