Page 113 of Moonlit Colorado

We didn’t bother to get dressed after the bath, just drying off and then tumbling into my bed. And of course, we wound up messy again. Making love all afternoon until we were exhausted. Though I was careful to be more gentle and pay attention to how she was doing. Grace was strong, and I trusted her to tell me what was too much, but I was nevernotgoing to put her welfare first.

Grace napped in my arms, while I stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. I was content though. How could I not be? I was naked in bed with the woman I loved. Hard to find fault with that.

I scowled when my phone rang on the nightstand, surprised to see Warren’s name there. I hadn’t expected to hear from him again already, especially because I hadn’t sent him those fake photos yet.

Grace stirred, lifting her head. Her hair was frizzy and tangled from our latest lovemaking session. “Do you need to get that?”

“It’s Warren, my investigator. I’ll let him go to voicemail and call him back in an hour.” Grace deserved some peace. Hell, so did I. Besides, the more time Warren spent on my case, the more he could charge me. That was a bill I was happy to pay.

But Grace sat up, pulling on the sheet to cover herself. “No, it could be important. I want to know what else he’s found.”

“You’re the boss.” I smirked at her as I grabbed the phone. “Hey, Warr. You’re on speaker with me and Grace.”

“Grace, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Dane’s one arrogant asshole, but you’ve managed to wrap him around your finger. It’s impressive.”

I rolled my eyes and put my arm around her.

She laughed. “Um, hi Warren. Good to meet you too. Have you found something new for us?”

“I assume Dane updated you on everything we discussed at my office this morning?”

“Yes,” Grace said.

“I had to go all the way to Brooklyn for it, too,” I grumbled.

“The exercise is good for you. But trust me, I didn’t know I’d have more for you so soon. In my line of work, sometimes information moves at a slow trickle. And sometimes it floods in all at once. I just got a hit on Nina Badowski. She used her debit card to get cash at a convenience store in Hart County, Colorado.”

Grace jolted, spine going straight. “Hart County? That’s where I’m from. Is Nina still in Silver Ridge?”

“No, she’s in an unincorporated area in a remote part of the county. I was able to track her down to a motel. It’s about, let me check…an hour from Silver Ridge. She’s registered under another name, but the motel clerk confirmed what she looked like. Helped that I transferred a hundred bucks to the guy’s Venmo account.”

“So you don’t think he’ll tip Nina off?” I asked.

“Doubt it. I told him he’ll get another Venmo transfer if he gives me a heads-up when she checks out. But she’s been staying there a while. Pays in cash. This motel is cheap, but not free. I assume she avoided using credit cards to stay hidden, but she ran out of funds and got desperate enough to risk the debit card.”

“How did you get access to her banking info at all?” Grace asked.

“Trade secrets, my dear. Dane, I’ll send you the motel info. Let me know what else I can do for you. I could be on a flight to Colorado tomorrow.”

“No,” I said. “I need you at your desk. I’m going to send you some photos via courier. Grace received them anonymously today. They’re deep fakes, made to look like I was meeting with Nina Badowski, along with a note. I want to know who sent them. It might not be connected to Vincent Brady and his attack on Grace, but it could be.”

“Got it. I’ll take a look.”

“Talk soon.” I ended the call, immediately reaching for Grace again. I needed her close, skin to skin, for as long as we had that luxury.

“So we’re going back to Colorado?” she asked.

“What makes you say that?”

“We know where Nina is. Someone has to go meet with her and find out what she knows. I’m sure you’re planning to go, and if you value your life, you’ll bring me with you.”

“I declare that I love you, and now you’re threatening me?” I teased.

“If flying makes my concussion symptoms worse, I can handle it. Don’t you dare leave me behind. You said in the past that we would make a good team.”

“I remember.”

“This whole mess involves me just as much as it involves you. I’m coming.”

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