Free Colorado Bodyguard by Cindi Myers Page A

that could get to be a little much. But now that you’re so far away, do you miss them?”
    â€œNope.” He glanced at Rand. “But if anybody tried to hurt one of them, I’d do whatever it took to find that person and make him pay.”
    Pity the man—or woman—who had to face Marco’s wrath, Rand thought. He signaled for the turn into the motel parking lot. Marco retrieved the tablet with the mug shots they’d put together while Rand let Lotte out of the back and clipped on her leash. She gave a big shake, like an athlete loosening up before a race, then looked up at him, wagging her tail. “I don’t have a job for you right now, girl,” he said. “Just thought you’d like to stretch your legs.”
    Marlee and another young woman, shorter and rounder with long blond hair, looked up from behind the registration desk when they entered. “What a gorgeous dog,” the other woman said. “What’s her name?”
    â€œHer name is Lotte.” Rand checked the clerk’s name tag. “Hello, Candy.”
    â€œHey, Officer Knightbridge,” Marlee said, but her eyes were fixed on Marco. “Who’s your friend?”
    â€œMarco Cruz.” Marco showed his credentials and both women leaned forward to study them.
    â€œWhat can we do for you, Officer Cruz?” Marlee asked, a little breathily. Marco often had that effect on women. Rand might as well be invisible.
    â€œWe brought some photos for you to look at.” Marco switched on the tablet and handed it to Marlee. “We want to see if you recognize any of them as the man Lauren Starling met when she stayed here.” The tablet started through a slide show of men’s photos they’d pulled from the files of the local police of everyone who matched the description Marlee had given them.
    â€œYou mean Jane Smith?” Candy asked. “I knew that had to be a fake name—what do you call it, when someone makes up a name like that?”
    â€œAn alias,” Marco said.
    â€œRight.” Candy’s smile broadened. “I knew Jane Smith had to be an alias, but I had no idea she was somebody famous until Marlee told me. And now she’s missing? That’s wild!”
    â€œDid you see the man she was with?” Rand asked.
    Candy shook her head. “Sorry, I didn’t.” She elbowed her friend. “Usually, night shift is more interesting, but not that day.”
    â€œThere’s a lot of guys here,” Marlee said, eyes on the tablet. “So far, nobody rings a bell.”
    Candy leaned over her shoulder to watch the slide show. “Some shady-looking characters,” she said. “I prefer a more clean-cut type myself.” She sent Marco a flirtatious look.
    â€œWas anyone else on duty during Ms. Starling’s stay here?” Rand asked.
    The two young women exchanged glances. “There’s Jobie, the handyman,” Marlee said doubtfully. “He’s always around during the day.”
    â€œIs he here now?” Rand asked.
    â€œSomewhere, I guess,” Marlee said.
    â€œCould you ask him to come up here, please?”
    â€œI’ll call him.” Candy moved to the phone.
    Marlee began flipping through the photos on the tablet again.
    â€œTake your time,” Rand said. “Don’t focus so much on what they’re wearing or their expression. Try to picture them standing with Lauren that afternoon. Do any of them match your memory of the man she met outside her room?”
    â€œJobie’s on his way up,” Candy said, joining them again.
    After a few moments a man in his fifties dressed in baggy pants and a University of Denver sweatshirt shambled in. He eyed Marco and Rand warily, but addressed Candy. “You wanted me for something?”
    â€œThese gentleman have some questions for you,” she said.
    â€œWhat kind of questions?” He took a step back.
    Jobie looked as if he