Colton's Secret Bodyguard

She gave him the details as he logged on to the internet. When he found the picture gallery, Rylan almost groaned out loud. There were hundreds of old photographs. They were split into sections. Some showed the area in its industrial heyday, others documented its decline, and recent pictures highlighted its change into a thriving new hub.

He glanced at his watch, conscious of the time he’d already spent away from Bree. “I’m interested in old pictures of this building.”

Judith held out her hand for his cell phone. “Because it’s on the outer edge of the area, I don’t think there are many, not of the entire building.” She scrolled quickly through. “There’s this one.”

She held up the screen. The building in the picture was unmistakably the gallery because of its shape. Part of the roof had fallen in, and plants were poking their leaves through the opening. Unfortunately, it didn’t give Rylan the information he needed. But to be fair, he wasn’t even sure he knew exactly what he was looking for.

“Any others?” He tried to keep the impatience out of his voice.

Judith continued scrolling. “Ah. This is a better one. It shows the front entrance of the building when it was a construction company.”

Rylan took the cell from her. Although the picture was clear, the photographer had only captured half of the sign over the front door. The letters he could see were enough to make his heart beat faster. Was this it? Was he looking at the link to the stalker?

He enlarged the image and turned it to face Judith. “What was the name of this company?”

“It was an old well-respected building firm. Now, what was its name?” She frowned at the screen, focusing on the four letters that could be seen in the picture. “S-W-A-N. Oh, I remember. It was Swanson Construction.”

She gave a little cry of surprise as Rylan snatched his phone back. He was on his feet as he scrolled through until he found the number he wanted. “Trey? I need you at the gallery right now.”

Chapter 14

“Do you think Rylan went to Brazil to get the coffee beans?” Kasey joked.

“Let’s hope the delay is because he is also getting cake.” Bree laughed. She became serious again as a thought occurred to her. “By the way, where do you keep the keys to my apartment?”

Kasey gave her a long serious look. “Bree, I know there’s something going on. After what happened with the programs and at the show, I know it’s bad. You don’t have to confide in me, if you don’t want to, but I’d never do anything to hurt you.” She pointed to a locked drawer in her desk. “Your keys stay in there. I’m the only person who goes in there. No one has tampered with it.”

Bree sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ll tell you when it’s all over, I promise.”

The information that her keys were kept locked away wasn’t as reassuring as Kasey clearly hoped it would be. Instead, it only deepened the mystery. How had the stalker known the keys were there, and how had he gained access to them? Had he gained access to them, or had he found another way into her apartment?

Both women looked around hopefully as the door opened, but it wasn’t Rylan bearing the longed-for coffee. David paused before he entered. “Am I interrupting you ladies?”

Bree shook her head. “I think we’re done here?”

Kasey flipped through the papers in front of her. “Yes. All finished.”

“Is everything okay?” Bree asked.

“I wanted to talk to you about the water stains on the corridor wall,” David said. “I found some paint in the basement storage area that looks like a match. I can easily repaint that area.”

“That’s really kind, but I know how busy you are—”

David waved aside her protest. “It won’t take me long, but I’ll need you to come down to the basement with me. Just to double check that I’m right and the paint really will be okay.” He glanced at his watch. “We could do that now.”

Bree hesitated. “I’m waiting for Rylan to get back.”

The look he gave her was one of mild surprise. “You’ll only be downstairs.”

That was true, and she could send Rylan a message to let him know where she would be. But she knew what he would say. Until this was over, she should trust no one. His caution was right, of course. But this was David. The gentle-giant security guard had helped her time after time. Carrying her bags, moving her car, running errands... He had always been such a sweet, kind man. She couldn’t imagine him swatting a fly, let alone sending a threatening email.