Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series (26 page)

Vinny’s grin was infectious as he leaned over and kissed Jennifer’s head. “No, man. Just you and your relationship.”

Jennifer couldn’t help the giggle that escaped when a chuckle erupted from Gabe as he shook his head.

The three of them left the station and dropped her off at work. As she entered the DSS building, she felt a strange sensation of eyes on her. Turning around, she saw the twins driving away and assumed it must have been them. Moving toward the elevators, she missed the eyes that were following her. Angry eyes. Determined. Vengeful.

*

Santo took the
phone call from his office.

“Cops got Frederick’s man. Seems Ms. Lambert recognized him, followed him and called the fuckin’ police.”

Goddamn it.
“How the fuck did she recognize him? He shouldn’t have been anywhere near her.”

“Don’t know. According to his partner from that night, he may have been trying to get back in Frederick’s good graces.”

Santo thought for a moment, quietly deciding the course of action. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, hanging up and then quickly dialing again. “Frederick? Your man was picked up by the police. It seems Ms. Lambert saw him and his ass is now in jail. Take care of him. Yeah. Permanently.”

*

“Jennifer,” Cora’s voice
sounded weak on the phone. “I don’t want you to worry, but honey we’ve got a problem. Some of the residents are sick…it seems that they have a stomach virus and someone from the health department is here causing problems.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Arriving at the center, Jennifer jogged into the building and straight into the kitchen. She saw a man talking to Henry and she headed directly to them.

“Is Cora okay?” she asked Henry, ignoring the man from the Health Department.

“Yeah, just a little weak,” Henry answered, the fatigue showing on his face. “The problem is this here man,” he said jerking his thumb at the stranger.

She turned, putting her hand out to him and identified herself. The man looked down at her and ignored her extended hand. “You’ve got mice in the kitchen. I’m still identifying other problems.”

“We do not,” she stated definitively. “It’s an old building, but we’re inspected each month and there have been no problems.”

“What do you call this?” he asked, holding up a bag containing a mouse caught in a trap.

Henry shouted, “Now hold on. I was in that pantry this morning and there was nothing there. This fellow shows up and goes in there and suddenly there’s a mouse in his hand. If you ask me, that’s real fishy!”

The man stepped closer to Henry and Jennifer instinctively stepped in front of him. “Henry, go check on Cora and the others. I’ll be in to see her in a few minutes.”

Henry shuffled away and Jennifer looked up into the dark eyes of the inspector standing directly in front of her, before dropping to his name tag. “You want to take a step back, Mr. Burton? Threatening posture will get you nowhere with me.” Pulling out her phone, she glanced at the numbers and placed a call. He looked at her suspiciously.

“Bob? Jennifer Lambert here. Can you come to the center now? It’s an emergency. Got someone from the Health Department who just showed up and I need you. Yeah? Thanks.”

The man, who had stepped back a few paces, continued to hold her stare. “Who’d you call? I represent the Health Department.”

“The grant that I have to run this facility has someone from the State Health Department who comes monthly to do inspections. He knows the building and our business. He’s also the one approved by the state to do our inspections. Not you. So you want to tell me why you’re here? Who called you? Who sent you? And why the fuck you are messing with these people?” Her voice had risen with each word and the last was shouted.

“You okay, honey?” came a voice from behind. As Jennifer turned around, she realized that a number of the residents had come out to the see what was happening.

“All I know is that my department got a tip that there was food poisoning here and I was to investigate.”

“Food poisoning? There are residents with a stomach virus which is not the same. If a doctor or hospital had diagnosed food poisoning, there would have been a lot more involvement than you just being here. And haven’t you read the paper lately? The flu is going around affecting the whole area. Are you visiting all the places with flu calling it food poisoning? So. Who. Sent. You?” The last words were punctuated with a tiny finger poking his chest.

Anger flashed in his eyes and for a second she felt fear.
Something’s not right.

Before she could question him further, he abruptly turned and said, “I’m writing up a report. If possible, I’ll get you closed down.” With that he walked out of the back door into the alley.

She was surrounded by the residents all clambering to know what was happening. Rubbing her forehead to still the headache looming, she calmed them down, sending them back to the common area. Heading up the stairs to Henry and Cora’s apartment, she knocked and entered. Cora was sipping tea, looking pale.

