Lying Eyes Read Online Free
woman he pictured preparing to step beneath the shower head's soothing spray, Carlo let loose a frustrated string of curse words meant only for his ears.
Miss Marble sure undressed fast.
For a woman whose life could be in danger, she's tough.
Most women would have run out of the hotel screaming instead of staying here to face the perp.
He probably had Allison's brother to thank for her resilience. Most women would be a bundle of nerves by now.
Even when he'd tried to frighten her, she'd refused to cower.
The Captain will set her straight about traipsing around the Caprice as if nothing untoward has happened.
Carlo couldn't wait for the two of them to meet.
He'd just stand back and watch the fur fly, one show he didn't plan to miss.
To take his mind off the sounds coming from Allison's shower, Carlo called the head of Hotel Security, Bob Stonewall, and asked him to come to 510 right away to discuss a security matter of utmost importance.
Even so, the knock at Allison's door made him jump.
"Security."
Carlo matched the badge held to the peephole in the door to the grim-faced man waiting in the hall, let the head guard in, and flipped the second lock on the door.
Stonewall leaned the safety door-protection-rod he'd carried in against a wall of Allison's room, shook Carlo's hand, and introduced himself. "Bob Stonewall."
"Detective Demetri. That was quick."
"We pride ourselves on having the most efficient elevator service in the business. Is there a problem?"
"Yes. Please, sit. I promise not to take too much of your time. This is the problem."
Carlo unzipped the gym bag and showed Stonewall the contents.
Peering inside, Stonewall whistled. "I'll say. Where did you get this?"
"Someone swapped gym bags with Allison Marble, the occupant of this room. We think it happened at the train station. The person responsible has already made one attempt to recover the bag. I've called Central for backup."
Obviously puzzled, Stonewall asked, "How can my staff help? I can't promise this much cash will be safe in the hotel safe."
"Don't worry. Within the hour this bag will be officially logged in as evidence of a crime and smuggled out of the hotel. The perp will have no way of knowing his bag is no longer in this room. Once my team is in place I'd like you to make certain the lines of communication between my personnel and yours remain open at all times."
Stonewall nodded. "I can assign men in plain clothes to watch this floor in twelve hour shifts."
"Thank you. With so many guests milling around, the lobby will be a problem, too. When she comes out, I suggest you take a photograph of Miss Marble and pass it around to the Caprice staff."
"Of course."
"My Captain and the rest of my team will be here in a couple of hours to attend a staged cocktail party and I'd like you to come to the meeting, too. The purpose of the party is to set a plan in motion to guarantee Miss Marble's safety. She is presenting a workshop at the conference and will be attending many other events as well in the company of two female undercover cops."
"Sounds like you've thought of everything, Detective."
"Only time will tell. and another thing— if the room next door is unoccupied, could you have my luggage moved from room 605 into it? Until more help arrives, I'm stuck here."
At the sound of the bathroom door opening, Stonewall stood. "If the adjoining room is occupied, I'll upgrade the occupants to a suite, so consider it done. Anything else?"
"I'll let you know if there is. Thanks in advance for your help."
Frowning, Miss Marble stepped into the room. A black mini-dress clung to her supple-looking hips and platform shoes drew Carlo's appreciative gaze to her bare, shapely legs. She looked nothing like the woman who'd shared his taxi and too damn much like a woman on the prowl to allow out of his sight.
Damn. I should lock her in this room and throw away the key.
He scowled. "Allison Marble, this is Bob Stonewall, head of Hotel Security.
Miss Marble sure undressed fast.
For a woman whose life could be in danger, she's tough.
Most women would have run out of the hotel screaming instead of staying here to face the perp.
He probably had Allison's brother to thank for her resilience. Most women would be a bundle of nerves by now.
Even when he'd tried to frighten her, she'd refused to cower.
The Captain will set her straight about traipsing around the Caprice as if nothing untoward has happened.
Carlo couldn't wait for the two of them to meet.
He'd just stand back and watch the fur fly, one show he didn't plan to miss.
To take his mind off the sounds coming from Allison's shower, Carlo called the head of Hotel Security, Bob Stonewall, and asked him to come to 510 right away to discuss a security matter of utmost importance.
Even so, the knock at Allison's door made him jump.
"Security."
Carlo matched the badge held to the peephole in the door to the grim-faced man waiting in the hall, let the head guard in, and flipped the second lock on the door.
Stonewall leaned the safety door-protection-rod he'd carried in against a wall of Allison's room, shook Carlo's hand, and introduced himself. "Bob Stonewall."
"Detective Demetri. That was quick."
"We pride ourselves on having the most efficient elevator service in the business. Is there a problem?"
"Yes. Please, sit. I promise not to take too much of your time. This is the problem."
Carlo unzipped the gym bag and showed Stonewall the contents.
Peering inside, Stonewall whistled. "I'll say. Where did you get this?"
"Someone swapped gym bags with Allison Marble, the occupant of this room. We think it happened at the train station. The person responsible has already made one attempt to recover the bag. I've called Central for backup."
Obviously puzzled, Stonewall asked, "How can my staff help? I can't promise this much cash will be safe in the hotel safe."
"Don't worry. Within the hour this bag will be officially logged in as evidence of a crime and smuggled out of the hotel. The perp will have no way of knowing his bag is no longer in this room. Once my team is in place I'd like you to make certain the lines of communication between my personnel and yours remain open at all times."
Stonewall nodded. "I can assign men in plain clothes to watch this floor in twelve hour shifts."
"Thank you. With so many guests milling around, the lobby will be a problem, too. When she comes out, I suggest you take a photograph of Miss Marble and pass it around to the Caprice staff."
"Of course."
"My Captain and the rest of my team will be here in a couple of hours to attend a staged cocktail party and I'd like you to come to the meeting, too. The purpose of the party is to set a plan in motion to guarantee Miss Marble's safety. She is presenting a workshop at the conference and will be attending many other events as well in the company of two female undercover cops."
"Sounds like you've thought of everything, Detective."
"Only time will tell. and another thing— if the room next door is unoccupied, could you have my luggage moved from room 605 into it? Until more help arrives, I'm stuck here."
At the sound of the bathroom door opening, Stonewall stood. "If the adjoining room is occupied, I'll upgrade the occupants to a suite, so consider it done. Anything else?"
"I'll let you know if there is. Thanks in advance for your help."
Frowning, Miss Marble stepped into the room. A black mini-dress clung to her supple-looking hips and platform shoes drew Carlo's appreciative gaze to her bare, shapely legs. She looked nothing like the woman who'd shared his taxi and too damn much like a woman on the prowl to allow out of his sight.
Damn. I should lock her in this room and throw away the key.
He scowled. "Allison Marble, this is Bob Stonewall, head of Hotel Security.
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