Page 128 of Bling

Chapter Thirty

A ringing phone tore Garrett out of a fitful sleep. He reached around in the dark for the receiver, intent on hurling it across the room. Instead, he pressed it to his ear and glared into the pitch black of the bedroom. “What,” he snarled.

“Mr. Oliver, this is Lori down at the front desk. I’m so sorry to wake you, but we’ve got police in the lobby looking for you.”

His heart jumped into overdrive and he bolted upright in bed. “The police? Did they say what they wanted? Do I need an attorney?”

The woman seemed baffled. “I have no idea, Mr. Oliver but they seem quite impatient that I won’t tell them what room you’re in.”

“Thank you for that, Lori. Please tell them I’m on my way down.”

He rolled out of bed and pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. His stomach growled and his first thought was to wonder if Isabelle was eating. Damn it. He couldn’t get her out of his head even in the dead of night. Downstairs, two officers waited for him. One looked like he was nearing retirement, and the other appeared to be fresh out of the academy.

“Officers, what seems to be the trouble?” he asked.

“Is there somewhere private we can talk, Mr. Oliver?” the young one asked.

Garrett looked around the lobby. “Gentlemen, it’s two in the morning. There is no one in here. Let’s just have a seat over there and get to the point, shall we?”

They grunted in the affirmative and Garrett turned to the desk clerk. “Lori, is it?” When she nodded, he smiled. “Can you get some coffee for us, please?”

“Right away, Sir.”

Garrett strode to the seating area in the middle of the lobby and dropped into a plush chair. The officers sat on a couch across from him.

“Do you know Darren Gunn?” the older officer asked.

Garrett was alert now, no coffee needed. He kept his public appearance mask in place, though, and didn’t react to the name. “I do. He was a former supervisor in one of my facilities. I recently fired him. What kind of trouble is he causing now?”

“It seems someone caused him the ultimate trouble, Mr. Oliver. Darren Gunn was found dead in the wooded area just beyond your property line at Colorado Logistics.”

Garrett lifted one eyebrow. Just then, Lori appeared with a tray of coffee. “Here you folks go. Let us know if you need anything else.”

Garrett reached for a cup and two packets of sugar. “That’s unfortunate. What does this have to do with me if he wasn’t on my property when he died?”

The young officer picked up a coffee as well and drained it.

“Based on our initial investigation, it seemed as if Mr. Gunn was trying to get onto your property before he was attacked. We know you employ security but couldn’t find anyone on the premises when we looked around outside earlier. Would you be willing to contact your security team and see if they know anything and ask them to come in for a formal interview?”

Garrett already had his cellphone out. “I will. What else do you need?”

“Just covering the bases, but can you account for your whereabouts this evening from say nine to midnight?”

Garrett smiled. “I can, but you would need security clearance to get access to any substantial proof. I’ll have my lawyer work on providing it for you.”

“What are you, some kind of government agent?” The older cop asked, rolling his eyes.

Garrett gave a low chuckle. “No. But I am the chief economic advisor for President Donovan.”

Both men eyed him skeptically. But by tomorrow morning, they would have proof in their files that he was in his hotel on a videoconference with the White House during that time.

“Seems a bit far-fetched, but I don’t really watch much news so maybe you’re telling the truth.”

Garrett shrugged. “It’s your job to be skeptical, so I don’t blame you.”

Garrett stood. “If you have no other pressing questions, I’ll get on the phone with my head of security.”

“We have a few more questions, but they can wait.”

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