When Evan suggested coming back here, Becs had expected to get booted by the concierge again. She’d been surprised when the man recognized her and told them that Saoirse had told him to let her know if they returned.
Surprise. We’re here!
“Sorry it took me a minute,” she said with an Irish lilt that turned her from stunningly beautiful to beguilingly intriguing.
Becs figured it was weird that she was practically drooling over this woman, but she couldn’t help it. It wasn’t an attraction thing. She didn’t find women attractive in that way. It was simply awe. There was no other way to explain it.
“I had to call my brother,” Saoirse explained. “He mentioned meeting some people from Texas.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Evan said as he scanned the interior of Saoirse’s apartment. “We’re here looking for a colleague, and we were hoping you might be able to help us.”
“This is about Decker?” Saoirse led the way into a spacious living area lined with windows overlooking Central Park.
Becs feared she would start drooling. This time, it had nothing to do with Saoirse’s beauty. It was the view that did her in. She couldn’t imagine living in a place like this, having the opportunity to see such wonder every day. Beyond the glass was a field of green that went on forever, and in the distance was the blue water that hugged the island.
“Yes,” Evan told her. “We were under the impression Decker was here on assignment.”
“Keeping an eye on me,” she said with a smile, gesturing for them to sit on one of the white leather sofas.
Becs eased down, sitting on the edge of the cushion, not wanting to get too comfortable. It took effort, but she kept her attention on Saoirse and not on the view of Manhattan.
“It wasn’t so much a job,” she explained. “He wasn’t getting paid. He said he was in town for business and he had some free time. It was more like a personal favor. I had a few … issues that he was helping me with.”
“Issues?”
“My ex.”
“Lawson Nova?” Becs asked.
She waved a hand in dismissal. “It’s all taken care of now. I’m no longer seeing … him.”
Becs wanted to ask her what happened, why they broke up, but she didn’t want to be nosy. Plus, Evan was the seasoned investigator. She was merely here because Brantley had paired them up.
“Do you have a history with Decker?” Evan asked.
A soft smile pulled at her mouth. “If you’re asking whether we were intimate…”
“No,” Evan said quickly. “I’m merely trying to find out what got him from Texas to New York. We were under the impression your brother called him and asked him to come here.”
That seemed to surprise Saoirse. “Not that I know of. He did come to my rescue one night.” Her gaze swung to the windows. “I was being hassled, and he stepped in. Took care of it. We got to talking.”
“So he wasn’t here specifically as your personal protection?”
“Not at first, no. When he realized I was upset about … what was happening, he offered to hang around.” Saoirse frowned. “Is there something wrong? I thought Decker went back to Texas.”
“We haven’t heard from him in five days. He’s missed his check-ins.”
Saoirse sat up straight. “The last time I talked to him, he said he was heading to the airport.”
“If he was, he didn’t make it,” Evan told her, his tone smooth and even.
Becs could see her concern. Saoirse clearly hadn’t been aware of Decker’s MIA status.
“Do you have a way to get a hold of him?” Becs asked.
“Just a phone number.” Saoirse nodded to her cell phone sitting on the glass coffee table. “I texted him yesterday to thank him, but I haven’t heard from him.”
“Do you know if he was meeting with anyone else while he was here?” Evan asked. “Did he mention anyone?”
