For a moment, she thought the two guys would put up a fight, but they deflated quickly.
“Look,” the one she kicked said. “I’m off this case.”
“Case?” Jack asked incredulously.
The guy nodded.
“You aren’t cops,” Jack noted. “At least, not now. What are you?”
“Private,” the kicked one said.
“As in detectives?” John asked.
The guy nodded. “Hired to watch a hotel room and try to apprehend her if she returned.”
Trixie was confused. She knew Jack and John would sort through it all though.
Behind them, the water churned and splashed as the guy who’d fallen in scrambled to get out.
“We were told she stole something,” the guy who’d tripped in the vomit said.
“Who hired you?”
“We can’t tell you that! We’ve said too much already.”
“Do you work for Todd Stark?” John asked. “Tell me.”
Something in his eyes must have convinced the guy, because he said, “Know him. And help him. But notforhim.”
John looked at Jack. “So Todd hired extra help. Got some PI guys.”
“Be my guess.” Jack looked back at the men again. “Who hired you?”
Trixie figured it was worth a shot.
But all the guys shook their heads. The one who’d fallen into the pool said, “We have rights. Our client has rights.”
John shrugged. “You’ve all but confirmed. Todd Stark. Our question is: who hired him?”
“You can take all that up with him. We’re out,” the guy from the pool said, water dripping loudly on the pavement as he stood there with a soaked sports coat sagging off his muscular shoulders.
“We intend to,” John said. “Just tell your little buddy Stark that if he ever comes at my babygirl again, I’ll bring him up there…” he craned his neck and pointed his gaze at the very top of the towering hotel for a moment before looking back at the men, “and toss him off.”
John gave each one an icy stare before taking Trixie’s hand and leading her away.
As they walked toward the door that led back into the hotel, Trixie couldn’t help but giggle, despite the violent events that had just unfolded.
“I called you Daddy! And you called me babygirl!”
“Yep,” John said. “I guess there’s no beating around the bush. I’m your Daddy.” He stopped, held out his hand for her keycard, and used it to open the door once she’d handed it tohim. Before she walked in, he gave her a smile—but it had an edge.
What he said was even sharper.
“Which means, as your Daddy, I will be disciplining you for this little dangerous stunt you pulled, missy.”
Trixie gulped.
It was all fun and games until you poked the bear.
