Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 05 - Gems & Gunshots Read online

  “I feel you there. At least she’s at home and safe.” We watched as several police cars screeched to a stop in front of the store, followed closely by an ambulance. A few seconds later the alarm was silenced and news vans pulled up. The police who hadn’t gone inside were putting up police tape to keep the reporters away from the building.

  “I wonder what happened?” I said to Haley.

  “No kidding. We sure don’t get this kind of excitement normally. Oh my God, is that a dead body?”

  The EMT folks were coming out of the store with a gurney and on the gurney was what I assumed was a body bag. I grimaced. “I don’t think they would have a body bag on the gurney if they didn’t have a dead body.”

  “Now I’m doubly glad my cousin wasn’t working this morning. Even if she is annoying. Look, the news vans must be doing a live feed,” Haley said pointing to the television that was mounted in the corner of the coffee shop where we could see it from outside. I looked to see that a view of the jewelry store came on the screen. “Let me turn it up,” she said walking inside to the set and standing on a chair to reach the volume button. I followed her in so I could hear what they were saying.

  “Shots were fired just moments ago at the long–standing jewelry store, Gemstone’s Unlimited. Police aren’t giving us much information yet, but it does appear as if there was a casualty. We will keep you updated as this story unfolds. Tune in tonight at six for more cutting edge news.”

  The station then switched to a story of a recent school election. Haley turned the volume back down and walked over to where I was now standing. “Wow! How’s that for a morning’s excitement?” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “I guess it just shows that bad things can happen anywhere.”

  “Yeah, it’s kind of freaky. We open at six in the morning and don’t close until midnight. Sometimes, during the odd hours, it’s just us employees in here. I’ve never been afraid before but this…” she trailed off.

  “You don’t work alone during those odd hours, do you?”

  “No, but they weren’t alone in the jewelry store either.”

  “Good point,” I agreed.

  “Oh, well. You can’t go around worrying about things that could happen. We’d never get out of bed in the morning if that were the case.”

  I laughed. “Very true.”

  Chapter 3

  Shouldn’t you be getting ready?” Cooper asked, walking into the living room, looking surprised that I was planted on the couch waiting for the news to come on instead of in the bedroom primping for the evening’s gala. As much as I wanted to look good, I also wanted to get the scoop on the day’s crazy events and see if there was more information on the Gemstones Unlimited thing since the earlier news report.

  “The thing doesn’t start until eight, I’ve got plenty of time,” I said, not even looking at him but keeping my attention focused on the television. After already watching twenty painstaking minutes of news covering things I wasn’t interested in, I kept diligently watching because I didn’t want to take the chance of missing what I was waiting for.

  “Far be it for me to criticize, but since when did you become so interested in the news? And since when have you ever taken less than two hours to get ready for a special event?” he said with a smile on his face to show me he was teasing.

  I turned my head toward him long enough to stick my tongue out to show him I wasn’t amused. “Since this morning, which you would know if you ever checked your voicemail. I went to that coffee shop you told me about. You know, the Coffee Break. Well, there were some exciting happenings across the street. All of which was in my message.” Cooper wasn’t the greatest about checking his personal voicemail. He had what could be a very demanding business, and I had learned that sometimes, even when he might want to, he couldn’t respond to my calls. He always told me that if it was an emergency to go through his assistant, Denise. So I wasn’t surprised when he hadn’t called me back today.

  “Oh, you mean that mess at Gemstones Unlimited? Yeah, sorry I couldn’t call you back, but actually—that’s the reason I couldn’t call back.”

  “How did you hear about it?” I wasn’t too surprised. Cooper usually knew everything. Especially where I was concerned and especially when I didn’t really want him to know. He had some kind of sixth sense about certain things. A trait that I was sure helped to make him a success in his security business.

  “Gemstone’s Unlimited is one of my clients. Or rather, the owner, Greg Anderson, is. He called me as soon as he found out what happened, and I was helping him sort things out today at the jewelry store. That’s what prevented me from returning your call,” he said, finally making his way over to me on the couch and dropping a kiss on my forehead.

  I turned to face him, not worried about the newscast now when I had a much better source of information at my fingertips. The trick would just be to get him to share what he knew. I smiled at him, and he started laughing.

  “Is this where you start to pump me for information and then get annoyed when I won’t give you any?”

  My smile turned to a frown. I didn’t know why he always had to make everything so difficult when all I wanted was a little insider’s report. “C’mon, Coop. You should know by now that I won’t tell anyone what you tell me. I was right there when it happened. I have a right to know what’s going on.”

  “I’m not sure that being an observer to a crime gives you a right to information. Did the police talk to you?” As usual, he was ignoring my questions by asking questions of his own—an infuriating habit of his.

  “Of course they talked to me. I was sitting right across the street with Haley, the girl who works at the coffee shop. I saw everything. At least everything that took place outside the building, and I heard the gunshots and saw the ambulance guys bring out a body bag on a gurney. I assume there was a body in that bag. Do they know who did it?”

  “What did you tell the police?”

