Code blue, p.5
Code Blue, page 5
We’d had to increase security on her and Wes, and I thought it might put an end to their relationship, but it hadn’t deterred them. That was a year and a half ago and they were still together. They were now living together, so while Wes was our prime client, his detail now included Amy.
“Did she have a full detail back then?” Jeremy asked.
I was surprised that he didn’t know. “Yes. Just to and from work, that kind of thing. No one staying with her. Just transporting.”
Jeremy frowned. “I remember Wes being pissed off. Guess I forgot how bad it was.”
I studied him for a second. His issue had nothing to do with Amy back then. His issue was that the band was changing. Their circle of five was growing.
First Maddox with Roscoe. Then Wes with Amy.
“It’ll be you next,” I said, aiming for a joke, even if it didn’t sit right with me. It would happen eventually. “You’ll find a girl.”
“Me?” He looked kind of horrified. “Not likely.”
One thing I had noticed on the last tour was that if there was a night or two off and Luke and Blake had wanted to meet up with some girls, Jeremy had opted not to. Not even once.
“Not interested? Even in something casual?”
He screwed up his face. “You know the saying you should make your friends before you make your money? How would I ever really know if they’re with me for me?”
I nodded slowly. “Fair enough.”
“I’d rather be lonely than taken for a fool.”
God, that hurt to hear.
“I’m done with the stream of nameless faces, ya know?” he said. “It’s all meaningless and it—” He shook his head. “Never mind. You don’t want to hear this shit.”
“You can tell me,” I said gently.
He met my eyes. “We’ve been doing this a long time, right? And there’s been women. A lot of women.”
God, he didn’t have to tell me that. I knew all too well.
“And this is gonna sound terrible. But I don’t remember them. I couldn’t tell you a name or a face. It was just meaningless. And I just can’t do that anymore. It feels like I’m giving away a part of my soul every time.” He shrugged. “I have nothing left to give.”
Oh, Jeremy . . .
“It’s taken a toll on you.”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“Are you lonely?”
His eyes cut to mine. “Yes. There’s a reason why Eleanor Rigby is my favorite song. I mean, apart from the fact it’s a musical masterpiece.” He gave me a weak smile and shrugged again. “This life is isolating. Remember what Maddox went through, how he said he felt like a circus monkey punished for wanting something outside the cage? And how he was just a commodity in a trade-off.”
I nodded.
“It feels like that.” Then he smiled. “Don’t get me wrong. I love my life. Wouldn’t change a thing. I am happy. I just wish . . . some days I just wish I knew what normal felt like.”
“Normal?” I grimaced. “It’s work. And bills and rent and housework.”
Jeremy gave me a rueful smile. “Stop selling it so enthusiastically.”
“Sorry.”
He shook his head. “I know I’m privileged. I know that. I don’t have to worry about money. I don’t have to struggle with that.”
“Your problems are unique, yes,” I said. “But not any less valid.”
He finally smiled, albeit tinged with sadness. “I just want something real and genuine. And maybe that can’t happen for me as long as Atrous is a thing.”
“You deserve to be happy too,” I offered. Even though the thought of him finding that perfect woman just about killed me inside, he did deserve to be happy.
And what right did I have being hurt? Jeremy was straight.
He snorted. “And subject them to this? Having a fixated stalker and an FBI investigation? No thanks. Not to mention the tours and the crazy hours, and my dedication to the guys. It’s not easy to ask someone to be the fifth most important person in my life. Like saying, ‘Hey, I think you’re amazing and we could have something great, but here’s the ladder of all the important people in my life—’” He held up one hand like a measuring stick, then the other much lower. “‘—and this is where you are.’ I can’t ask someone to do that.”
“The right person would understand. And Maddox doesn’t treat Roscoe like that. Nor Wes and Amy,” I tried. I held my hands up equally. “Maybe they’re equal but separate.”
