Page 133 of Double Down

“She has a secret menu. It’s Botox, anti-aging treatment, lip fillers, shots for weight loss. Ms. Drayton handles the bookings, but she makes me schedule them, so I see everything. There’s a guy who comes in through the back hall. He does the actual work. I never saw his face clearly. He always wears a hat, keeps his eyes down.. And he doesn’t ever say anything to me, but it’s him. He’s the one bringing the stuff in.”

The manager sputters, “She’s delusional! I never?—”

Conrad finally turns to her.

“You’re done. Bonnie.” His voice is low, even, and more terrifying than if he’d shouted. “Effective immediately, you’re terminated. Legal will be in touch. And most likely the police as well.”

Her jaw drops. “You can’t?—”

“I can,” Conrad cuts her off, already pulling his phone out to call the lawyer. “And I will. Don’t step foot back on this property.”

She opens her mouth to protest and shuts it just as rapidly, narrowing her eyes. “Fine.” She begins to storm off in a flurry of indignation, but something strikes me, and I step in front of her, blocking her exit.

“Wait a minute.” I look over at Conrad. “We’re actually going to need you to hang around for a few minutes while we get all of this sorted out. And the company phone needs to go on the desk. I’ll go ahead and call Legal,” I tell Con, and step into the hallway.

With an aggravated huff, she pulls her phone from her pocket and drops it on the desk.

I give Legal a quick call, asking them to come and babysit the manager and make sure she doesn’t make any calls to her supplier while we’re getting everything locked down. Then I reenter the office and close the door behind me.

“Okay,” I say, eyes on the receptionist. She looks like she just had the weight of the world lifted off her shoulders, even as her former boss sits and glares at her. “Here’s what I think.”

Conrad arches an eyebrow and motions for me to go ahead.

“I think she needs to be promoted,” I say to Conrad. “Effective immediately.”

Conrad nods. “I agree.” He turns to the girl, ignoring the small sound of outrage the manager makes from the corner where she’s been consigned. “HR will be in contact about your pay and benefits.”

Her eyes widen. “Me?”

“You’ve clearly been running this place while your boss played puppetmaster. Now you’ll do it officially.” I lean back in my chair, studying her. “You’ve done good work. Keep it up.”

Relief and gratitude flicker across her face, softening some of the exhaustion. For once, I mean what I say. I do believe in rewarding good behavior. I just wish Phoenix would figure that out sooner. Then I could reward her the way I really want to.

“Do you have a way to contact this guy?” I ask.

Rachel swallows and scribbles a number down on a scrap of paper, sliding it across the desk like it’s radioactive. “That’s the number she told me to call whenever we needed more supplies. He always answered. Always.”

“You’re making a huge mistake?—”

“You’re going to want to shut up now,” Conrad says.

I pocket the number without another word and leave the office.

Back in my office, I sink into my chair.

The paper with a number sits in front of me. Small, harmless-looking. And probably the biggest break we’ve had yet.

I type it in. Run the trace.

The results come back fast, and my stomach turns.

Officer Danner.

The same cop who cornered Phoenix in the kitchen—only he’s obviously hired someone to bring the supplies to the spa, because the guy in the video isn’t short and round.

The same bastard who made her flinch when she told us about the threats.

The same small-dicked motherfucker who put Maverick in cuffs to make himself feel like a big man.