Off the Grid (10 page)

“You can’t miss him. He’s the tall, overconfident one.”

Her disbelief evaporated along with her smile. All the lovely warmth in her eyes died as she swung back to face Caleb. “What’s he doing here?”

“I have no idea, but I think we’re about to find out.”

People paused mid-conversation or mid-drink to check out the new arrivals. It wasn’t often black tie came to the Empress. Jason Drummond picked his way through the crowd, lip curled, eyes averted, careful not to brush against anyone or anything.

Caleb stood as the group approached. “Jason. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Your office said you were heading here.” He held out a hand for Caleb to shake, offered a smile of confused disdain. “Not your usual stomping grounds.”

Caleb motioned to Sophie. “Jason, this is Doctor Monroe.”

He turned to Sophie. “We finally meet in person. Even though we’ve different approaches I like to think we have the neighborhood’s best interest at heart. I just wish someone had mentioned how beautiful you are. I’d have arranged a meeting sooner.”

“Really.” Her chin went up a notch and her eyes went flat. “I can’t imagine why my looks matter.”

“One can’t help but appreciate beauty especially in the lowliest of places.” Jason’s smile stiffened at the edges. “I’ve recently become acquainted with Liam Gallagher. We’re coordinating on a project together. He tells me you two were quite close once.”

Her quick swallow was the only thing to give her away. She was tough and she was smart, but it was clear she didn’t want to talk about Liam—whatever the hell his name was.

That made two of them. “Why don’t we get to the reason you’re here?”

Jason presented his back to Sophie. Dismissed her. “If we could speak privately for a moment?”

Sophie crossed her arms and settled farther into her chair. Other than lifting her bodily out of her seat there was no way he was going to get her to leave. So much for meeting with Jason in private. And for containment. These two had a history of being on opposite sides. Like lion and zebra they were both in it to win. Didn’t mean he wanted Sophie on Jason’s radar screen any more than necessary.

Caleb gestured toward the two stiff men standing off to the side. “Unfortunately, there’s only room for one. Maybe your associates can find a seat at the bar?”

Sophie smirked. On Jason’s signal the two oversized men, one hairy, one bald, ambled toward the front of the room.

Jason tapped his Rolex. “I’m expected for dinner at West in fifteen minutes.”

“Yet you found the time to take a detour.” Caleb shook his head as the waitress approached for Jason’s order. “He’s not staying.”

Jason eyed Sophie and waited. When she remained seated he shifted to concentrate on Caleb. “I’m concerned certain people might be spreading nasty rumors about me.”

“How tragic.” Sophie stared at the side of Drummond’s head hard enough to vaporize his brain. “Perhaps it would help if we knew who these people were?”

Jason raised a brow at Caleb. “Straight to the point. A quality I admire.” He brushed at an imaginary speck on his lapel before turning to offer Sophie a small smile. “Here’s to Caleb finally associating with a woman who has more to offer than a spray tan.”

Jason Drummond was toying with his prey. But Caleb hadn’t gotten to the top of his game by snapping at any old bait. Jason oozed arrogance, occupying as much space as possible. The faint derision he wore like spray cologne an offensive maneuver. Too bad his nerves showed in the occasional spin of his wedding ring. They’d played poker together enough times for Caleb to know his tell.

“I’m curious, what rumors are you talking about?”

Jason leaned back, draped one arm over the back of his chair. “Everyone wondered where you disappeared to Christmas Eve. Then over drinks at a Boxing Day party a mutual friend of ours mentioned seeing you at St. Paul’s. He was on call and had to go in because of the storm. Apparently, both of you had your hands full.”

Caleb shrugged. “I was approached by a third party who thought a young woman might need some legal advice.”

Jason scoffed in Sophie’s direction. “All part of the service?”

The insult brought a rush of color to her cheeks. To her credit she didn’t even flinch. She stared him down with equal amounts ice and fire. By not saying anything she said it all. Caleb fell a little bit in love.

Time for a dose of reality. “My client says you threatened her.”

“Your client?” The look of disbelief on Jason’s face wasn’t feigned. Caleb couldn’t stop the little rush of guilt. It didn’t last long. Jason shifted in his chair, arms coming to rest on the table. “Yes, well, she also said she was on the pill.”