“Well, even then,” he replied, “I don’t want to separate my life between the guys, the band being over here, and then some . . . one being over there. And the truth is, if they can’t be part of my life with the guys, then what’s the point?”
“True.” I sighed. “I don’t envy you guys.”
He shot me a curious look. “No?”
“The house, sure. The private jet is nice. Not gonna lie. But I see what it costs you. The privacy, the intrusions, the demand. And the toll it puts on your health. Physical, mental.” I shook my head. “I mean, we’re both here right now because some deluded fan has got you in their crosshairs and instigated an FBI investigation.”
He swallowed hard and took a moment to consider what I’d said. “Do you think it’s a serious threat?”
I met his gaze. “I have no idea. But Arlo and Ambrose do, and until the feds tell me they’ve caught this person, we treat it like it’s serious.”
Riko joined us. “Boss. A Mr. Gerald Dubrowski is at the gate.”
I checked the time. It was five to eight. Shit. I hadn’t realized we’d been talking so long. “Good, let him in.” I got to my feet. “He was in charge of the security system install here,” I said to Jeremy. “I’ll be awhile with him. Riko will have you covered. And don’t forget Ryan will be here around nine. Knowing Ryan, he’ll be early. And you have a physical therapy session with Julio as well.”
Jeremy gave me a mock salute. “Understood.” He stood up, and I quickly averted my gaze so I didn’t appear to be checking him out. Was a shirt too much to ask?
“I’m gonna go shower,” he announced. Then he patted his belly. His very flat, very defined abs. “Thanks again for breakfast. You’re gonna spoil me.”
“No, I’m not. We’re keeping it fair,” I replied. “Because you’re cooking lunch, remember?”
My meeting with Gerald Dubrowski went for about an hour. Jeremy’s security system was a good one, and given the location—the gated community, the ravine drop-off on his property border—his house was well-protected.
I felt safe here, and Jeremy did too. But that wasn’t any reason to relax.
“Can anyone access and watch this footage?” I asked.
Gerald frowned at first but then quickly shook his head. “Not without access through our servers. They’d need high-level security clearance.”
“I’ll need the name of everyone who has access to that information.”
Gerald stopped and stared at me. “I can vouch for everyone on my team. I assure you—”
“Then you should have no problem with giving me the information.” Then I changed tack. “Actually, it might be best to leave me out of it. I’ll send you the contact details of a Special Agent Miles Zielinski of the FBI and you can forward it to him. Or would you prefer the request come from him, as in a formal request for information?”
“The FBI?”
“Hmm.” I stared at the screen. “I’d like to get another camera here.” I pointed to the screen. “And here. And I want better thermal imaging.”
“This is industry-leading software.”
“I want military grade. Multispectral, 4K, in-built audios and illuminators. I want to be able to see their retinas.”
Gerald scrubbed his hand over his face. He was quiet for a long beat. “There’s a product. Not even on the market yet. It’s been approved, but they’re waiting on distribution rights or something. It has long-range detection capabilities, threat-assessment kind of thing. And it can read the identification signature of drones.”
I grinned at him and clapped his shoulder. “Now we’re on the same page.”
“I’ll have to make some calls. And I’ll need Mr. Dalton to approve it, of course.”
“Of course.”
Jeremy wouldn’t mind.
“Can you show me them online? If they’re any good, I’ll need five.” I held up five fingers.
“They’re not going to be cheap,” he added.
I didn’t care who was paying for it. Jeremy or Platinum. “If it keeps them alive, then it’s worth it.”
“Here he is,” Ryan said as I walked out. He held out a Starbucks cup. “Coffee?”
“Thank you.”
I looked around the room, and before I could ask, Ryan nodded out the back. “He’s out there.”
Sure enough, he was on a shaded lounge chair with a notepad and pen. Riko was standing by, out of Jeremy’s eyesight but close enough.
I sipped my coffee. “Sorry, I took longer with the surveillance company than I thought. What did I miss?”
“Schedule update,” Ryan answered. “Week after next is all a go.”
