Page 44 of Made of Steele
“Sounds like you’ve done this before,” Drew said, finally having proof that they modified the video on other nights like when Drew had restrained Teagan and her guard.
“Of course.” Sal grinned. “How do you think we move things without Steele Guardians getting wind of it? We need guards on site due to theft in the area, but they only know so much.”
More than you think. At least Patrick did. But then he was a sub, so maybe the regular guards were asleep on the job or looked the other way. Drew doubted the company would tolerate that, but how would they know without surveilling their own staff in the night?
“One a.m. then.” Drew stood and marched to the door to open it for the brothers, feeling their eyes boring into him like drill bits as they crossed the room.
Had Drew’s pushiness made them suspect him? Made them want to get rid of him the way they ended Smiley’s life?
Maybe.
He had to let Harris know of the meet tonight and the potential danger. He hoped she approved the meet despite the risk. He wanted—no, he needed—to end this investigation with arrests and convictions. Otherwise he’d wasted the last year of his life.
After showering and dressing for her date, Teagan went to Steele Guardians to keep her family from asking too many questions about all of her sudden absences. Once behind her desk, she forced her mind onto her typical daily tasks. She wanted to think about anything and everything to do with the investigation instead. She shouldn’t.
She had to remember her family was counting on her to keep the Conti situation from hurting Steele Guardians—at least they would be if she could tell them about it. They were also counting on her to keep the business running in general.
After Thomas had been murdered, she’d taken over the reins of the company that he’d managed flawlessly. She’d had to. His parents and sisters were so distraught they couldn’t think straight. But did Teagan follow in his very successful footsteps?
No, she fumbled to find her footing and promptly lost the company’s biggest client. That sent doubts reverberating through the family. At least with her dad, who was trying to hold things together. Nearly two years later, she was still trying to prove her worth. Something most eldest children of a family felt an unreasonable need to do. She’d fallen prey to that syndrome big time.
She tried to focus on a contract. Read a page. Digested none of it. Read it again. Nothing.
Fine.She would set it aside for a minute. Read Nick’s report again. Just quickly. Then get back to work.
She opened it on her computer and clicked on the first link, a recent article about Chauncey Rossi receiving an award for coaching youth soccer for second through eighth grade kids. He’d coached since his sons were young. They’d long ago outgrown the league, but he still coached. Quotes from parents filled the article about how selfless and generous he’d been. He had a warm smile in the picture and sure wasn’t the cold, calculating man she’d seen when he’d threatened Drew’s life.
He was not only generous with the soccer league, but other stories mentioned how his business supported other local charities, and he appeared to be a pillar of the community. Appeared. She knew better. Knew he could be a killer or at least a man who ordered another man killed.
She moved on, scrolling through social media photos posted by his wife. Would she be shocked when she learned of his activities? Maybe not. When someone was engaged in criminal activities, the spouse often knew something was off. They simply turned a blind eye.
The last story told of his service as an elder in a local Catholic church and Christian school. Of course, he sponsored their soccer team and was an assistant coach there too. That was the last straw. Living a life of faith on the surface, but engaging in illegal activities. Teagan was more determined than ever to prove his illegal actions.
But how?
She leaned back in her chair to think, the metal squeaking. She’d been meaning to lubricate it for months, but time was always too precious. Like now. She was missing something. Maybe something right in front of her face.
So Rossi, what don’t I know? Maybe could ask Oliver about?
She obviously couldn’t march into Rossi’s work or home and ask to talk to him. And she’d already played the manicure card with his wife. Even if Teagan was soon leaving for a date with Oliver, she could hardly grill the guy right off the bat. Too bad she couldn’t pretend to be a reporter and interview Oliver’s dad. She figured he was the kind of guy who liked to brag and would talk, but she couldn’t risk it. Not with having met with his wife and being scheduled for lunch with Oliver.
“C’mon think.” She pounded a fist on the desk.
Her desk phone chimed. Seeing their receptionist, Gretchen’s, name on the ID , Teagan answered.
“There’s a Dylan Crane here to see you.”
“He’s here? But…” Her mind flew over the possible reasons Drew would come here while undercover. Or when he would see her in a short while at the lunch. Wasn’t he risking his cover? She supposed he could come here without being under suspicion with the Contis as they believed he was dating her.
“You there, Teagan?” Gretchen asked.
“Yeah. Send him up. I’ll meet him at the door.” Teagan stood and released the quick ponytail she’d sleeked her hair into to keep it out of her face as she worked. She finger-combed through it and smoothed the peach-colored dress she’d chosen for the date. It had a fitted bodice and flared skirt and showed a bit of cleavage. The most feminine thing she owned, but she planned to cover it with a jacket.
“Stop primping,” she muttered as she walked to the locked entrance door.
“You talking to yourself?” Mackenzie’s voice came from behind.
Teagan jumped. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
