Covert Alliance (16 page)

“In case you’re wondering, I made a reservation,” Alan said as they strode through the parking lot and up to the front door of the restaurant.

“Great idea.”

The Blue View looked chalet-like despite the fact that this area in Southern California got no snow. It was one story high, had several angled slopes to its roof and appeared to be constructed out of reddish wood. Its walls were filled with huge windows, and in the dim light Kelly could see the tall ceiling inside as well as some tables.

“Nice place,” Alan remarked as they entered through the wide door.

“Sure is,” Kelly agreed, looking around. It was much as she remembered from the very few times she had been here before—quaint and elegant and filled with people dressed for the occasion.

The seats half circling the entrance were filled, apparently with people waiting for tables. There was a tall wooden stand nearby with a clipboard on it that must be used by the maȋtre d’, although he wasn’t there at the moment.

But soon someone approached the stand—a hostess, not a maȋtre d’.

A familiar-looking hostess.

Really? Stan Grodon was flirting with a mere restaurant hostess? Or was there more to the story than that?

For the person who approached was none other than Dora, Stan’s date the other night and the woman who had been with him at the Haven that day.

Kelly glanced at Alan in amazement.

Before he stepped forward to give his name to the woman greeting them, he shot a glance toward Kelly...and grinned.

Chapter 13

A
lan hadn’t intended this moment to be a test of Kelly’s sharpness and ingenuity...or maybe he had for reasons even he considered inappropriate right now. She was smart. She had motives of her own. But they were working together now, no matter what she had done to get here.

He could have—should have—warned her whom he felt fairly sure they’d run into here, since Dora had indicated she would be at the Blue View tonight at the time of the reservation Alan had asked her to make for him.

The look Kelly shot him now appeared both justifiably puzzled and angry. But she turned her head immediately and looked at Dora as he stepped forward to confirm their reservation.

“Of course, Alan,” Dora responded warmly. “So glad you came.” She wore a nice tailored dress, nothing like the sexy, sparse outfit they had seen her in with Stan at Tony’s Lounge, nor the professional business suit she had worn that day at Government Plaza. No matter what she wore, she was one attractive lady, which undoubtedly was a major factor in Stan’s apparent interest in her.

But since Alan had learned earlier that day that her parents, the Shallners, had bought the Blue View Restaurant a few months ago and she was instrumental in helping them run it, he had no doubt that her family’s money was another reason for Stan’s interest.

Kelly had mentioned a desire to befriend Dora. They hadn’t discussed exactly why yet, but he suspected she wanted to learn what Dora knew about Stan—and maybe, Eli. Alan thought it was a potentially good idea.

In fact, the situation could work out really well since these two women were both in hospitality and both worked at restaurants—notwithstanding the major differences in the nature of those eateries and their connections with them. If some camaraderie developed between them, Kelly might be able to learn something useful from this woman in whom Stan Grodon appeared to be interested.

Now, once he and Kelly were seated and had a modicum of privacy, Alan would explain this to her and help her come up with a way to start chatting with their hostess.

If it made sense, he might even apologize.

It turned out he didn’t need to explain anything. As Dora picked up a couple of large menus from the stand and encouraged them to follow her, Kelly inserted herself in front of Alan and beside the other woman. “This place is so wonderful,” she gushed. “It’s my first time here. I’ve only been in Blue Haven a short while, and I’m a server at the Haven Restaurant. I really like it there, but it must be amazing to work at a place like this.”

Of course Kelly wouldn’t know that Dora was part of the family that owned this place and might somehow embarrass herself. But he could step in and interrupt if things seemed to be going south.

For now, Dora just turned toward Kelly. She was shorter than Kelly and had to look up through her clearly false eyelashes. Her hair was a pale blond that also didn’t look real, and she gave the impression of being a model, or at least having a model’s grace and looks.