“All of it?” Meetings, interview, photoshoots, and an appearance on Late Nights in LA.
“Yep.”
What the fuck had changed since yesterday?
Ryan clearly read my mind. Or maybe my facial expression. He shook his head. “Dunno what he’s thinking,” he said flatly. “Ambrose just confirmed it’s all a go. I guess he assumes this FBI case will be over by then.”
Maybe it would be. But why not cancel everything until we knew for sure? I resisted growling. “Late Nights is next Thursday, right?”
He gave a nod.
Ten days away. Ten days felt like a lifetime.
Yesterday Ambrose and Arlo were all concerned about safety and security, and today they just didn’t give a fuck?
Not that I would say this out loud to Ryan. Or to anyone, really.
I took out my phone, read the update from Ambrose, and hit Call. He answered on the fourth ring.
“Steve.”
“Just got your message.” My tone was clipped, but that probably wasn’t anything new. “I was in a meeting. Have you heard anything about the case?”
“No developments.”
“And next week’s all going ahead.”
“Hm.” And with that simple tone, I got the impression the order had come from Arlo Kim. “We have the award shows coming up. You know what that’s like.”
Yes, I did.
They were my least favorite events of the year.
Atrous had won at the Brit Awards and the Grammys earlier in the year, and now Arlo Kim was pushing for a straight sweep with the AMAs and the Billboard Awards.
But they were weeks away. Surely this would all be over by then.
“How’s Jeremy this morning?”
I turned to see Jeremy getting off the lounger with his phone pressed to his ear. He was coming inside.
“Yeah, he’s fine.”
“Good. Keep me updated.”
“Of course.”
“You’re in tomorrow, 9:00 a.m.”
“Yes, we are.”
“I’ll call you later with an update, if I hear anything or not.”
“Good. Thanks.”
I ended the call just as Jeremy came in. “Oh, hey,” he said, smiling at me. He was now wearing swimming shorts and an old T-shirt, looking relaxed, a little sun-kissed, and extremely good looking. “Maddox is gonna come over.”
As soon as he said it, my phone rang. Robbie’s name came up on-screen. I answered, looking at Jeremy. “Robbie.”
“Hey, boss,” Robbie said. “You up for company.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Jeremy grinned.
So I added, “But warn Maddox and Roscoe that Jeremy is making our lunch.”
Jeremy scowled at me, then spoke into his phone. “Whatever Robbie says about me making lunch is a lie. . . . Oh thanks a fucking lot.” He laughed and pocketed his phone. “They’ll be here soon.”
Robbie laughed in my ear. “We’re leaving here in ten.”
“Call me when you get to the gate.”
“Will do.”
I ended the call and stared at Jeremy until I couldn’t hide my smile. “You are making lunch.”
“Then you’re helping me.”
Ryan cleared his throat, and both Jeremy and I turned to face him. He seemed a mix of amused and confused. “I’ll wait till Roscoe gets here and catch up with him, then I’ll be off.”
“Don’t want to stay for lunch?” Jeremy asked.
“Uh . . .” He looked a little scared. “No thanks.”
“See?” Jeremy said to me. “Not even Ryan wants to eat what I make.”
I laughed at that, just as Riko came in, his phone in his hand. “Maintenance is here to see you?”
“Good. Let them in.”
It was a very quick meeting with the gardening and housekeeping staff. Did I think they were possible suspects? Not one bit. But could they possibly be used as access points? Maybe.
I explained, without too much detail, that there was a need to upgrade surveillance and security. They all sat wide-eyed, and it wasn’t my intention to scare them. But I wasn’t going to sugarcoat anything either.
“Has anyone approached you in the last six months and asked you about your work here?”
They all answered no.
“Has anyone started working at your company in the last six months shown an interest in this address?”
No.
“Any change in suppliers?”
No.
“Have you noticed any suspicious activity in or around the house?”
No.
