Page 65 of Playing with Trouble

I wanted to believe him.I sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me, but not crushing me the way it used to.“I’m going to hold you to that.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.There was pain between us because of his actions, but also something else.Something new.

Hope.

Christopher had broken my trust, but he was trying to earn it back, and that mattered more than perfection ever could.

CHAPTER25

Ford

Ireturned to Christopher’s hospital room to figure out a game plan once Violet came back out to the lobby.The minute Christopher laid everything out for me, and confessed what he’d been told so far, I knew what we had to do.

One of the biggest problems the security firm ran into with clients, and the reason they hired us instead of relying on the police, was simple.The police couldn’t stop a crime that hadn’t happened yet.You couldn’t arrest someone for planning something, and until they crossed that legal threshold, law enforcement’s hands were tied.

Right now, Christopher had a very compelling story.A crew with a history of petty crime was escalating.They were targeting his workplace.They were talking about robbing the museum where he worked.

But talking wasn’t enough.Suspicion and speculation wasn’t enough.Even their criminal pasts weren’t enough.None of it was actionable without proof.

If Christopher could provide something concrete, something credible, the security firm could possibly coordinate with law enforcement to intercept them when the time came.The issue was these guys weren’t stupid.There were no texts or phone calls about their intentions.No emails.Everything was delivered face-to-face which meant no evidence trail.And while we knew they were behind the attacks on Violet, we couldn’t prove it.

“There’s nothing we can use to prosecute them,” Christopher muttered, pressing back against his hospital pillows, sounding defeated.

“Not yet,” I said, thinking ahead.“Unless we get someone on the inside to help us out.”

He gave me a skeptical look.“Don’t suppose you’ve got one of those people at your security firm?”

“Not at my firm.”I pulled out a business card from my wallet, surprised that it had actually come in handy.“But I think I have an ace up my sleeve that might work.”

I called Charles Hayward, the prosecutor I’d met at a recent gala after saving his daughter from a potential assault.His secretary was a bit protective of a random man calling, understandably, but once I explained who I was, she put me through.

“Mr.Hayward,” I said as soon as he picked up the line.“This is Ford Perish.You may not remember me, but I’m the security detail who helped your daughter at the gala a few weeks ago.”

“Oh, of course,” he said warmly.“What can I do for you?”

I chose my words carefully.“I have a friend with knowledge of a crime about to be committed, but we don’t have hard evidence to take to the police.I was hoping there might be another way to prevent this crime.Considering you’re a prosecutor, and I know you have an in with the DA’s office, I thought maybe you might have advice on how to move forward.”

He chuckled.“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.You’re asking if I can convince the DA to get the police involvedbeforea crime has been committed?”

“I have it on good authority that this place is about to get cased.It’s a local museum,” I told him.“They’re receiving millions of dollars’ worth of Spanish royal jewels in the next few days.”

“Is that a fact?”Hayward asked, his tone infused with unmistakable interest.

“I’ve been protecting a woman from these people for weeks now,” I continued.“Her brother works at the museum.And he’s currently in the hospital, beaten pretty badly for refusing to cooperate in the robbery.”

“Let me guess,” Charles said with a sigh.“He’s got nothing beyond his testimony.”

“That’s correct, sir.”

He made a thoughtful noise.“Normally, I wouldn’t use my influence based on the word of a stranger…”

“I know it’s a lot to ask,” I said quickly.“But you did say that I could contact you if I needed anything.Feel free to call my boss and ask him about me.Or look into our entire firm, Noble and Associates, if you want.We have an excellent reputation and I stand by my work.”

He hesitated, then gave a low laugh.“You did protect my daughter, and I don’t make empty promises.Let’s meet at my office and go over this issue and I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you, sir.It means a lot.”

We set the meeting for that afternoon.What I didn’t expect when I walked into his office was to find the district attorney and the chief of police sitting there waiting for me.That kind of turnout meant influence, and it meant this would either move fast or die slow.We needed this expedited.