Page 27 of The Tycoon

“It’s a good thing you’re not that kind of man.Do you have anything in the apartment we can tie this guy up with?”

“Yeah.I have some rope from my climbing days.I always keep my gear available wherever I’m at.You never know when an opportunity to do some rock climbing might happen.”

“So, you like rock climbing?I’m learning something new about you every day.”

“And I’m learning what a great bodyguard you are.Mason was right.I needed you or I’d be dead right now.”

“I don’t like thinking about that, but I’m glad I was here to help.You want to get the rope?I’d rather he be tied up and ready to present to the authorities when they arrive.”

He pocketed his phone and walked to the apartment where the door had closed and he had to enter the code again.

She kept her gaze first on the man and then on the elevator, not taking a chance on either of them.

Regan tied up the man with the rope Cole provided.Once he was secure, she turned toward Cole.“He shouldn’t bother us, even if he rouses before the police arrive.”

As he looked at the man, Cole nodded.“Good.I don’t want to have to deal with him again.Sean insists there was at least one more, but that person seems to be gone.He can’t see anyone else in the garage.”

“I guess when this one didn’t come out right away, the other person knew they’d been made.I wouldn’t have left a man behind, but that’s ingrained into a Ranger.”She pointed at the downed man.“I bet this was the contingency plan.They had to have one and wouldn’t have wanted both of them caught.”

The police showed up about five minutes after Cole made the call.Sean accompanied the four police officers, as Cole had instructed.

“What’s going on here?”asked one uniformed officer.Two others were busy with the detained man.

Cole glanced at the man’s badge and name tag.“Officer James.This man tried to kill me.If not for my bodyguard, I would be dead.She managed to take him out before he even left the elevator.”

The officer, an older man with graying hair that barely showed under his hat, gazed over at Regan, looking her up and down, obviously taking in her stature.“The little lady took out this man?I find that hard to believe.”

“Officer James…” Regan looked at him, disdain dripping in her words.“I’m an ex-Army Ranger.Do you really doubt I could disarm a single individual, regardless of the gender or size?”

The officer swallowed hard.“No, I guess not.”He backtracked as quickly as he could.“I’m not used to seeing a female Army Ranger.You’re a rare breed.”

“That I am.I had to work twice as hard as the men to prove myself.And I did it.”

He lifted a brow.“Congratulations.”

Regan mimicked his stance.“Thank you.”She turned to Sean.“You have a little blood on the side of your face.”Then she turned to Cole.“Would you let him into the apartment so he can clean up, please?”

“Sure.Sean come with me.”Cole walked to the apartment door and input the code.

Sean walked inside.“I won’t be long.”

Cole placed his hand on Sean’s shoulder.“Take as much time as you need.We’re going to be here for a while.”

“Will do.Thanks.”

“Thank you.I’m just very grateful they didn’t kill you.”

The fourth police officer, a man in a black suit, white shirt and black tie that had been loosened a bit, approached.“I’m Detective Josh Logan.What can you tell me about him?”He pointed at the trussed man, who had now awakened.

“Nothing.”Cole ran his hand around his neck.“He was in the elevator, and when Regan—I mean Ms.Phillips—saw him, she took him out.”

The detective was a tall man with blond hair and squarish thick-rimmed glasses.He turned to Regan.“What made you attack him before he was out of the elevator?”

She held up her fingers and ticked them off.“First the elevator is private.Second, no one should have been in it without the code to get past the security protocols.”

The detective turned toward the officer James.“I’d like to speak to them alone, please.”

Officer James looked at all three of them.“Knock yourself out.”