“And what? You’ve never heard of condoms?” Sophie demanded.

“Sophie,” warned Caleb. “Why don’t you give us a minute?”

To his surprise she stood, her chair scraping along the floor. She added a mocking salute. “If you’ll excuse me, I see a friend.”

Jason waited until she was out of earshot before leaning in. “If she’s a friend of Kellie’s, I suggest you run in the opposite direction, my friend.”

The use of Kellie’s first name was a slap. He couldn’t stop the stream of mental pictures, each one uglier than the last. “I can’t discuss Ms. Andrews with you.”

“And us being friends counts for nothing?” asked Jason.

This man was no friend of his. “You need to be having this discussion with your lawyer.”

Jason moved closer, his voice low. “She worked on one of my projects. We hooked up a couple of times. Then one day she strolls into my office and announces she’s pregnant. Wants to know what I’m going to do about it.”

“So you’re admitting to an affair?” Never mind his wife was a friend of Caleb’s. “You should probably stop talking now.”

Jason ignored him. “She said she needed money for an abortion. Her idea, not mine. I gave it to her, no questions asked. Which I thought was pretty damn sporting of me when there’s no proof the kid’s even mine. Imagine my surprise when a few months later she shows up at an event I happen to be attending with my wife.”

“She says she was working the event.” Caleb cursed himself for being stupid and opening his mouth. He knew better, was smarter, than this whole conversation.

“You don’t know much about this neighborhood, do you? Golden Rule: Trust no one. Because here’s a thought, maybe she’s been playing me all along.”

“And yet others suggest she’s one in a long line.” To hell with rules. Beer, body odor, and stale smoke clogged the air around them, but the man seated across from him made him gag. “She’s eighteen years old and saying you left her pregnant and alone to fend for herself. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Watch yourself, Caleb.” But Jason broke eye contact, only to recover a second later. “You don’t want to go down this road.”

“Are you threatening me?” They eyed each other. Eighteen years of passable friendship unraveled and reformed into something dark and menacing.

Jason straightened his shirt cuffs, the oversized diamond cufflinks winking in the harsh light. “Fact is the DTES is a dangerous place. Bad things happen here all the time.” He signaled his men forward. “Spend enough time here and something bad is bound to happen to you.”

They both stood. Jason Drummond could threaten him all he wanted. He wasn’t worried for himself. Caleb put a restraining hand on Jason’s arm. “If I find out you terrorized a young woman…”

Jason yanked his arm away and brushed off his sleeve. “We’re friends so I’m going to choose not to take offence. But keep in mind I will not tolerate lies being spread about me. I felt it important to be upfront and honest. Feel free to pass the message on to any interested parties.”

Jason Drummond’s departure met with the same curious stares as his arrival. Sophie came to stand beside him. Caleb had zero time to compose himself. To fight against the instinct to say something stupid.

“Just stay calm and don’t overreact. I’ll handle this.”

She crossed her arms. “Just what is it you think I’m going to do?”

Heads turned. He gritted his teeth. “I’m not going to apologize for wanting to protect Kellie. Or you.”

“For real? You’re going with the cave man approach? That’s makes twice.”

“Then throw me a raw steak and a club because I’m not sorry.”

“This coming from the guy with the silver fork and knife set.”

“Oh, for fu—, yes, I’m rich.” He raised his voice. “Did you hear that in the back? Guilty as charged. Filthy stinking rich.” He toughed out a smile and lifted a hand in recognition of the smattering of applause, the few catcalls. “It doesn’t make me a bad guy.”

Her anger flashed, then dissolved. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip, shutting down the beginning of a smile. “You’re making a scene.”

“Then let’s take this outside.”

“Fine.” She sidestepped his tempt to touch her.

As a peace offering, he said. “If the public finds out about Quinn, he’s ruined. He’s going to do whatever he has to, to stop that from happening.”

She nodded in agreement and just like that the fight was over. “And a man like Jason Drummond has the cash and connections to make his problems disappear.”

“Yes, he does.” No use pretending otherwise and she was too smart to fall for it. Jason Drummond would do whatever it took to protect his reputation, his political aspirations. He got a whiff of the orient and antiseptic before she put distance between them.

