Free On the Ropes 2: Insidious Obsession by Michelle Cary Page B

Richmond Police Department.”
    Amber’s hand flexed in his, and Cole gave it a tiny squeeze of reassurance as he replied. “And?”
    “And it’s not really all that good of news. They scoured the video feed and found what appeared to be a hotel cleaning woman in front of Amber’s door at about five a.m.”
    “Good,” Logan said. “That means they know who did it.”
    Mark shook his head. “Sadly no, they don’t. According to management, the women who clean the rooms don’t come in until six a.m. They checked the video feed for the employee entrance and the area where the cleaning supplies are kept. What they found is disturbing.”
    “Which is?” Cole motioned with his hand for Mark to continue.
    “Apparently a maintenance man who was working on kitchen equipment left an outside door open while he went to a storage unit on the back of the property. Video footage shows a masked man entering through this open door. A few minutes later that same masked man entered an employee bathroom and eventually exited dressed as a cleaning woman.” Mark leaned back in his chair. “Unfortunately they can’t see his face, and since Amber wasn’t physically harmed and no actual threat was made, they’re writing it off as malicious mischief and closing the case.”
    “Malicious mischief?” Cole couldn’t quite believe his ears. “Are you kidding me?”
    “How is spray painting the word SLUT on my door considered malicious mischief?” Amber’s voice cracked as she looked from Mark to Cole and back. Mark held out his hands as if he were trying to keep Cole from charging his desk. “Believe me, I understand how you feel, but there’s nothing more they can do.”
    “So what can we do?” Jason asked.
    Mark looked from Jason to Cole and Amber. “We stay vigilant and continue on as we are. Hopefully someone knows something and will eventually slip up.”
    “And if they don’t?” Lexi asked.
    Mark sighed. “I don’t know. I guess we wait and see what happens next.”
    Cole slid a sideways glance at Amber. Other than one statement early in the discussion, she’d remained quiet, almost removed from the conversation. He knew she had a quiet nature about her, but this silence was almost disturbing. Just exactly what was going on in her head right now?

Chapter Thirteen
    Amber wiped her face on the towel as she eased down onto the bench. After spending the last hour working out with her trainer, all she wanted was a shower and maybe a nap. A nap that included Cole would be nice, but he was off with Logan and Jason doing a meet and greet.
    “You’re joining us tonight, right, Amber?” Natalie asked.
    Amber glanced up at the Vixen. “Joining you for what?”
    “A night out,” Brooklyn added from across the room.
    Amber frowned. “A night out? Out where?”
    “Lexi didn’t tell you about it?” Brooklyn asked.
    “Tell me about what?”
    Natalie’s twin, Emily, slid into the empty spot next to her. “Every once in a while, we get booked into a hotel that has a nightclub and great pool and all kinds of little extras, and it coincides with getting a rare day off.”
    “Since we have off tomorrow, tonight is one of those nights,” Natalie added. “So the entire roster and quite a bit of the staff party.” She held her hands up and did a little booty dance. “You’re coming, right?”
    Amber shook her head. “I don’t know about that. I’m not much of a dancer, and I don’t drink.”
    “At all?” Emily asked, her eyes wide with shock.
    “At all,” Amber replied.
    “Wow.” Emily looked from Amber to Natalie and back. “I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t drink at all.”
    “Yeah, well.” Trying to play off her reason for not drinking, Amber pushed up from the bench, walked over, and began rooting through her bag. “I have a family history of alcoholism. No reason to take the chance.”
    “Oh, well yeah, that’s a good reason,” Natalie agreed. “Wow, um…I’m sorry we pried like