“Our height was about the same,” she picks up one of the negligees and holds it to her front where it’s almost a perfect fit. “After her implants, Mom was at least two sizes larger in the bust.”
“Having been her lover, Phil would have figured that out too. The holes, the cables hanging out of them, those are for hiddencameras. I’m guessing that when Phil went through the box, he put two and two together.”
She sees the note. “Shine your light on this.”
“Do you recognize the writing?”
“No, but I have some papers we can compare it to later.”
“You said Phil put in the lock. Your safety and security were important to him. I’m guessing once he found what was in the box he got suspicious.”
Fancy looks at me. “He found cameras in Mom’s room once. She laughed. Made cracks about being a porn star and maybe making extra money. He was furious. After that he always took her to a swank hotel. I know he checked the house from time to time but never found anything again. Until now.”
“We need to go. We’ve been here too long. We can talk in the car,” Rico cuts in.
“Just a minute, I need a few things. Give me the light and push the bed aside.” She heads to the closet, pulls out a backpack, grabs a couple clothing items and shoes and stuffs them inside, then goes to the dresser and does the same. Necklaces hang from the dresser mirror. She takes a few before turning back to us. “Phil gave me these. “Push a little farther. Five inches.”
Kneeling on the floor she shines the light back and forth until she finds what she wants. She presses a spot and the floorboard pops up revealing a hidden box and pouch. Grabbing it she stands. “Put the bed back while I get this in my bag.”
Once everything is back in place we head downstairs. Rico pauses at the living room window. “We’ve got company. Someone just pulled up across the street.”
CHAPTER 13
Fancy
Moving behind him I see the parked car and two men climbing out.
“Bastards. That’s one of Adorno’s cars that his goons use. I think one of them was holding Phil the night they murdered him.” Crossing to the coat closet, I grab the baseball bat I keep there.
“Whoa, whoa, slugger.” Kade wraps his arms around me from behind, trapping my arms. “We want to get out of here without being seen.”
“Aren’t they here because they know we’re here?”
Rico shakes his head. “No. Watch their body language. They just climbed out of the car and are talking. No urgency. Not even paying attention to their surroundings. My guess is they’re here to check the house out or see if maybe you’re here.”
He pulls a cheap looking phone from his pocket, hits 911 and hands it to me. “Tell them someone is breaking into your neighbor’s house and you’re afraid. Give them your address twice and hang up.”
I make the report as instructed.
At the back door he pauses. “Stay between us. If something goes down you hang on to Kade, he’ll get you out.”
Outside, we hear sirens in the distance. We get to our vehicle without incident. Rico and Kade in the front, I’m in the back seat of the SUV.
“Now what?” I ask.
“We’re taking you to our secure house. It provides better security, and it will be easier for Kade to watch over you. The department is sending a protection detail to get you out of town late tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he says.
“No. I am not going anywhere until I identify Phil’s killer. I am the best bet you have. Have they sent you any new photos of Adorno’s men from the casino?”
“Not yet.”
“Diego’s friend is still trying to help?”
“Yeah, but there’s no camera access that he can get to inside or outside by the doors. Adorno’s smart. He doesn’t keep any online records of staff or business either.”
