Page 106 of Moonlit Colorado

“About as rare as the woman who got Warren Crenshaw to put a ring on her finger.”

He laughed deeply as he pushed the file across the desk. “Sheila will love to hear you say that.”

I sat forward and looked at the top photo inside the folder. Immediately, rage flared bright and hot in my veins.

This was the man who’d given Grace a concussion and bruised her ribs. Who’d punched herin the face.

Vincent.

I had promised Ashford I would end this guy, someway or somehow, and I wanted that so badly. “Please tell me you have his full name,” I said.

“Vincent Brady. This is his mugshot from his last arrest. Lengthy criminal history on this one. Larceny, fraud, and extortion. Plus a generous sprinkling of DV.”

Domestic violence. “Since he likes hurting people who are weaker than him.” I turned to the next page in the file, which detailed Vincent Brady’s rap sheet.

“Ms. O’Neal’s photos of him were key in identifying the man. They were nice and clear and head-on. I circulated those images with my network of informants, and that did the trick. Vincent has some mafia ties, but rumor is that he’s gone into business for himself.”

“What kind of business?”

Warren reached over to flip the papers in the file to another image. A woman with heavy makeup and blond curly hair. “Well, this is where Lexi Sanders comes in. Another identification my informants helped with. She has a criminal record as well. Petty theft, vandalism. And prostitution.”

I looked up from the photo, frowning. “Lexi is a sex worker? Are you telling me that’s how Vincent Brady is connected to her? He’s a pimp?”

“But he’s gone high class, or so the rumors say. Offering escorts to wealthy elites.”

I cursed, sitting back in my chair. “Running escorts in Knightly Global hotels.Shit. Any indication that my brother is involved in this?”

“Not yet. But I’ll keep digging. I’m not finished with show and tell, though. I’ve also got Nina Jamison’s real name. It’s Nina Badowski. She’s also a known associate of Vincent Brady, and it’s likely she’s one of his escorts.”

So much of this situation shifted into a new light. Nina had probably been at the ski resort to meet with Dirk Lancaster the night of the grand-opening party. He’dhired her. No wonder he’d been looking for that mask to identify her. He’d likely never met her in person beforehand.

An escort service running inmynew hotel.

My fist clenched and released. I had no proof yet. But my brother had something to do with this. I was sure.

“Any idea where to find Brady?” I asked.

“It seems he’s staying out of sight after the incident at your brother’s wedding. He’s probably left the city. If he turns up, you’ll be the first to know. What you do with that information…” Warren spread his hands. “We can talk about options, but depending on what you want to do, we might have to continue that conversation somewhere more discreet.”

I smirked. So Warren could already guess where my head was at. “What about Lexi Sanders or Nina Badowski?”

“I checked both of their last known addresses. Lexi’s roommates said she’d cleared out a couple of weeks ago. But Nina has been missing for well over a month.”

That fit with the conversation between Vincent and Lexi that Grace had overheard. “Nina hasn’t been seen since she was in Silver Ridge,” I said, remembering the conversation we’d had with Chief Landry weeks ago. “We also know from what he said to Lexi that Vincent was looking for Nina. If she works for him, that would make sense.”

But why had Nina walked away from meeting Dirk Lancaster the night of the party in Silver Ridge? Why had she given her mask to Grace?

And assuming Vincent had broken in to Grace’s house to steal it back, why the heck was that mask so important?

“We have to talk to Nina,” I said. “She knows what all of this is really about.”

“I’ll keep working on it.”

“Thanks for your help, man. I’ll owe you.”

“No kidding. Just wait until you see my bill.” He closed the folder. “But we’re not done yet. I’ve also got an update on the other matter. Grayden O’Neal.”

“Oh?” I hadn’t thought about Grace’s eldest brother at all in the last couple of weeks.

---