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“Based on the briefing Mr. Montagne gave us about what has happened thus far in Louisiana, what you’ve learned today about the assault four years ago in Georgia and now the attempt on Ms. French’s life, we need to bring in Beaumont and Jeffries for questioning, whether or not we have sufficient evidence to hold them.”
Ruiz nodded. “But first, we need to enforce certain safety precautions to protect Ms. French.”
Danny frowned, not sure she liked the use of the word enforce. “I’m listening.”
Collins met her gaze. “Dinner out is canceled. You need to be escorted to your room and remain there until we’ve had a chance to locate and bring in Jeffries and Beaumont. You should remain sequestered until we identify the driver. The retirement event needs to be suspended or canceled.”
Danny’s gaze shot to Caleb. “Are you okay with that?”
Caleb held up his hands. “More than okay. I’d rather live to enjoy my retirement, and I want you to be safe.”
Jacques’s phone chirped. “I have an incoming call from Beaumont.”
The crowded security room fell silent.
Danny moved closer, hoping to overhear Beaumont’s side of the conversation. She couldn’t.
“You’re not going, are you?” Jacques asked. “Good. We’ve had another attempt on Ms. French’s life. Someone tried to run her over.” He paused. “No. She’s okay.” Another pause. “If you bring it to the hotel, we can provide you protection. Alert us when you’re close, and our team will escort you inside. Roger.”
He ended the call and looked around at the expectant faces, his gaze stopping with Danny’s. “Jeffries ordered Beaumont to a private location. He’s spooked by Sarley’s shooting, and now this further attempt to take you out. He wants us to provide him protection.”
Danny snorted. “We still don’t know if he’s the one who attacked me. It could’ve been him, Jeffries or a random associate of Jeffries.”
“Beaumont has the cell phone with the messages between himself and Sarley about hiring Sarley to stalk you and steal your papers, as well as the one warning Sarley that Cleyburn was coming to question him.”
“He already told us this,” Danny said.
Jacques nodded. “He’s also bringing the cell phone he’s used in his exchanges with Jeffries.”
Now, that was different. Danny’s pulse quickened.
Continuing, Jacques said, “They include his request to recover your documents. When Beaumont asked him how he expected Sarley to keep his mouth shut, Jeffries told him not to worry about it, that he’d handle it.”
“Jeffries sent the shooter.” Danny pressed a hand to her chest.
“Sounds like it, but we can’t prove it,” Jacques said. “It’s the same phone he used to order Beaumont to meet him today, alone. He said he’d turn over both phones, but he wants protection.”
“He’s offering evidence,” Remy said.
“Evidence we can use to corner Jeffries,” Danny said. “It’ll help, but it doesn’t erase his part in what happened to me.”
“Absolutely not,” Jacques agreed. “Right now, we need to get you and Caleb to a more secure area in the hotel.”
“The hotel manager has a section in the north tower he can block off,” Remy said. “There are no guests in that area. We can close it off so that no one gets in or out without our approval.”
They made the move with the manager in the lead and protectors Ruiz and Collins, who surrounded Danny and Caleb all the way to the elevators. They had to split the group to take the elevators to the tenth floor.
The manager handed over the keys to the penthouse suite and three other rooms and offered to have food delivered for dinner and breakfast. He’d brought a first aid kit and offered to help Danny.
Jacques stepped between them and insisted on caring for her injuries. He asked the manager to collect their belongings from their rooms and deliver them to the suite.
After the manager left, Jacques led Danny into a bathroom and helped her sit on the counter.
“I can clean my own wounds,” she said, half-heartedly.
“I know. But you wouldn’t deny me the pleasure,” he gave her a crooked smile, “of taking care of you, would you?”
Danny rolled her eyes. “And deprive you of displaying manly chivalry? Never.”
