Dirk laughed. But the truth was, Ethan was more interested in seeing one particular half-naked woman, and because he didn’t like sharing, he would rather she be all-the-way naked just for him. Beyond that, he would worry about her safety until he got back.
Ethan headed for the door.
The sign etched into the plate-glass window read “Brodie Operations Security Services, Inc.” The relatively small freestanding building took up two floors of a brick structure on NE 8th in downtown Bellevue. The reception area, conference room, employee lounge, and an open area with rows of desks, each with its own computer, were located on the first floor.
Upstairs was Ian’s office, plus a room with a couple of beds where the guys could crash if they got in late, and the office Sadie sat in to work her computer magic.
Ethan shoved through the door into the reception area. Modern in design, with a butter-soft black leather sofa and chairs and a black granite coffee table, the waiting area as well as the rest of the decor was expensive, masculine, and comfortable.
Heading into the main part of the office, he spotted his brother, Luke, sitting at his desk.
“Hey, bro,” Luke called out. At six two, he was an inch shorter than Ethan, with a hard, lean-muscled build. A year younger than Ethan’s thirty-two, with his short-on-the sides, sun-streaked brown hair and brilliant blue eyes, Luke was an unrepentant ladies’ man with no intention of changing anytime soon.
As Ethan walked up, he grinned. “Say, you wouldn’t happen to have a backstage pass to the titty show, would you?”
Ethan felt a shot of irritation. “It isn’t a titty show. These women are high-class models. They’ve been working twelve hours a day to put this show together.”
One of Luke’s dark eyebrows went up. “That so? Seems to me it was you who was grumbling about taking a job babysitting a bunch of airheaded women.”
“Well, I was wrong. They aren’t what I thought. At least most of them aren’t. The bad news is, last night one of them was murdered.”
The teasing light slid from Luke’s handsome face. “Don’t tell me it was the creep who sent those notes.” His brother knew the reason La Belle had wanted to add more security. Luke’s specialty was tracking down bail skips. He made a fat living as a bounty hunter, but he could handle just about anything.
“Guy left a second note,” Ethan said. “Threatened to kill another model if the women didn’t repent.”
Luke hissed in a breath. “You need some help?”
“Appreciate the offer, but it isn’t more men we need; it’s a lead that’ll give us a way to find this guy.” His brother might be a little wild at times, but he’d been Delta till he’d taken a bullet next to his heart on some secret mission too classified to talk about. He was capable, reliable, and strong as steel. And beneath his lighthearted banter, Luke was the kind of man who believed in protecting a woman at any cost.
“I’ve got to check my messages,” Ethan said. “Then I’m heading up to see Sadie. I’m hoping she can help.”
“Good idea.”
Ethan walked toward his desk.
“Listen . . . sorry about that crack about the girls. I was just trying to fire you up a little. With the trouble you’ve been having with Ally and Hannah, you’ve seemed a little down lately. I meant what I said—you need help, just call.”
“Thanks. I will.” Aside from being his brother, Luke was a man Ethan could count on. He wouldn’t hesitate to ask for his help.
Crossing the office, Ethan sat down at his desk and picked up the phone. The days of an actual person taking messages were long gone, so he checked his voice mail, which he usually did from his cell. Unless it was necessary, he didn’t give out his cell number. He liked to keep his private life private.
There were only a couple of messages, phone calls that pertained to his last assignment. Those he returned, then headed upstairs.
Ian’s office door stood open, the room decorated in the same black-and-chrome motif as the rest of the building. Sitting behind his desk, blond hair a little rumpled, head bent over as he worked, Ian looked up as Ethan approached.
“How’s the show going?” his cousin/boss asked. He was tall, like the rest of the Brodies, with an athletic build and a too-handsome face. There was a time Ian had had women falling at his feet, but since he’d met his wife Meri, those days were past.
“Everything was going just fine till one of the models got murdered last night.”
Ian came out of his chair. “Sonofabitch. What the hell happened? Christ, don’t tell me it was that crazy who sent those notes.”
“Looks like. The vic was strangled. Her name’s Delilah Larsen. The police don’t have jack. I’m here to talk to Sadie, see if she can come up with something.”
“Good idea. You get into the crime scene?”
“Yeah. Looked like a burglary gone bad till they found another note in the victim’s safe. Note made a second threat similar to the first. Be best if they canceled the show, but that’s not going to happen. We really need to find this guy.”
“Yes, and the tour leaves for Dallas on Tuesday. Security’s going to be a bitch.”
