Page 66 of Reckless Kiss

Chapter 21

“You were right about looking deeper into the rumors,” Hope said as she pushed a large envelope across my desk. “There are some connections. I’m not sure they mean anything but they’re all in there.”

“What kind of connections?” I was doing my best to track down every scrap of information I could find on the Nashville team, Edmund Brown, and the current payoffs. My clients had nothing to say to me, which was as disconcerting as it sounds. I got to know these men, their secrets, their hopes and dreams. I negotiated their futures and buried their pasts.

“Well for one, they all used the same real estate agent and car dealership, but that’s not surprising.”

I had an old friend who was known to do some hacking and other borderline illegal online activities. I contacted him to see if he could find me some names. A week later I had five. None of the information was official but it was assumed at the time that these five Nashville players were the ones involved. Hope was looking into what connected them to each other.

“They spent their money in the same place, got it. Anything else?”

She shrugged. “They took a few vacations together. Again, nothing of use. The only really interesting thing about most of the information in that folder is that these five were really close. The other guys on the team didn’t use the same real estate agent or car dealership. They didn’t go on vacations together. It was just these five. And then...”

That sounded promising. “And then?”

She squirmed. “They all belonged to the same club. The Secret. It’s a—”

I put up my hand to stop her. “I know what The Secret is.”

She stopped squirming and smiled instead. “Oh really? Why do you know about The Secret, Leo Hancock?”

I gave her a hard look. “How doyouknow about The Secret, Hope Siolo?”

“I know people and I’m an excellent investigator.”

“Yeah, well I have clients who are members.” I grimaced. “I’ve had to kill more than one story involving it.”

The Secret was an exclusive sex club for celebrities, athletes, and the very rich. There were locations in several major cities, including Nashville.

“Touché,” she said. “Again, this isn’t information that means anything. But it is odd that all five of them were members at the time. There are a few reports in the folder from people I trust. It’s worth a look. Maybe you’ll see a connection I don’t.”

“Thanks Hope. I appreciate this.”

“No problem. How does your girlfriend feel about you digging around in her father’s business?”

I walked her to my door. “She doesn’t know.” And I had no plans to tell her.

“Oh. Well, be careful Leo. Lies by omission have killed many a relationship.”

* * *

Something must have happenedafter I left Claudia and Seth in New York because I got a call from Butler asking if I could accompany Claudia to the game. I picked up Esme from the university and now the three of us sat prominently behind the umpire as Butler stepped up to the plate.

The Mantas were down by two in the fifth and everyone in the stadium vibrated with hope that Butler would dig them out of a hole once again, driving in the runner on second with a home run.

“Are you going to make me ask?” I said.

Esme looked between Claudia and me. Claudia kept her gaze focused on her boyfriend. Boy toy? Booty call? I didn’t know anymore.

I heard the snap of a baseball hitting a catcher’s mitt at ninety-five miles an hour.

“Did you tell him?” I tried again.

She closed her eyes and I saw a mix of emotions pass over her face. “We had a conversation.”

“What kind of conversation?” For some reason I felt the need to hold Esme’s hand so I blindly reached for her. She took my hand and squeezed.

Claudia glanced at the motion from the corner of her eye. Her shoulders dropped. “You two are really sweet. I need to break up with him.”

---