Page 118 of Moonlit Colorado

“If that happens, I promise to bail you out.”

THIRTY-FOUR

Dane

Warren had been right.Grace really did have me wrapped around her finger.

Grace and I had both seen something horrific today. But if I could’ve placed that burden entirely on me, I would have. My protective side wanted to bundle her up and hide her from any other harm that might come her way. Yet Grace had just told me herself what she truly needed. To figure out what the hell was going on and make sure it stopped.

I agreed with her reasoning. There was something weird going on with that guy in the corner who was watching us, and if the man had any kind of information on Nina or Vincent Brady, now was the time to find out before he disappeared like the other leads we’d had so far.

How this tied back to Knightly Global, to my brother… I didn’t know yet. But I intended to find out.

My muscles tensed as Grace got up from the booth. She went straight for the hallway leading to the bathrooms near the back of the restaurant. I focused on eating and scrolling my phone, but I also kept the man in the corner in my peripheral vision.

The guy waited a minute, then two, drumming his fingers on his tabletop.

Then he got up, adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, and walked toward the restrooms.

Fury surged in my body. Leaving a bunch of twenties on the table, more than enough to cover our tab and a generous tip, I got up to follow. I didn’t actually think this man would attack Grace, at least not right away. But as for what the guy wanted, there was no telling.

The last time I hadn’t been around when Grace needed help, she’d wound up in the hospital. I wasn’t letting that happen again.

The hallway was long and narrow. I spotted the sign for the women’s restroom at the far end near the back exit. The man stood and stared at the door to the ladies’ room, shifting from foot to foot, like he was waiting for Grace to come out.

He glanced over at me as I came up fast. My hand clamped down on his shoulder. “You wanna tell me why you were following my girlfriend to the bathroom?”

His mouth opened like he might yell. So I hustled him quickly toward the rear exit door and pushed him through. Outside, I slammed him against the brick wall of the building. We were next to a dumpster, which hid us from the view of the parking lot.

“I can explain!”

“Then you’d better get going, because I already got one nasty surprise earlier today, and I’m not feeling very patient.”

Grace pushed through the back door, standing at my shoulder. “Who are you?” she demanded.

The guy glanced from Grace to me and back again. “A reporter.”

I tightened my grip on the man’s shirt. “Some vulture looking for a tabloid story? That’s supposed to make uslesspissed off?”

“An investigative reporter,” he rushed to say. “I was supposed to meet Nina Badowski this afternoon. She had information for me. But when I arrived, I found police surrounding the motel. Since then I’ve learned you’re the ones who found her body, I have to assume you might’ve been looking for the same info.”

“Do you know who killed her?” Grace asked.

“I have theories. But nothing to prove them yet, and that’s why I wanted to talk to you. I know you’re Grace O’Neal. And he’s Dane Knightly. You two are the only leads on this story I’ve got left.”

Well, we had that in common, since this reporter was our only lead too. But I wasn’t ready to back off and play nice just yet. “Then why follow Grace?” I demanded. “Why the secrecy? You could’ve come up to us in the restaurant and introduced yourself.”

“You know what happened to Nina. You got a far more graphic warning than I did of what’s at stake here. I have no idea who might be listening, but I don’t want to end up like Nina did.”

“Then why trust us at all?” Grace asked.

“Because I’ve been keeping track of this story for the last month.” He nodded at Grace. “I know you were injured a few weeks ago at a Knightly Global property. And you, Mr. Knightly, barely get along with your family. Whatever’s going on, it’s clear you’re on the outside of it. Someonedidcome to Hart County to silence Nina, but I’m sure it wasn’t either of you, and it wasn’t me. I’ll tell you everything I know if you do the same.”

I exchanged a look with Grace. She nodded, and I backed away, letting go of the man. “What’s your name?” I asked.

“Norm Haber. Feel free to look me up. My photo and bio are online.”

“We will,” Grace assured him. “But I’d rather go somewhere else to talk. That dumpster really stinks.”

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