Page 54 of Intoxicating Pursuit

In the Clear

GABE

G abe sat on a rich leather sofa, trying out a guitar riff and gazing at the oasis of Central Park through the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows.

From here, the bustling expanse of Manhattan looked almost serene beneath a shifting veil of gray clouds.

He had always enjoyed the simplicity of this suite—nothing fought with the art and beauty.

The walls and marble floors were white; the views were astounding, and the furnishings and art were museum quality.

It should have brought him peace, but today, it just felt empty. . . and lonely as hell.

Someone knocked, and Gabe grudgingly set his guitar on its stand. He crossed the cold tiles to the front door, where he spied Lucy and Oscar through the peephole.

In no mood to talk, he opened the door a crack. “Hey. Need something?”

Oscar piped up. “Got another update. Thought we should stop by.”

Gabe didn’t budge. “Does it actually change anything?” He rubbed his forehead in weary annoyance.

“Well, maybe,” Oscar said.

Gabe huffed a sigh and let them in. He gestured to the suite’s elegant dining table. “You guys thirsty or hungry? Room service sent up a small buffet. Don’t know who the hell’s supposed to eat it.”

“No, we’re fine, thanks,” Lucy said. “But we’ve heard more from the police. We wanted to get you up to speed.”

“All right.” Not particularly interested in listening, Gabe returned to his spot on the couch and picked up his guitar again, fiddling with the tuning pegs.

Lucy started first. “We talked with Creekside. They interviewed that P.I. guy, Ian. He claims he was keeping an eye on Sammy because she has panic attacks. Said he was nowhere near La Fermata that afternoon. Turns out, the receipts and traffic cams seem to confirm it. His car passed through town around midday. He paid for parking near Main Street, stopped in a cafe, then spent a few hours buying art and souvenirs on the strip. Bottom line, he wasn’t up by the property. ”

Gabe stopped tuning the guitar and looked at Lucy. “Well, just because the car and credit card were in town, doesn’t mean Ian was, right? Maybe Marco dropped him off at La Fermata and drove the car back to town.”

“Nope.” Lucy was quick to respond. “Marco was in Philadelphia. Witnesses have him at the brewery in the morning and with a caterer in the afternoon. Plus, traffic cams only show Ian in the car."

Gabe's befuddled gaze searched her face.

"They’re cleared, Gabe. It’s a dead end,” she said.

Gabe set his guitar on its stand again, his forehead bunched in confusion. “That can’t be right. I mean. . . it has to be them. They followed her there. I thought this was all locked up tight.” He stood up, agitated. “I don’t get it.”

He walked to the window and looked over the leafy trees crowding the park, racking his brain. The overcast sky shrouded the most distant skyscrapers in a sullen mist. A camera crew filmed on the street below, oblivious to the impending weather.

He swiveled.

“ Oh my God. Does this mean it’s Claudia?” Panic gripped his chest. “And we pulled security? Shit! Oscar, how fast can you get back to Sammy’s?”

“A couple hours? It’s not far.”

“Hold on,” Lucy interjected.

Oscar talked over her. “Gabe, you’d need two people again. Sammy’s text said she was headed to North Carolina with Meghan, remember? So, the only one in Philly’s Kate. But why do you care, anyway? You said you were done with Sammy.”

Gabe threw his hands in the air, exasperated. “Well, I did, but I was pissed, okay? Obviously, I don’t want her hurt.”

He paced in irritation. “And actually, if Claudia’s behind this, then it’s one hundred percent my fault. Goddamn!” Gabe’s temper rose. “Oscar, go now. . . Take someone with you if you need to. Just figure it out .”

Oscar turned to leave.

“Wait. Please.” Lucy grabbed Oscar by the arm.

“Both of you. I talked with the Los Angeles police, and they did catch up with Claudia. She and her caravan of paparazzi were on a plane to L.A. the day those photos were taken. I’m not saying she’s not trouble—because frankly, I think she’s a big problem.

I’m just saying she wasn’t in North Carolina that day. It’s not her.”

Gabe felt the tethers of certainty slip away. “Well, do we have anything at all? I mean someone took those pictures, and it had to be someone who recognized Sammy. I really don’t like that we’re lost here.”

“We’re not lost yet,” said Lucy. “Remember those rental cars the police were chasing down? They finally have some data back. One was rented in Ohio, but it was only parked at La Fermata for a few minutes. Based on camera footage, it looks like a family stopped by, tried the door, and left. But the remaining rental was parked at La Fermata all morning and was one of the last to leave after the tour.”

Lucy had Gabe’s full attention now. “So, the driver might have seen us come back on the bikes?”

“That’s what we’re thinking,” she said. “Plus, the car was parked on one of the neighboring roads later that day.”

“Well now we’re getting somewhere. Who the hell was it?”

“That’s the thing. They don’t know for sure, but it looks like the car was rented in Charlotte, and the Regional Commerce team sent invitations to only three companies there.

One went to a restaurant that’s out of business now.

Another was sent to a diner run by an elderly couple.

” She paused. “Now, catch this. The third one went to Forbidden Brews. They’ve got a brewery near the South End. ”

Gabe collapsed into a nearby chair. Why did Sammy’s business keep coming up all over this thing? It stank to high heaven. He slumped in defeat.

“That’s where it gets a little twisted,” Lucy continued.

“We looked into the staff, and the manager they hired has a record. Ugly stuff, too. Convictions for fraud and assault. I mean, the guy beat his own sister with a crowbar.” She cringed.

“Plus, there’s a rape allegation he never stood trial for.

Dismissed on a technicality. In other words, we’re talking about a very scary dude.

I don’t know how you miss that on a background check. ”

Panic rose in Gabe’s gut again. His mind raced. “Hold on. Oscar, did you say Sammy and Meghan were heading to North Carolina today?”

“Yeah, but I think they made the drive yesterday. Her text said something about the Charlotte location being a mess. She and Meghan were gonna check it out.”

Gabe’s skin went cold.

If Sammy was lying, then this was all a giant scam, and she was in it deeper than he thought. But why would she take Meghan anywhere near someone like that?

And if she was innocent—and truly had no idea what she was walking into—then dear God. . .

And why the hell would she be lying about everything? What kind of paranoid bullshit is that? Fuck. Fuck!

His hands shook so badly he could barely unlock his phone. He fumbled around but couldn’t hit the right buttons. “Come on. Come on!” When her number finally popped up, he connected the call.

The phone trilled unhurriedly.

“Answer, damnit!” Gabe paced frantically as the vacuum of silence stretched on and the phone rang again. “Come on, Sammy, for the love of God, please answer!”