Her eyes narrowed to a squint. “He’s not going to get away with it.”

He couldn’t decide if her mutinous expression turned him on or scared him to death. Truth was Jason Drummond came from a long line of men skilled at manipulation and getting their way. Their perch on the top of Vancouver’s real estate pile hadn’t come without claw marks.

“No, he’s not. He’s going to own up to his responsibilities.” Caleb was careful to keep his expression impartial. Taking a stand never came cheap. He couldn’t help wondering if any of them were prepared for the cost?

****

On the street the icy air did little to cool Sophie down. Caleb showed no adverse effects at having Jason Drummond drop in on their
planning session
. Did nothing faze him? Or was he not invested enough to care? She inhaled hoping the chill would shock her system into neutral. So she could maintain a rational thought.

“I don’t enjoy being dismissed.” She paused while they both pulled out gloves and yanked coat collars up to their chins.

“Noted. Where are you parked?”

She pointed to a spot down the street. “What did Drummond say? Exactly.”

And what, if anything, did Liam have to do with it?

He didn’t shrug her question off, but met her look. She noted the concern darkening his eyes. Watched the jerk and tightening of his jaw. His decision, when he came to it, showed in the lowering of his brow. “He’s setting himself up as the victim suggesting Kellie is playing him.”

“Bastard. You’ve met her. You know that’s ridiculous.” She picked up her pace.

Caleb caught up. “Is it?”

“How can you ask that?” She stopped so fast he had to backtrack.

“I don’t doubt Quinn is his biological son.” A muscle jumped in his jaw as he searched her face. “But getting to the truth requires looking at this from all angles.”

“Lucky me. Looks like I’ve got you for that.”

“No, Kellie has me for that.” He stepped in closer blocking out the street buzz. On a frosty cloud of breath he leaned in. “Who’s Liam Gallagher?”

She blinked then swallowed. Neither helped. “None of your business.”

“It is if he’s going to be a problem.”

She snorted out a laugh. “Believe me, he’s not.”

“Then why would Jason mention him?”

It was a valid question. Because Liam had hurt her. Publicly humiliated her. Shattered her heart. But she’d moved on. What troubled her more was Liam’s resentment of Marnie. He knew of her past struggles. He knew how much her sister meant to her and the lengths she’d go to keep her safe. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter.”

“Forgive my skepticism.”

Her heart skipped a beat, which was absurd. It wasn’t jealousy darkening his eyes. It couldn’t be. It was frustration. A man in blue work coveralls pushed past them and knocked her closer. Her gloved hands landed on Caleb’s chest.

He was as enticing on the street as he’d been inside the Empress. More at ease and fitting in better then she’d thought possible. She tilted her head, raised a brow. “You’re not going to make this a thing are you?”

“It’s my job to lift the rocks and check underneath.” He put his hands over hers holding them in place.

He had a killer smile. Not big or showy, but easy and natural. And those eyes. Intelligent and purposeful with enough wicked mixed in to make a woman wonder.

“There’s nothing under this particular rock to interest you.” Were her lids getting heavy? Her heart rate slowed down. His head dipped.

His lips touched down next to her ear. “Come home with me and I’ll find out for myself.”

She rolled her eyes. “You never give up.”

He took her elbow. “Where are you parked?”

“Not happening, Caleb.”

“Then I’ll have to settle for walking you to your car.”

Man, he was good at this seduction stuff. It was even working on her. She shook her head to clear it. “This way. Down from the Ovaltine Café.”

They walked the last few feet in silence. In the darkening light she didn’t notice anything wrong until they were almost there.

“Son of a bitch.” Sophie marched up to her lopsided car. At the sight of slashed tires she spun around to face Caleb. He wasn’t there, he was circling her vehicle. They made eye contact across the hood.

What she saw there set her back. Scraped raw of any charm, his face set in unforgiving lines, he was a different kind of animal.

“Come on.” He rounded her car and reached for her elbow. “I’ll take you home.”

“Wait a minute.” She hung back, fought to keep eye contact. “I have to phone and have it towed to a garage.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He tightened his hold on her arm, tugged her along.

She stumbled after him for a second until she was able to dig in her heels. “Would you just give me a minute here?”