Steamy Sisters (6 page)

“Depends on what?”

“You’ve sure become nosy since you made Detective,” said Jessica. “You weren’t this chatty with me when we were at high school. Or when you were
Patrol Officer
Blake.”

“Yeah. It’s difficult to switch off,” said Caleb. “This job’s all about asking questions.”

Jessica looked at his bare forearm resting on the window frame, shirt sleeves rolled to the elbow. He looked like he was still in good shape. And tanned. “So what assignment are you on at the moment then? Apart from watching women entering and leaving lingerie stores. The Sheriff’s department widened it’s remit has it?”

“You know we’re interested in anything and everything that goes on,” said Caleb, “You never know. There could be a theft from that store some day. I’ve gotta know my patch.”

“I can assure you, I didn’t steal this,” said Jessica, one hand on her hip, and her other outstretched arm holding the bag, the handles resting on her upturned palm.

“I believe you,” said Caleb. “But I might have to examine the contents of the bag.”

“I don’t think so, Detective Blake,” said Jessica, trying to sound offended, but finding it hard to suppress a laugh. “Some things are private.”

“Caleb nodded. “Lucky guy.”

“Who?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Women do buy these thing for themselves, you know. It’s not just for the benefit of some guy.”

“Whatever.”

“Whatever?”

“Yeah. Whatever you say,” said Caleb. “But I’ve been past that shop plenty of times. I’ve seen the kind of stuff they’ve got in the windows. Exotic. Who knows what else they’ve got inside. Maybe the Sheriff’s Department could source their handcuffs from there.”

“It’s not
that
kind of store. Just sexy lingerie and clothes That type of thing. Cute stuff.”

“Cute stuff! As I said, lucky guy.”

“Okay. I think we better end this conversation here and now,” said Jessica, glancing at her watch. “I’ve got an appointment.”

“That’s too bad. Maybe we can continue this some other time.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” said Jessica “I’m free for most of the holidays.”

“Okay. I’ll work something out.” Said Caleb, grimacing slightly. “I’m a bit busy with work at the moment, especially with the Economic Forum on.
 
There was another break-in last night.”

“Where?”

“Some banker’s lodge. On the edge of town. Must be worth millions.”

“Same as last year, huh?”

“Yep,” said Caleb, straightening his tie. “With all the big shots in town this week, the Sheriff’s cancelled virtually all leave.
 

“You on the case?”

“Uh-huh. I guess it’s my chance to show the Sheriff he made the right decision making me Detective.”
 

Jessica nodded. “Any leads?”

“Not as yet. We’re keeping an open mind on whether last years burglaries are related to last night’s”

“Could be the same guy. It was during the Forum last year as well, wasn’t it.”

“Yeah. When all the rich Wall Street types are here.”

“And their wives, with their million dollar jewellery.”

“Rich pickings.”

“I remember daddy talking about it last year. He was worried it might damage the tourist trade in town.”

“The Sheriff’s going to be meeting with your father later. Tell him to beef up the security at his hotels.”

“He’s out of town at the moment.
 
But I heard a
 
whole load of delegates checked in at the
Rocky Mountain Lodge
 
yesterday,” said Jessica. “My sister’s new hotel’s got a few VIPs staying too.”

“
The Spa in the Clouds
?”
 

“Yeah. They’ve only been open three months. Last thing they need is any trouble.”

“Especially, after that crazy security guard with the meat cleaver they had there,” said Caleb, stroking the light stubble on his face. “Your sister sure gave him a beating with that fire poker. Don’t mess with the Chase women, huh?”

“That’s right,” said Jessica. “We can look after ourselves if we have to.”
 