Some of that could be said for Kelly, too, at least partly thanks to the new look she had been given by the Identity Division, complete with darker, wavier hair and different contours to her attractive face and body than she’d had before she’d had her identity changed, been put on a diet and exercise regimen despite not being overweight to begin with, and taught model-like comportment. Alan had seen Shereen’s before photos when he was given the undercover assignment here to gather evidence to support Shereen’s claims against the apparent murderer of her sister.

“My family owns a restaurant in LA,” Dora was saying now.

Alan had a difficult time hearing her as he walked behind them, but the crowd noise here wasn’t as loud or boisterous as at the Haven, and he suspected the wall paneling improved the acoustics—it was undoubtedly expensive.

“But my parents decided to expand our interests,” Dora continued, “and learned that this place was for sale. They jumped on it, and I was delighted to take over managing it for them.”

As far as Alan could tell, she was doing a good job. Even if she wasn’t, she might have access to her family’s money.

“That’s so cool,” Kelly said. “You know, I’d really like to get together and talk to you about it. I love my job at the Haven, and working right in downtown Blue Haven is wonderful. But this place is so outstanding. I realize you might not be looking for new servers or, even if you’re open to the idea, I might not be your ideal candidate, but I’d like to at least discuss it with you.”

They had maneuvered around rows of tables covered in attractive white cloths, many with decorative carafes of wine in the center and nearly all occupied by richly dressed patrons. They had just reached a table near one of the vast windows overlooking not the ocean but the parking lot. Under other circumstances Alan might have requested a different one, but he didn’t want to undermine what Kelly was up to, so this would be fine.

Besides, he suspected they would be back here again soon, maybe often, at least until Kelly had sucked all the information she could out of Dora.

“We’re always open to finding more good help,” Dora said as Alan pulled the chair out for Kelly. “We’re not looking for anyone at the moment, but maybe soon. In any event, I’d be glad to talk with you about your experience and whether you could fulfill our needs.”

“That would be so wonderful!” Alan was amused by Kelly’s assumed gushing personality. “Soon? Maybe tomorrow morning? I have Sundays off.”

“How about around ten?” Dora asked. “Things are generally manageable here at that time on Sundays.”

“I’ll be here.” Kelly’s smile was huge, and she looked excited. This could lead to fulfillment of her goal, Alan realized, so why not? Dora knew Stan and might have some useful knowledge about him.

On the other hand—well, Kelly would need to be careful and discreet in the way she asked.

Somehow, he had a feeling she would do just fine.

* * *

“Why?” Kelly demanded quietly once Dora had handed them their menus, told them to enjoy their meals and headed back toward the front of the restaurant.

“Why what?” Alan asked.

“I assume you knew Dora would be here, but you didn’t tell me. Why?”

She had an idea, though. It was a test of sorts. How would she handle herself in a situation like that, surprised yet needing to play it correctly or blow a potentially good source of information?

Before he answered, she went on. “What would you have done if I’d made a scene, tried to pounce on Dora here to get any insight she might have on Eli? You could have prepared me.”

Alan just smiled, damn him. “I’d have taken over if you started to blow it. But I knew you’d figure things out and handle them right. I kind of thought of it as a game as well as a test, and you won.”

Was that a glimmer of pride that she saw in the way he drew the ends of his lips up into a sexy smile? He spoke softly, too, but fortunately, even though this place wasn’t nearly as noisy as the Haven, there were enough people talking around them to cover what they were saying.

A very pleasant female server came over just then, much more professionally clad than Kelly at the Haven in a black dress with a belt at the waist, dark stockings and black shoes with low heels. Kelly regarded her with a touch of envy, but only for a moment. It was time to order their drinks.

Kelly shot a snide grin toward Alan. She had only glanced at the drink menu, but she knew what she wanted: a glass of champagne. Expensive champagne.

After all, she was now celebrating. Whatever the reason for Alan’s test, she had passed and then some.

She had proved she could be flexible. Rise to any occasion.

But somehow she just prayed that what she was doing—what they were doing—would have results soon. Very soon.

