Martin was drinkingcoffee at the table in the living area when Kieran arrived. “How was your night?” Kieran looked around.
“She slept in. We had a cup of coffee together, and she went to take a shower.”
Kieran sat at the table, poured a cup of coffee and began to brief Martin about what the Lyon police reported when a blood-curdling scream came from her room. Kieran and Martin, weapons drawn, ran to her. The screams were coming from the bathroom.
“Monique, it’s Kieran Chase; I’m coming inside.” He hip-checked the door, easily overcoming the lock.
The glass shower door was splattered red. A white robe hung from a hook on the wall. He handed his gun to Martin and opened the glass door to find a naked Monique sitting on the tiny shower seat, covered in red, crying. He pulled on the handle to shut off the water that was still running red. After grabbing and opening the robe, he crouched in front of her, doing his best to only look at her face. “Come here.”
Monique stood as Kieran rose, holding her frightened gaze with his. After she stepped into the robe, he tied the sash around her, and with a hand against her back and another beneath her knees, he scooped her into his arms. Her head rested against him, her sobs continuing.
“Shh, you’re safe.”
Martin’s eyebrows pinched together. “I’m sorry, Boss. When I cleared the place, I didn’t run the water.”
A sideways posture let Kieran pass Martin and get to her bed. After laying her down and covering her, he moved to stand. Her hands grabbed at him like that of a small child. “Don’t leave me,” she cried.
“Martin and I are both here.” He exhaled loudly. “Farmer, get me a towel and then use a washcloth to test the other shower, both tubs and both sinks. I’ll call it in from here.” As one hand rested against Monique’s shoulder, she curled around him like a cat. The thought came to his mind. As Martin was coming out of the bathroom with the towel, Kieran snapped his fingers and signed, C-A-T.
Martin’s shoulders rose, and he nodded.
Kieran handed her the towel before he picked up his cell phone and dialed 9-1-1. “This is Kieran Chase; I work for Chase Security. I need to report harassment and stalking. I require a supervisor to respond. This is a continuation of a case started yesterday. Victim Monique Lillier, Fairmont Del Mar, third floor.” He regretted he didn’t move her to a new hotel instead of within the Fairmont complex.
Martin called into Kieran, “Boss, the other shower is clear.”
“Monique, it’s red dye. Are you up to taking a shower?” His tone was gentle.
“You’ll stay?”
He knew she was seeing danger around every corner. “If you want.” He inhaled through his nose and out through his mouth. Staying was not a problem… Leaving would be.
She nodded, and her lower lip wobbled. He wondered if she knew what she was doing to him. Thankfully, Martin was also in the suite. “Okay. I’ll stay. Before you shower, I need to take a few pictures first. I’m sorry.”
A strangled laugh fell from her lips. “No one has ever apologized for taking a picture of me.”
He walked her to the second bathroom after grabbing her shampoo and soap from the master bathroom. Before he let her have them, he shot pictures of the dye-streaked bottles and washed them. Carefully, he filled his palm with each to make sure the products inside were safe and what the labels stated they were.
Kieran cocked his head. Even doused in dye, she was beautiful. Guilt over what he felt almost overwhelmed him. The line between personal and professional was growing thinner and closer. Offering her a small smile, he asked her to face him. His breath locked in his chest when she dropped the robe and stood naked in front of him.
The camera on his phone shielded his reaction as he snapped a picture. “One more, turn around.” He shot another photo, struggling not to touch her, then managed, “Okay, shower when you’re ready.”
At her insistence, he stayed. As soon as she was in the stall shower, he sat in the vanity seat and looked at himself in the mirror. Pleased his face did not show his rise in blood pressure, he hoped the rest of his body would cool down. A text message from Martin popped up—Soleil missing. I’m doing second pass. Julian is en route as well as four level-threes from San Diego.
He responded,Pull the bedroom door closed. She’s showering. Have Smooth reach out to his brother when he gets here to see if he’s working.
When the shower stopped running, Kieran rotated in the seat so his back would be to her. “It took a lot of scrubbing, but it came off.” She stepped from the shower and chuckled. “You can turn around. I’m sure you’ve seen a naked woman before.”
Kieran stood and opened the door to let the steam out. “The police should be here any minute. Once you give your statement, I’ll escort you to my suite at The Omni.”
“Your suite?” One perfectly sculptured brow rose.
“Beautiful, as much as I would love to share a bed with you, the suite has a second bedroom. Two of my senior people have a room on the other side of the suite. I promise you, once we are there, I will go over what Chase Security will provide for you if you want us to.”
“Monsieur Chase, what you have already provided—I will need the cost.” She opened her closet and collapsed to her knees. “Soleil. Mon petit garçon, oh mon dieu, non. Non, non, non.” She lifted Soleil’s body into her arms and wailed, pouring her heart out in French.
Kieran could not understand most of the words, but he did understand her pain. He knelt beside her. In her despair, she angrily screamed, “Laisse-moi mourir seul. Il n'y a plus de raison d'être ici.”
A white card was slipped through the cat’s collar. Kieran grasped it by the corner, and at the same time, pulled the comforter from the bed and wrapped it around Monique. “Let it out. I’m here.”He pulled her into his lap, crossing the emotional line.