Both she and Henry wanted to know what was going on and Jennifer explained as best as she could. “I swear it’s like someone is out to get us!” she exclaimed with frustration. Another knock on the door had Henry rising to let Bob Tolsen in. After greetings all around, he sat down at the table with the other three and they went over the morning’s events.

Henry explained that there was a stomach flu that had gone through the residents but that no doctor had mentioned food poisoning. Bob nodded and took notes as he asked questions.

“It wouldn’t be food poisoning. If it had been, then most of the residents would have been affected at the same time. This went through the residents slowly as though they were passing it along, just as you said…a stomach flu. I don’t know who sent this man, but I’ll follow up with the Richland Health Department and see what I can find out. It makes no sense that he’d just show up without the official paperwork giving him authority to investigate or inspect.”

Jennifer’s brain began working overtime.
What is going on? Why would someone want us out of this building? It’s an old building, not worth anything to anyone else. That was one of the reasons they were able to afford to get the building with the grant.
Rubbing her forehead again, she knew the headache was coming.

“Bob, I’ll walk you out.” Kissing Cora and Henry goodbye, she and Bob made their way to the ground floor and stopped on the front stoop. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m afraid it seems like someone is trying to sabotage this project. And I swear if it was just me? Sure I’d be pissed, but whatever happens is affecting the wonderful people who live here.”

“I’ll check into it, I promise,” he said, shaking her hand.

Watching him leave, she decided to make an impromptu appearance to The State Capitol once more.
And I just dare Monty to get in my way!

*

For the first
time that day, things were going her way. Monty was not at his desk and Senator Reno ushered her into his office. It just so happened that his wife was visiting as well and her friendly face made the horrible day seem better.

“I will be honest, Ms. Lambert,” the Senator said. “The budget hearings are not going as well as I had hoped.” Seeing her face, he quickly added, “That doesn’t mean anything to you right now. I’m just letting you know that the state’s budget is very tight. But, I’m fighting for you.

Mrs. Reno looked at Jennifer and the evidence of stress was on her face. “My dear, I have a perfect idea. The Senator and I will be attending a gala on Friday night for the opening of the movie that was filmed here months ago. We have two extra tickets and would love to have you and a friend attend as well. You look like you could use a night out.” Smiling she added, “And perhaps there is a special young man who would like to escort you?”

“I…I don’t know,” she stammered.
The premier? Jesus, Gabe will be there. But so will Alicia Morgenstern. But I probably won’t even see her.

Mrs. Reno interrupted her thoughts. “I can see you are thinking of all the reasons to not attend, but I insist.” Leaning in as though to whisper, but knowing her husband could hear, she added, “And these events often turn out boring for me because they usually become work events for my husband. You might be able to make some more converts for your project.”

With that enticement, Jennifer’s mind was made up. Smiling, she agreed. “I would love to attend. My…um…well my boyfriend actually works for the security company that will be there, but I have a girlfriend that I would love to invite.”

“Perfect,” Mrs. Reno exclaimed.

Thanking them both, she hurried out of the office…and ran straight into Monty. Bouncing off of him, she felt his arms reach out to grab her arms to steady her.

“Well, well, Ms. Lambert. What a surprise to see you here, unannounced with no appointment,” he said sarcastically.

Jerking away, she was getting ready to retort when Mrs. Reno approached from behind. “Oh Monty, I see you’ve met the lovely Ms. Lambert.”

Monty’s eyes flashed, but his voice was even as he said, “Yes, we are well acquainted.” Giving Jennifer a pointed look he smiled at the Senator’s wife and returned to his desk.

“See you on Friday night,” Jennifer said to Mrs. Reno in a voice loud enough that Monty had to have heard.
Take that, you bully.

As she walked out of the building, she called Sherrie and invited her to go to the gala. Thrilled that Sherrie accepted, they made the arrangements. As Jennifer walked to the bus stop, she began to think about the event, wondering what to wear. Slowing her steps, she realized that she had nothing in her closet that even came close to formalwear. Glancing at her watch, she realized that she had to get Ross off of the bus and had no time to worry about it now.
I’ll find something tomorrow.

*

The next two
days passed in a blur. Between Gabe working night shift duty and Jennifer’s involvement with the center, they barely saw each other. She had managed to buy a beautiful dress at a consignment shop near where she worked. She hated spending the money on it but knew that she needed something striking. She told Gabe about attending but he was not happy about it.