Page 13 of Capture
“Like I said, it was a rumor that I didn’t pay much attention,” she whispered, then recoiled and slunk away as Betty approached.
“You’re here early?” Betty stated breathlessly with that blood red smile as the bartender moved further away from us. Betty’s eyes flicked between the bartender and me, then forcefully relaxed my stance, cracked open a couple of pistachios, and then threw them back into my mouth.
“Just checking up on the place,” I replied, forcing the warmth in my tone, which wasn’t easy, since I’d never been a great actor. “Ronan’s busy with school.” I knew Ronan was guarding the traitor’s room and might need to catch up on sleep once he was done. But I wasn’t going to tell Betty that because right now, she’s got a target on her back.
“Okay, great. Is there anything I can help you with?” She cocked her head to the side as if she was picking up on my restrained energy.
“Yeah, no sign of rats?” I asked her, straight to see how she’d react.
She barely flinched. “No sign of any pest, including insects. You know we have a very high standard here at Savile, Mr. Kaiser.”
Her answer seemed rehearsed and out of character, but it was an answer that she knew I would want to show that she had it all under control, and for me not to worry about a single thing. Sure.
“Good,” I replied. “And the health inspector?”
She shrugged those shoulders and glanced at the bartender again, who crouched down behind the bar to check something. “I haven’t heard a peep since you paid him off,” she replied flatly.
“And the media?” I pressed, looking at her directly in the eyes, expecting a flicker of guilt, but seeing nothing. If she was collaborating with the Russians, then she had a clear conscience. Not a fleck of culpability in her face.
“Again, I haven’t heard a peep from them,” she asserted in that level tone that she had perfected. “You’ll be the first to know if I did.” She checked her phone as if a message had just come in, then tapped her long fingernail on the bar. “I'd better get back to the front desk.”
“Sure,” I nodded in understanding, and I waited until she was a few feet away before adding, “Didn’t you used to work in the theatre?”
She froze, looking back in confusion. “The theatre?”
“Yeah, acting on stage,” I clarified. “Weren’t you a theatre kid?”
“Yes,” she replied suspiciously. “Not just theatre, but I had small roles in movies and television series.”
“So, you didn’t quite get your break in Hollywood?” I postured, suppressing a smirk because she didn’t like that question. I touched on a sore point and found Betty’s weakness, an unresolved career.
“No,” she answered brusquely, controlling her tone so she didn’t snap at me.
“So, is running a Gentleman’s club Plan B, or maybe Plan C for you? I mean…it must be a comedown after pursuing an acting career,” I pushed further to see if she’d crack and show me who she was.
She sighed, frustrated and confused by my line of questioning. If she were colluding with the Ivanovs, she might tell them that I’m on to her, or she might assume I’m in a foul mood becauseeverything had been crap lately. Well, she wouldn’t be wrong there, and she might be responsible for it.
“I better go,” she stated evenly, then left.
As she started walking away, I swiped for our private investigator’s number, Danny, and as soon as he answered, “Beatrice Hewitt. Can you do some digging on her?”
He hesitated two beats. “Betty, your manager?”
“Yes. I assume a security check was done on her when my aunt and uncle hired her many years ago, but I’m starting to have some doubts,” I explained as my gaze latched onto the door that led upstairs to the little liar’s room.
“I’ll get onto it, Mr. Kaiser,” he replied. “Can I ask for specifics on why you think Ms. Hewitt might be a problem?”
Fair question. “A trusted staff member overheard a conversation that was cause for concern,” I told him, thinking of her.
She wasn’t trusted at all, but I sounded more convincing by saying that she was. But right now, she’s up in that room alone, feeling sorry for herself. My cock twitched. Huh. Interesting.
“Okay. I had already spoken to her, but it was mostly asking about her staff, not about her, since you held her highly,” he explained as if using that as an excuse.
“Well…I’m having second thoughts about that now,” I told him as I waved my hand at the bartender to grab her attention, then pointed to the glass bottles of spring water in the fridge, and she opened the door and took one out and was about to open it, when I held my hand up to stop her.
“Let me do some digging, but just to clarify, would you like me to update you or Mr. Brynes if I discover some sensitive information?” I’m glad he asked this question and understood the project's confidentiality.
“I prefer you come straight to me and make sure no one else knows what you’re doing, but if I’m unavailable, then Ronan isnext in line,” I asserted as I pointed to a packet of salted potato chips behind the bar, and the bartender grabbed a bag. Still, I raised two fingers and as if reading my mind, she grabbed a sour cream and onion to go with the salted packets. It was hardly nutritious, but it was a good snack food to eat between meals. I didn’t want her to go hungry, even though she was our prisoner and I hated her.
