“Yes, I was.” Her voice took on a hostile tone.
“Then let’s go.” It might be a trap, but Shay wasn’t going to waste another moment waiting for the mousetrap to close over her. She practically raced to his car and scooted as far over to the passenger side as she could.
It wasn’t that she was afraid he would touch her. She just wanted to be close to the door handle in case she had to make a break for it.
“So where to?” Drew asked when he got behind the wheel.
That was a good question. She couldn’t outright tell him the police station he might take her somewhere else. On the off chance he wasn’t a bad guy he’d ask questions. The less he knew the better. Her mind worked at warp speed. She rattled off a building that was close to the police station.
Drew didn’t question it but put the car in reverse and they were on their way. They rode in silence as she watched the scenery out of the window. Waiting to see if he took them somewhere else.
She couldn’t say she knew exactly where they were other than a few miles outside of the strip. She remembered it hadn’t been a long road trip last night. As soon as the familiar hotels came into view, she started to relax. So far, he was a man of his word taking her where she asked.
She death grip on the door started to relax and her flight instincts were easing. Shay studied Drew out of the corner of her eye. Had she misjudged him?
He didn’t look like he was leading her to her doom. He didn’t look like the men she saw at the club or the men thatheld her. Appearances could be deceiving but she didn’t get a menacing vibe from him.
Certain things about him made her wary. The wristband and passing out last night. She could rule those out despite her attraction to him. She hadn’t always been the best judge of character. Her ex came to mind. Bad boy hadn’t even scratched the service of him.
Drew pulled up to the curb of the address she’d given him. He seemed to study the building for a minute. “A youth center?”
He sounded surprised. Shay leaned over the middle console to look up at the building a smile on her face. “I used to love coming here when I was a kid.” Her mother used to bring her here as a kid. It was her escape from the guards and restrictions. Here she could just be a kid.
Even now, at twenty-six she liked to come here. She found it relaxing. Shay loved watching the kids play. Her mother had been a patron and once she was old enough Shay had taken over, giving back to the place that held so many fond memories.
Drew looked up and down the street as if he were looking for danger. “I don’t feel comfortable just leaving you here.”
His concern made her smile. “There’s no place safer. Thanks for ride, Drew.” She started to let herself out but he placed a hand over hers on her seat belt buckle.
“Hang on.”
Trepidation filled her veins like ice. Her palms turned sweaty as he got out of the car and came around to her side. What was he doing? Then he surprised her by holding the door out for her. Shay only hesitated a moment then got out. What a gentleman.
“It was nice meeting you, Shay.” His eyes drank her in as if he were memorizing everything about her. She did the same thing.
“You too.” She found herself admitting then walked away, retreating to the sanctuary of the youth center. Waiting for him to leave so she could go to the police station that was only two blocks away.
Chapter 8
Drew watched Shay until she disappeared inside. He wanted to call her back. To erase that look of fear that always seemed to be lurking in her eyes. She didn’t think he noticed but he did. For some reason he felt it was aimed at him. He didn’t know why. He’d never done anything to make her think he’d hurt her. Drew had gone out of his way to make her feel relaxed. Hopeful she would trust hi and tell him about the club, but it wasn’t meant to be.
With one last look at the doors he pulled back into traffic. He needed to forget about Shay. It was for the best. She was a distraction he couldn’t afford. Already once she’d caused him to get distracted and let drug dealers slip through his fingers.
Twenty minutes later he was back at Club Fantasy. Yellow Do not Cross tape covered the front of the building. The stench of burned wood was predominate as we walked up to the doors. A police guard stood near the door waving onlookers along.
Drew waved his inspector badge at the guard. He only spared it a quick glance and ushered Drew in. Drew had many badges to accommodate his different jobs. Since his job wasn’t supposed to exist, he’d learned it was all about attitude and not allowing someone to overstudy his fake badge.
The stench of fire was stronger inside the building. The lights were off giving it an eerie look. The brick structure had held up against the fire but it had eaten through the roof and he could see into the second floor in spots.
Water still dripped in spots from the fire hoses dousing last night. HE could still feel heat from the extinguished fire. Seeits scorch marks imprinted on the walls. It was a far cry from the club it had been last night.
His boots crunched over broken glass and fallen boards as he made his way to the stairs. Before he went up though he headed toward the bathroom, the security room was nearby. Lucas said cameras had been turned off so he couldn’t see but there should still be internal storage.
The room was still in pretty good shape. The fire department had put out the fire quick enough it hadn’t completed destroyed the building. It would all still have to be remodeled. Most likely torn down and rebuild. Another reason he needed answers quickly before demolition teams erased all his evidence.
He hit the speed dial and waited for a moment. “Lucas, I’m in.”
“Okay, plug in that usb I gave you.”
