More Than a Soldier by Irene Onorato

Author:Irene Onorato [Onorato, Irene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“I should have dropped you off at the door and parked the Jeep myself.” Hank paced along the curb under the hotel canopy’s twinkling white lights. He hadn’t been this angry in a long time. “There were at least four valets standing around when we got here, now they’re nowhere in sight.”

Cindy intercepted as he about-faced. “Then let’s just walk to the Jeep. Oh, wait. The keys.”

“Keys aren’t the problem. I’ve got those. All I handed over was a separate valet key. But I have no idea where they parked it in this sea of cars.”

“We saw the valet drive the Jeep around the building. Wouldn’t hurt to go take a look, would it? Never know. We might spot it right away.”

Slim chance, but it was worth a try. “I’ll go. You can wait here.”

“No, I’d rather go with you.”

A cool breeze fluttered through Cindy’s hair as they turned the corner. She shivered then rubbed her arms.

Hank took off his tux jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

“Thanks.” She pulled the coat tight around her. “I’m sorry about tonight.”

“Sorry about what? None of what happened in there was your fault.”

“I feel as though I’ve ruined your chances of getting a job with—”

“I don’t care about the stinkin’ job!”

Cindy flinched.

“Don’t you understand?” He lowered his voice. “I care about you.” He paused to let it sink in. “I’d have bashed that worthless piece of trash’s head in if you hadn’t stopped me.”

“I know, and he would have deserved it. But, I didn’t want you to end up in jail.”

“You’re right. I probably would have gotten arrested. But it might have been worth it to deck that dirt bag.”

Halfway down the sidewalk on the backside of the hotel, Cindy shaded her eyes from the glare of the street lamps and popped onto tiptoes. “I think I see the Jeep way over there, facing the road.”

“I think you’re right, eagle eyes.” Hank gestured for her to walk ahead, then followed through several rows of cars.

Cindy stepped out from between two BMWs, stopped short, and gasped. “Oh, no. Your back tires are completely flat.”

Hank circled the Jeep. “Front ones too. Some stupid kids probably had nothing better to do tonight than let the air out of— Wait a minute.” He squatted beside one of the rear tires, then checked the other three. “They’ve been slashed. All of them.”

“What? But why would anyone do something like that?”

“Who knows? A camouflaged Jeep amongst all these fancy rides was probably more than some punk could resist.” Hank yanked the bowtie from his neck and unbuttoned his shirt collar. “Relax. You look as though you’re expecting an ax murderer to jump out from between cars. I’ve got everything under control. I’ll make a few calls, get some new tires, and we’ll hit the road.”

Cindy handed him the phone from his tux jacket.

He looked up from the phone’s screen as a golf cart driven by a man in a tux turned onto their row and headed their way. Charlotte Hollingsworth sat in the passenger seat.

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