Walter Connelly had denied having any part in Elliottâs presence in their lives, Liam had taken the words with a grain of salt. His father might not be an embezzler, but heâd been found out to be an inveterate liar.
If not for the plea agreement heâd been offered in exchange for full cooperation in the ongoing investigation of the Ponzi scheme being run through his company, Walter would be facing his own trial on lesser charges. And Liam was now in position to know everything that went on in his fatherâs company, and in much of his personal business, as well.
If anyone else stepped in to watch over the Arapahoe and her owners and occupants now, a big question would be raised as to why. As to whoâd sent the new bodyguard. Liam would ask questions Elliott couldnât afford to have him ask. Barbaraâs role in all of this could very well end up being exposed.
The Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado would have cause to take action against him for a code of ethics violation. He could lose everything.
Falling for Marie could be a code of ethics violation, too. If he acted on his feelings. So the only solution here was to stay away from her.
Or come clean with Barbara and risk Marieâs safety.
Heâd decided to give things another month. If no other threats had come forth, if Liam Connellyâs life had no longer appeared to be in danger, heâd pull the plug. Get the heck out of their lives.
Barbara wasnât ever going to let him tell Marie the truth about their association and he couldnât enter into a relationship with Marie without doing so.
Not that he was even certain sheâd have had him. All of which was a moot now.
âI just spoke with Liam,â he said as Marie joined him at the door of her shop. With a quick look around, he knew they couldnât talk out there. âHe and Gabi are on their way down. I need to speak with the three of you in private. Can we go back to your office?â
He didnât see anyone behind the counter. Marie wasnât supposed to work alone. Not since Liamâs fatherâs company had been under investigation right after the three of them went into business together and Liam moved in.
Coincidence?
Probably.
But heâd agreed with Barbara on her initial assessment of the situation three months before. The coincidence was too suspicious.
He just no longer suspected Liam Connelly of any subterfuge or wrongdoing. The man had been framed.
âEvaâs...â The front door of the shop opened behind him and he swung to see Marieâs newest employee, a somewhat ditzy college sophomore, come in.
âBack,â Marie finished. âYou go ahead to the office,â she said to Elliott. âIâve got something to finish up here and then Iâll join you.â
Elliott thought the better idea was to wait for her out front. So he stood as inconspicuously as a six-foot-seven-inch, broad-shouldered man could stand, and waited while she helped an old man put some things in an envelope, watched Eva put candles on one of Marieâs amazing double-fudge cakes and then watched the front while the two women escorted the man down the back hall and to the elevator.
Liam and Gabi got off the old car as Dale, Marie called him, got on. Trading places with Eva, Elliott made his way back to Marieâs office.
âWhatâs up?â Liam, who was standing behind his wifeâs chair, arms crossed, faced Elliott as he shut the door. The Connellys, in dark dress pants and shirts, looked as though theyâd just stepped out of a boardroomâon a Sunday evening. Marie, in the armed office chair behind her desk, on the other hand, was far too attractive in her stained blue-and-yellow Arapahoe Coffee Shop apron with tendrils of long blond hair falling out of the pony tail she always wore.
âIâm upping your security alert level.â He got right to the point. This was