“I never doubted it,” said Caleb, looking Jessica up and down. She really was a beautiful girl. He’d been in love with her since their school days. Every guy had. He was a year older than her, and one thing or another had always stopped him asking her out on a date. If he was honest,
 
he’d been a little intimidated by her. By all the Chase girls, in fact. They were the four most stunning sisters you were ever likely to meet. And their old man was the multi-millionaire who damn near owned most of the resort. Steamy Springs should have been named Chaseville. The family had built the town from nothing. And now it was up there competing with Aspen for the swishest resort in the Rockies title. For all their money, though, they were a down-to-earth family. There’d been no private education for the girls. Old man Chase still drove around in an old Ford. They didn’t demand any special treatment. Respected the independence of the Sheriff’s Department. But, they were super-rich, nevertheless. Most folks were intimidated by that kind of money. The Chase’s could definitely look after themselves. Caleb just wished that one day he’d get the chance to look after Jessica. Also, no other girl could fire him up the way she could. Just the sway of her hips or a fleeting glance from her blue eyes was enough to do it. She was walking viagra. A steroid shot to his cock. She was so hot, she should be on prescription. Caleb’s mind was now miles away, dreaming about removing that pretty little summer dress she had on.

“You OK?”

“Yeah. I was just thinking about work,” said Caleb, shaking himself out of his daydream. “We’re under real pressure to catch this guy.”

“Is he dangerous? Anyone get hurt?”

“Doesn’t seem to be. He usually waits until everyone’s out. But who knows, maybe he’s carrying. Why? You worried?”

“Not really.”

“You’re at home alone at the moment, then?”

“Just for a week.”

“Where are your folks?”

”They always get out of town when the Economic Forum’s on. I don’t think my father likes all those bankers and politicos too much.”

 
Caleb nodded as he took in the information. “You want me to stop by?”

“I guess you could do,” said Jessica. “For a little while.”

“I’m working late tonight, but maybe I’ll call round before I get off duty. Okay?”

“Sounds good. See you later then.”

“Looking forward to it,” said Caleb, as he started the engine and nodded goodbye.

Jessica realised that she had enjoyed her little flirt with Caleb. It was fun. Sometimes the guys at her college could be a little too earnest. Flirtation seemed to be a problem for them. Unless they’d had a gallon of liquor beforehand, and then flirtation just turned into a kind of drunken rambling. Not their fault though, they were the generation who’d been indoctrinated with political correctness. A lot of the fun had been taken out of life. The sexual dance between men and women was as old as time, and something natural and joyous. Pity there were too many humorless creeps around, trying to remove all the
joie de vivre
from people’s lives. Caleb was a bit different. Small town guy. Kind of old fashioned in some ways. A little rough around the edges, but with a good heart.
 
Good looking. Sexy. Definitely sexy. Maybe she wouldn’t mind him getting his hands on her lingerie after all. It was a pity she hadn’t just bought some new pieces.

 
She hurried back to her car, and mentally went over her plans for the evening . She felt both excited and nervous at the same time. Caleb was a good guy, and she hated herself for what she was about to do. But, nevertheless, it had to be done.
 

Chapter Two

 
The sun was setting over Steamy Springs. Night had come. Jessica pulled the curtains across the windows of her large bedroom suite, and removed her robe. Light from the adjoining bathroom bounced off her golden skin as she bent down to take the item from the shopping bag.
 

She sat on the edge of her bed, naked apart from a pair of sheer, seamless french knickers. She put her long, lithe legs into the new garment and then slowly pulled it upwards over the rest of her body. She fastened the zipper. The black catsuit fitted perfectly, accentuating every curve of her body. Her hips nicely rounded, her breasts full and firm and held securely by the tightness of the suit. She then wiggled her toes into black climbing shoes, and tied the laces.

She’d had to buy the new catsuit because her old one had ripped
 
the night before, whilst climbing down from the upstairs window of the banker’s lodge. Growing up in these mountains, climbing was second nature to her.
 
She’d been doing it all her life. Cat burglary, however, was something she’d only gotten into in the last few years. Nothing beat the thrill. And, it was all in a good cause.

Jessica tied up her hair, put on some thin gloves, and put a rolled up ski mask on her head. She’d pull it over her face later. She slung a black pack across her shoulder and headed for the door.

The Chase’s lodge was on the slopes above the town, surrounded by trees, and not visible from the road. The house she was about to break into was only about five minutes away on foot. She could make it without being seen fairly easily, but getting in there was going to be tougher.

