Pop Travel (23 page)

Though no one was visible, he could hear the chatter of people around the corner at the party. Cooper slid up to the rugged doors of the stable and tried to open them. They were sturdier than they looked and wouldn’t budge.

“Oh, well. There’s nothin’ to see in there anyway. These doors are just a façade. The Creator doesn’t care for horses. I believe he converted this buildin’ into a guest house or somethin’.”

Cooper saw another camera above them panning in their direction.

“Have you been inside it?” he asked as he took her elbow and steered her back the way they had come.

“No. Not that I recall,” Geri answered, looking at his grip on her arm.

“Do you know if there is another entrance?”

“Originally there were two others. One opposite this one and another in the middle of the other side. Near where we came in.”

He stopped and looked at her.

“I’d like to see what’s in there. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. You can go enjoy the party.” He hoped she would take the hint this time.

“Why, J.L. That sounds like a dare. I’m goin’ with you.” She pointed at his chest and put her hands on her hips.

“Of course you are.”

FBI – Atlanta Division
6:00 p.m., Friday, July 26

ooper’s reactions to Geri and his attempts to ditch her made Nate snicker. The poor schmuck had no idea Geri wasn’t going anywhere. Down in the dungeon, several other techs had joined Nate to watch the feed from Geri’s brooch. They were disappointed they couldn’t see her in that dress, but the action they could see was more than sufficient entertainment, even better than
Paparazzi Bloopers

Nate stood and stretched. On his way to the vending machine, he offered to get his friends something. They waved him off, their eyes glued to Nate’s imager. As he watched his Fritos fall, he thought about Ed having a nice, home-cooked dinner. Ed had instructed Nate not to bother him unless something new developed. So far, nothing had. Ed sounded perturbed when he last checked in. That’s why Nate had no aspirations to be a boss, too stressful.

Rejoining the guys, Nate settled back into his seat. The guys were gathered around his desk, enjoying his reality TV with their drinks and snacks. Maybe they would order a pizza. This was the best part of the job—minding someone else’s business.

Beasley Hills Plantation
6:15 p.m., Friday, July 26

“So why are we sneakin’ around?” Geri asked. She daintily lifted her dress to keep from muddying it as they scooted back along the side of the stables. When a bush snagged her, she had to bite her tongue, holding back a curse.

“I don’t want Security to get suspicious and bother us,” he whispered back to her.

Slouching in the bushes won’t make them suspicious at all
.

“Why are you so interested in the stables?”

As he turned around to face her, Geri smiled and brightened her eyes for him, turning on the charm. It was hopeless for him to resist.

“You are going to stay with me all night, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question.

“Not lettin’ you outta my sight,” she said with a big smile. “You are too intriguing, J.L.”

“Then I’m going to have to tell you.” Turning his back to her, he started creeping again. “I’m a private investigator,” he whispered over his shoulder.

“No!” She pretended to be shocked as she smirked behind his back.

“Yes. I’m sorry I deceived you. I had a client concerned about his missing fiancée. One of those mysterious disappearances on the news. He tried to find out what happened and got paranoid, thought someone followed him. At first, I didn’t take him seriously. Now he’s dead.” He paused and scanned the area.

“Oh my goodness!” Geri gasped and put her hand to her mouth. After reading about that situation with Cooper’s client, Geri hoped no more deaths would be necessary.

“And while I’ve been investigating, another ‘accident’ happened, my secretary has gone missing, and yesterday I caught some guy with a gun following me.”

She knew about all this, but grabbed his arm to show concern.

“Did he shoot at you?” Geri felt sorry for him. Poor guy. He probably never saw so much action in all his life.

“No. I took care of him. But that is why I’m here. I need to get to the bottom of it before something else happens.”

“Well, what led you here? Do you think the Creator is behind it?” she asked. She was truly curious how he put everything together.

When Cooper and Geri reached the end of the long wall of the stables, they found a small gap between the building and the stage inside the main tent. The camera mounted on the corner of the building over their heads couldn’t detect them, but they heard a faint whirring. Another cam slowly turned toward them. The same one that had been aimed at the couple making out by the tree.

Cooper seized Geri and kissed her. While holding her in his embrace, he guided her into the crevice between the tent and the stables. When they were safely out of view, he let her go.

She slapped him hard.

“Why, I nevah! I thought you were a gentleman!”

“Hey! What are you doing!” he exclaimed, rubbing his cheek. “The camera was watching. I needed an excuse to slip in here.”

“Well, the next time, you bettah give a lady warnin’!” She straightened her dress for emphasis, though she admired his gusto.
Not bad.

“Of course. My apologies.” He grinned.

So he had enjoyed stealing the kiss. Surprisingly, she had, too. He shook his head but kept the smile on his face as he continued through the small space. Geri stayed close behind.
So much for these shoes.
She sighed, scowling at the mud caked on them.