“Had anyone tried to deliver any packages in the time Jeremy was on tour?”
No.
I told them I understood they weren’t at the house full time, and I appreciated them coming in on short notice. Then I gave them my number and told them if anyone does approach them, asks questions about Jeremy to please, please contact me immediately.
If they remembered anything, thought of anything, they were to call me. Any time, day or night. No matter how insignificant it might seem.
The head gardener, an older man by the name of Christian, stopped on the way out. He had rough hands and skin that had seen far too much California sun. “Is Mr. Dalton in any danger?” he asked, quietly. “He’s a good boy.” Then he made a face. “We do a lot of houses in this area. Some owners won’t speak to us. But not Jeremy. Always smiles, always talks. Offers us drinks when it gets too hot.”
I smiled at that. Of course Jeremy would be friendly to everyone. That’s just who he was.
“He’s fine. As I said, these are precautionary matters at this time.”
He held my gaze for a while before he gave a nod. I didn’t mind if he didn’t believe me. If he drew his own conclusions that this was serious, then he might be more aware of every slightest issue in the future.
I walked him out just as Jeremy was coming down the hall, carrying a small keyboard. “Oh, hey, Chris,” Jeremy said.
Christian smiled and gave a nod. “Mr. Dalton.”
“You all good?” Jeremy asked him, slightly concerned.
“Oh, yes,” Christian replied, but he did glance at me.
Jeremy’s smile widened. “Don’t let this guy fool ya,” he said, giving me a gentle tap with the back of his hand. “He’s a big teddy bear.”
I rolled my eyes and Christian chuckled but said his goodbyes and left.
“You have to stop telling people I’m a teddy bear.”
“And call you what? A marshmallow?”
A marshmallow?
I raised an eyebrow at him. “A what?”
Jeremy laughed, and when he turned and kept walking, I noticed that Ryan, Robbie, Maddox, and Roscoe were in the family room. Maddox was holding a guitar.
And they were all watching us.
“Oh, hi,” I said. “Sorry, was in a meeting.”
“Morning,” Maddox said, a little too cheerfully. As though he knew I had feelings for Jeremy.
Fucking hell.
Jeremy made a beeline for Maddox and they went out to the patio. Riko and Robbie followed them. Never away from anything music-oriented for long, Jeremy and Maddox were clearly doing some kind of melody or lyric development, which they could do for hours.
And that suited me just fine.
It gave me a chance to speak to Ryan and Roscoe. I told them I’d met with housekeeping and the gardening team, and how it hadn’t amounted to much. “I’ve also had a meeting with the security surveillance company who did the install here. I’ve requested an upgrade to include better night and thermal vision. This house is quite secure, but being on the canyon, it’s also very exposed. Especially at night. It’s pitch black on the boundaries. If someone really wanted to come over the back wall, they could. As it is now, sure, it keeps the less-determined people out. But those aren’t the types I’m worried about.” I looked out to where Jeremy and Maddox sat on the lounge chairs, laughing.
“And also that maybe every member of the band look at upgrading as well. I’m waiting on a quote before I put some options to Jeremy.”
Roscoe gave a nod. “It certainly can’t hurt.”
“I agree,” Ryan said. “Especially for Jeremy. Not just because of this latest shitshow, but because he’s the only one of the guys who lives alone.”
I hadn’t really thought of that. I mean, I knew he lived alone. I knew the other guys in the band all lived with someone. Maddox had Roscoe, Wes lived with Amy, Luke and Blake shared two houses together . . . Jeremy was on his own.
I hated that. “Exactly.”
Roscoe nodded. “Maddox is worried about him being by himself. He asked him last night if he wanted to stay at our place.”
I ignored the stab of unease at the mention of that. I hated that idea too . . . Not because of safety concerns or anything. But because then I wouldn’t have time with him . . .
That realization hit harder than the unease.
Was my judgment clouded when it came to Jeremy?
Yes.
Was I putting my own selfish needs before his?