 
Tonight’s victim was Charles Szabo, a Wall Street financier who seemed to be behind just about every big corporate takeover of the last few years. Especially if they were hostile. He had a reputation as a ruthless operator, and it was usually bad news for the workforce if he took control of the company. He was just the sort of person Jessica despised. He got rich from destruction, not creativity.

She slipped out of the house and, in her black outfit, seemed to disappear into the dark night. She quickly reached Szabo’s palatial lodge. Twelve bedrooms, fourteen bathrooms, two indoor pools, and only occupied for about ten days a year. She knew the layout well. Her Father’s company had built it, and it had been easy for her to get access to the architect’s plans. She’d been in it once before. After it was completed, but before it was sold.

Despite the size of the house, she knew that Szabo liked to live simply when he was in town. He didn’t have permanent staff, and used the cleaners and security people from one of the resorts many service companies. He also came without his wife or any other family members.
 

Jessica pulled down her ski mask, covering her face,
 
climbed over the perimeter wall and jumped down into the garden. It was a thirty second sprint across open lawn to the house. Jessica hesitated. There were probably motion sensors, and security lighting, at the very least. She didn’t want to risk having to deal with anything like that. She edged across the side of the grass lawn, keeping in the shadows provided by the tall trees.
 

Her eyes scanned the house for any signs of life. There were a few lights on downstairs and some of the upstairs windows were bright. Then she found what she was looking for. What every burglar prays for. An open window on the first floor with a curtain fluttering from it in the warm evening breeze. And a convenient balcony she could climb up to. It was too good an opportunity to miss, and she doubted that any other part of the house would provide a better access point. She crept within spitting distance of the house and dived the last few feet, crouching on the floor, waiting for an alarm to ring out or a floodlight to illuminate the grounds. Nothing. This was going to be easier than she thought.

The lodge walls were built of local stone and had a rough, rustic quality to them. Ideal for climbing up. Jessica reached up the wall with her hand and found a stone to grip on to. She tried a few places with her foot and eventually found a spot which she could stand on. Little by little she scaled the wall until she reached the balcony. She pulled herself up and on to it, and quickly stood flat against the wall at the side of the balcony door. She peered into the room beyond. It was bathed in a gentle light from a floor lamp, and, to her relief, there was no-one there.

Jessica’s mind raced, assessing the situation. Was there anyone in the house? There were a few lights on and the balcony door had been left open, but the house seemed quiet. The Economic Forum had a big gala dinner going on at one of the hotels tonight. All the big shots would be there. She was guessing that Szabo would be there too. And, anyway, she hadn’t come this far to back out now. The risk was part of the thrill of doing it. It was now or never.

She took a deep breath, steadied her nerves, and slipped quickly inside. She moved over to the bedroom door and out onto the landing. She paused for a minute to listen for a sound, and to let her eyes get used to the gloom.
 

Her night vision now improving, she glided through the first floor of the house, her feet barely making a sound on the thickly carpeted floors. She knew where she was heading. To the master bedroom. It had a dressing room off of it, and she guessed that if there was any jewellery in the house it would quite likely be in a safe or strongbox in one of the closets. If there was nothing there, she’d have to head downstairs and find Szabo’s study.

It was a huge, rambling house with many wings, and hidden corridors. The master bedroom took up the entire west wing of the first floor, and Jessica quickly located it, her memory of the house serving her well. She put her hand on to the door handle and was about to ease it open, when she suddenly stopped. There were voices. Someone was inside.
 

“Shit,” she murmured to herself. Her heart stepped up a gear and she clamped her mouth shut, muffling the sound of her breathing. She inhaled through her nose and calmed herself. Panicking now would get her caught. You needed ice cold nerves in this job.
 

There was nothing for it, she was going to have to retrace her steps. Maybe get back out on the balcony. Wait for whoever it was to leave, and then try again. She wasn’t going to give up so easily. She guessed it was Szabo in there. And if anyone deserved to have some of his valuables stolen it was him. Talk about ill gotten gains. She may be a thief, but not as big a crook as Szabo.
 
He’d pocketed billions over the years from insider trading and manipulating
 
stock prices for his own end. His takeovers had led to the loss of tens of thousand of jobs. The deals were always sold as being good for the company. They were only ever good for Szabo.