Page 107 of Finding Elodie
Baker met her gaze once more. “Tex is a legend. He was a Navy SEAL who lost his leg and was medically retired. He’s a computer genius who knows everyone. And I mean that literally. He has connections upon connections. Slate gave him a call, and he promised to take care of this. It should’ve been done before you got hurt.”
Elodie saw him give Scott a look, and she bristled.
“Don’t blame him,” she said adamantly. “This isn’t his fault.”
“It’s okay,” Scott said, squeezing her hand once more. “He’s right. I should’ve taken the entire situation more seriously. Called Tex from the start. Just because neither of us sensed any danger didn’t mean it wasn’t there. Obviously.”
“Anyway, I met up with a team from Indiana and got the details about Paul’s unfortunate accident. Then I met with Jerry Columbus. We had lunch.”
Elodie was having a hard time wrapping her mind around what Baker was telling her. He met up with a team? Had lunch with a mob boss? Who was this guy? But she didn’t get to ask any of her questions as Baker continued.
“I raised the subject of Paul’s obsession with you, and Jerry said he had no idea what I was talking about. That as far as he knew, you were a chef who’d quit abruptly. He’s very happy with the new guy they hired to take your place.”
“What about the guy who came out here and tried to kill Elodie?” Midas asked.
“Andrew Ferry. He was killed along with Paul,” Baker said. “Turns out the man’s been wanted for homicides all over the US. His DNA ties him to murders in New York, LA, Miami, Chicago, and some backwater little town in Virginia called Fallport. A team of experienced search-and-rescue guys were training in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and they stumbled across the bodies of two men who’d been tortured and dumped. Was the talk of Fallport for quite a while.
“Anyway, as well as the DNA found here in the States, he’s also been linked to murders in London, Paris, and Berlin, as well. The man was literally a serial killer, and Jerry Columbus isn’t sorry he’s dead.”
“What’s going to prevent Jerry from coming after Elodie?” Slate asked.
Elodie was grateful for the question. She wanted to know that as well.
“Because he gave me his word,” Baker said without hesitation.
The other men all nodded—but that wasn’t enough for Elodie. “And that’s it? You trust him?”
“I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him,” Baker retorted. “I trust no one. But he knows you’re off limits, and that you aren’t going to be a problem for him.”
“I’m off limits?” she asked.
“Yes. You’re under Tex’s protection. And mine. And Silverstone’s. And Rex’s. That was enough for him to know if he did something so stupid as to try to take up where his asshole predecessor left off, his entire family would suffer. But he’s not stupid, he’s willing to let bygones be bygones. As long as you don’t go to the cops with what happened while you were in the Columbus family’s employ, you’ll be fine. You go your way, he’ll go his. All’s well and good.”
Elodie’s head spun. She didn’t know Tex. Or who or what Silverstone was. And had never heard of any Rex. And why was Baker willing to take her under his protection?
Nothing made sense…but when she looked up into Scott’s eyes, all her questions disappeared. He trusted Baker, that was obvious. All the men around her did.
All she’d wanted was for this nightmare to end. And now that it apparently had, thanks to this Tex guy and Baker, and she was grateful. She was definitely not going to go to the cops about something a dead man had supposedly done. She just wanted to forget it happened at all.
“Thank you. I’m gonna make you the biggest, most delicious apple crumble you’ve ever eaten in your life. And anytime you want a home-cooked meal, all you need to do is ask and it’s yours.”
“Done,” Baker said with a completely straight face. “I’ve got your number, so I’ll be in touch.” Then he stood up and nodded at the rest of the men and headed for the door.
“Wait!” Elodie exclaimed, standing up and waiting for the mysterious Baker to turn around.
“Yeah?” he asked.
Elodie moved without thought. She walked toward Baker and put her arms around him before she chickened out.
He hesitated for a split second, as if surprised anyone would dare touch him. Then she felt his arms wrap around her.
“Thank you. I’m thinking since I’m a chef, and your first name is Baker, this was meant to be. Anything you want, anytime, I’m in your debt,” she told him.
She felt his arms tighten briefly, then he cleared his throat and stepped back. She had no choice but to let go. He raised a hand and ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek before turning to Scott. “She’s sweet. Don’t find too many like that anymore. Don’t do anything to fuck it up.”
“Not planning on it,” Scott said as he came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
Baker nodded at them once more, then he spun and headed for the front door.