  “Pretty much what I just told you. Do you know if they have any leads? Who was the person murdered? Was it random or do they think it was planned?”

  “Presley…” he sighed, shaking his head. “Please go get ready. We need to leave in forty–five minutes, and it wouldn’t look good for one of the nominees to be late.”

  “Fine. But only because I have an amazing dress to wear and I want to look fabulous. I’m not giving up asking questions. You know you can only resist me for so long.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  *****

  Forty–five minutes later, I was almost regretting I had wasted time watching the news. I should know better than to rush getting ready. I was trying for the dramatic effect with my makeup and a smoky eye look that was turning out to be more like a black eye. I was redoing them for the third time and was beyond frustrated, especially since Cooper kept coming in to check on me and see if I was ready. He wasn’t helping any. I ended up locking the bathroom door so he couldn’t give me the hurry up look. I finally finished my makeup, slipped on my shoes, and walked out of the bedroom to find Cooper. He was lounging on one of the barstools at the breakfast bar. Impatiently waiting, he looked at his watch and then at me.

  “How do I look?” I asked, walking toward him and twirling so he could see the full effect of my gorgeous gown.”

  He shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  My eyes narrowed. I put my hands on my hips and glared at him as he burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. I’m kidding. You look gorgeous as always and definitely worth the wait.”

  “Good answer, pal!” I smiled. “You don’t look too shabby yourself.” He was wearing a charcoal gray suit with super thin pinstripes, a light gray shirt, and a black tie. While he typically preferred casual clothes of jeans and button–down shirts, he looked good dressed up.

  “Well, m‘lady, c’mon then,” he said, offering his arm to me. We walked out the door and got into his BMW. A short drive later we pulled into the parking lot of the San Diego Convention Center, which couldn’t have had a more beautiful backdrop than the San Diego Bay if someone had painted one.

  “This place is huge,” I said as we were walking around looking for the right room.

  “Yes, it is. I’ve been lost in here many a time. I see our room over there.” He pointed down the hall where there was a big sign announcing the event.

  I could hear music playing. “It sounds like fun in there at least.”

  “It’s open bar, so I’m sure it will be.”

  We walked in the room and there was a festive air. This was the awards banquet given by the Association of Security Professionals that Cooper belonged to. People were coming up and greeting Cooper and congratulating him on his nomination. I was so proud of him. He was being a great boyfriend, introducing me to everyone, and I was playing the ever so proud girlfriend, when a handsome–looking silver–haired man came up to us.

  “This must be the lovely Presley you’ve told me so much about,” the man said, grabbing my hand and kissing it gallantly.

  I blushed and smiled. It wasn’t every day that a man kissed my hand or said that Cooper talked about me a lot. It was definitely sweet, and this guy was definitely smooth. I was a romantic but also a skeptic.

  Cooper introduced us. “Greg, meet Presley. Presley this is Greg Anderson,”

  My eyes widened. Greg Anderson. This was the guy who owned Gemstone’s Unlimited. Cooper gave me a look that I assumed was trying to convey the fact I shouldn’t ask him a bunch of questions about the recent murder at his store. Even I wasn’t that rude. Or stupid. I wasn’t about to ask questions in front of Cooper. I knew I had to be a tad subtler than that. I would wait for my opportunity. It would come, or I would make one.

  “Nice to meet you,” Greg said.

  “Likewise,” I replied.

  “We still on for 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, Cooper?”

  “Sure are, Greg.”

  “Well, then I won’t take up anymore of your time. Lovely to meet you, Presley. Good luck on your nomination, Cooper.”

  “Thanks, Greg,” he said, shaking his hand. As Greg walked away, Cooper said to me, “Good job.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “The fact that I know you were dying to ask him some questions once you found out who he was. I appreciate you not grilling him.”

  “Please, Cooper. I have some restraint.”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed,” he joked.

  I elbowed him in the ribs. He just laughed and grabbed my hand.

  “Let’s go find our table.”

  When we found our assigned seating, I was happy to see we had the good fortune to be seated next to Greg and his wife. I was sure Cooper didn’t share the same enthusiasm. He was probably worried about me asking a question, that, in his opinion, was inappropriate, but I thought this would be a great way to get to know them.

  Conversation over dinner was spent getting acquainted with one another, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I rather enjoyed Greg and his wife, Amelia. They were charming people. I was the supportive girlfriend and proud when Cooper won the award he had been nominated for: best security firm for the year. Cooper wasn’t one to bask in attention and glory, but I could tell he was extremely happy and proud to have won, as he should’ve been. I knew enough about business to know this would help him move forward.

  As coffee and dessert were served, I decided I needed to find an opening in the conversation to ask about the situation at Gemstone’s Unlimited, but it had to be subtle and preferably out of Cooper’s earshot.

  “I just love tiramisu, don’t you, Presley?” Amelia asked as I was stuffing my face with my portion of dessert.

  “You have to ask? Look at how much I’m eating,” I joked. “I’m a fan of any dessert, but this is especially delicious.”

  “I agree. I wouldn’t have to make that daily trip to the gym if I didn’t have a weakness for desserts.”

