Jacob nodded slowly. “I can talk to Dad, too. See if he can’t use his political influence to get the ball rolling before the fundraiser. If Ryder is responsible and his piece does well at the auction, he’ll have his foot further through the door of Zephyr Gallery.”
“And more time alone with Sassy,” Chay said. “If he’s the one trying to get into her house, this is personal.”
Nick’s gut twisted. “I know,” he said with a swallow.
“He’s potentially violent as well, if he’s the one behind what happened on Main Street,” Jacob expounded.
The situation felt volatile. The instability of the house of cards Nick was building to keep Sassy safe made him want to hold his breath. “Do you think the detectives at DCPD will set up a sting?”
“Ryder will be there the night of the fundraiser, correct?” Chay asked.
Nick nodded. “All of Sassy’s artists will be.”
“He’ll likely make a move then,” Chay concluded, looking to Jacob in question.
“It’s probable,” Jacob said. “I’ll talk to Dad this afternoon and call you when we have a meeting set up with the chief of police.”
“Please ask your father not to mention anything to Sassy’s parents,” Nick requested. “I know the family’s close, but if this is going to work, we need as few people to know about this as possible.”
“What if we request that police send a patrol car to sit outside her house?” Jacob asked. “That’ll give us some peace of mind about her home safety.”
“That’s something you can tell her,” Chay said.
Nick nodded in agreement. “I’ll sleep better knowing she’s okay there alone.”
“We all will,” Jacob said. “You’ve done some good investigative work here, Nick. The chief’s going to ask you to join his investigative unit once your wrist’s healed.”
Nick circled his wrapped wrist with his good hand. Even the dregs of pain had started to ebb. He would start physical therapy exercises soon to get his strength back up. His return to work couldn’t come soon enough with bills piling up. “I like where I’m at,” he claimed. He missed making a difference in people’s lives every day.
Would he have been able to deduce what was going on with the gallery and Ryder’s possible involvement if he hadn’t been on sick leave? Maybe spraining his wrist had been a good thing in disguise.
Chapter 15
“I’m sure you have many other things to focus on other than me,” Margot said as she sat before the vanity mirror in her room at River House. “Your auction’s tonight.”
Sassy tutted, running her fingers through the ends of Margot’s fine silver hair. “Why would I throw over my very first client?”
Margot released a fluted chuckle, her features transforming. “You only wanted to be a cosmetologist for one summer.”
“And you were the only one brave enough to volunteer to be my guinea pig,” Sassy remembered fondly. She set aside her shears and placed her hands on Margot’s delicate shoulders. “How did I do? Not too short?”
“It’s perfect,” Margot said, reaching up to lay her hand over Sassy’s. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Sassy set the shears in her purse, lifting Rogue—who she’d again sneaked into River House—off Margot’s lap so that she could remove the nylon cape. She shook it out once, letting the loose silver tendrils litter the floor. “I’m sure Mr. Kincaid will agree.”
“Mr. Kincaid?” Margot shook her head as she rose from the stool in front of the mirror. “Sassy, how you do carry on.”
“I was talking to Ms. Porter,” Sassy noted, folding the cape and setting it aside so she could pick up the broom and dustpan. “Word is Mr. Kincaid can foxtrot like there’s no tomorrow.”
Margot cackled so hard she crumpled to the edge of her bed with its lace-trimmed coverlet and held her stomach. Knuckling the tears from the corners of her eyes, she struggled for breath. “Oh, dear. I haven’t laughed like this since…”
Sassy’s broom paused midswipe as Margot struggled to remember. Quickly, she resumed. “That just means Rogue and I don’t visit enough.”
Margot lifted her hands so the cat could pad across her lap and settle there again. Sassy smiled as Margot caressed Rogue’s curled-up form. Rogue might be salty as hell, but she knew a thing or two about timing and compassion.
As soon as she disposed of the hair in the dustbin, she took a seat next to Margot. “You want to be my date to the fundraiser tonight?”
Margot pursed her lips but couldn’t hide the amused flash behind her eyes. “Really, Sassy.”