“Back to my question, J.L. Do you think the Creator is involved in all your scandalous misfortunes?” Geri had to shimmy sideways to follow him through some of the cramped space, which made conversation difficult, not to mention breathing.

“I don’t know. He may be protecting his precious invention. I do know PTI sent the guy who followed me, and I found some evidence that makes me believe there is a cover-up. I’d like to talk to the Creator and get the truth out of him. I believe he is the source of the solution.” He stopped when he found the door handle.

“What are you talkin’ about? Solution to what? I’m afraid you’d bettah spell it out for me.”

Through the tent, they heard Kadir make another announcement. Geri and Cooper froze to listen.

“Honored guests. If you would please to take a seat at one of the tables. Dinner is ready to be presented to you. Thank you.” The crowd mumbled and shuffled around to find their tables.

As Cooper turned back to the door, he wrestled with it. Again, locked.

“Looks like we have to go around to the public side.” He sounded disappointed. She watched him stand there and think to himself. He did that a lot. As she started to ask him again to explain his purpose, Cooper tried to squeeze past her to go back out. She smoothly slipped her hands into his pockets, searching for any evidence. Nada. And he was smushing her!

“Take heed, sir!” She pushed him away.

“Pardon me, again. I’m not used to having a companion when I work. Are you all right?” He touched her elbow.

She jerked away. “I’m fine, just fine.”
No thanks to you, oaf
. She checked the security of the brooch camera. Uncomfortable and mussed, she grew perturbed with him for ignoring her, and coming up empty-handed added to her frustration. She gave him a serious glare.

“Look here. Before we go any further, I want you to tell me exactly what is goin’ on. Spyin’? Murder? Folks disappearin’? Mysterious evidence? J.L., please make some sense!”

He stared at her, forming a small valley of concern between his brows.

She imagined the factory in his brain kicking it into high gear as the words worked their way through the assembly line, hoping to pass inspection in the form of an intelligent sentence. Wearing a pout, she gazed at him, encouraging him with her sultry, innocent eyes.
Come on, Cooper, you can tell me
.

Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke.

“Fine. I have a video that exposes a flaw in pop travel. A deadly flaw. I am betting the Creator has been working triple-time to get it fixed and his company is covering it up.”

“I pop all the time! Am I in danger?” She put her hand to her chest, aghast. And she wasn’t acting. She almost forgot her accent. She knew she needed to retrieve any video stick drives he might have, but Ed never said what was on them! She had to fight to keep her shock in check.

“Do you get a lot of intense headaches?”

“No.” She reached up and touched her head.

“Then you should be fine. For now.”

“Are headaches a sign or somethin’?” She eased back into character.

“They seem to be. All the missing people who went to doctors had been having rashes of severe headaches and were told to quit traveling, but didn’t.”

“Oh. I suppose I understand why you want to talk to the Creator now. I think. But how do you propose to do that? Why are you trying so hard to get into the stable building?”

“You said you believe there are secret tunnels on some of these old plantations, right?”

“Yes. I believe it’s possible.”

“And you’ve been in the Creator’s house as it is now, correct?”

“Yes.”

“The floor plan is essentially the same, right?”

“For the most part. Except the large kitchen they added on. What are you gettin’ at?” He frustrated her with all his build up.
Get to the point!

“This may sound crazy, but I think there is a secret tunnel that starts under the stables and goes all the way to where the old outer kitchen stood. Do you know if that is part of the main house now?”

“What? That is truly amazin’!” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Lemme see.” She put her hand under her chin. “I believe the new kitchen stretches in that direction. It’s possible the pantry is located over the spot where the outer kitchen used to be.” This new development intrigued her. Finding a historic tunnel would be a huge bonus on her first field assignment.

“Since the Creator is going to be occupied all night here, I have to find another way to talk to him alone. The only way anyone will believe there is a cover-up is to have the Creator himself admit it to the public. I hope to convince him of that. And if I can get into his house, I have a much better chance.”

Cooper grabbed Geri’s arms and gave her a stern look, demanding her undivided attention.

“Understand this. I am a target. I am being watched and listened in on and followed.” His stare darted to the cam on the roof of the stable and back out the opening. When he focused on her again, his look bored through her. His honest intensity made her blink. She felt exposed, as if he could see into her soul and knew her true intent. She had never seen such sincerity.

“People have been dying or disappearing when they get too close to the truth. I almost died! I don’t want anything to happen to you, Geri. We just met and I like you. But this is extremely dangerous. Please go back to the party and forget about me.”

Geri’s heart fluttered at his protective request. He had no idea how tough she was or how far she intended to go.

“No, sir! I intend to help you!” She leaned into a deep stare right back at him.