She paused to gather her thoughts. “I met an employee at Incognito,” she said, tucking her leg beneath her and pivoting toward him. “Her name is Sage and I’m concerned she’s beingabused.”
Her trigger.Time tolisten.
Though concerned for Alex, he stayed silent hoping she’dcontinue.
“She’s skittish and she flinched when Jase Payne, the GM, touched her. She had trouble making eye contact. When I asked her a question, she deferred to him. All the classic signs arethere.”
“And you want to helpher?”
“I want to talk to her, at the very least. She also had a nasty bruise on her cheek. And last night, her hand and wrist were wrapped in gauze. I think Jase struckher.”
“So, that’s why you were snoopingaround?”
“Yeah. She led me to that door in the alcove, but she disappeared before I could speak to her. Jase said she works in the kitchen, but a server checked and no one knowsher.”
“Maybe she’s a chambermaid and doesn’t want to admit to changing the bedlinens.”
“There’s more,” she murmured. “Something is going on at Incognito that makes mesuspicious.”
From the many stories Kimberly told him about Alex’s tenacity as a journalist, he knew she went full-tilt until she’d flushed out the truth. “Goon.”
“Before I do, you can’t say anything toanyone.”
He wanted to blurt, “Who would I tell?” Instead, he extended his hand like he was conducting a damned business deal. “You have myword.”
Though they shook like two professionals, he stayed connected for an extra beat before letting go. So much passion flowed between them. How could she deny the obvious? Or was he imagining something longgone?
“Some members don’t check in via thetablet.”
Seriously?That’s all she had? “That’s not required, isit?”
When she moved to the window, her curvy ass distracted him. After barely digesting that she’d moved back east, seeing her float around his new home was surreal. With her back to him she said, “Managementpersonallyescorts them into aroom.”
Crockett joined her at the window as the bright orange sun crested over the horizon. “Like white glovetreatment?”
“No. They go into the room with the maskedmember.”
“Are youpositive?”
“Yes.”
He hitched a brow. “That’s a little odd. Who doesthis?”
“Jase and Francois, hisassistant.”
“How long do they stay inthere?”
“I’ve never seen anyone come out. Once, I spied Jase exiting from the door marked ‘Private’ next to the linencloset.”
Nodding, he said, “So that’s why you mauled me in thealcove.”
Her cheeks pinked. “Since Sage had led me there, I didn’t want him to suspectanything.”
“Good to know, Nancy Drew. Honestly, Alex, I don’t know why you’d care if management escorts club members into their suite. It is strange, but notcriminal.”
“One of the men—the older gentleman, Dracule—calls itrejuvenation.”
He shifted his attention out the window. “Maybe that’s how he feels…you know…after.”