  Amelia was all of maybe a size two. I somehow doubted she had to worry too much about eating dessert. I wished that were true for me. I was a solid size eight on a good day, and I had to be careful to not look at fattening food too long, much less eat it, or I go up a size.

  Cooper pushed back his chair. “Would you excuse me for a minute, Pres? I see Bob Render over there, and I wanted to speak to him about a few things before he left.”

  “Sure. Hey, are you going to eat the rest of your tiramisu?” Yep, I was bad, but this dessert was so darn good.

  He patted my shoulder. “Be my guest; eat it. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Mind if I join you, Cooper?” Greg asked. “I’ve been wanting to meet him.”

  “Not at all.”

  “You ladies enjoy your coffee and we will be right back,” Greg said smiling.

  “We will try to live without you both,” I teased, secretly glad they were leaving as it would give me the perfect chance to ask Amelia about the murder.

  A few minutes passed as I tried to think of how to broach the subject, when Amelia sighed, a worried look on her face. “Something wrong, Amelia?”

  “It’s just been a long day. One of our businesses had, well, a bit of an issue this morning, to put it mildly. I didn’t think we should come to this event tonight, but Greg insisted. As one of the sponsors, it was our duty. I just can’t help feeling guilty to be enjoying all this extravagance after what happened.”

  “What happened?” I said, sounding concerned and trying not to get excited that, without any prodding from me, Amelia had brought up the very topic I wanted to talk about.

  She took a sip of her coffee before answering. “One of our stores was robbed today and someone was murdered in the process,” Amelia said in a whisper, leaning closer to me. “It’s just devastating. In all the years we’ve had businesses this has never happened.

  “Oh my! It wasn’t Gemstone’s Unlimited by any chance, was it?”

  Amelia looked at me funny. “That’s an awfully good guess or do you know something I don’t know?”

  “I admit I know a little,” I said sheepishly, hoping she wouldn’t get angry thinking I was poking into her business. “I was sitting at the coffee shop across the street, the Coffee Break, when I heard the gunshots. I know someone was murdered because I saw the medics bringing out a body. Then I got home and found out from Cooper it was one of his clients. He won’t talk to me much about work. Client confidentiality and all, but of course it was in the news.”

  “Oh, well, no secrets here. There were two armed men who conned the sales girls into letting them in before hours, saying they had a plane to catch and one of them wanted to buy something for his wife. They said they would make it worth her while. Instead of getting a big sales commission, they killed her for her kindness.” Amelia sniffled and dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

  “How do you know that’s how they got in?”

  “Security cameras.”

  “So the police know what they look like?”

  Amelia sighed. “Unfortunately no. The video feed went out on our camera a few days ago. The company who fixes those for us was scheduled to come out tomorrow. So we only got the audio. The police think it might be an inside job; that someone knew the cameras were down.”

  “What did they take?”

  “Some cash and a few of our higher–end pieces of jewelry. Nothing important. I just can’t stop thinking of poor Nicole. She’s the girl who was killed. She worked for us almost three years and was our top sales girl. For this to happen…I don’t understand why they couldn’t just take what they wanted and leave. Why did they have to kill her?”

  I patted Amelia’s hand for reassurance. “It’s not your fault.”

  She straightened up and looked over my shoulder. I followed her gaze to see the guys coming back.

  “Do me a favor and don’t mention we had this conversation, Presley. Greg didn’t want me to bring it up tonight, and I don’t want to upset him.”

  Since I didn’t have a burning desire to have Cooper know we were talking about it either, I quickly agreed. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Amelia alone the rest of the night, which was disappointing, but the evening was fun. I got to meet a lot of people Cooper worked with and it was nice to put faces with names that I had heard over the last few months.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Cooper said as we were driving home from the award’s dinner.

  “Too much dessert and wine. I’m sleepy,” I said, smiling at him.

  “Did you enjoy yourself?”

  “Yes, I did. I enjoyed meeting people you talk about.”

  “You look deeper in thought than that. Anything else on your mind?”

  “Just thinking.”

  “About?”

  “How incredibly handsome you look in your suit,” I said, in a flirty tone.

  Cooper just looked at me. “Don’t think I don’t love your compliments, but something tells me you’re thinking about more than that.”

  “Okay, fine, but you are handsome. In or out of that suit,” I teased. “I was thinking about Greg and Amelia. They seem like nice people.”

  “And…”

  “Well, Amelia didn’t want me to say anything but she told me a little bit about what happened today at Gemstone’s Unlimited.”

  “Presley, I told you…”

  “What a minute; I didn’t bring it up. She did.”

  He gave me a look that signaled he didn’t really believe me.

  “I promise. She brought it up and told me the police thought it might be an inside job because the security cameras were broken and that maybe someone knew that. She then told me not to mention she was talking about it so as to not annoy Greg. So, please don’t tell him.”

  “I won’t, but he’s right. She really shouldn’t be talking about it. The police need to handle it.”

  Ignoring him, I continued on. “Amelia said cash and a few pieces of jewelry were taken. Do you think that it was just a robbery gone bad?”