Desire Disguised by Lynn Rae Page B

very similar to what was now in his kitchen holding only a few remaining cookies. Cara Belasco spoke with the officer at reception and without thinking, Ben turned up the volume on that feed and listened to her ask if Officer Soloman was on duty. While she waited for the officer to look up the roster, she shifted from foot to foot, and Ben decided to head in that direction. No sense in getting bogged down by minutia until the caffeine had a chance to work.
    By the time he arrived in the hallway leading to the lobby, Soloman just walked through the doors, radiating fitness and health in his patrol gear. He heard their voices mingle and slowed his pace. Was he really planning on interrupting them? The younger officer could certainly protect her from any random threat that might emerge in the safety building, and Ben should just leave him to it. Soloman was closer to her age and knew how to behave himself. Cara had probably never had a flirtation in her repressed life and deserved a little attention.
    Ben leaned his sore shoulder against the wall as penance for his overactive protective instincts and waited a few beats for them to decide if they were going to continue to speak. There was no movement, and his curiosity took over. As he entered the lobby, everyone turned to look at him; Soloman, the duty officer, and Cara. Both security officers greeted him while Cara tucked her arms across her chest and glanced at the door. He strained for an excuse for being there but was saved by the arrival of Myltin Tarl. The man bustled through the door, his thin frame vibrating with energy.
    “Chief Zashi, just the man I wanted to see!”
    Ben winced deep inside and put on his best bland face. As Myltin cornered him and informed him of some suspicious activity in the alley behind the new restaurant, Ben glanced over at Cara and Soloman. The younger man smiled at the woman, his container of cookies tucked under one arm as he gestured at the door. He was offering to escort her to whatever her next stop was, and Cara shook her head. After a few more denials, Soloman thanked her effusively for the gift and stepped back as she made her escape.
    Myltin had reached the climax of his tale of the mysteriously disappearing trash barrels, and Ben took a break from the riveting story to glance up at Cara as she passed through the outer doors. She looked back directly at him, and as their gazes met, Ben’s breath died in his throat. He wanted to chase after her and take her back to her rooms where she’d be safe. Or better yet, to his suite where she’d be even safer. Except not. Blast his sleep-deprived mind, because he wasn’t making sense even in his own head.
    Soloman waved goodbye and ducked back into security as Myltin gasped to a finish, breathing hard as he looked to Ben for praise or promises of an immediate raid on the unknown trash dodgers.
    “Right. I’ll have one of the feeds directed down that alley the next couple of nights and see if we can discover anything else.”
    Myltin nodded with satisfaction. “Exactly what I was going to suggest, Chief. And there was one other thing,” his voice lowered as he leaned closer. “It’s about that young woman and her brother.”
    Instantly, Ben went on alert as he stared at the gossip-addled Pearlian. The last thing he wanted was Myltin entertaining suspicions about the Belascos, especially when Ben was well aware he knew only a tiny fraction of their story. “What is?”
    “There’s something not quite right there. I checked their data and there is so little on the public feeds it makes me wonder if they are hiding something. I’m sure you’ve thought the same. Have you checked them on the security feeds yet?”
    “Myltin, you know we don’t conduct such a search unless someone has been arrested. Last time I checked, crashing and nearly dying wasn’t a crime.”
    Myltin drew back and gave him a speculative glare. “I understand. You’re hampered by your regulations. I’d be