Page 139 of Noel Secrets

He intervened as Brent tried to move toward her again, stepping between them, and got down to the business at hand. “A phone from this facility called Darby early today and claimed your son was hurt. What phone is this?” He rattled off the number Cooper had given him.

For a moment, he thought Brent would balk at his demand. Part of him hoped he would. Laying him out across his desk and cuffing him would be his pleasure. He was certain he had a pair in his pickup.

Brent must have seen the determination in Clay’s expression, because he backed off and retreated behind his desk. “It’s our courtesy phone in the lobby. Anyone could have used it.”

How convenient. “Do you have cameras on that phone?”

“Not in the lobby. Only on the cars outside the building.”

Even more convenient, but it wouldn’t stop him. “I want to see those video feeds.”

This time, Brent did balk. “I don’t have to show them to you. They’re my private business feeds, and they’re none of your business, no matter how close you and Darby are.”

His jealousy shone through in his smugness and, at that moment, Clay summed up this guy. He cared more about his own ego than Darby’s safety.

Clay stared him down. “No, you don’t. But I can place a phone call to Sheriff Malone of Courtland County, and he’ll haul you in for questioning in your former wife’s abduction and attempted murder. They can tie you to it through Morton and Winters, plus the van that you rented they used in the abduction.”

Brent opened his mouth as if to protest.

He cut the man off. “Or maybe, I’ll call my coworkers at the FBI.” He pulled out his badge and flashed it.

Clay hadn’t meant to reveal his FBI status, but now that the cat was out of the bag…

“We have jurisdiction, since the abductors crossed a state line. I’m sure any of my team would like to question you about the fact that two men in your employ abducted and tried to murder your ex-wife. They’ll be even more interested in why you’re hindering the investigation into it.”

“I told you I had nothing to do with that.” But the way his forehead creased with worry told Clay differently. “You’re with the FBI?”

“That’s right. Someone placed a hit Darby, and I’m here to keep her safe.”

He swallowed hard then looked past Clay to Darby. “You think I’d try to kill you?”

“No.” Clay raised his voice before she could respond. “We believe you hired someone else to do it.”

He shook his head. “No, no, I wouldn’t do that.”

“But maybe those people you owe money to would.” He didn’t deny it, but his shoulders sagged and his bravado vanished and Clay knew he’d hit pay dirt.

Brent trudged to his desk and sat down. With a sigh, he reached for his keyboard. “I can access the dealership’s security feeds from here.” He hit several buttons then turned the screen toward them.

He stood as Clay scrolled through the feeds, but he didn’t miss the way Brent walked over and stood beside Darby or the way she folded her arms and braced herself against his presence. Her body language shouted that she didn’t want him so close. And that she questioned her decision to come here.

At least, he hoped so.

Then he spotted something interesting on the video. “Darby, look at this.”

She hurried over and leaned close to him as she stared at the screen. Two people entered the dealership—Chief Dean and Suzanne Compton.

“What were they doing here?” Accessing an untraceable phone to lure her out into an ambush?

Brent glanced over her shoulder at the screen. “Earlier today. Chief Dean wanted to purchase a car for Suzanne, but they didn’t find one they liked. My sales manager offered to order one for them, but they said no. They were here less than an hour.”

Long enough to make a phone call then watch Darby scurry out into the open. The frown on her face as Clay glanced at her said she was thinking the same.

He handed Brent a business card with Cooper’s information. “Have your security personnel send these feeds to this email address. My associate will go through them more thoroughly.”

“And harass my customers when he sees them on the feed?”

Clay stared him down. “Mr. Foster, you’re already implicated in the deaths of two of your employees and also possibly in conspiracy with the attempted murder of your ex-wife. Bad publicity is the least of your worries.”