Page 25 of Risk Assessment
“Sure.” Dylan led them to the bedroom while Raleigh stayed in the kitchen. She wasn’t ready to go back there just yet. She propped her head in her hands. A few minutes later they were all back in the foyer. Raleigh stood up but stayed beside her stool in the kitchen.
“So anyone could have taken the scarf?” Cosgrove asked.
“Yes,” Dylan agreed. “The event was packed. We can’t even nail down a time because we were moving around all night.”
She turned to her partner. “Go to the control room and check the video of the party. See if there’s anything. Maybe we caught the guy grabbing the scarf. It’s doubtful but worth checking.” The kid nodded and then left.
Cosgrove turned back to Dylan. “We checked the cameras around this bungalow after you called but there were too many people who walked down the main pathway and, unfortunately,we don’t have any cameras covering the path to the front door. I’ll be honest with you; we’re in the process of upgrading the cameras around the resort and the main lodge has been a priority. We just haven’t gotten over here yet.”
“I understand.”
“Ms. Ross, can we chat for just a second?”
Raleigh nodded and Cosgrove came into the kitchen. “Ms. Ross, first please let me apologize on behalf of myself and the hotel. We pride ourselves on our security but,” she grimaced, “we cannot be everywhere at once.”
Raleigh blinked. She didn’t know what she expected but it wasn’t an apology. However, her words made sense. A break-in happened at her hotel. Realistically, they should apologize and do so much more. “I… thank you. I appreciate the apology.”
Cosgrove gestured toward the stool next to Raleigh. “May I sit?”
“Please,” Raleigh nodded and sat back down.
“Dylan told me about your stalker, but I would like to hear it from you, if that would be okay.”
Raleigh shrugged but agreed. She spent the next ten minutes explaining everything to Cosgrove.
“Again, I want to apologize, Ms. Ross. You have been through hell. Stalkers are horrible and terrifying but please remember they are also human and can be caught. We can ask some of the guests who attended the party last night for their cell phone footage and see if they caught the guy stealing your scarf.”
“No!” Raleigh was on her feet instantly. “I mean no. Please don’t do that. Lydia, that is Mrs. Harris would be furious.” She licked her lips. “To be honest, she’ll fire me if her guests are disturbed like that. It would go all over social media and the wedding would trend on social media for all the wrong reasons. So, please, please don’t do that.”
Cosgrove grimaced. “I am familiar with Mrs. Harris, and I hate to say it but you aren’t wrong about her reaction. Unfortunately though, it does limit what we can do. Paul is looking at the party footage right now but with all those people and from the description of the location of your table, I’m guessing we won’t have anything.”
Raleigh sat back down. “I’m not surprised. My stalker seems to be able to get away with everything.”
Cosgrove stood up. “We will do our best to keep an eye on you and your cabin during your stay and if anything comes from the video or our investigation, I promise to let you know immediately. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.” She offered her hand to Raleigh and then to Dylan. He walked her to the door. They chatted for another minute, almost too low for Raleigh to catch their words. She leaned toward the hallway Dylan was telling her about Mark the thieving waiter. Then the door closed.
She sat back down. It was refreshing to have someone listen to her story and not think she was exaggerating or making it up, but she noticed Cosgrove didn’t say anything concrete about catching the person. They would investigate and look at the video of the dinner but Raleigh didn’t hold out much hope.
It would be better if she faced the facts; her stalker was here. Now, what was she going to do about it?
CHAPTER TEN
Dylan was returning to the kitchen when his cell went off. He glanced at the screen. “I’m going to take this in the living room, okay?”
Raleigh gave him a tight nod.
He quickly moved from the foyer to the far corner of the living room. “Gabe. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.”
“Your text sounded like it was a bit of an emergency. What’s up?”
“So I, um, need help. Since I’ve been kicked off the team and assigned to desk duty I can’t access anything at work. Not that I would anyway since it’s a personal thing but—"
“Dylan, I’m gonna stop you right there. I’m happy to help if I can. It’s not a big deal but I will point out if you worked with me, this would just be another day at the office,” Gabe said.
Dylan paused. When Gabe had offered him a place at Risk Strategic Security, he’d automatically turned the opportunity down. Maybe the job deserved further consideration. “Can we table that for now? Long story short, I’m doing a favor for my cousin. That woman you saw me with earlier, I’m supposed to be her bodyguard for the weekend. She’s having stalker issues.”
There was a pause. “Explain stalker issues.’”
“She has a stalker, or at least she says she has a stalker. Thing is, local cops couldn’t find any proof that he’s real, and they’ve written her off as crazy.”
