“Not necessarily. It’s not like a concert. There are no set seats. My ticket just gets me in the door. I sit where I want.”
If Luke had even a fraction of a brain, he’ll be there saving the seat next to him for her. That wasn’t even what bothered him the most. There was no way Hank or Steve would be able to keep an eye on her in a setting like that. Bruce was getting ready to make a move. She had to be extra careful.
He stood up. “It’s dangerous.”
“What? I’m going to be in a conference surrounded by loads of people. The only times he’s ever tried anything was when I was alone.”
Alex almost growled. The coward. “I still think it’s a risk, babe. This guy is unpredictable.”
“Alex, the place is going to be full of security. A resort that fancy has cameras all over. I highly doubt he’d choose that place to try anything.”
He thought about what might’ve happened to her if Hank hadn’t been there to see Bruce try to force his way into her apartment. Alex had a bad feeling about this. Ever since Romero told him about the D-day entries in Bruce’s journals, he’d been plagued with the dread of something really bad happening soon. He just couldn’t allow her to take such a chance.
“I don’t want you to go, Val.”
She was quiet for a moment. “You can’t just tell me what to do, Alex.”
He felt like punching something. “I’m not telling you,” he said through his teeth and took a deep breath. “I’m begging you. I really think you should lay low for the next few weeks. Until we know what his next move is. I’ll get you tickets to see this guy later. I promise.”
“Alex, I can’t let Bruce hold my life captive.” Then she added with even more conviction, “I won’t.”
Alex paced, frustrated. Valerie’s strong will had always been one of the things he most admired about her, but at a times like this he wished she could be a little more submissive. “Maybe…” He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “Maybe it is best if Luke stays close by you while you’re there. Just so you’re never completely alone.”
“But I’m never going to be alone in that place. I’m telling you, the place is going to be packed.”
Romero rushed in the door, almost colliding into Alex. “I gotta talk to you.”
Alex pointed to the phone and held up a finger. “Listen, babe—”
“Is that Valerie?”
Alex turned back to Romero irritated and nodded. “Put her on speaker. She should hear this.”
The dread seeped in slowly. He stared at Romero. This wasn’t going to be good. He could tell by Romero’s anxious disposition. “Valerie, I’m gonna put you on speaker. Romero’s here. He wants you to hear.”
Romero walked over to the door and closed it.
“What?”
“Just listen.” Alex pressed speaker and held it up for Romero.
“We got a date. Shit, we got his entire f**king calendar.” Romero smiled, smug. “Mr. X found it. It has all the dates this guy’s confronted Valerie. He has a small V on every one. If we had had this when he attacked her at the apartment, we would have known before hand, because he sets it up in his calendar ahead of time. The next one is Monday.”
“Monday?” Both Alex and Valerie spoke at the same time.
“What’s going on Monday?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know.” Romero said. “But all the other dates had a small V in black in the corner. This one has a big V in red takes up the whole square.” Romero looked back down at the phone. “You have anything special planned for Monday, Val?”
“No… nothing.”
“Think, baby. Any properties you showing? Or any events going on?” Alex’s own mind raced as he asked trying to think if she’d mentioned anything or if they’d made any plans.
“Oh, wait.”
Alex’s insides were already in knots. Whatever it was, she was canceling.
“I have an interview.”
“With who?” Alex asked.
“Where?” Romero added.
Alex heard her sigh. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure. Luke got me an interview with someone from corporate. It’s in downtown San Diego. They’re looking for someone to manage a second office that will be opening up here in La Jolla. That’s what those breakfasts were about. He didn’t want to talk about it in the office. I’m the only one he’s recommending.”
His hand squeezed the phone a little tighter. What else was Luke willing to try to get in Valerie’s good graces?
“If I get the position, it means I won’t be working with him anymore.”
“You’re not going.” As good as Valerie leaving Luke’s office for good sounded, she wasn’t leaving his side Monday. Bruce would have to go through him to get to her, and that was final.
“But Luke pulled strings to get this interview for me. Don’t you see, I won’t have to see him everyday anymore. I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Not if it means putting you at risk. Reschedule it.”
“Alex I told you-”
“Wait.” Romero looked excited. “Valerie, when did you find out about the interview?”
“Just this morning, Luke called to tell me about it.”
“Then that’s probably when he’s planning it. Mr. X said he came across the calendar last night. But the big V wasn’t in the calendar until he checked it about an hour ago.” He turned to Alex, eyes lit up. “We can set up a trap.”