What would Dora tell her about Eli tomorrow? Anything at all? And if not, surely she could reveal something about Stan. Kelly could hardly wait.

For now, though, that champagne sounded wonderful. Alan ordered some, too, and shortly they were toasting each other.

That was fine for now. But Kelly couldn’t wait until they were able to toast their success in bringing Stan down, avenging Andi and saving Eli.

* * *

Their meal was great. Alan ordered salmon, and Kelly ordered a mixed seafood salad. They didn’t talk any more about Dora or their plot to get the answers they both sought. Instead, they discussed portions of his work that he could talk about in public, places where he had lived—mostly East Coast, around the DC area, and places in California where it would be fun to sightsee, many of which he figured Kelly had seen...before.

Kelly smiled each time Dora passed by to show other patrons to their seats. Alan wished he could be in on their conversation tomorrow, but that wouldn’t make sense.

He would discuss questions for Kelly to ask on their way home later.

Their server came by a few times to ask if all was well—and to pour more champagne. They took their time, but eventually they were done eating.

When the server brought their check, Alan gulped and made a face as if horrified by the amount, then he grinned. “It’s okay. I asked for it with my attitude before. And you earned this meal and more.”

Was he mistaken, or was Kelly’s return smile suggestive? It sure looked that way, and he was glad he was still seated when his body started to react.

He handed over his credit card. Once he’d gotten the receipt and added a generous tip, he stood and approached Kelly to pull out her chair for her. Gentlemanliness was certainly called for in a place like this. But she didn’t wait. Instead, she took a few steps away from him quickly, as if to show who was in charge. She maneuvered along an aisle between tables until she reached one of the wide windows that looked out over the ocean. He joined her. It was dark outside so the water wasn’t really visible, except for some reflections of light from above, but the view still added to this place’s character. He put his arm around her briefly for show, enjoying the feel of her against him.

On their way out she stopped to talk to Dora at the reception stand, thanking her and saying she looked forward to seeing her the next day.

Kelly was a trouper, Alan thought. She was doing everything right. He could have ruined this evening for both of them by embarrassing her, but she came out on top.

And the idea of her being on top...well, that generated some especially hot ideas—not that any would necessarily come to fruition, darn it. Not tonight, at least, since any interest that Kelly might have shown was probably payback for his earlier attitude. She would simply say no now.

Wouldn’t she?

He drove slowly on the way back down the mountain, despite how well the streetlights illuminated the road. They discussed her approach the next day for extracting any information Dora happened to have about Stan—and Eli.

“Just stay fascinated about this town and its people and places, and make your inquiries subtle but enthusiastic,” Alan advised.

“Yes, sir.” From the corner of his eye, he saw her give a not-very-professional salute. “Don’t worry. I’ll do fine.”

He felt certain she would.

When he pulled up in front of her apartment building, he found a parking spot on the street. As a security guy, he had an urge to walk her upstairs. Additional urges, too. But maybe she wouldn’t want anything like that—

“Would you like to come upstairs with me?” she asked in a husky voice. She still sat in the passenger seat, and he saw her eyelids lower in a fully sensual gaze.

“Yes,” he said. “I would.”

* * *

Was this going to become a habit? Had it already?

The day had been busy enough that last night seemed a long time ago, at least in some ways. But inviting Alan to join her upstairs brought it all back to her.

Was this a bad idea? He’d played her a bit today, even tested her, and now they walked briskly up the wide, steep steps to her apartment, with her leading the way as if she was eager to get him up there.

Which, if she was truthful to herself, she was. It was part of their ruse to the rest of Blue Haven, after all.

And if that was the only reason, she could also pretend she hadn’t done anything contrary to the Identity Division’s orders.

At her floor, she stepped into the hallway feeling more out of breath than usual after that short trek. It had to be anticipation causing her respiration to increase and grow irregular.

Alan was beside her in an instant, and she hurried past the first door until she arrived at her own apartment, reaching into her purse for her key.

In moments, they were inside her small living room. Alan closed the door behind him.